A guide to the first 15 seconds of every game

A lot of things can be seen when you turn on a gaming console. Some of it you’ll recognize. Names and logos for publishers. Some of it you rightfully gloss over— like the big paragraphs of legal jargon. And then there are the things that make you go, “hmm?”

What is the name of this little evil octopus and how can he be in my games?

So I decided to solve the mystery. These logos, along with many other symbols that you’ll see as you start a game, are for important tools in game development. The tools that can automatically summon trees, simplify animations, save resources and make people fall over funny. To join me in a voyage of discovery within the world of video game middleware, click the video above.

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