Assessor Resource

ICAGAM527A
Integrate database with online game

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit applies to programmers, analyst programmers and game programmers responsible for the development of code to connect a computer game to a database.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to integrate a database with an online game, where the relationship between the game server and the database server is also considered a client-server relationship on a local area network.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to:

add database functionality to an online game

display and modify the database data provided by game-play input.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to:

game design specification and requirements documentation

game server

database server

integrated development environment software and hardware

browsers for browser-based games

game consoles for console-based games

appropriate learning and assessment support when required

modified equipment for people with special needs.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

evaluation of an online game that can access, display and update game state data stored in a database

verbal and written questioning to assess the knowledge associated with the integration of a database with an online game.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support.

In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

analytical skills to:

analyse game application domain and game architecture and determine appropriate APIs as prescribed by the selected proprietary or database industry standards

determine appropriate connection pooling implementation requirements

determine appropriate development environments for the game architecture and database integration functionality

communication skills to:

describe and evaluate data access and data modification architectures with game designers and game architects

negotiate game data requirements with project managers, game designers and game architects

propose data access and modify functionality to meet the needs of the online game

initiative and enterprise skills to:

assess proposed database integration architectures within the context of existing game development technologies, development infrastructure and game industry standards

recommend solutions to difficulties or flaws identified with the integration of the database and the online game

learning skills to:

acquire the skills and knowledge required to integrate a database with an online game

ensure the use of leading edge industry developments and industry standards

literacy skills to:

delineate existing game architecture documentation

document database integration specifications for an online game

interpret and understand industry standards, game architecture standards, and database standards

planning and organisational skills:

organise resources, documentation and infrastructure elements required for the integration of a database with an online game

plan the effective integration of a database with an online game

problem-solving skills to:

debug code, identify code bugs and resolve all code exceptions

identify and implement solutions to problems with the integration of a database with an online game

identify problems with SQL and stored procedures and implement solutions

research skills to:

enhance knowledge of industry standards and trends related to the integration of a database with an online game

identify and locate sources of information that provide solutions to technical problems

identify sources of information and documentation required to plan and implement the integration of a database with an online game

technical skills to:

implement complex code algorithms required for the integration of a database with an online game

implement exception handling routines in code

improve the efficiency of code by refactoring

use an integrated development environment to build database integration code

write code to integrate a database with an online game.

Required knowledge

relational database theory, including:

how to create and test stored procedures

how to create ‘embedded’ SQL and assign parameters in code for filtering

how and why tables are related and how relationships between tables are implemented

how SQL is used to retrieve data from multiple tables

how inserts to tables in parent/child relationships can be implemented using artificial (auto-generated) primary key values

how to implement cascading updates and deletes

game development

integrated development environments, including:

data access APIs and associated classes required for the integration of a database with an online game

online help and documentation required for research and debugging code

user authentication and authorisation management

methodologies and techniques required for effective and well-factored object-oriented program (OOP) code, including:

class implementation

control of logic flow

use of collections and lists

use of OOP concepts, such as inheritance, encapsulation and overloading

web development.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Data source provider may include:

DB2

Infomix

Ingres

Microsoft Access

Microsoft SQL (MS SQL) server

Mini SQL (mSQL)

MySQL

Oracle

Sybase.

External text-based configuration file may include:

any text-based file format that will not require re-compilation if properties of the connection to the database change

in ASP.Net, framework the web configuration (web.config) file and machine configuration (machine.config) file

files formatted as eXtensible markup language (XML) files or documents

traditional ASCII-based text files with file extension of .ini.

Parameters may include:

data type property appropriate to the data source provider

direction property defining either input or output

value property derived from the actual game play.

Forward-only and read-only cursor may include:

data-reader object

forward-only record set

Java forward-only result set.

Updateable cursor may include:

data-set object

record-set object

result-set object.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Research appropriate APIs 
Identify specific APIs as suitable for the game architecture and data source provider 
Install nominated APIs on game development computers 
Define game data source connection parameters 
Store connection parameters in external text-based configuration file 
Open and close connection to the game data source 
Configure connection pooling in the database management system 
Define connection pool parameters for minimum connections, maximum connections and idle connections 
Minimise use of database resources through the use of connection pooling 
Test and verify use of connection pooling 
Define database connection property 
Compose SQL statement or command to be passed to the database 
Test, debug and execute the SQL statement 
Call a stored procedure on the database using command callable statement 
Define and pass parameters to the stored procedure 
Test, debug and execute database stored procedure 
Retrieve multi-row multi-column result sets from the database into the game application domain 
Insert new records into the database 
Update existing database records 
Delete existing database records 
Integrate data from a forward-only and read-only cursor into the game application domain 
Incorporate data from an updateable cursor into the game application domain 
Test database integration code 
Document test results 
Determine errors and exceptions and document solutions 
Debug all errors and exceptions 
Assess all data modifications in the database and document any errors 
Correct all causes to data modification errors 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

ICAGAM527A - Integrate database with online game
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

ICAGAM527A - Integrate database with online game

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: