What is a game engine? Identify and review popular application development platforms

Almost every gamer has heard about various game engines. However, not everyone understands what it is. Even developers cannot give a concrete definition of what are the engines for creating games. This is due to the fact that the created application is inextricably linked with the Game engine. And the engine itself is a collection of various softwares.

General concepts

First engines

According to programmers, the Game engine is the software with which computer games are created. Each developer uses his own unique engine. This term appeared 15 years ago. It extended to emerging shooters, such as Wolfenstein or Quake. Since these games combined 3D graphics, physics, sound and weapon animation.

After the release of such applications, new works were created on the basis of ready-made engines. The changes were minimal: maps and graphics were redrawn. The physical engine has also changed . They created a platform individually for each genre of the game. If the engine is used for other platforms, then the developer will not be able to reveal the full potential of the idea.

Game engines of games were developed for the functioning of a particular genre. Often they are inextricably linked with the work itself. The game cannot work without an engine. Since it is part of the application.

What are they

Platformer on a simple engine

Many people are interested in what the game engine is. However, for a complete understanding, a person needs to know the varieties of this basic software. Since the engine for the shooter and the racing simulator is very different. However, they have some common features. Varieties of game engines:

  • "Shooter." They appeared the very first in the video game industry. Such engines are the most complex and technologically advanced.
  • "Platform". These are some of the simplest engines. Their tasks include maintaining the functioning of simple applications.
  • "Fighting". Such software is aimed at developing character animation. Developers are working on the animation and physics of each hit to increase the realism of the game.

These are the main platforms for which separate software is created. In the world there are many other genres and engines for them. However, almost the entire video game industry is supported on these platforms.

Developer Opinion

Game with a good engine

Some programmers define what a game engine is. They understand this, how difficult to write applications that consist of dozens of different components. Each part of the engine needs to be configured separately for the game. In today's world, software is a large set of different tools for creating games. These include the visual component. The developer can control the entire process of creating the game. This simplifies many specialist tasks.

To the question: β€œWhat is a game engine?”, Developers most often respond with several sentences. Since it is difficult to answer briefly. Experts say that the engine is a special subprogram for the correct functioning of the application. It combines all the necessary functionality for creating and developing a game.

Popular engines

Call of duty game engine

The German company Crytek created CryEngine 4. It is one of the best engines. It was used in works: Far Cry, Crysis, Warface and so on. With CryEngine, developers create seamless locations. The engine also draws large areas without corridors. It supports character animations, vehicles, interacting with the environment, and so on.

The Frostbite engine is one of the most spectacular and realistic. It was created by Electronic Arts. He is famous for the game Battlefield. On this engine racing simulators, shooters, platformers are created. It is multifunctional. Many players are interested in the question: "In which game was the converted engine used?"

The developers of the Frostbite site did this. They used the engine in Need for Speed, in addition to the main game. It was converted to a racing simulator. A feature of the engine is a deep granularity of destruction and special effects. The software also draws textures well.

IW Engine is a direct competitor to the Frostbite engine. It is used in the creation of the shooter Call of Duty. The developers have created a lot of adaptations of this software. However, each version of it is not very different from older models. This engine has certain advantages: fast processing of spaces, post-effects, lots of polygons on objects. However, it also has drawbacks. Some players call it arcade. And this direction is not suitable for shooters. Some fans of the series know what the game engine is. Therefore, they propose to get rid of the IW Engine and create something new for Call of Duty.

Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/F13419/


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