Getting Started
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Glossary
#-G Terms

Engine

3min

A game engine is a software framework that provides the fundamental components for creating and running video games. It includes the following functionalities:

  • Rendering Engine: The rendering engine is responsible for creating the visual representation of the game world. It takes the game's 3D models, textures, and materials and renders them on the screen.
  • Physics Engine: The physics engine is responsible for simulating the physical interactions between objects in the game world. It can be used to simulate things like gravity, collisions, and friction.
  • Audio Engine: The audio engine is responsible for playing the game's sound effects and music. It can also be used to simulate environmental sounds, such as the sound of wind or rain.
  • Input Manager: The input manager is responsible for receiving and processing user input. It can be used to detect keyboard, mouse, and controller input.
  • Scripting Engine: The scripting engine is a programming language that is used to control the game's behavior. It can be used to create scripts that control the actions of the game's characters, objects, and environments.
  • Game State Manager: The game state manager is responsible for keeping track of the game's current state. This includes things like the position of the player, the state of the game world, and the status of the game's quests.
  • Networking Engine: The networking engine is responsible for handling communication between the game server and the game clients. This can be used to support multiplayer games or to allow players to play the game over the internet.
  • AI Engine: The AI engine is responsible for controlling the behavior of the game's non-player characters (NPCs). It can be used to create NPCs that behave in a realistic and intelligent way.

A game engine is a powerful tool that can help developers create complex and immersive video games.

Here are some of the benefits of using a game engine:

  • Saves time: Game engines provide a number of ready-made functionalities, such as rendering, physics, and audio. This can save developers a lot of time and effort that would otherwise be spent developing these functionalities from scratch.
  • Improved quality: Game engines are developed by experienced engineers and game developers, so they are typically of high quality. This means that games developed using game engines are often more polished and bug-free than games that are not.
  • Portability: Game engines are designed to be portable across a wide range of platforms. This means that games developed using game engines can be easily ported to different operating systems and devices.

Here are some of the drawbacks of using a game engine:

  • Flexibility: Game engines can be restrictive in terms of the type of games that can be created. Some game engines are better suited for certain genres of games than others.
  • Cost: Game engines can be expensive, especially the high-end ones. This can be a barrier for indie developers who have limited resources.
  • Learning curve: Game engines can be complex and difficult to learn, especially for beginners. This can be a barrier for developers who are new to game development.

Overall, game engines are a powerful tool that can help developers create complex and immersive video games. However, they can be expensive and difficult to learn.

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