Game Engines
Last updated
Last updated
Game engines are software development tools for creating interactive software. They package together libraries and software which simplify the development of interactive software. Game engines are a widely used tool in the creation of real-time 3D VR software, and many engines support VR production workflows out-of-the-box.
A modern game engine will typically include:
A 3D or 2D renderer, which supports the rendering of a moving sequence in real-time.
Physics simulation.
Asset import and management.
Scripting and programming tools to support dynamic, simulated and interactive elements.
Sound processing.
Extension through plugins and/or custom code.
There are numerous engines in use today. For real-time 3D rendering applications such as VR, Unity and Unreal Engine are currently the two most popular. Both are free to download and use non-commercially, which has contributed to their popularity.
An important implication of using an engine is that much programming has already happened before work on a project begins. The engines provides a toolset that can be used to realise the project and generate executable software, but as a creator you do not necessarily have full control or authorship of the code.
| Name | Platforms | Download |
|---|---|---|
Windows | ||
Windows; MacOS (Intel & M1); Linux (Ubuntu and CentOS) | ||
Windows; Linux (from source) | Binaries distributed through Epic Game Launcher. Source code available on restricted access GitHub repository. | |
Android; Linux; MacOs;Windows; WebEditor | Binaries and source code available on Github and in download section | |
Adrian Courrèges (2020) Graphics Studies Compilation. URL: http://www.adriancourreges.com/blog/2020/12/29/graphics-studies-compilation/.
baldurk (n.d.). Graphics in Plain Language: An introduction to how modern graphics work in video games. URL: https://renderdoc.org/blog/Graphics-in-Plain-Language/Part-1.html.
Brown University VR Software Wiki. URL: https://sites.google.com/view/brown-vr-sw-review-2018/home
