A graphic engine is a vital part of the overall software used to design video games. It is solely responsible for the visuals, and the success of any title can depend entirely on how it looks.
Graphic engines are used in all areas of the industry, from the classic, blockbuster titles used in professional video gaming, through to the many thousands of options used by online casino operators. The sector couldn’t survive without them, but what are the main engines used in design today?
Keeping it Real
The gaming industry has evolved to the point where realism is a key element for many titles. From the very basic visuals that were in evidence on the first video games, the sector has come a long way.
In many sports titles and those games that are enjoyed by eSports professionals such as Counter Strike: Global Offensive, the brief for the designer is to make the graphics as lifelike as possible. The quest for realism extends into casino gaming too, where the titles favoured by players are becoming more complex.
Elsewhere, there remains a demand for classic arcade games, while the genre as a whole is making a comeback. Retro is in, and that’s another niche for graphic engines to take care of. In other new titles, cartoon visuals are used, so there’s a very broad spectrum for designers to match.
With so many styles of visual design across the gaming industry, only the best and most diverse of graphic engines are up to the task.
Unreal Engine
Given that a key task for graphic designers is to make games as realistic as possible, it may seem strange that a model known as Unreal Engine sits at the top of this list. The name is clearly meant to convey that the results are unbelievably good, and that seems justified.
Unreal Engine has the power to produce exceptional visuals and it does this by using a highly advanced 3D creation platform. The results are as lifelike as gaming can possibly get, and casual viewers walking into a room and looking at a screen may well believe they are watching the real thing.
The Unreal Engine software is versatile too, and another reason why it is popular with developers is the fact that it works across 25 different platforms.
Godot
Godot was released in 2014, and this is another cross-platform engine that works equally well with 2D and 3D graphics. Godot features unique architecture, so anyone using it can design truly innovative backdrops that won’t have been seen anywhere else.
While some graphic engines are limited and can only provide ‘off-the-shelf’ packages, designers can really experiment with this software. It may be over ten years old, but Godot is constantly updating and innovating to ensure it stays ahead of its time.
Unity
While there are many choices on the market, there aren’t too many graphic engines that can meet the needs of every type of designer. Within the industry, Unity is often seen as the most versatile as it is frequently adopted by large studios, as well as one-man design companies.
It’s a package that could suit the individual too, and Unity can be a good starting point for beginners. Its user-friendly construction will certainly help anyone trying out game design for the very first time.
Unity’s versatility gives users the ability to tailor games for many platforms, and it’s particularly effective for those who need to optimise games for mobile play. Its programming language is C# and this is widely renowned within the industry as one of the most powerful options for game creation.
Lumberyard
A product of Amazon, designed by the producers at CryEngine, Lumberyard is another solid all-rounder. Although it features advanced techniques, the fact that it is free means it is popular among novice game developers too.
Expert rendering techniques help Lumberyard to deliver some exceptional visuals across many platforms. It’s capable of handling all titles, but it’s a particular favourite among those who design multiplayer games.
Lumberyard’s parent, CryEngine, is another popular option among designers. It’s slightly more advanced than many of its competitors, but those with the technical expertise can harness its complexity to produce some beautiful visuals.
Its CV is an impressive one and among the companies using CryEngine are the SNK Corporation and Cloud Imperium Games.
Each of the suggestions on this list works a little differently, but all can deliver brilliant results for anyone who wants their gaming graphics to stand out.
A Positive Future
In an industry that continues to evolve, we can expect to see technology develop to meet the demands of gamers. New technologies such as augmented reality and virtual reality will now have to be factored into the equation.
While we already have access to a limited number of games featuring both AR and VR, the list is expected to grow exponentially in the near future. These are exciting times, and each of these powerful engines has the efficiency to adapt.
