Game engines have evolved significantly in recent decades, from the tedious job of writing code for graphics, physics and audio to the current pre-built tools and libraries available to developers. The first game engine, id Tech, was created in the mid-1980s, while the late 1990s and early 2000s saw the rise of console game engines, optimised for consoles such as the PlayStation and Xbox. The advent of smartphones and tablets in the late 2000s led to mobile game engines, such as Unity. In turn, game engines specifically for virtual and augmented reality are being developed, such as Unreal Engine 4 and Unity.
The Evolution of Game Engines: From Console to Mobile and Beyond
Over the past few decades, video games have come a long way in terms of technology and design. It’s almost unbelievable to think that the first commercially successful video game, Pong, was released in 1972 on a machine that could only display two white rectangles and a dot on a black screen. Fast forward to 2021, and we have games that are highly immersive, stunningly realistic, and can be played across different platforms, from consoles to mobile devices.
The birth of game engines
Before the rise of game engines, developing video games was a tedious and time-consuming process. Developers had to write code for every aspect of the game, from the graphics to the physics, and had to optimize it for each platform the game was going to be released on. This resulted in a lot of wasted time, effort, and resources.
Game engines changed all that. They are software frameworks that allow developers to create games more efficiently by providing them with pre-built tools and libraries. These tools include graphics engines for rendering 3D graphics, physics engines for simulating real-world physics, and audio engines for creating and manipulating sound effects and music.
The early game engines
The first game engine was created in the mid-1980s by John Carmack and John Romero, who went on to found id Software. Their engine, called the id Tech engine, was used to develop iconic games such as Doom and Quake.
Other early game engines include the Build engine, used to create Duke Nukem 3D, and the Unreal engine, used to create Unreal and its sequels. These engines were limited to PC gaming and were not portable to consoles.
Console game engines
The late 1990s and early 2000s saw the rise of console game engines, as consoles such as the PlayStation and Xbox gained popularity. These engines were designed specifically for consoles and were optimized to take advantage of their hardware.
One of the most popular console engines was the RenderWare engine, which was used to develop games such as Grand Theft Auto III, Burnout 3, and Madden NFL. The engine was also portable across different platforms, from the PlayStation 2 to the Xbox and even the Nintendo GameCube.
Mobile game engines
The rise of smartphones and tablets in the late 2000s led to the development of game engines specifically for mobile devices. These engines had to be lightweight and efficient to run on mobile hardware, which had far less power than consoles or PCs.
One popular mobile engine is Unity, which is used to develop games such as Angry Birds, Temple Run, and Pokémon Go. Unity is known for its ease of use and cross-platform support, allowing developers to create games that can be played on both iOS and Android.
The future of game engines
The future of game engines is exciting, as we’re seeing more and more engines being developed that are designed for virtual and augmented reality. These engines allow developers to create immersive experiences that are unlike anything seen before.
One example is Unreal Engine 4, which is being used to create VR games such as Robo Recall and Resident Evil 7. Another is the Unity engine, which has built-in support for VR and AR development.
Conclusion
The evolution of game engines has been remarkable over the past few decades. From the early days of PC gaming to the rise of console and mobile gaming, game engines have made it easier and more efficient for developers to create games that are more immersive and engaging than ever before. With the growing popularity of virtual and augmented reality, we can only imagine what the future holds for game engines and the games they enable us to create and play.