Game engines at GDC 09

GDC is always exciting time for gamers and game developers. There is a lot of announcements, demos, awards and anything else related to gaming industry.
This year is no different. From the news two items got my attention – new CryENGINE 3 and updates to Unreal Engine 3.

Unreal 3 Engine
Let’s have a look at Unreal Engine first. In EPIC’s press release are details of these updates. Key new features include:

• Unreal Lightmass – new global illumination solver
• Content browser – database driven and searchable
• Unreal Master Control Program  - statistics and data management back end (does this name reminds you of Tron?)
• MMOG backend solution developed by EPIC China

This may not sound to interesting but it is easiest to make your own mind after you see the video. Head to G4TV to view it.

 


There is more to see in video so have fun.

CryENGINE 3
CryENGINE was announced on Crytek’s site and there is a nice video to go with it. Actual announcement has lot of details about new features. The list of features is long so here are just some:

• All-in-one development solution for Xbox 360, Playstation 3, PC
• Sandbox for Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 – WYSIWYP toolset
• Vegetation and terrain cover generation
• Multicore support
• Real-time dynamic global illumination
• Deferred lighting
• Uber Shader technology
• Natural world effects
• Performance analysis tools
• Polybump

Instead of me poorly describing these features here is the video and screenshots to illustrate these features.

If you want to download this movie at highest resolution go to the download page (241 MB zip file).
Some of the screenshots are so good you could mistake it for a photograph. Like the couple below.


So there you go, drool over these just like I did…