What Is a Game Engine? Learn About Types, Features, Benefits, and the Skills Needed for Game Development
Game engines are essential development environments for creating games. In other words, a game engine is software that contains the core features needed to run a game. Because a game engine organizes and provides the functions, programs, and assets needed for game development, it helps developers create games more efficiently and at a higher level of quality.
There are many kinds of game engines, and the right choice depends on the situation. This article explains what a game engine is, the types of game engines available, and the skills needed when developing with a game engine. If you have basic questions about game engines, this article should help answer them.
What Is a Game Engine?
Simply put, a game engine is “a development environment that contains the elements needed for game development.” It brings together development consoles, game libraries, assets, features, and other resources.
Having a game engine does not mean programming is unnecessary, but because many required features are already provided, game development can proceed much more efficiently.
Why Game Engines Are Needed
Game engines are needed to make game development more efficient and to produce high-quality games.
As explained above, a game engine includes many features that streamline game development. Examples include a platform-independent development environment and components or functions that can be used directly in a game.
When developing a game, you usually need to build it for the target platform, such as a console, PC, or smartphone. With a game engine, development can be done across platforms, which is highly convenient.
You can also build games using prebuilt components and features, so development is more efficient than starting from scratch. For example, movement for a 3D character may already be available and can be used simply by customizing it. In addition, completed components generally provide reliable quality. This is why using a game engine helps developers create games efficiently and with high quality.
Collecting all the features included in a game engine from scratch would be costly and troublesome, but a game engine provides most of what is needed. Some game engines are paid products, but even when running costs are involved, they can offer good cost performance overall.
Tips for Choosing a Game Engine
Because there are many game engines, there are several points to consider when choosing one.
Cost
Some game engines cost nothing at all, while others provide basic features for free but require payment for upgrades. There are also one-time purchase models, annual or other recurring payment models, and royalty-based models where a fee is charged according to revenue when a developed game sells.
For that reason, it is important to understand which pricing model suits you and how much it will cost. The right option depends on whether you want to develop games as a hobby, sell a game, or sell it at a certain scale. Think about how you plan to use the game engine in the future and choose one with a cost structure that fits your needs.
Programming Language
Different game engines use different programming languages. For example, Unity uses C#, while Unreal Engine uses C++. Choose a game engine that uses a language you are already comfortable with or one you want to learn.
Korean Documentation and Available Information
Many game engines are made overseas, so Korean documentation may be limited. In some cases, there may be almost no Korean documentation, which can make development difficult.
If you have no problem reading English documentation, this may not matter much. However, if you need Korean documentation, you should be careful. Search in advance for Korean documentation and check whether enough information is available.
Platform Support
You should also check whether the engine supports the platform you want to build for. The right game engine depends on whether you want to make a game that runs on Windows, a smartphone app game, or another type of platform.
Adoption
It is also important to consider how widely a game engine is currently used. A popular engine with many users, such as Unity, can be a reassuring choice. However, if the number of users of a game engine is declining, updates and version upgrades may become rare, making it less convenient over time. Check how widely the engine is used now and whether it seems likely to keep being used in the future.
Types and Features of Game Engines
This section explains the features of several game engines.
Unity
Unity is a game engine with a particularly high share in smartphone app game development and indie game development. Because it supports multiple platforms, games can be developed for PCs, smartphones, consoles, and many other devices.
One advantage is that it runs lightly and can be used even without a high-spec computer. Another major advantage is the Asset Store, where you can buy materials such as 3D models and plugins that help with game development as needed. Since a large amount of Korean documentation is also available, it is relatively easy to use even for people who are not comfortable with English.
Because Unity has many advantages, it is widely used by individual developers. The programming language used in Unity is C#, which is relatively easy to learn compared with some other languages. Unity has many strengths, and it is difficult to find serious drawbacks.
Well-known games such as “Pokemon GO” and “Super Mario Run” used Unity in development.
Pricing
Unity pricing is annual and is as follows.
| Plan | PERSONAL | PRO | ENTERPRISE | INDUSTRY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | KRW 2,550,000/year | Depends on conditions | KRW 6,187,500/year |
Reference: https://store.unity.com/ko/compare-plans
Unreal Engine
The biggest advantage of Unreal Engine is its excellent graphics. It enables beautiful visual expression, allowing even individual developers to create games with grand worlds and attractive characters. You can purchase 3D models, plugins, and animations from the Marketplace, customize them freely, and develop your own game.
Another advantage is that development is possible without programming through the Blueprint feature. However, depending on the game, programming may still be necessary, and in that case C++ is used. C++ is relatively difficult to learn compared with other languages.
Another drawback is that a high-performance computer is required because of the heavy graphics processing. Depending on your hardware, the editor may feel sluggish and development may not be comfortable, so try running a template first and check how it performs.
Pricing
Pricing is as follows. If revenue of more than USD 3,000 is generated per quarter, a 3% royalty applies.
| Plan | Standard License | Enterprise Program | Custom License |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | USD 1,500/year per program | Depends on conditions |
Reference: https://www.unrealengine.com/ko/license
GameMaker
GameMaker is a game engine that allows development through visual operations such as drag and drop, so programming is not required. This makes it easy for beginners to create games. If you want to work on finer details, you can also use its own language, GML, to develop high-quality games. Since it is a 2D engine, it is lightweight and easy to develop with.
However, because it is an overseas game engine and is not especially well known in Korea, there is limited Korean documentation. English documentation is sufficient, but if you need Korean information, you may need to search carefully or use translation.
Pricing
GameMaker pricing is as follows.
| Plan | FREE | PROFESSIONAL | ENTERPRISE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free to use | One-time purchase, USD 99.99 | USD 79.99/month, USD 799.99/year |
Reference: https://gamemaker.io/ko-KR/get
Godot
Godot is a free, open source game engine that can be downloaded from Steam and is currently popular worldwide. Because it is completely free and open source, it is recommended for people who do not want to spend money on game development. It is lightweight and fast, so development can proceed quickly. There is almost no troublesome initial setup, and you can begin game development immediately after installation.
The Godot engine supports both 2D and 3D game creation, as well as PC and mobile platforms. The UI is mostly localized into Korean, and the official documentation also provides some Korean support, so it should not be too difficult to study.
Godot is open source software released under the MIT license. It is free for personal use as well as commercial use.
Cocos2d-x
Cocos2d-x, like Godot, is completely free and open source software. It used to be very popular and had many users, but the number of users has been declining. It runs lightly and has low computer requirements, so it is very easy to use.
Well-known games such as “Monster Strike” and “LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum” were developed with it. It is especially strong for smartphone app game development, and many games were created with it.
However, although it was once popular, its popularity has declined and users appear to have moved to engines such as Unity. Since version 4.0, released in December 2019, there have been no major updates or feature additions. In effect, development has stopped. This leaves some uncertainty about how long it can continue to be used.
Cocos2d-x is open source software released under the MIT license. It is free not only for personal use but also for commercial use.
PhyreEngine
PhyreEngine is a game engine made by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe. Unlike general-purpose game engines, it was originally a tool for creating games and graphics for Sony’s PlayStation 3. It later came to support Xbox 360, Windows, iOS, Android, PSP, PlayStation 4, and other platforms. Around 2018, support for Nintendo Switch also drew attention. Games made with PhyreEngine include “Dark Souls” and “Dragon Quest Builders.”
PhyreEngine is an excellent game engine that supports many game platforms. However, because it is not widely known in general, information is not as easy to find as it is for Unity.
PhyreEngine is provided free of charge to developers licensed for the game they want to develop.
Skills Needed When Developing Games with a Game Engine
Let’s look at the skills needed when developing games with a game engine.
Skill in Using a Game Engine
As explained so far, a game engine is essential for game development. How well you can make use of that game engine becomes a key part of game development.
A game engine contains everything needed for game development. By using its features and assets, you can develop impressive games. Purchasing additional components can broaden the kinds of worlds you can express, but the final quality of the game depends greatly on what you choose and how you assemble it.
To develop a good game, you need to understand the game engine in detail and be able to use it well.
Programming Skills
If you are not trying to build a particularly complex game, you may be able to develop it using only the game engine’s features, so programming may not be necessary. However, when developing more advanced features or a more finely crafted game, programming skills are essential.
For example, Unity uses C#, while Unreal Engine uses C++. Because each game engine uses different programming languages, you should be careful when learning programming skills for game development. If you plan to learn programming from now on, it is recommended that you choose a game engine first and then choose the language.
3D Modeling Skills
3D modeling is the process of creating 3D data from 2D data such as drawings in order to produce 3DCG, or three-dimensional computer graphics. 3D games include many 3D characters, backgrounds, and other objects. Creating all of these 3D models is an essential skill for 3D game development.
Introducing the Work of Unity Engineers
Now let’s introduce the various kinds of work Unity engineers can do.
Game Development
Unity can be used to develop many different kinds of games. Because it supports multiple platforms, you can make games for smartphone apps, PCs, consoles, and other platforms. You can develop 2D games, 3D games, and many other types of games, and you can also test and modify games during development. Using Unity well can expand the range of places where you can work as a game developer.
Client-Side Development
Client-side development is also called front-end development. It refers to developing the processing for screens that users see and the parts where users operate or enter information. It also includes communication processing between the client and the server.
Client-side development is an important stage because it builds the parts users directly see. Developers need to think about how to make systems easy for users to understand and how to improve user satisfaction.
Server-Side Development
From the user’s point of view, the server side is the part on the other side of the client side. It is also called the back end. While the client side handles screens and user input, the server side handles program processing, database processing, and integration with other systems. When a processing request comes from the client side, the server side processes it and returns the result to the client side.
Server-side development is extremely important because it builds the foundation of a system. It requires system design ability, programming ability, and related skills.
Data Analysis
Unity engineers may also perform data analysis needed for development. This can include collecting and analyzing data needed for game development, and the same applies in fields outside games.
As data utilization receives more attention, the importance of data analysis work is increasing. By analyzing large volumes of processing history, customer information, and other data for use in marketing strategies, data analysis has become an essential element. Demand in the data analysis field is likely to keep growing.
Testing and Fixing
Unity engineers naturally also perform testing and fixes.
They identify test items for the tools or systems they have created and then carry out testing. When a bug occurs, they fix the affected part and any related areas, then perform the necessary tests again. Testing and fixing may be plain work, but they are essential processes in tool development and system development.
Development Without Game Engines
Can games be developed without using a game engine?
It is possible to develop games without a game engine, but there are almost no advantages to doing so. Without a game engine, development efficiency drops and it becomes difficult to create a good game. However, it seems that some development is done without an existing game engine in cases such as the following.
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When a company develops its own game engine and uses it for flagship titles
- If a company has the technical strength and resources of a large game company, it may develop its own game engine. If that engine becomes the next standard in game development, the company can create new revenue through licensing fees and promote its technical capabilities to the industry. A company may also develop titles that use only its own engine as a showcase for its strengths.
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When developing a genre that is difficult to express with an existing game engine
- There are almost no genres today whose foundation cannot be created with current game engines. However, when creating original games in the future, there may still be cases where an existing game engine cannot fully support the concept.
A game engine contains many elements for game development, such as a development console, libraries, and assets. For example, “processing for controlling a game with a controller” is included in a library, so developers do not need to worry about the details of that processing. They can simply use the component for “processing for controlling a game with a controller.” Without a game engine, however, they would have to develop that processing from scratch. Unless you want to create a highly unusual control method, that would be very inefficient.
It is possible to force development without a game engine. However, without the technical ability and resources of a large company, budget may be spent on “developing processes that could be skipped by using a game engine,” which can affect the quality of the game. Also, having to create every component from scratch means there are more parts to build, which increases the possibility of bugs.
For these reasons, making a game without a game engine involves a lot of waste and has few advantages, so it is not recommended. When developing a game, choose and use a game engine that fits the game you want to create.
Summary
This article covered what a game engine is, the types of game engines available, and the skills needed when developing with a game engine.
A game engine is an essential element of game development, and introducing one makes development more efficient. There are many types of game engines, each with different features and suitable use cases. Think carefully about what kind of game you want to develop, and look for a game engine that fits your needs.