http://www.sealund.com/seriousgames.php
Sealund has a great variety of game engines, but none of them is flexible enough to be considered for the development of a complex serious game. Most of their engines provide the tools to make simple question/answer type of games like Jeopardy and the like.
Their engines could be used for extremely quick trivia-like board games and quiz-like games, but not for a complex game which involves AI, for example.
Programming:
- None.
OLIVE
OLIVE was designed to provide engaging, immersive experiences with virtual worlds (like Second Life, for example). Some of their features include: Lifelike avatars, integrated social networking, easy to use powerpoint presentations, video streaming and presentation of web-based content for instructor-led lessons.
This engine is currently only available as a bundle with their development services.
Programming:
This engine is currently only available as a bundle with their development services.
Programming:
- C++
- XML
Mosbe
This game engine seems really complete. It's incredibly easy to create RTS-like games and simulations. It can generate a virtual world from real world data in a matter of seconds, missions can be easily created with a drag and drop interface which includes key events and behaviors, and it also has out-of-the-box support for LAN games for up to 16 players.
Nevertheless, the high price ($75,000 dls for a developer license) will make this engine less likely to be used in our game.
Programming:
- C++
SIGMA
The serious game company Muzzy Lane Software created this engine specifically for serious game development. But currently, the only way to aqcuire a license is with their development services, which means that they need to develop a game for you if you want a license for their game engine.
Programming:
Programming:
- XML
NICE
This engine supports a 2D graphical environment. It includes customizable avatars, bubble chat, transcription, bulletin boards, moderator tools, conferencing tools, colaborative editing, document sharing, etc. It is primarily designed to create virtual environments for kids which can work in any computer with a 56kb modem and a browser. There are no plans for a stand-alone release for this game engine. It's bundled with their development services.
Programming:
Programming:
- Java
Unreal Engine
One of the most widely used game engines in the game industry and regarded as one of the best. This engine provides advanced control over rendering, animation, audio, and physics. It also includes Kismet, which allows easy gameplay scripting, Matinee, which is a trak-based keyframing, and Cascade, which is an easy to use particle creation system.
Unreal Engine comes with an enormous amount of additional features from memory profiling to localization, making this engine one of the most complete engines in the market.
Its free for non-commercial use and you need to contact them for pricing information in a commercial development.
Unreal Engine comes with an enormous amount of additional features from memory profiling to localization, making this engine one of the most complete engines in the market.
Its free for non-commercial use and you need to contact them for pricing information in a commercial development.
Programming:
- C++
- UnrealScript
DX Studio
Programming:
- Javascript
- XML
Quazal's Eterna
Could not find the 'Eterna' engine. Quazal has two products to integrate online functionality to a game, like chat lobbies, friendlists, and matchmaking. To use any of them, you need to contact them to receive a price estimate.
Programming:
- Unknown
Unity
Unity is flexible and complete. Games can be deployed for PC, Mac and Web using the same code, allowing easy crossplatform development. Also, Unity can handle physics, particles, animation and audio, which probably is enough to make a decent game.
There are two versoins, Free and Pro. Some of the stuff missing from the Pro version in the Free one are:
Audio filters, video playback, customizable splash screen, real-time shadows, full screen effects and version control, which probably is the most important feature, as the lack of a compatible version control system, would make a development team of 3 have a difficult time merging code and asset changes.
Pro version costs $1500 dls + $500 for iOS support +$500 for asset versioning support.
Programming:
- Python
- Javascript
- C#
The Multiverse Network
Multiverse Network is free for non-commercial use and has two different options for commercial use: revenue-sharing and up-front payment.
There are two engines that could be used: Torque 2D and Torque 3D.
Both include a grafical interface with several features like a mission editor, a terrain editor, shading, lighting and asset importing tools. Games can be published to several platforms, including Windows, Mac and Web, so portability is also a plus with Torque.
Torque's pricing is quite accesible as it costs $99 dls (as of february 11, 2011) per license, but you need to buy either the 2D or the 3D engine. This engine is quite popular among the game developers.
Programming:
- C++
- TorqueScript
Flixel
Flixel is a flash-based game engine. It is designed specifically to create retro-style 2D videogames. It can manage physics, particles and hundreds of objects at once.
Flixel is completely free and games can be deployed in a web server.
Programming:
- ActionScript 3
