A Look at Next Generation Game Engines
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Eclipse
Pedigree: Knights of the Old Republic II
Creator: BioWare
The Goss: Currently in development by legendary RPG developer BioWare, Eclipse will be the next-gen successor to the Odyssey engine seen in Neverwinter Nights and the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games. Its production is being kept under wraps, but its very existence would suggest that it will be a step above what was seen in the developer's latest release Mass Effect. We would expect advanced character facial animations, increased world population and improved combat A.I to be in-demand features.
Viability: BioWare developed Mass Effect using Unreal Engine 3 presumably while putting the finishing touches on Eclipse. This would suggest that they are already preparing to give Unreal Engine 3 the flick and while we don't know what Eclipse will feature at this stage, it should provide an attractive option for other developers looking at entering the RPG, or adventure, scene.
Next Seen In: Dragon Age
Gamebryo 2.5
Pedigree: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
Creator: Emergent Game Technologies
The Goss: Staying well out of the limelight, the Gamebryo 2.5 engine has been growing a solid reputation amongst developers, in particular Bethesda Studios who used the engine to impressive effect in the last two Elder Scrolls games. Both feature huge, detailed worlds.
Viability: The Gamebryo engine's strengths lie in its functionality across all the major formats, including Wii, as well as proving useful across multiple genres, including FPS, third-person, MMO (the upcoming Entropia Universe) and strategy (Civilization series). Fallout 3 will be an interesting test on how it holds up to intense next-gen action, but if it passes with flying colours there is nothing stopping this from turning more heads away from Unreal Engine 3.
Next Seen In: Fallout 3
