How Game Engines Work!

Disclaimer: This is intended for people who aren't entirely sure what a "game engine" is. I have more in-depth programming videos on my channel, this is just how I'd explain engines in general to a non-dev friend :) It's also one of my oldest videos from when I had very few subscribers, I'll redo it if I ever have a chance.

[joegreen_]

Youtube recommendations are slowly getting better

[jso_]

This is the only PowerPoint presentation I would ever watch voluntary.

[jacobdomagala]

Just a clarification first Witcher was made on Aurora Engine (BioWare - Neverwinter Nights), they made their own engine for the Witcher 2 and 3.

[gauravsolanki]

I can write coding for 'Hello World'!

[KarnKaul]

Excellently done! I'd just like to add that the main difference in an engine vs a set of libraries is that the engine runs its own loop and calls your code, and with libraries YOU own the loop and call the library routines.

[ZephaniahNoah]

Actually I've never used a calculator app that has sound.

[erionmema]

"have a happy day!!"
DON'T TELL ME WHAT TO DO !!

[GameBoyGuru]

As someone who went to college to become a programmer, then got in WAY over his head, I appreciate this succinct explanation. I don't have a coder's mindset, so it's good to know that tools like this exist, and are at least easy to use, so if I ever decide to go that route, I have a place to start.

[andrewkerr]

Unity is actually a very high end engine that even gives Unreal a difficult time when it comes to graphics, performance and usability. Because it was also free and Unreal was not, alot of "wanna be developers" made sad excuses of games and then pushed them to Steam, hoping to make a few bucks.

[KillerX]

wow... it's the first time that i stumbled into this channel and so far the 2 videos i saw were so helpful in clarifying many doubts ive had for a lot of time while wanting to be a game developer. THANK YOU for these videos and i hope they keep coming

[mattiasmartens]

You might be glossing over a distinction between the game engine and the game development application. The engine manages the game at runtime, providing functions to perform certain important features optimally (like 3D rendering), while the application provides an environment for developers to work in. Applications are usually coupled with libraries, since this allows you to line up what the application makes easy for developers with what the engine makes easy for computers; and in many cases, including your examples of GameMaker, Unreal, and Unity, the two are so closely connected that they go by the same name.
But you technically can have an engine without a game dev application, and vice versa. For example, something like Eclipse can be used as a game dev application even though it has no particular engine associated with it. On the other hand, PyGames is a game library (I think you could call it an engine?) with no development interface.
This distinction becomes especially important when new software is notable in one aspect and not the other. For instance, the Crysis Engine is famous for high-performance rendering, while GameMaker is noted for the experience it provides to the creator.
Here's another way to put it: what's important about the game engine is what it allows the software to do (and especially how quickly), while what's important about the game dev application is what it allows the developers to do.

[this_mfr]

You have excellent speaking and presentation skills. Without even addressing the content of your video, great job on presentation.

[BenevoIence]

Shoutout to FOX engine, doomed to only be used in MGS V

[mitchellcampbell]

I discovered this video from one of my CS textbooks. Six years later, this is still very relevant and informative! Game development has always fascinated me, and I believe that it is a great way to develop our skillsets and push our boundaries. YouTube should give us a "Love" button for videos like this. PS these games brought back so many memories <3

[redgeoblaze]

I love your voice, and your enthusiasm. Subbed, and binge watching all of your videos

[stoppi]

Why did I find this channel only now? The explanations are great. Binge watching all of it. (Don't send help, I'm ok... mostly)

[bugseater]

Started with Gamemaker.
Tried RPG maker but HATED it because I couldn't use actual code.
Almost got UE4 but decided to go to Godot.
Learning that now. It's a good engine.

[tardiskeeper]

I covered Cryengine a bit at college. Though I was entirely reliant on using existing included assets and there was some weird bug with the trees, the leaves specifically. A key feature is the background in a scene. That is objects that don't do anything but build up an enhance the realism and atmosphere of a game level. For example in an urban scene you might have litter, streetlights, manholes, general wear and tear (esp for grungy environments), graffiti, surface painting paraphernalia inside garages (paint pots, brushes). etc.

[sheene.c]

YouTube recommended this because I watched Unreal Engine 5 real time demo for Playstation 5. 😌

[masterbaiter]

Finally, something I don't understand.