graphics engine
Game image system
A graphics engine is software that renders visual elements in video games and simulations—handling images, lighting, textures, and animation.
Game developers build on graphics engines rather than coding rendering systems from scratch.
Major engines like Unreal and Unity power thousands of games across platforms.
Sometimes called a rendering engine or game engine, though game engines typically include additional systems beyond graphics.
Graphics rendering programs
- texturesSurface feel and appearance
- polygonsClosed plane figures
- verticesCorner points of shapes
- ray tracingRendering via light physics
rasterization · anti-aliasing · tessellation · meshes · normals · lighting · shadows · depth of field
Software communication standard
- SDKProgramming tools bundle
- OpenGLGraphics rendering specification
- DirectXMicrosoft's multimedia programming interface
- VulkanGermanic term for volcano
Unity · Godot · middleware · source code · scripting · toolkit · version control · plugin
Occurring without processing delay
- gameplayInteractive elements of gaming
- user interfaceHuman-computer interaction system
- HUDVisual information overlay
- animationTechnique creating movement illusion
multiplayer · networking · virtual reality · augmented reality · haptic feedback · procedural generation · state machine
Creating digital three-dimensional objects
- animationTechnique creating movement illusion
- viewportVisible display region
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- perspectiveAttitude or spatial rendering
vector · raster · resolution · bitmap · canvas · infographics · data visualization · architectural rendering
Finding when objects intersect
- rigid bodyIdealized undeformable object
- ragdollLimp cloth figure
- dynamicsStudy of forces
- gravityMutual mass attraction
friction · joints · constraints · forces · mass · velocity · acceleration · bounding box
shaders
Graphics rendering programs
ray tracing · rasterization · anti-aliasing · tessellation · meshes · normals · lighting · shadows · depth of field · motion blur
API
Software communication standard
- SDKProgramming tools bundle
- OpenGLGraphics rendering specification
- DirectXMicrosoft's multimedia programming interface
Vulkan · Unity · Godot · middleware · source code · scripting · toolkit · version control · plugin · driver
real-time
Occurring without processing delay
- gameplayInteractive elements of gaming
- user interfaceHuman-computer interaction system
- HUDVisual information overlay
animation · multiplayer · networking · virtual reality · augmented reality · haptic feedback · procedural generation · state machine
3D modeling
Creating digital three-dimensional objects
- animationTechnique creating movement illusion
- viewportVisible display region
- projectionSomething that extends outward
perspective · vector · raster · resolution · bitmap · canvas · infographics · data visualization · architectural rendering · CAD
collision detection
Finding when objects intersect
- rigid bodyIdealized undeformable object
- ragdollLimp cloth figure
- dynamicsStudy of forces
gravity · friction · joints · constraints · forces · mass · velocity · acceleration · bounding box
graphics enginecommand-line interface
Text-based computer interaction method
CLI · DOS prompt · shell · teletype
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