Blender Game Engine
The Blender Game Engine (BGE) was an integrated component of the Blender software, a popular open-source 3D modeling and animation suite. It was designed to allow artists and developers to create games and interactive 3D applications directly within Blender. Here are some key points about the Blender Game Engine:
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History and Development:
- The BGE was initially introduced in Blender 2.0 in 1998. Over the years, it evolved with improvements in physics, rendering, and scripting capabilities.
- It was developed by the Blender Foundation and the broader Blender community, leveraging the power of open-source development.
- In 2018, the Blender Foundation announced that the BGE would be removed from the Blender software in future releases to focus on core development areas like animation, modeling, and rendering.
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Features:
- Real-time Rendering: The BGE used real-time OpenGL rendering to simulate lighting, shadows, and other visual effects in real-time, which was crucial for game development.
- Physics Engine: It included a built-in physics engine for realistic simulation of collisions, gravity, and dynamics, using Bullet Physics.
- Scripting: Python scripting was supported, allowing for complex game logic and interactions.
- 3D Audio: The engine supported spatialized audio, enhancing the immersive experience of games.
- Network Play: Basic networking capabilities were present for multiplayer game development.
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Usage and Community:
- While not as widely used as professional game engines like Unreal Engine or Unity, the BGE had a niche community of developers and hobbyists who appreciated its integration with Blender's modeling tools.
- It was particularly popular for educational purposes, teaching game design and programming.
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Legacy:
- Although the BGE has been removed from official Blender releases, efforts like UPBGE (Uchronia Project Blender Game Engine) continue to develop and expand upon its codebase.
- The community has also created forks and standalone versions of the BGE, ensuring that its concepts and tools continue to be available for users interested in game development within Blender.
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