In this blog post, we’ll explore how game engines leverage the reusability of computer programs to make game development more efficient.
Computer games have recently been a hot topic in various fields. On the positive side, they are gaining attention as cultural content that is competitive in the global market; on the negative side, they are sometimes criticized as a distraction from schoolwork or daily life. While many people have enjoyed games for a long time, the number of gamers has exploded since the widespread adoption of smartphones. Currently, the gaming industry continues to grow across various platforms—including mobile, PC, and consoles—and has established itself as a leading cultural content industry alongside movies, comics, and music. So, how are these games made? Computer games are a type of computer program we commonly use—software designed to allow users to enjoy gaming. Among programs aimed at general users, games are often particularly large and complex. Developing such large-scale programs is no easy task. A game engine is what helps make this development process more efficient. Let’s take a look at how a game engine simplifies game development.
Computer games are similar to the programs we commonly refer to. They are computer programs designed to run games, where the computer processes predefined rules and data to produce results. The results of this processing are then rendered so that users can experience them in various ways. Commands entered by the user via a mouse, keyboard, gamepad, or other input devices are converted into events that occur within the game world, and the results are conveyed back to the user in forms they can perceive—such as visuals, sounds, and vibrations—through visual, auditory, and tactile feedback.
The process by which computer games operate appears very complex—and indeed, it is. However, there are concepts that help simplify the implementation of these processes. The process of creating computer programs is often likened to building a structure by stacking bricks. This is because small programs can be combined to create a single large program. This is very similar to the process of completing a building by stacking bricks one by one. Furthermore, since computer programs do not disappear once they are created, the same program can be reused repeatedly across multiple programs.
If you were to build a structure using bricks in the real world, you might have to compete with others due to a shortage of bricks. However, this problem does not arise with computer programs. This is because existing programs can be copied and reused as many times as needed. If this were not possible, program development would be much more difficult than it is today. Even if the necessary functionality already existed, it would have to be recreated from scratch every time it was needed in a different program. Furthermore, just as one must understand not only the exterior but also the internal structure of a building to construct it, one would have to know the entire internal structure of a program to use it. However, since we can simply take an existing program and use it, these problems are solved. This is precisely what is meant by the reusability of computer programs.
So, wouldn’t it be easier for anyone to create a game if the various functions needed to build a game were prepared in advance? This line of thinking led to the creation of game engines. A game engine is software that comes pre-equipped with the core functions needed to create games, as well as various features that make development more convenient. Developers can also create and integrate additional features as needed. This concept is easy to understand when compared to the process of building a house. If the bricks needed to build the master bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and living room are already prepared, it’s much easier to build a house. If you’re not satisfied with that, you can even craft new bricks yourself to create a study or a game room, allowing you to complete a house that better matches your vision.
Generally, a game engine includes graphics capabilities for rendering the game world on screen; a physics engine for calculating in-game physics; audio capabilities for playing sounds; artificial intelligence (AI) features that enable characters to act autonomously; and network capabilities that support multiple users playing the game together. It also provides various editing tools to help developers create the game world more easily. As explained earlier, you can create and add features that aren’t included in the game engine, and if you’re not satisfied with existing features, you can modify them for your own use. Just as you might replace the tires, tint the windows, or add audio equipment after purchasing a car, you can freely expand and modify a game engine to suit the specific characteristics of the game you’re developing.
As technology advances, game engines are also steadily evolving. The features that make up game engines are becoming increasingly diverse, and their performance is improving. Whereas in the past they provided only basic functions, today they offer a wide range of tools and features that make it easy to implement complex game systems. The process of creating virtual worlds is also becoming easier, and an environment is now emerging where even non-professional programmers can create games using the visual production tools provided by game engines. Game engines are not only core tools for producing cultural content but also crucial software driving the advancement of various technologies—such as computer graphics, physics simulation, and artificial intelligence—and will continue to evolve in the future.
