Engine

From Data Crystal

[edit] The Game Engine

The 'Engine' of a game is not really an engine, per se. Instead, the term refers to a section of code or sections of code that run the most, and generally control how the rest of the game operates, such as deciding whether mario should be moving left, or going down that pipe below him, based on user input and the game's own data.

[edit] Examples

One example of a game engine is in a simple math game, where you are repeatedly asked questions, but lose if you get one wrong. The game engine is this case would be the code that dictates to you your question, and then loops through until you enter your answer. Next, the engine will evaluate your answer, and if correct, repeat itself indefinitely, until you get an answer wrong. At that point, the engine will switch to new code that lets you know you missed the question, and continues on from there.