UNIGINE is a proprietary

cross-platform Within computing, cross-platform software (also called multi-platform software, platform-agnostic software, or platform-independent software) is computer software that is designed to work in several Computing platform, computing platforms. Some ...

game engine A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games which generally includes relevant libraries and support programs such as a level editor. The "engine" terminology is akin to the term " software engine" u ...

developed by

UNIGINE Company UNIGINE Company is a multinational software development company headquartered in Clemency, Luxembourg. It is known for developing the Unigine, UNIGINE Engine proprietary cross-platform middleware and advanced GPU benchmarks (Heaven Benchmark, H ...

used in simulators,

virtual reality Virtual reality (VR) is a Simulation, simulated experience that employs 3D near-eye displays and pose tracking to give the user an immersive feel of a virtual world. Applications of virtual reality include entertainment (particularly video gam ...

systems,

serious game A serious game or applied game is a game designed for a primary purpose other than pure entertainment. The "serious" adjective is generally prepended to refer to video games used by industries like defense, education, scientific exploration, he ...

s and visualization. It supports OpenGL 4,

Vulkan Vulkan is a cross-platform API and open standard for 3D graphics and computing. It was intended to address the shortcomings of OpenGL, and allow developers more control over the GPU. It is designed to support a wide variety of GPUs, CPUs and o ...

and

DirectX 12 Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with "Direct" ...

. UNIGINE Engine is a core technology for a lineup of benchmarks (CPU, GPU, power supply, cooling system), which are used by

overclockers In computing, overclocking is the practice of increasing the clock rate of a computer to exceed that certified by the manufacturer. Commonly, operating voltage is also increased to maintain a component's operational stability at accelerated sp ...

and technical media such as

Tom's Hardware ''Tom's Hardware'' is an online publication owned by Future plc and focused on technology. It was founded in 1996 by Thomas Pabst. It provides articles, news, price comparisons, videos and reviews on computer hardware and high technology. The s ...

, Linus Tech Tips,

PC Gamer ''PC Gamer'' is a magazine and website founded in the United Kingdom in 1993 devoted to PC gaming and published monthly by Future plc. The magazine has several regional editions, with the UK and US editions becoming the best selling PC games m ...

, and JayzTwoCents. UNIGINE benchmarks are also included as part of the

Phoronix Test Suite Phoronix Test Suite (PTS) is a free and open-source Benchmark (computing), benchmark software for Linux and other operating systems. The Phoronix Test Suite, developed by Michael Larabel and Matthew Tippett, has been endorsed by sites such as Li ...

for benchmarking purposes on

Linux Linux ( ) is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an kernel (operating system), operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically package manager, pac ...

and other systems.

UNIGINE 1

The first public release was the 0.3 version on May 4, 2005.

Platforms

UNIGINE 1 supported

Microsoft Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

OS X macOS, previously OS X and originally Mac OS X, is a Unix, Unix-based operating system developed and marketed by Apple Inc., Apple since 2001. It is the current operating system for Apple's Mac (computer), Mac computers. With ...

PlayStation 3 The PlayStation 3 (PS3) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE). It is the successor to the PlayStation 2, and both are part of the PlayStation brand of consoles. The PS3 was first released on ...

, Android, and

iOS Ios, Io or Nio (, ; ; locally Nios, Νιός) is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. Ios is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides. It is situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. It is about long an ...

. Experimental support for WebGL existed but was not included into the official SDK. UNIGINE 1 supported

DirectX 9 Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with "Direct" ...

DirectX 10 Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with "Direct" ...

, DirectX 11,

OpenGL OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a Language-independent specification, cross-language, cross-platform application programming interface (API) for rendering 2D computer graphics, 2D and 3D computer graphics, 3D vector graphics. The API is typic ...

OpenGL ES OpenGL for Embedded Systems (OpenGL ES or GLES) is a subset of the OpenGL computer graphics rendering application programming interface (API) for rendering 2D and 3D computer graphics such as those used by video games, typically hardware-accelerate ...

and

, while initial versions (v0.3x) only supported OpenGL. UNIGINE 1 provided C++, C#, and UnigineScript APIs for developers. It also supported the

shading languages Shading refers to the depiction of depth perception in 3D models (within the field of 3D computer graphics) or illustrations (in visual art) by varying the level of darkness. Shading tries to approximate local behavior of light on the object's ...

GLSL OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) is a high-level shading language with a syntax based on the C programming language. It was created by the OpenGL ARB (OpenGL Architecture Review Board) to give developers more direct control of the graphics pipe ...

and

HLSL The High-Level Shader Language or High-Level Shading Language (HLSL) is a proprietary shading language developed by Microsoft for the Direct3D 9 API to augment the shader assembly language, and went on to become the required shading language ...

Game features

UNIGINE 1 had support for large virtual scenarios and specific hardware required by professional simulators and enterprise VR systems, often called

s. Support for large virtual worlds was implemented via double precision of coordinates (64-bit per axis), zone-based background data streaming, and optional operations in

geographic coordinate system A geographic coordinate system (GCS) is a spherical coordinate system, spherical or geodetic coordinates, geodetic coordinate system for measuring and communicating position (geometry), positions directly on Earth as latitude and longitude. ...

(latitude, longitude, and elevation instead of X, Y, Z). Display output was implemented via multi-channel rendering (network-synchronized image generation of a single large image with several computers), which typical for professional simulators. The same system enabled support of multiple output devices with asymmetric projections (e.g.

CAVE Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's Planetary surface, surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance undergrou ...

). Curved screens with multiple projectors were also supported. UNIGINE 1 had stereoscopic output support for anaglyph rendering, separate images output,

Nvidia 3D Vision Nvidia 3D Vision (previously ''GeForce 3D Vision'') is a discontinued stereoscopy, stereoscopic gaming kit from Nvidia which consists of LC shutter glasses and Device driver, driver software which enables stereoscopic vision for any Direct3D game, ...

, and

virtual reality headsets A virtual reality headset (or VR headset) is a head-mounted device that uses 3D near-eye displays and positional tracking to provide a virtual reality environment for the user. VR headsets are widely used with VR video games, but they are als ...

. It also supported multi-monitor output.

Other features

UNIGINE rendered supported Shader model 5.0 with hardware

tessellation A tessellation or tiling is the covering of a surface, often a plane, using one or more geometric shapes, called ''tiles'', with no overlaps and no gaps. In mathematics, tessellation can be generalized to higher dimensions and a variety ...

DirectCompute Microsoft DirectCompute is an application programming interface (API) that supports running compute kernels on general-purpose computing on graphics processing units on Microsoft's Windows Vista, Windows 7 and later versions. DirectCompute is part ...

, and

OpenCL OpenCL (Open Computing Language) is a software framework, framework for writing programs that execute across heterogeneous computing, heterogeneous platforms consisting of central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units (GPUs), di ...

. It also used

screen space ambient occlusion Screen space ambient occlusion (SSAO) is a computer graphics technique for efficiently approximating the ambient occlusion effect in real time. It was developed by Vladimir Kajalin while working at Crytek and was used for the first time in 2007 by ...

and real-time

global illumination Global illumination (GI), or indirect illumination, is a group of algorithms used in 3D computer graphics that are meant to add more realistic lighting Lighting or illumination is the deliberate use of light to achieve practical or aest ...

. UNIGINE used a proprietary physics engine to process events such as

collision detection Collision detection is the computational problem of detecting an intersection of two or more objects in virtual space. More precisely, it deals with the questions of ''if'', ''when'' and ''where'' two or more objects intersect. Collision detect ...

, rigid body physics, and dynamical destruction of objects. It also used a proprietary engine for path finding and basic AI components. UNIGINE had features such as interactive 3D

GUI Gui or GUI may refer to: People Surname * Gui (surname), an ancient Chinese surname, ''xing'' * Bernard Gui (1261 or 1262–1331), inquisitor of the Dominican Order * Luigi Gui (1914–2010), Italian politician * Gui Minhai (born 1964), Ch ...

, video playback using

Theora Theora is a free lossy video compression format. It was developed by the Xiph.Org Foundation and distributed without licensing fees alongside their other free and open media projects, including the Vorbis audio format and the Ogg contai ...

codec, 3D audio system based on

OpenAL OpenAL (Open Audio Library) is a cross-platform audio application programming interface (API). It is designed for efficient rendering of multichannel three-dimensional positional audio. Its API style and conventions deliberately resemble those o ...

library, WYSIWYG scene editor (UNIGINE Editor).

UNIGINE 2

UNIGINE 2 was released on October 10, 2015. UNIGINE 2 has all features from UNIGINE 1 and transitioned from forward rendering to deferred rendering approach, PBR shading, and introduced new graphical technologies like geometry water, multi-layered volumetric clouds, SSRTGI and voxel-based lighting.

Platforms

UNIGINE 2 supports

and

(support stopped starting from 2.6 version). UNIGINE 2 also supports the following graphical APIs: DirectX 11,

4.x. Since version 2.16 UNIGINE experimentally supports

and

. There are 3 APIs for developers: C++, C#, Unigine Script. Supported Shader languages:

, UUSL (Unified UNIGINE Shader Language).

SSRTGI

Proprietary SSRTGI (Screen Space Ray-Traced Global Illumination) rendering technology was introduced in version 2.5. It was presented at

SIGGRAPH SIGGRAPH (Special Interest Group on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques) is an annual conference centered around computer graphics organized by ACM, starting in 1974 in Boulder, CO. The main conference has always been held in North ...

2017 Real-Time Live! event.

Development

The roots of UNIGINE are in the frustum.org open source project, which was initiated in 2002 by Alexander "Frustum" Zapryagaev, who is a co-founder (along with Denis Shergin, CEO) and ex-CTO of

Linux game competition

On November 25, 2010,

announced a competition to support Linux game development. They agreed to give away a free license of the UNIGINE engine to anyone willing to develop and release a game with a Linux native client, and would also grant the team a Windows license. The competition ran until December 10, 2010, with a considerable number of entries being submitted. Due to the unexpected response, UNIGINE decided to extend the offer to the three best applicants, with each getting full UNIGINE licenses. The winners were announced on December 13, 2010, with the developers selected being Kot-in-Action Creative Artel (who previously developed '' Steel Storm''), Gamepulp (who intend to make a puzzle platform), and MED-ART (who previously worked on '' Painkiller: Resurrection'').

UNIGINE-based projects

As of 2021, company claimed to have more than 250 B2B customers worldwide. Some companies that develop software for professional aircraft, ships & vehicle simulators use UNIGINE Engine as a base for the 3D & VR visualization.

Games

;Released * ''

Cradle Cradle or Cradles may refer to: * Cradle (bed) * Bassinet, a small bed, often on rockers, in which babies and small children sleep Mechanical devices * Cradle (circus act), or aerial cradle or casting cradle used in an aerial circus act * Crad ...

'' - released for Windows and Linux in 2015 *''

Oil Rush ''Oil Rush'' is a tower defense real-time strategy game developed by Unigine Corp, UNIGINE Holding S.à r.l. using their Unigine engine technology. Set in a flooded, post-apocalyptic world, the game consists of players fighting over control of t ...

'' - released for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X in 2012; released for iOS in 2013 *''Syndicates of Arkon'' - released for Windows in 2010 *''Tryst'' - released for Windows in 2012 *''Petshop'' - released for Windows and Mac in 2011 *''Sumoman'' - released for Windows and Linux in 2017 *''Demolicious'' - released for iOS in 2012 * ''Acro FS'' - aerobatic flight simulator (Steam page) *

Dual Universe ''Dual Universe'' is a first person based space simulation sandbox massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by the Paris-based game development studio, Novaquark. It is reported to combine elements of '' Eve Online'' and '' Sta ...

- released in 2022 ;Upcoming * ''Dilogus: The Winds of War'' * ''Node'' - VR shooter (Steam page) * ''El Somni Quas'' - MMORPG (Patreon page)

Simulation and visualization

* Metro Simulator by Smart Simulation * CarMaker 10.0 by IPG Automotive * NAUTIS maritime simulators by VSTEP * Train driver simulator by Oktal Sydac * Be-200 flight simulator * Klee 3D (3D visualization solution for digital marketing and research applications) * The visualization component of the analytical software complex developed for JSC "ALMAZ-ANTEY" MSDB", an affiliate of JSC "Concern "Almaz-Antey" * Real-time interactive architectural visualization projects of AI3D * Bell-206 Ranger rescue helicopter simulator * ''Magus ex Machina'' (3D animated movie) * SIMREX CDS, SIMREX FDS, SIMREX FTS car driving simulators by INNOSIMULATION * Real-time artworks by

John Gerrard (artist) John Gerrard, (born 20 July 1974) is an Irish artist, best known for his sculptures, which typically take the form of digital simulations displayed using real-time computer graphics. Education Gerrard received a BFA from The Ruskin School of ...

: Farm, Solar Reserve, Exercise, Western Flag (Spindletop, Texas), X. laevis (Spacelab) * Train simulators by SPECTR * DVS3D by GDI * RF-X flight simulator * NAVANTIS Ship Simulator * VR simulator for learning of computer vision for autonomous flight control at Daedalean AI

Benchmarks

UNIGINE Engine is used as a platform for a series of benchmarks, which can be used to determine the stability of PC hardware (CPU, GPU, power supply, cooling system) under extremely stressful conditions, as well as for overclocking: * Superposition Benchmark (featuring online leaderboards) - UNIGINE 2 (2017) * Valley Benchmark - UNIGINE 1 (2013) * Heaven Benchmark (the first DirectX 11 benchmark) - UNIGINE 1 (2009) * Tropics Benchmark - UNIGINE 1 (2008) * Sanctuary Benchmark - UNIGINE 1 (2007)

References

External links

* {{Video game engines, state=autocollapse Computer physics engines Game engines for Linux Middleware Unigine SDK Software that uses Qt Video game development Video game development software Video game development software for Linux Video game engines Video game IDE Virtual reality

UNIGINE 1

Platforms

Game features

Other features

UNIGINE 2

Platforms

SSRTGI

Development

Linux game competition

UNIGINE-based projects

Games

Simulation and visualization

Benchmarks

See also

References

External links