Software:Zero (game engine)
Developer(s) | Pandemic Studios |
---|---|
Initial release | December 30, 1999 |
Platform | Windows, Mac OS X, GameCube, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Xbox, Xbox 360 |
Type | Game engine |
License | Privately owned |
Zero[1] is the common name for the evolution of the proprietary game engine created by Pandemic Studios. It was used first in the game Battlezone II and later used in several Star Wars games including the popular Battlefront series. Battlezone II: Combat Commander and Dark Reign 2 both feature an in-engine editor accessible via commands.[2] It was given additional 3D functionality with Dark Reign 2,[3] which was further improved upon for Army Men.[4]
The engine was revamped for Star Wars: The Clone Wars to accommodate consoles and third person gameplay.[1] The engine was again retooled for Star Wars and the level editor was made a separate entity from the game engine. A set of modding tools including ZeroEdit, the new level creation tool, were released for use with Star Wars: Battlefront on December 23, 2004. An updated version of the tools were released on February 2, 2006 for Star Wars: Battlefront II. Pandemic used Zero as their primary engine for several of their games developed in their Los Angeles, California studio. Havok physics engine capabilities were integrated with Zero for Mercenaries.[5] A new engine was built for 2008's Mercenaries 2: World in Flames.[2]
Games using Zero
- Battlezone II (1999)
- Dark Reign 2 (2000)
- Army Men (2002)
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2002)
- Star Wars: Battlefront (2004)
- Star Wars: Battlefront II (2005)
- Mercenaries (2005)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Star Wars: The Clone Wars "making of" video
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fahs, Travis (December 17, 2009). "IGN Presents the History of Pandemic". IGN. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/12/07/ign-presents-the-history-of-pandemic. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ↑ Kasavin, Greg (February 2, 2012). "Dark Reign 2 Impressions". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dark-reign-2-impressions/1100-2446514/. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ↑ Walker, Trey (November 9, 2011). "Hands-on Army Men: RTS". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/hands-onarmy-men-rts/1100-2823856/. Retrieved December 20, 2022.
- ↑ Kasavin, Greg (May 12, 2004). "Mercenaries E3 2004 Preshow Impressions". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/mercenaries-e3-2004-preshow-impressions/1100-6097405/?utm_source=gamerankings&utm_medium=partner&utm_content=news&utm_campaign=gamespace. Retrieved December 20, 2022.