The Drag[en]gine is an free software project with a highly modular structure based on the GLEM System. Its design is similar to an operating system. The entire functionality is provided by Modules comparable to device drivers. The engine itself acts like a system kernel managing modules, resources and abstracting the underlying system. Due to the loose coupling of the modules with the system and other modules it is very easy to exchange or improve them without interfering with the rest of the engine. As a result the modularity extends from the developer to the end user who can now choose the optimal module combination for his personal computer even down to per game setups ( and even while running a game ) if required. Developers do not have to worry anymore about low level concerns keeping them concentrated on their game. In contrary to other engines (including high-end commercial ones) the Drag[en]gine provides true 0-Day portability of games with no extra costs and no troubles neither for the developer nor the end user.

Legal Information

The Drag[en]gine Game Engine is dual licensed under L-GPL (for commercial projects and proprietary use like on consoles) and GPL (for free game project). This affects only game engine modules, launchers and IGDE editors. Game projects do not link against the game engine and thus are not affected by the license.


In short: By using Drag[en]gine you do not have to worry about licensing at all.

Advantages of the Drag[en]gine

... for the Game Designer:

  • Use your Scripting Language of choice.
  • Hardware is fully abstracted. You only have to know how your chosen Scripting Language works
  • Updating the engine and modules is handled by the respective teams. You only have to worry about updating your game
  • No need to write specific content for specific systems. The users choice of modules takes care of this for you

... for the Module Coder:

  • Play around with individual parts of the engine without disturbing any other part. Test easy and fast new algorithms or features
  • Various debugging features help to debug fast and easy modules even during run-time
  • Loose coupling and high encapsulation yields in a more stable game engine
  • Platform specific code is only handled in modules increasing portability

... for the Customer:

  • Choose the optimal combination of modules for your system. The Drag[en]gine adapts to match your system not the other way 'round!
  • Open standards and free file formats ensure unrestricted and easy modding using free software applications
  • Various Launchers allow you to use the Drag[en]gine for more than just gaming
  • The Crash Recovery System prevents a game from crashing to desktop. While CRS is running change parameters or entire modules and continue your game from where it went out for lunch.

For more information check out the Drag[en]gine Wiki.

Features

Due to the modular nature a fixed list of engine features as other engines provide is not possible since it all depends on the customer's choices. To avoid cluttering the summary find the features list in this article:

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A lot of work has been done to build on the feedback and play testing received so far. The various changes, improvements and additions will be also put into an upgrade Demo version of the game. The scope of the demo is going to stay the same but certain things from the full version will be put in.

The upgraded Demo version will be available in the course of this month. The actual date depends on a couple of factors, including how well the broader store presence works. In particular the Demo (and the game later on) will also be available from Itch.io, Epic Game Store and Microsoft Store. This is all being set up and tested right now which is taking a bit longer than expected.

driftspot


One of the new things you will be able to see in the Demo is Sean's Drifting ability. This allows her to get around places in a different ways opening up alternate path and solo missions. The video below shows the basic mechanics.

The tracing ability has been also reworked to better fit into the investigation flow as used for Georgo. Switching between the two has now additional benefits.

gamepad


Another big change has been adding support for using gamepads. The game is best played using mouse and keyboard but now you can play it also solely with a gamepad if you want to. Technically this would allow game console playing of the game but this is not a target platform yet.

The video with the drifting has been recorded playing with a gamepad.


Furthermore the release date has been set to 2024 Q1. This means this year is the last time you can vote for the game in the upcoming category. Make it count ;) and spread the word!

Indie of the Year Awards


Drag[en]gine 1.20 and DEMoCap 1.1 Released

Drag[en]gine 1.20 and DEMoCap 1.1 Released

News

New releases left and right with language, gamepad and project management improvements.

Drag[en]gine 1.19 Released

Drag[en]gine 1.19 Released

News 1 comment

New releases incoming with various improvements and fixes.

Drag[en]gine 1.18 and DEMoCap 1.0 Released

Drag[en]gine 1.18 and DEMoCap 1.0 Released

News 1 comment

New releases incoming with dynamic texture properties and the first non-early-access DEMoCap release!

Epsylon Demo Out Now

Epsylon Demo Out Now

Epsylon 1 comment

Jump in and learn the ropes of the game in this Demo Version.

Add game Games
Epsylon

Epsylon

Adventure

Epsylon - The Guardians of Xendron takes the player on a journey to a futuristic world investigating a very special Science-Fiction setup. With a team...

Comments  (0 - 10 of 103)
AKNightHawk
AKNightHawk

Hey bro. It has been a very long time since I posted to ya. Hope your good buddy. I just wanted to let ya know I added your engine link to my new Game Design Social Network.

Aknighthawks.space

If you want to come to the site and Register you could add a space for your engine. And maybe get more people to know about it. Anyway hope to hear from ya bud. Have a good one! :)

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Guest
Guest

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OrangeNero
OrangeNero

Hey, I'd like to ask, I remember a feature that randomizes textures so that vast open space doesn't look artificial. Really useful for oceans or deserts and something that plagues many AAA games.

What was the name of said feature again?

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Dragonlord Creator
Dragonlord

This can be done using the "variation.u" and "variation.v" texture properties: Developer.dragondreams.ch .

If enabled you can use layered textures (3D textures) for individual texture properties (like color). Right now *.png3d is supported or using constructed textures: Developer.dragondreams.ch .

*.png3d is by the way just a *.tar file with "zX.png" files inside where X is the layer/depth (0,1,...).

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stefos
stefos

I have been looking forward to seeing this engine working and downloadable but after all these years I do not see this happening. On a number of occasions you have stated you only have to clean up a few things and finalize before release, that was nearly 2 years ago.

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Dragonlord Creator
Dragonlord

Don't worry. The release is slated for within 2-3 weeks from now. What's left currently is brushing up the example project so people get a grasp of what can be done as well as brushing up the documentation (Wiki side). Then the public GIT repo will be set up with an initial cast of builds (linux and windows for the time being).

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stefos
stefos

Thanks for the great news looking forward!

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kogolbok
kogolbok

Hello. Can someone point me, where can I download Drag[en]gine? I can not find it on theyr website, can't find on their Wiki, nor could I find it here. No prebuilt engine, no modules, no sources, nothing. How can I try it?

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Dragonlord Creator
Dragonlord

It's not available to the public yet. There are a few things I need to clean up and finalize first before I open up the repository. I prefer a solid first release than endless patchwork.

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Treki26
Treki26

wow, this engine looks really promising. Sadly I use a mac and can't run it, Is there any plans for a mac version? It wouldn't be to hard to port it if it runs on Linux.

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Dragonlord Creator
Dragonlord

The engine is POSIX based. Only thing that has to be ported is the launcher as the rest would work out of the box. Only problem: I've no access to a mac. If anybody donates a mac strong enough to run advanced graphics it could be done. Otherwise I'm afraid not for the near future.

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Treki26
Treki26

Darn, the problem is that macs are fairly pricy, It would be hard to find a person willing to donate a up to date mac.
Also just wondering, what is the launcher written in?

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Dragonlord Creator
Dragonlord

They are written in C++. This is though not mandatory. Every language able to link to a C++ library can be used to write a launcher.

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