| Infinity Engine | |
|---|---|
 The Mortuary room in which the game Planescape: Torment opens. |
|
| Developer | BioWare |
| OS | Microsoft Windows |
| Genre | Game Engine |
| Website | http://www.bioware.com |
The Infinity Engine is a computer game engine which allows the creation of isometric computer role-playing games. It was developed by BioWare for Battleground Infinity which later became the first installment of the Baldur's Gate series. BioWare used it again in the subsequent installments of the series, but also licensed the engine to Interplay's Black Isle Studios. The Infinity Engine features real-time gameplay with quasi-real-time combat. The engine uses an isometric perspective with pre-rendered 2D backgrounds and sprite-based characters. Although graphically 2D for the most part, BG2 demonstrated that the engine could use OpenGL acceleration for visual effects. Designed for six character party-based adventuring by default, the Infinity Engine was the spiritual successor to the Gold Box Engine, and provided the basis for five Dungeons & Dragons licensed computer role-playing games plus additional expansion packs. It was succeeded by BioWare's Aurora Engine. The following games and expansions are powered by the Infinity Engine:
- Baldur's Gate (1998)
- Planescape: Torment (1999)
- Icewind Dale (2000)
- Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)
- Icewind Dale II (2002)
A compatible game engine recreation is in development under the name of GemRB. It runs on multiple platforms, including Linux, Mac OS X and Windows.
External links
- Infinity Engine Modlist
- The Infinity Engine File Format Hacking Project
- Infinity Engine Structures Description Project
- The Black Wyrm's Lair: Infinity Engine gaming and modding resources
- The Gibberlings 3 IE Modding Community
- Pocket Plane Group: Baldur's Gate 2 and other Infinity Engine modding resources
- Spellhold Studios: Infinity Engine modding resources
