Why is Subnautica using Unity, and not the Spark Engine?
Hugh
CameramanSan Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
CameramanSan Francisco, CA Join Date: 2010-04-18 Member: 71444NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Reinforced - Silver, Reinforced - Onos, WC 2013 - Shadow, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
Hi guys!
One of the most common questions I have seen about Subnautica over the last few days is:
"Why is Subnautica using Unity, and not the Spark Engine?"
Unity and Spark are game 'engines.' An engine is a collection of functions, such as a 3D rendering system, physics, sound, networking, an interface for gameplay logic, production tools and other bits and pieces. Engines provide different capabilities, use varying amounts of proprietary functionality (For example, many different engines use FMOD for sound and PhysX for physics), and are good at different things.
Spark was designed to be good at making a game like Natural Selection 2. It has characteristics that make it perfect for the requirements of that game. It was created (and continues to be worked on) by Max, working closely with Dushan, Steve (Steve now works on SN), and Brian.
Subnautica is a very different game to Natural Selection 2. It will place different demands on the engine that runs it. The team that is working on it will need to change, craft, cut and cajole whatever engine is used into a form that is most appropriate for Subnautica. The team working on Subnautica does not include anyone from Unknown Worlds that is currently working on Spark.
You can find out about who is working on Subnautica right here in this blog post. Because that team does not include the people working on Spark, it's not appropriate for Subnautica to use Spark. By using Unity for Subnautica, Spark can continue to develop in certain directions, while Subnautica develops in others. To use Spark for Subnautica would be to try and square peg a round hole.
Spark is being actively worked on every day. It is central to Unknown Worlds' future plans. It sometimes gets a bad rap because of misunderstandings about how it works, and it does not get the same amount of attention as Natural Selection 2. But along with NS2, it is one of UWE's two greatest creations and we are immensely proud of it. The capabilities it provides will be greatly valuable to UWE in the long term. Most importantly, it will allow us to deliver you great gaming experiences!
We won't have anything more to say about Spark for a long time, but I hope this post will serve as a useful answer as to why it is not being used for SN.
- Hugh
One of the most common questions I have seen about Subnautica over the last few days is:
"Why is Subnautica using Unity, and not the Spark Engine?"
Unity and Spark are game 'engines.' An engine is a collection of functions, such as a 3D rendering system, physics, sound, networking, an interface for gameplay logic, production tools and other bits and pieces. Engines provide different capabilities, use varying amounts of proprietary functionality (For example, many different engines use FMOD for sound and PhysX for physics), and are good at different things.
Spark was designed to be good at making a game like Natural Selection 2. It has characteristics that make it perfect for the requirements of that game. It was created (and continues to be worked on) by Max, working closely with Dushan, Steve (Steve now works on SN), and Brian.
Subnautica is a very different game to Natural Selection 2. It will place different demands on the engine that runs it. The team that is working on it will need to change, craft, cut and cajole whatever engine is used into a form that is most appropriate for Subnautica. The team working on Subnautica does not include anyone from Unknown Worlds that is currently working on Spark.
You can find out about who is working on Subnautica right here in this blog post. Because that team does not include the people working on Spark, it's not appropriate for Subnautica to use Spark. By using Unity for Subnautica, Spark can continue to develop in certain directions, while Subnautica develops in others. To use Spark for Subnautica would be to try and square peg a round hole.
Spark is being actively worked on every day. It is central to Unknown Worlds' future plans. It sometimes gets a bad rap because of misunderstandings about how it works, and it does not get the same amount of attention as Natural Selection 2. But along with NS2, it is one of UWE's two greatest creations and we are immensely proud of it. The capabilities it provides will be greatly valuable to UWE in the long term. Most importantly, it will allow us to deliver you great gaming experiences!
We won't have anything more to say about Spark for a long time, but I hope this post will serve as a useful answer as to why it is not being used for SN.
- Hugh
Comments
Haha, very funny sir
(No, I'm not making fun of you and I'm not talking about performance. But did you every try to create a map with spark?
But, since you bring it up, it is true that currently the Spark engine is designed around indoor environments, and does not have a terrain creation and editing feature. However that is really not a large factor in the reasons why we went with Unity for SN, as Max and those guys are more then capable of adding in those features to Spark if needed.
While we're discussing it, what are the main advantages to using the Spark engine for games apart from dynamic lighting (and whatever effect dynamic infestation is)?
Then what is the actual reason why Spark engine wasn't used?
http://fenglee.com/game/aog/
Which also uses the Unity Engine, I assume this is the vary same one?
*gasp* could it mean that SN could have the potential be a web game
Sorry to say this, I hope they do not make it a web game
Yep, same Unity. I doubt we'll do a web release though - too many textures
And...wtf is up with that game man.
Just started watching that anime I mentioned, it's really weird, but neat.
The story is: there are huge human-like giants attacking a city. It's up the to the players, tiny characters to use these dual grapple hook-shot utility belts to fling themselves into melee range, and hit the giant's weakspot onthe back of the neck, it's pretty hard, but pretty fun if you work together to distract and gang up and familiarize yourself with the mechanics.
Here's a vid of the guys from NODE playing it
Anyways, I'll leave it at that, don't want to talk about this game too much on the SN forums
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Unity_engine_games
StarForge is on Unity, if that dosent tell you how powerful it can be I dont know what will
I'd love to see a second game on the spark engine at some point too.
Rust is on Unity
Rust is terrible, I don't want it to be compared with SN.
Here are some non-game examples of visuals:
Image-based lighting webplayer demo
I'm pretty sure Kerbal Space Program uses Unity, but I'll need to double check that.
I personally would think that CryEngine (if you dont mind patents, copyright, etc.) would be a great engine to give "immersion" and eye-candy.
Both true. I would also argue that Unity is superior for prototyping and rapid iteration (ie. making a fun game), but that's only hearsay as I've never used cry engine or udk.
Unity is cheap but their licensing is really nasty. Want to upgrade to a new major version? Be prepared to buy all new licenses. Imho that's microsoft in the 90's it's not befitting a modern company.
But Unity seems to be built for rather rapid prototyping and easy programming, whilst looking not tooooo horrible.