Game engine
A game engine is a piece of software used to power and control a game. An engine is tasked with various different game-related mechanics such as graphics rendering, physics, sounds, scripting, animations, AI and resource management.
Usage in The Sims series
The Sims series utilizes a new, in-house, game engine for each base game, with expansion packs and stuff packs being built on the same engine for that specific game. For example, The Sims 2 introduced a 3D engine with visual and technical advances over its predecessor while it's sequel, The Sims 3 brought in a newer version of the engine that incorporated further visual enhancements with a fully fledged texture streaming solution to accommodate the open world.
Spin-off titles utilize a modified version of the newest available engine. An example of this is how The Sims Stories uses a modified version of the engine from The Sims 2 by decreasing the system requirements in order to make the game "laptop friendly". The Sims Medieval utilizes a modified version of the game engine from The Sims 3 with rendering enhancements.
Console titles used different engines, until The Sims 3 for console due to hardware differences. The Sims for console used a 3D rendering engine unlike its PC counterpart but limited gameplay to one floor per lot and implemented the object limiter. The Sims: Bustin' Out used an engine which featured visual enhancements on the original console engine as well as rendered load screens. The Urbz: Sims in the City up to The Sims 2: Castaway utilized a 3D engine which was incrementally updated with each game, The Sims 2 for console adding a "direct control" system allowing for third-person control over Sims as opposed to the traditional "point and click" system. The Sims 3 for console uses a "watered-down" version of the PC version's engine with the object limiter applied and the texture streaming solution omitted due to the console's RAM limitations but allows for multiple floors to be constructed and used on a lot.
Engine usage
Games using The Sims 2 Engine
- The Sims 2 (plus stuff packs and expansions)
- The Sims Life Stories
- The Sims Pet Stories
- The Sims Castaway Stories
Games using The Sims 3 Engine
- The Sims 3 (plus stuff packs and expansions)
- The Sims Medieval (plus The Sims Medieval: Pirates and Nobles)
