Considerations for Developing a Custom Game Engine

The Game Engine Debate

Recent discussions surrounding game engines, particularly following a controversy involving Unity, have led to varied opinions on engine selection. Some developers advocate for switching engines, while others point out the significant time investment required for such a transition. The idea of building a custom game engine has also emerged as an alternative.

Motivations for Custom Engine Development

The author, who has developed a personal game engine over three years and used it for multiple projects, outlines several reasons for creating a custom engine. These include the enjoyment of the learning process, the satisfaction derived from coding, implementing algorithms, and designing low-level systems. The author's engine has grown to approximately 100,000 lines of code and has been used for over a dozen jam games and one commercial release.

Avoiding External Frustrations

A significant motivation for developing a custom engine is to avoid frustrations commonly associated with third-party engines. Developers often encounter issues such as broken features, compatibility problems, and unaddressed long-standing requests in commercial engines. Building one's own engine provides direct control over its functionality and development, eliminating the need to rely on external teams for fixes or new features.