Reality Check - The Magic of Middleware (Part 1)

This week on Reality Check, Lucy investigates how developers use middleware like SpeedTree and Umbra to create video games.

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Reality Check

Reality Check

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Flex those mental muscles and join Lucy James on a journey of discovery in Reality Check, the show that investigates the science behind your favourite games, and spawns a few wild theories of its own.

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BrunoBRS

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BrunoBRS

so are we past the point where we consider game engines like UE4 middleware, and just take "not making a game from scratch" for granted? i mean, plenty of studios (mostly japanese) still make their engines from the ground up (if not for each game, then every couple games).

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deactivated-58a78a043e9d4

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deactivated-58a78a043e9d4

@BrunoBRS: Middleware refers to software that lies between the base system and the end product. In the case of games, the engine is the base system.

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BrunoBRS

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BrunoBRS

@pongley: general use engines used to be referred as middleware though, because, much like the examples in the videos, they allow devs to cut a lot of effort, as they come with built-in physics and integration systems. just because the corner here being cut is programming doesn't mean it's not saving a lot of time (speaking as someone who hard coded a game once and now uses an engine).

my point was asking if we take "using an engine" for granted, and thus treating it as middleware is redundant. going by your reply, it seems so.

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hystavito

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hystavito

@BrunoBRS: Yeah you could say that, in the past when all games were coded from scratch the entrance of re-usable engines and especially of being able to buy them from other companies could have been considered a form of middleware.

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Ripper_TV

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Ripper_TV

One good episode in forever. Don't let that BALD MAN do another episode!!!

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BrunoBRS

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BrunoBRS

@Ripper_TV: cam left gamespot :(

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Ripper_TV

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Ripper_TV

@BrunoBRS: Maybe for the better? Don't remember any good videos with him.

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Doozie78

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Doozie78

@Ripper_TV said:

@BrunoBRS: Maybe for the better? Don't remember any good videos with him.

D=

I enjoyed many (all) of Cam's vids.

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Ripper_TV

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Ripper_TV

@doozie78: I've always felt that his episodes were all too shallow, not really useful in any way. He was probably going for a too broad of an audience.

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JohnyMyko

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JohnyMyko

@Ripper_TV: "Shallow"?! Really? Some of his episodes of Reality Check and The What If Machine were really heavy on research and scientific explanations.

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Ripper_TV

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Ripper_TV

@JohnyMyko: Can you point out specific ones? I didn't see all, but which I saw were very shallow.

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_Binx_

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_Binx_

@Ripper_TV: What, really? I think I've watched (and enjoyed) every single episode with Cam. This is a great bit.

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Ripper_TV

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Edited By Ripper_TV

@_Binx_: I've always felt that his episodes were all too shallow, not really useful in any way. He was probably going for a too broad of an audience.

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aliafterhour

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aliafterhour

wow, this was teh first real usefull ep for me, as I wan't to study computer sciences

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Cryio

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Cryio

@aliafterhour: Hehe, they really compensated for the lackluster "games are bigger and look better because more GPU and ram".

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Ripper_TV

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Ripper_TV

@aliafterhour: Exactly.

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theteaface

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theteaface

Thanks, Lucy.

Enjoying the all the tech on Reality Check. Oh, I did a rhyme!

He was a poet but then totally turned out he wasn't

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talegone

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Edited By talegone

One could make millions by inventing software that could create games in a few months instead years......hum I must try!!

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Damnation_6

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Damnation_6

@talegone: Well Speedtree does already do some of that.

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mboettcher

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mboettcher

What does scaleform do? I see that a lot.

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amdreallyfast

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amdreallyfast

@mboettcher: It's for creating "immersive menus": http://gameware.autodesk.com/scaleform

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Xerialstraz

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Xerialstraz

I actually had top check that its not Friday today lol

Top stuff anywayy.. I've always wanted to know how it all works!

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MJ12-Conspiracy

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MJ12-Conspiracy

good stuff.....didn't know Speedtree won awards.......

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Liliroots

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Edited By Liliroots

This episode felt a bit like product spotlight? idk maybe itll feel less like that if a competing/second middleware was included.

Another informative episode! i always wonder how do some developers churn out games so fast ie cod elderscroll

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hystavito

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Edited By hystavito

@Liliroots: I kinda wondered about that too, maybe they could have talked more about the underlying fundamentals rather than specific commercial implementations.

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iandizion713

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iandizion713

Ehh, random generated trees are overrated, ill stick to my Whispy Woods.

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sanform

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sanform

you guys are doing good work here!

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deactivated-58a78a043e9d4

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deactivated-58a78a043e9d4

@sanform: You mean wood work.

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MJ12-Conspiracy

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Edited By MJ12-Conspiracy

@pongley: Clever LOLZ

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luert

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luert

thanks for the information, it was quite something (=

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Delston

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Delston

Really interesting. Thanks for this cool information!

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Arthas045

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Arthas045

Lucy you are just a busy person these days! Hope more work came with more $$$

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SaintsRowLA

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SaintsRowLA

@Arthas045 said:

Lucy you are just a busy person these days! Hope more work came with more $$$

Even better yet. Since she lives in England and British money is worth more than American $$$, we hope it results in more £ £ £ for her.

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DrFlyntCoal

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Edited By DrFlyntCoal

Umbra is pretty damn amazing piece of software.

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