Infinity Engine

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Infinity Engine
The Mortuary room in which the game Planescape: Torment opens.
Developer:	Bioware
OS:	Microsoft Windows
Use:	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 a third person isometric perspective with pre-rendered 2D graphics. It supports six character party-based adventuring. 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 are powered by the Infinity Engine:

• Baldur's Gate (1998)
• Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999)
• Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)
• Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal (2001)
• Planescape: Torment (1999)
• Icewind Dale (2000)
• Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter (2001)
• Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter - Trials of the Luremaster (2001)
• 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.

[edit] External links

• The Infinity Engine File Format Hacking Project
• GemRB: Infinity Engine Emulator
• IESDP, the successor of IEFFHP