Retro Engine
 | |
| Developer(s) | Christian Whitehead |
|---|---|
| Written in | C++ |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | eveningstar |
TheRetro Engine,also known as theRetro Software Development Kit,[1]is amultiplatformgame enginedeveloped by Australian programmerChristian Whitehead,best known for its use inSega'sSonic the Hedgehogseries.
Design
[edit]The Retro Engine is primarily tailored for creatingtwo-dimensionalgames like those released for 32-bit or below-era consoles, such as theSega Saturn,Sega Genesisor theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System.For this reason, the engine focuses more onraster graphicsandpalette manipulation,although it does feature support forwidescreengraphics and online functionality.[2]
History
[edit]Australian programmerChristian Whiteheadcreated the Retro Engine for use with a 2007fangameentitledRetro Sonic,which is based upon the originalSonicgames released for theSega Genesis.The game became notable after its release for its accuracy to the games, despite not being aROM hackormodificationto an existingSonicgame.[3]Retro Soniclater merged with two otherSonicfangames,Sonic XGandSonic Nexus,to formRetro Sonic Nexus.[4]
In 2009,Segaasked fans for ideas on a game to port toiOS.As a response, Whitehead produced a proof-of-concept video showing Sega's 1993Sega CDgameSonic CDrunning on aniPhone.[5]Sega later officially released the port in 2011 for various platforms, such as theXbox 360,PlayStation 3,Windows,iOS andAndroid.Whitehead, along with fellowSonicscene member Simon "Stealth" Thomley, were later commissioned to createremakesofSonic the HedgehogandSonic the Hedgehog 2using the engine, released for mobile platforms in 2013.[6][7]
In 2014, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the release ofSonic 3 & Knuckles,Whitehead and Thomley produced a proof-of-concept showing the game using the engine on an iPhone. Despite fan support, Sega did not approve of the project.[6]Thomley speculated that this was due to legal problems regarding the music.[8]In 2015, Whitehead, Thomley's studio Headcannon, and PagodaWest Games collaborated on an originalSonicgame using the Retro Engine titledSonic Mania,which released August 2017,[9][10]with DLC titledSonic Mania Plusbeing released in July 2018.[citation needed]
In January 2021, anopen-sourcedecompilation of the Retro Engine versions ofSonic CD,Sonic the Hedgehog,andSonic the Hedgehog 2were released, allowing the latter two games to be run natively on PC platforms.[11]The Retro Engine was also used for the compilationSonic Originsin 2022, which includes remakes ofSonic the Hedgehog,Sonic the Hedgehog 2,Sonic CD,andSonic 3 & Knuckles.[12][13]
Star Engine
[edit]In 2019, Whitehead, in collaboration with other members behindSonic Mania,founded a new video game studio namedEvening Star.In reference to the studio name, the Retro Engine initially had been renamed the Star Engine.[14][15]In October 2021, Evening Star announced development was underway for a game using the Star Engine, which was later revealed asPenny's Big Breakawayin June 2023.[16][17]In conjunction with this, it was announced that the Star Engine had been turned into a separate engine with a focus on 3D rendering, with the Retro Engine remaining as their 2D game engine.[1]
Games
[edit]| Year | Title | Developer(s) | Platform(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Retro Sonic | Christian Whitehead | Windows,Dreamcast |
| 2008 | Sonic Nexus | Christian Whitehead, Brad Flick, Hunter Bridges | Windows,Mac OS X |
| 2011 | Sonic CD | Original game bySega;adapted by Christian Whitehead and ported to PC and consoles byBlitWorks | Xbox 360,PlayStation 3,iOS,Android,Ouya,Windows,Apple TV,Windows Phone |
| 2013 | Sonic the Hedgehog | Adapted by Christian Whitehead and Headcannon from the original games bySonic TeamandSega Technical Institute | iOS,Android,Apple TV |
| Sonic the Hedgehog 2 | |||
| 2017 | Sonic Mania | Christian Whitehead, Headcannon, PagodaWest Games, Hyperkinetic Studios | Nintendo Switch,Xbox One,PlayStation 4,Windows |
| 2022 | Sonic Origins | Sonic Team,Sonic the HedgehogandSonic the Hedgehog 2adapted by Christian Whitehead and Headcannon,Sonic the Hedgehog CDadapted by Christian Whitehead,Sonic the Hedgehog 3 & Knucklesadapted by Headcannon[18] | Nintendo Switch,Xbox One,Xbox Series X/S,PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5,Windows |
Reception
[edit]Reviewers praised the Retro Engine for its performance, which has been called superior to simplyemulatingthe original games.TouchArcadehas referred to the remasters ofSonic the HedgehogandSonic the Hedgehog 2as "spectacular".[6]
Whitehead has named games such asRistar,Knuckles' Chaotix,andDynamite Headdy,as well as non-Sega games like theCastlevaniaseries, as others that would be possible to port to the engine.[3][5]
References
[edit]- ^ab"Evening Star - Technologies".
- ^Whitehead, Christian."Technologies: Retro Engine".Archived fromthe originalon 21 January 2017.Retrieved16 March2017.
- ^abMawson, Chris (2 April 2015)."Sonic the Hedgehog 3 Remastered Interview with Christian 'The Taxman' Whitehead".Power Up Gaming.Retrieved23 July2016.
- ^Ponce, Tony."The joy of fan games, pt. 2: Fan game heroes!".Destructoid.Retrieved19 March2017.
- ^abHodapp, Eli (29 July 2009)."Christian Whitehead On 'Sonic CD' and His Retro Engine".TouchArcade.Retrieved23 July2016.
- ^abcNelson, Jared (19 October 2014)."Hey Sega! This 'Sonic 3 & Knuckles' iOS Port Needs to Happen".TouchArcade.Retrieved23 July2016.
- ^"Sonic 2 Mobile".RetrievedAugust 31,2021.
- ^Thomley, Simon (February 9, 2015)."Regarding Sonic 3".Tumblr.RetrievedApril 30,2020.
- ^D'Argenio, Angelo."Do fan games have a future? AM2R, Sonic Mania, and the creative process".GameCrate.NewEgg.Retrieved16 August2017.
- ^"Kotaku on Hackers and Modders for Next Sonic Project".RetrievedAugust 31,2021.
- ^Orland, Kyle (20 January 2021)."PC fan port of early Sonic games lets you zoom the camera way, way out".Ars Technica.
- ^McWhertor, Michael (April 20, 2022)."Sega's Sonic Origins retro collection coming this June".Polygon.RetrievedApril 20,2022.
- ^Carter, Chris (April 20, 2022)."The Sonic Mania studio helped work on Sonic Origins".Destructoid.RetrievedApril 20,2022.
- ^"Evening Star - Technologies".Archived from the original on 28 February 2019.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^Batchelor, James (February 12, 2019)."Sonic Mania dev Christian Whitehead co-founds new studio Evening Star".GamesIndustry.biz.
- ^Stewart, Marcus (1 October 2021)."The Developers Behind Sonic Mania Are Working On An Original 3D Platformer".Game Informer.Retrieved3 October2021.
- ^Barker, Sammy (2023-06-21)."Sonic Mania Dev Reveals New PS5 Platformer Penny's Big Breakaway".Push Square.Retrieved2023-06-23.
- ^Whitehead, Christian [@CFWhitehead] (April 20, 2022)."I updated the engine to allow all versions to run in a collection, but all the game content in Origins has been worked on by SEGA and @Head_cannon"(Tweet).RetrievedApril 20,2022– viaTwitter.