Ignite (game engine)
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| Developer(s) | Electronic Arts |
|---|---|
| Platform | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One |
| Type | Game engine |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | www |
The Ignite game engine (styled as IGNITE) is a collection of video game technologies built by Electronic Arts and designed to make video game sports "alive".[1] The technology was announced at Microsoft's Xbox One reveal event in May 2013 alongside four upcoming EA Sports franchise games for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 using the technology: FIFA 14, EA Sports UFC, Madden NFL 25, and NBA Live 14.
Capabilities
Electronic Arts announced several features within the engine. Its Human Intelligence framework lets in-game players "think like real athletes", with the ability to make snap judgments, prepare for impact, and perform as a team player.[1] For example, the new artificial intelligence creates a sense of urgency for computer players towards the end of a match, who will rush for more shots on goal.[2] The True Player Motion framework makes players' bodies, limbs, and clothing each move according to physics.[1] The Living Worlds framework models the stadium audience members and their behaviors individually.[1] The audience will have expectations about the in-game sports matches, and will react accordingly to the match's progress.[2] The Ignite artificial intelligence is able to use the next-gen hardware to handle four times as many calculations per second than older EA Sports titles.[2] Animation detail is expected to improve "ten-fold".[2]
Electronic Arts plans to use Ignite for future sports games and Frostbite for future action games (with the exception of Rory McIlroy PGA Tour, which uses Frostbite instead of Ignite).[1] The company had previously shared technology internally before moving to develop all future sports games on the same engine.[1]
History
Ignite was publicly announced at Microsoft's May 2013 Xbox One reveal event.[1] Four upcoming EA Sports franchise games for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 were announced to be using the technology: FIFA 14, EA Sports UFC, Madden NFL 25, and NBA Live 14.[1] Electronic Arts showed pre-rendered sequences of the games at the reveal event instead of real-time gameplay.[3]
Games using the Ignite engine
| Title | Platform(s) | Release Date | Genre(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FIFA 14 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | November 2013 | Sports |
| Madden NFL 25 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | November 2013 | Sports |
| NBA Live 14 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | November 2013 | Sports |
| EA Sports UFC | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | June 2014 | Sports |
| Madden NFL 15 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | August 2014 | Sports |
| FIFA 15 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | September 2014 | Sports |
| NHL 15 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | September 2014 | Sports |
| NBA Live 15 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | October 2014 | Sports |
| Madden NFL 16 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | August 2015 | Sports |
| FIFA 16 | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One | September 2015 | Sports |
| NHL 16 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | September 2015 | Sports |
| EA Sports UFC 2 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One | March 2016 | Sports |
