SAGE (game engine)

Infobox Software
name = Strategy Action Game Engine



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developer = Westwood Studios, EA Los Angeles
latest_release_version =
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operating_system = Windows, Apple Macintosh
genre = Game engine
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website = [http://www.ea.com/ Electronic Arts Official Website]

SAGE (Strategy Action Game Engine) is a game engine used by Westwood Studios and Electronic Arts for real-time strategy games.

The first version of the engine was known as "W3D" ("Westwood 3D") was highly modified version of SurRender 3D engine, developed by Hybrid Graphics Ltd. [ [http://linuxpr.com/releases/2227.html|Majik 3D Project announces co-operation with Taika Technologies, Ltd.] - SurRender 3D is one of the leading 3D libraries on the market and is currently being used in many commercial titles such as Westwood Studios' Command & Conquer: Renegade.]

Westwood used W3D for ' and updated for '.

After Westwood was disolved by Electronic Arts the engine was further updated for , and renamed to "SAGE". The rendering part remains nearly identical to the W3D engine, but most other elements have been redesigned from the ground up.

The SAGE engine allows for dynamic lighting that casts realistic shadows and realistic reflections on most objects. High quality visual effects are now possible with the SAGE engine powering games. One example of a unique effect is the stop-motion camera. Blow up a gas station, for example, and the action will freeze in mid-explosion, and the camera will quickly pan around the environment, revealing pieces of debris and shrapnel suspended in the air, before the action promptly resumes. The SAGE engine also allows games to take place during different times of the day, with realistic lighting and shadow changes, etc.

An updated version of SAGE called RNA will be used for .

Games with the W3D engine

* - without any Modding SDK
*Earth & Beyond
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*Command & Conquer: Renegade 2 (canceled)

Games with the SAGE engine

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*
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*
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Games with the RNA engine

*

References