The Vicious Engine is a

game engine A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games and generally includes relevant libraries and support programs. The "engine" terminology is similar to the term "software engine" used in the software i ...

that offers functionality for rendering, sound, networking, physics, game play scripting, and lighting. It was developed by

Vicious Cycle Software Vicious Cycle Software was an American video game developer, video game development company based in Morrisville, North Carolina. History Vicious Cycle was founded in 2000 by Eric Peterson, Dave Ellis (game designer), Dave Ellis, Marc Racine an ...

, and was first released in January 2005. No additional third-party libraries are required, and all

source code In computing, source code, or simply code, is any collection of code, with or without comments, written using a human-readable programming language, usually as plain text. The source code of a program is specially designed to facilitate the wo ...

is included. It supports

GameCube The is a home video game console developed and released by Nintendo in Japan on September 14, 2001, in North America on November 18, 2001, and in PAL territories in 2002. It is the successor to the Nintendo 64 (1996), and predecessor of the Wii ...

Wii The Wii ( ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released on November 19, 2006, in North America and in December 2006 for most other Regional lockout, regions of the world. It is Nintendo's fifth major ho ...

WiiWare WiiWare was a service that allowed Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications could only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii S ...

Xbox Xbox is a video gaming brand created and owned by Microsoft. The brand consists of five video game consoles, as well as applications (games), streaming services, an online service by the name of Xbox network, and the development arm by the na ...

Xbox 360 The Xbox 360 is a home video game console developed by Microsoft. As the successor to the original Xbox, it is the second console in the Xbox series. It competed with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation ...

Xbox Live Arcade Xbox Live Arcade (XBLA) is a digital video game download service available through the Xbox Games Store, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360. It focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent ...

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October 2000, in Europe on 24 November 2000, and in Australia on 3 ...

PlayStation Portable The PlayStation Portable (PSP) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 12, 2004, in North America on March 24, 2005, and in PAL regions on September 1, 2005, ...

PlayStation Network PlayStation Network (PSN) is a digital media entertainment service provided by Sony Interactive Entertainment. Launched in November 2006, PSN was originally conceived for the PlayStation video game consoles, but soon extended to encompass smartp ...

, and

Microsoft Windows Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For example, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for serv ...

. The engine would become dormant as a part of the closure of Vicious Cycle Software in 2016.

Vicious Engine 2

Vicious Engine 2 (sometimes stylized as V^e2) has been optimized for eighth-generation consoles and high-end

PCs A personal computer (PC) is a multi-purpose microcomputer whose size, capabilities, and price make it feasible for individual use. Personal computers are intended to be operated directly by an end user, rather than by a computer expert or techn ...

. It was released on March 25, 2009, at the

Game Developers Conference The Game Developers Conference (GDC) is an annual conference for video game developers. The event includes an expo, networking events, and awards shows like the Game Developers Choice Awards and Independent Games Festival, and a variety of tutori ...

. It features improvements for next-generation consoles, especially the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. D3P and Vicious Cycle Software's '' Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard'' is the first retail title to use the new technology. In addition to the previous platforms, it supports PlayStation 3.

Games using the Vicious Engine

*'' 300: March to Glory'' (

2007 File:2007 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: Steve Jobs unveils Apple's first iPhone; TAM Airlines Flight 3054 overruns a runway and crashes into a gas station, killing almost 200 people; Former Pakistani Prime Minister of Pakistan, Pr ...

) *''

Alien Syndrome is a run and gun game developed by Sega and released in arcades in 1987. Gameplay Two players control two soldiers, named Ricky and Mary, who fight their way through large eight-way scrolling levels while rescuing their comrades who are being ...

'' (2007) *''

Curious George Curious George is a fictional monkey who is the title character of a series of popular children's picture books written by Margret and H. A. Rey. Various media, including films and TV shows, have been based upon the original book series. Geor ...

'' (2006) *''

Dead Head Fred is an action-adventure video game for the PlayStation Portable, developed by Vicious Cycle Software and published by D3 Publisher. It was released in North America on August 28, 2007, and is powered by Vicious Cycle's proprietary Vicious Engin ...

'' (2007) *''

Spy vs. Spy ''Spy vs. Spy'' is a wordless comic strip published in '' Mad'' magazine. It features two agents involved in stereotypical and comical espionage activities. One is dressed in white, and the other in black, but they are otherwise identical, and ...

'' (

2005 File:2005 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf of Mexico; the Funeral of Pope John Paul II is held in Vatican City; "Me at the zoo", the first video ever to be uploaded to YouTube; Eris was discovered in ...

) *'' Dora the Explorer: Journey to the Purple Planet'' (

) *'' Eat Lead: The Return of Matt Hazard'' (2009, PS3/X360) *'' Real Heroes: Firefighter'' (

2009 File:2009 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The vertical stabilizer of Air France Flight 447 is pulled out from the Atlantic Ocean; Barack Obama becomes the first African American to become President of the United States; 2009 Iran ...

, Wii/Xbox One/PS4/Nintendo Switch) *'' Matt Hazard: Blood Bath and Beyond'' (2010, PS3/X360) *''

Flushed Away ''Flushed Away'' is a 2006 computer-animated adventure comedy film directed by David Bowers and Sam Fell, produced by Cecil Kramer, David Sproxton, and Peter Lord, and written by Dick Clement, Ian La Frenais, Chris Lloyd, Joe Keenan and W ...

'' (2006, PS2/3DS) *''

Marvel Trading Card Game ''Marvel Trading Card Game'' is a video game for the Nintendo DS, Windows, and PlayStation Portable. It was developed by Vicious Cycle Software and 1st Playable Productions and published by Konami. The game is based on Upper Deck Entertainment, ...

'' (2007) *'' Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords'' (2007, PSP port) *'' Hilton Garden Inn: Ultimate Team Play'' (2009, PSP) *'' Desi Adda: Games of India'' (2009, PS2/PSP) *''

Minute to Win It ''Minute to Win It'' is an international game show franchise where contestants take part in a series of 60-second challenges that use objects that are commonly available around the house. The first version of ''Minute to Win It'' to air was t ...

'' (2010, Wii/360) *'' Freekscape: Escape From Hell'' (2010, PS3/PSP) *''

Despicable Me ''Despicable Me'' is a computer-animated media franchise centering on Gru, a reformed super-villain (who later becomes a father, husband, and secret agent), and his yellow-colored Minions. It is produced by Illumination and distributed by ...

'' (2010, PS3/PS2/PSP/Wii/NDS) *'' Man vs Wild: The Game'' (2011, PS3/360/Wii) *'' Earth Defense Force: Insect Armageddon'' (2011, PS3/360/PC) *'' Elements of Destruction'' (2008 PC/360) *''

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures ''Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures'', also known in Japan as is a computer-animated television series produced by 41 Entertainment, Arad Productions, a partnership between Sprite Animation Studios and OLM, Inc., and Bandai Namco Entertainm ...

'' (2013, PS3/WiiU/3DS/360/PC) *''

Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2 ''Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures 2'', also known in Japan as is a 2014 video game for the Wii U, Nintendo 3DS, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, released on October 14, 2014. It is the sequel to ''Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures''. The game rece ...

'' (2014, PS3/WiiU/3DS/360)

References

External links

*
Interview with the president of Vicious Cycle Software regarding Vicious Engine
from FiringSquard.com {{Video game engines Video game engines Vicious Engine games