Infinity Engine

Infinity Engine is a game engine which allows the creation of isometric role-playing video games. It was originally developed by BioWare for a prototype RTS game codenamed Battleground Infinity, which was ultimately re-engineered to become 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.

Infinity Engine features pausable realtime gameplay. The engine uses a three quarters perspective with pre-rendered 2D backgrounds and sprite-based characters. Although graphically 2D for the most part, Baldur's Gate II added the use of OpenGL to accelerate drawing. Designed for six-character party-based adventuring by default, the Infinity Engine was the spiritual successor to the Gold Box Engine,[citation needed] and provided the basis for five Dungeons & Dragons licensed role-playing video games plus additional expansion packs and a number of fanmade total conversion RPGs. It was succeeded by BioWare's Aurora Engine.

Games using Infinity Engine
The following games and expansions are powered by the Infinity Engine:


 * Baldur's Gate (1998)
 * Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast (1999)
 * Planescape: Torment (1999)
 * Icewind Dale (2000)
 * Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter (2001)
 * Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter: Trials of the Luremaster (2001)
 * Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (2000)
 * Baldur's Gate II: Throne of Bhaal (2001)
 * Icewind Dale II (2002)
 * Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition (2012)
 * Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition (2013)