Silent Storm engine

File:Silent Storm pose.JPG presents the player with a large array of tactical options, including two sets of equipped weapons, numerous stances, and several different firing modes. Terrain elevation is also completely fluid, with smooth ramps, sloping embankments, flights of stairs and ladders (not pictured).]]

The engine features an advanced physics model{{cite web | last = Rausch | first = Allen | title = GameSpy: Silent Storm Review | publisher = GameSpy | date = February 25, 2004 | url = http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/silent-storm/494779p1.html | access-date = 2007-12-13 | archive-date = 2008-01-24 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080124212411/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/silent-storm/494779p1.html | url-status = live}} – nearly all structures are destructible,{{cite news | last = Coffey | first = Robert | title = Silent Storm | publisher = Computer Gaming World | date = April 2004 | url = http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_zdcgw/is_200404/ai_n9515299 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060301212210/http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_zdcgw/is_200404/ai_n9515299 | url-status = dead | archive-date = 2006-03-01 | access-date = 2007-12-13}} and ragdoll physics is employed for bodies with variation according to the precise velocity and impact of projectiles.{{cite web | last = Kasavin | first = Greg | title = Silent Storm (PC) | publisher = CNET | date = January 26, 2004 | url = http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-games/silent-storm-pc/4505-9696_7-30984281.html | access-date = 2007-12-13 | archive-date = 2008-01-01 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080101132534/http://reviews.cnet.com/pc-games/silent-storm-pc/4505-9696_7-30984281.html | url-status = live}} Three-dimensional mapping allows for obstruction calculations{{cite web | title = Q&A: Silent Storm developers | publisher =GameSpot | date = January 15, 2004 | url = http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/silentstorm/news_6086595.html | access-date = 2007-12-13 | archive-date = 2010-04-23 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100423171744/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/silentstorm/news_6086595.html | url-status = live}} and cover effects from any direction. Bullets ricochet, and their stopping power depends on the strength of the weapon. Also modeled are materials' effectiveness at stopping ordnance and visibility based on lighting conditions. All these effects are, however, exaggerated for a more cinematic experience (e.g., a hail of non-fatal bullets only makes the target shake, but a single fatal bullet can send the target flying), which has been praised by some reviewers as a feature. Reviewer Greg Kasavin commented that "pray and spray" tactics are quite viable, as the game uses silhouettes to mark enemies' estimated positions when they happen to lie out of eyesight but within earshot.

Mechanics common to role-playing video games are also featured, such as the ability for characters to be customized over time. The player's units gain experience points over time for completing actions, which can later be spent on purchasing new skills and abilities. The engine also uses an action point system, whereby players can select from various actions, such as firing modes, stances and forms of movement. A sequel, Silent Storm: Sentinels, introduced weapon degradation to the series.

The engine has been praised for its ability – commonly found in RTS – to allow users to select and issue orders to multiple units at once, and for allowing players to select which items to pick up from a list. Also praised were the quality of its graphics{{cite web | last = O'Hagan | first = Steve | title = PC Preview: Silent Storm | publisher =ComputerAndVideoGames.com | date = August 7, 2003 | url = http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=94816 | access-date = 2007-12-13 | archive-date = 2012-06-12 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120612091505/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/94816/previews/silent-storm/ | url-status = live}}{{cite web|title=Hammer & Sickle Review |publisher=Yahoo! Games |url=http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/pc/reviews/hammer---sickle-689c73.html |access-date=2007-12-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080316213928/http://uk.videogames.games.yahoo.com/pc/reviews/hammer---sickle-689c73.html |archive-date=2008-03-16}} and weapon and environmental sounds, though these sentiments were tempered as the engine began to age. Reviewers also appreciated the destructibility of the environment,{{cite web | title = G4 - Reviews - Silent Storm | publisher = X-Play | date = June 4, 2004 | url = http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/918/Silent_Storm.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130123142342/http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/reviews/918/Silent_Storm.html | url-status = dead | archive-date = January 23, 2013 | access-date =2007-12-13}} role-playing elements and "squad-based tactical combat".

Criticisms include the engine not taking into account the relative position of objects in 3-dimensional space when making selections using the mouse. For instance, when selecting and issuing actions to a group of soldiers, the selection may include soldiers that occupy different elevations, making the orders nonsensical. The engine has also been criticized for slow performance, even on top-end (at the time) computers.{{cite web | last = Di | first = Luo | title = Reviews: H&S - The Cold War gone horribly wrong. | publisher = 1UP.com | date = March 9, 2006 | url = http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3148681 | access-date = 2007-12-13}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}} Finally, the engine has been criticized for the length of time required for the artificial intelligence to complete its turns,{{cite web|last=Keller |first=Matt |title=Hammer & Sickle Review |website=PALGN |date=January 29, 2006 |url=http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3738 |access-date=2007-12-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309085737/http://palgn.com.au/article.php?id=3738 |archive-date=March 9, 2008}} a lack of any multiplayer support and the uncooperativeness of its camera controls.

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{{Silent Storm Engine |state=expanded}}

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Category:2003 software

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Category:Video game engines