Editing BioWare Corporation (section)

==Engines==
BioWare created the Infinity Engine, which was used as a core component for development of 2D computer role-playing games based on ''Dungeons & Dragons'', such as ''[[Baldur's Gate]]'' and ''[[Icewind Dale]]''. For their game ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'', launched in 2002, BioWare developed the Aurora Engine, the basis for a number of successful computer and console 3D RPGs thereafter.

''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'' shipped with a number of tools allowing users to create their own role-playing adventures for single and multiplayer online. The tools, using the Aurora Engine, have been adapted to many forms of gameplay and storytelling, with thousands of amateur and professional modules available on various web sites; some released for sale as premium content. ''[[Neverwinter Nights]]'' was a pioneering example of user-created game content commercially supported and distributed over the internet.

The Odyssey Engine was developed for the PC and Xbox game ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic]]'', which was based on the Aurora Engine. BioWare has recently developed the Eclipse Engine (a next generation RPG engine) for the game ''[[Dragon Age: Origins]]''.

After years of working with licensed content, particularly from the ''D&D'' world, BioWare began efforts to develop their own original, independent universes and franchises. ''Jade Empire'' was a step in this direction, as are their current projects: the multi-platform RPG ''Dragon Age: Origins'' and ''Mass Effect'' for Xbox 360 and PC, which utilizes the third version of the Unreal Engine.

BioWare maintained a limited oversight on Obsidian Entertainment's development of ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]'' and ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords]]''.

===Aurora Engine===
The Aurora Engine was the 3D successor to BioWare's earlier, 2D game engine, called the Infinity Engine. The engine allows for real-time lighting and shadows, as well as surround sound.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Hexus_13-1">[14]</sup> The first game released using the Aurora Engine was ''Neverwinter Nights'', and included an accompanying "Aurora toolset" for users to create their own content. The sequel, ''Neverwinter Nights 2'', developed by Obsidian Entertainment, features an updated version of BioWare's engine named the Electron engine. ''Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic'' and ''Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords'' (from [[Obsidian Entertainment]]) use an updated version of the [[Aurora Engine]] called the [[Odyssey Engine]]. Aurora was also used by CD Projekt Red in their game ''The Witcher'', although the rendering engine was written from scratch.

===Third party games using BioWare engines===
====[[Infinity Engine]]====
* ''[[Planescape: Torment]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Icewind Dale]]'' (2000)
** ''[[Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter]]'' (2001)
** ''[[Icewind Dale: Trials of the Luremaster]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Icewind Dale II]]'' (2002)

====[[Odyssey Engine]]====
* ''[[Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords]]'' (2004)

====[[Aurora Engine]]====
* ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2]]'' (2006)
** ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2: Mask of the Betrayer]]'' (2007)
** ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir]]'' (2008)
** ''[[Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate]]'' (2009)
* ''[[The Witcher]]'' (2007)