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BabylonJS vs Unreal Engine: What are the differences?
Introduction
BabylonJS and Unreal Engine are two popular technologies used for game development and creating interactive 3D content. While both provide powerful tools and features, there are several key differences between them that set them apart.
Platform Compatibility: One major difference between BabylonJS and Unreal Engine is their platform compatibility. BabylonJS is a web-based framework that runs directly in the browser, allowing for easy deployment and accessibility across different devices and operating systems. On the other hand, Unreal Engine is a full-fledged game engine that requires installation on specific platforms such as Windows, Mac, or Linux.
Coding Languages: Another significant difference lies in the coding languages used. BabylonJS primarily uses JavaScript as its scripting language, making it more accessible to web developers who are already familiar with this language. On the other hand, Unreal Engine employs C++ as its primary programming language, which may require a steeper learning curve for developers new to this language.
Ease of Use: In terms of ease of use, BabylonJS is known for its simplicity and ease of getting started. It provides a clear and concise API, making it easier for developers to create interactive 3D content. Unreal Engine, on the other hand, is a more comprehensive tool with a steeper learning curve due to its extensive features and complex interface.
Performance and Visuals: When it comes to performance and visuals, Unreal Engine is often considered superior. It offers advanced rendering capabilities, advanced lighting systems, and detailed physics simulations, resulting in highly realistic graphical effects. BabylonJS, while still capable of producing impressive visuals, may not offer the same level of high-end graphical fidelity as Unreal Engine.
Asset Creation and Integration: Unreal Engine provides a complete suite of tools for asset creation and integration, including a powerful material editor, particle system editor, and animation tools. This allows for seamless integration of assets created in software like Maya or 3ds Max. BabylonJS, while providing basic asset support, may require additional third-party tools or scripts for more advanced asset creation and integration.
Community and Support: Both BabylonJS and Unreal Engine have active and supportive communities, but Unreal Engine's community is larger and more established. This means that finding tutorials, documentation, and community projects for Unreal Engine may be easier compared to BabylonJS.
In summary, BabylonJS is a web-based framework with a focus on simplicity and accessibility, using JavaScript as its primary language. On the other hand, Unreal Engine is a comprehensive game engine requiring installation on specific platforms, primarily using C++ for scripting and offering advanced features and visuals.
When I started to learn game development, I've tried to use Unity multiple times because it's the most popular option. But never get it worked because of the clunky UI which is very hard to understand for a new user. After some time, I've decided to try UE4 despite there was a lot of rumors that it's "heavy" or requires an AAA team. And suddenly it clicked, everything works as I expecting, UI is clear and much more powerfull, no need to build custom tools to work on the game itself. Blueprints are very helpful for beginners, C++ has a lot of "syntax-sugar" - macroses, a lot of convenient in-engine types for everything. Later while working with Unreal, I've realized it has very consistent roadmap with constant improvements and adding new features. At the same time, each major version update is painless so you can upgrade your project during development to get new features. UE4 is free to use with the full list of features and you only have to pay royalty after getting your first $1 million from the project (and that's just the default case, you can always discuss custom license with an upfront fee, if you want to).
I chose Unity over Unreal Engine because Unity has a more user friendly UI for beginners looking to learn game development. Additionally, as someone who uses a lot of online resources to learn new languages and tools, I found a lot of tutorials covering game development with Unity as the core engine. This doesn't mean Unreal is not a great choice for game development, I just personally found learning game development much smoother with the amount of resources available with Unity.
Pros of BabylonJS
Pros of Unreal Engine
- C++11
- Blueprints6
- PBR5
- Suitable for any projects4
- Source Available4
- Convenient and modern UI3
- Most Popular Game engine1
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Cons of BabylonJS
Cons of Unreal Engine
- Heavy6
- A lot of "heaviness" myths around1
