Is Rimworld a Game or a Game Engine?

[SteelHeart]

This is just a question that come to mind when you think of how easy it is to mod the game. the base game has some content and can be played on it`s own for some time, but it is so easy to effectually make whole new game.
Just look at wave survival mode, it is a mod that totally changes how you play.

[ZestyLemons]

Considering you can disable the core content like a mod, total conversions are totally possible. I guess I'd call the core content 'RimWorld' and the rest as the actual engine.

[Dr. Z]

I must admit this is the most interesting question I read for some time on the forums 

RimWorld is actually a game on it's own. Easy mod support was a priority fairly early in the developement as the game is programmed mostly by only one person, so content was what was missed the most. With every new Alpha the developer added new core game mechanics and some content to the game with the clear intention on the mod community to add more content to the game while he developes the underlying mechanics.

I can't find the quote right now but somewhere he wrote that he would do the things only he can do and we (the modders) do the things which would consume to much time for him to do.

[Tynan]

I'd say it could become a game engine but isn't. Just because there are still a lot of little hardcoded bits and pieces in the 'engine' code that are specific to RimWorld.

In the code, the game is split into the RimWorld and Verse namespaces. Verse is supposed to be the raw engine - but in many places it actually refers to RimWorld. Technically it shouldn't. If it didn't, I'd say that was a game engine.

So - yes and no.

[Caminha]

I'd say it could become a game engine but isn't. Just because there are still a lot of little hardcoded bits and pieces in the 'engine' code that are specific to RimWorld.

In the code, the game is split into the RimWorld and Verse namespaces. Verse is supposed to be the raw engine - but in many places it actually refers to RimWorld. Technically it shouldn't. If it didn't, I'd say that was a game engine.

So - yes and no.

So, yes and no. I guess that "total" conversion mods aren't possible. Eh, what a shame, it would open so much possibilities.

[Tynan]

Well you could get close to total. But yeah, there'd be some limit.