MAGE: a flexible, plugin-based approach to game engine architecture

MAGE is an open-source game engine that uses third-party middleware components toprovide functionality for its game subsystems. This approach allows developers to choose best-of-breed components that meet their requirements, instead of being restricted by the componentsan individual game engine provides. These components can be superior to those that are part ofgame engines that are built from the ground up, since each component is specialized for onespecific function. This approach is implemented by providing an extra layer of abstractionbetween the game engine and the middleware, which is shown to add only a minor performancepenalty.