Max Payne

Max Payne,  was rendered using two different game engines for different platforms.  MAX-FX 2.0 for the windows version for the second one and RenderWare **See Below for More Renderware Info** for the PS2 and Xbox versions and all the first versions.  This third-person shooter video game was developed by the Finnish Remedy Entertainment and was produced by 3D Realms.

Influenced by Mad Max, and directed by George Miller, and the Hong Kong action Cinema Genre.  It was one of the first video games to incorporate the 'bullet time' effect into gameplay - and if you don't know what this is go and watch the matrix right now - SHAME ON YOU.  The game itself has a very gritty noir spirit and bears a strong resemblance to a detective novel as it continues to give cuts from you playing to a comic book style of story telling.  Its beautiful in more ways than one.

RenderWare (RW)

A 3D API (Application Programming Interface) - excuse the jargon - and graphics rendering engine using in computer games and Active Worlds.  RW is developed by Criterion Software Ltd which is owned by EA (Electronic Arts).  Competing with other libraries such as Argonaut's BRender and RenderMorpics' Reality Lab.

Renderware's principal commercial importance was in providing an off-the-shelf solution to the difficulties of PS2 graphics programming.  It was almost describable as 'Sony's DirectX' during this era.

Prior to its second version, an external script language was needed (eg MEL script in Maya) to take advantage of initial RenderWare.  RenderWare 2 has is own internal scripting language RWX. However, in RenderWare 3 the script was removed.  This next RenderWare (3) focused on a binary model file format.  As with the previous version, Criterion removed support for the RW3's formats in RenderWare 4.

Its a widely cross-platform program.  It ran on Windows as well as Apple Mac OS X based applications.

*RenderWare is no longer available for purchase but EA still honour old contracts however RW4 has supposedly now dissolved into the rest of EA internal tech.

Games that used RW:

Bully

Burnout Series

Call Of Duty Finest Hour

Cold Winter

GTA III, San Andrewas, Vice City

Manhunt

Max Payne 2: Fall of Max Payne

Mortal Kombat

NFL Blitz

Sonic and the Secret Rings

Stardom 3

The Sims 3

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4

...and many more but this just shows a range of the games and the capacity and power of the software.