I plan on creating a game engine to use when I start creating some simple 2d games. What I want to know is what exactly is a game engine? My understanding is that it is a collection of functions that draw certain shapes or images on the screen and translates them in certain ways. But are there any other aspects of a game engine that I should include, such as global variables or class definitions? Thanks for your help.

quote: My understanding is that it is a collection of functions that draw certain shapes or images on the screen and translates them in certain ways.

well, what you describe would be a graphics engine... a "game engine" would include that, as well as functions/classes for handling input (keyboard/mouse/whatever) and physics (collision detection, movement)... maybe even game logic.
since you want to program your own, you can put in/leave out anything you like...

--- krez (krezisback@aol.com)