Crystal Tools

Infobox Software
name = Crystal Tools



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developer = Square Enix
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platform = Cross-platform
genre = Game Engine
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website = [http://www.square-enix.com/ Square Enix's Global Website] The Crystal Tools engine, originally named the White Engine, is a game engine built by Square Enix to be used on all seventh generation game consoles; the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Wii and with Microsoft Windows PCs. [cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-square-enix-unveils-crystal-tools-engine/|title=GDC08: Square Enix unveils Crystal Tools engine|author=Andrew Yoon|publisher=Joystiq|date=2008-02-22|accessdate=2008-07-05]

"Crystal Tools" was created - as stated by Square Enix character designer - Tetsuya Nomura - in the switch from the "PlayStation 2" to the "PlayStation 3" during the development of Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII ("the first titles being developed using the engine along with an MMORPG codnamed Rapture"citeweb|url=http://ffhybrid.net/news/story/story.php?id=481&tag=final-fantasy-xiii|title=Final Fantasy XIII|accessdate=2006-11-15] ) with Nomura commenting that in the PlayStation 3 switch, "the hurdles are greater than they were in the move from the PS1 to the PS2" [ [http://finalfantasy-xiii.net/2008/02/22/white-engine-confirmed-multiplatform-and-now-crystal-tools.html Final Fantasy XIII » Versus » Agito ~ FinalFantasy-XIII.net ] ]

One of the main aspects of the engine is that it allows highly detailed CGI to be rendered in real-time. Nomura has commented that the engine will be able "to recreate battle scenes reminiscent of ." [citeweb|url=http://www.ps3land.com/article-977.php|title=New Final Fantasy XIII/Versus details!|author=Justin Pinter|accessdate=2006-11-15] It also handles advanced audio processing, cinematic cut-scene transition, physics effects calculations and special effects rendering.Fact|date=September 2007 The engine reportedly uses four of the six synergistic processing elements that are available to games running on the Cell processor, to achieve near-pre-rendered CGI quality in realtime.citeweb|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=15400|title=White Engine cross-platform|accessdate=2007-09-06]

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