View source for LithTech

{{Short description|Game engine}}
{{Infobox software
| name                   = LithTech
| logo                   = Jupiter Ex.PNG
| screenshot             = 
| caption                = 
| developer              = [[Monolith Productions]]
| latest release version = Firebird
| latest release date    = {{Start date and age|2017}}
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date    = 
| programming language   = 
| operating system       = 
| platform               = 
| genre                  = [[Game engine]]
| license                = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website                = {{URL|http://www.lith.com}}
}}

'''LithTech''' is a [[game engine]] developed by [[Monolith Productions]] and comparable with the [[Quake engine|Quake]] and [[Unreal Engine|Unreal]] engines. Monolith and a number of other [[video game developer]]s have used LithTech as the basis for their [[first-person shooter]] games.

Monolith initially developed the engine for [[Microsoft]] before purchasing the rights to it and licensing it to other developers via subsidiary LithTech Inc. The licensing company was renamed to Touchdown Entertainment in 2003 and later absorbed into [[Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment]] after its acquisition of Monolith.

The last version of LithTech offered for licensing was Jupiter EX, initially released in 2005, however Monolith has continued to use LithTech technology in their games, including ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]'', released in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Morgan|first1=Thomas|title=Face-Off: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-shadow-of-mordor-face-off|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=July 25, 2017|date=October 4, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lane|first1=Rick|title=SHOGO: Mobile Armor Division - Monolith's forgotten mech shooter|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-07-16-shogo-mobile-armor-division-monoliths-forgotten-mech-shooter|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=July 25, 2017|date=July 16, 2017}}</ref>

After the release of ''Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor'', the studio started working on a new engine (based on LithTech technology) for larger-scale battles called "Firebird".

==Versions==
===LithTech 1.0===
Originally the LithTech engine was supposed to be called DirectEngine, as [[Monolith Productions|Monolith]] was developing it for [[Microsoft]] to be included as a [[3D computer graphics|3D]] engine for use with Microsoft's [[DirectX]] technology. When Microsoft decided not to use the engine Monolith bought back the rights to it and continued development on their own.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Mullen|first1=Micheal|title=Monolith Buys Back Engine|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/monolith-buys-back-engine/1100-2463499|website=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|access-date=July 25, 2017|date=April 28, 2000}}</ref> They changed the engine's name to Lithtech and licensed it  to other companies. In the following years, the LithTech team was split off into a separate company, LithTech Inc., which was renamed Touchdown Entertainment in March 2003.<ref>{{cite web|title=Touchdown Entertainment, Inc.|url=http://www.mobygames.com/company/touchdown-entertainment-inc|website=MobyGames|publisher=Blue Flame Labs.|access-date=July 25, 2017}}</ref> In 2024 the Monolith website christened this incarnation as V1.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825205804/https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-date=25 August 2024|title=Our Tech|website=[[Monolith Productions]]|access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref>

===LithTech 2.0===
Starting with LithTech 2.0, LithTech Inc. began the process of creating many different versions of the engine. Monolith released their game ''[[No One Lives Forever]]'' (NOLF) featuring this version of the engine, however it was later revised to ''LithTech 2.2''. The game received an upgrade to LithTech 2.2 in a patch release. The LithTech team then continued to improve version 2.2 for its licensees, resulting in the 2.3 and 2.4 iterations.

LithTech cooperated with [[RealNetworks]] in developing a custom version of LithTech 2.2 called ''RealArcade LithTech'' (or LithTech ESD).  Among its features it supported [[streaming media]] for in-game billboards/ads, and could be used with RealNetworks<nowiki>'</nowiki> gaming site.  At one time, RealArcade LithTech could be licensed by developers if they signed an agreement with RealNetworks.  This engine was used on an internally developed title, ''[[Tex Atomic's Big Bot Battles]]''. In 2024 the Monolith website christened this incarnation as V2, and seemingly lumps in Talon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825205804/https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-date=25 August 2024|title=Our Tech|website=[[Monolith Productions]]|access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref>

===LithTech Talon===
LithTech Inc. developed a different engine specifically for Monolith's title, ''[[Aliens versus Predator 2]]''.  ''LithTech Talon'' was  based on LithTech 2.2, rather than LithTech 2.4. Because of this choice, LithTech 2.4, RealArcade LithTech, and LithTech Talon became largely incompatible with each other. However, reviewers still thought of it as inferior to [[Unreal Engine|Unreal]] or [[id Tech]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.planetavp.com/features/articles/sub-editorial-18.shtml
| title= AvP2: Primal Hunt Review
| date=2002-11-08
| publisher=planetavp.com
| quote=''It’s built on the same engine, LithTech’s Talon, so don’t expect much in the way of graphical upgrades. PH retains the sharp, colorful look of AvP2, with clean textures and effective lighting, but doesn’t quite hold up to some other recently released high-profile games''
| access-date=2009-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_avp2
| title= Aliens vs. Predator 2
| date=2002-01-10
| publisher=[[Eurogamer]]
| quote=''The same engine that powered No One Lives Forever, LithTech 2.5, is employed to handle the activities, but it's an odd choice. It isn't as visually stimulating as Quake III Arena - a game which is already well past its second birthday(...)and combined with some less than dramatic scenery (which is par for the course on LithTech apparently(...)''
| access-date=2009-07-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.gaming-age.com/cgi-bin/reviews/review.pl?sys=pc&game=nolf
 |title       = No One Lives Forever
 |publisher   = gaming-age.com
 |quote       = ''While LithTech 2.5 isn't as graphically stunning as the Quake and Unreal engines, it still is an attractive game that runs well even on modest hardware, which, in this reviewer's opinion, is the proverbial 'bottom line' when it comes to graphics''
 |access-date  = 2009-07-06
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120314143417/http://www.gaming-age.com/404.html
 |archive-date = 2012-03-14
}}</ref>

LithTech Talon's biggest selling point lay in its capable multiplayer support, more efficient when compared to prior versions of LithTech multiplayer that featured poor networking code. ''Aliens versus Predator 2'' features comprehensive multiplayer gameplay utilizing these improvements.

By 2003, Talon was still being licensed.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.gamingexcellence.com/pc/games/129/review.shtml
| title=  Purge Review
| date=2003-05-08
| publisher=gamingexcellence.com
| quote=''As for the graphics, Purge is not in any way revolutionary. It uses the outdated LithTech Talon engine (with slight modifications), and delivers graphics accordingly. The textures are low quality and fairly bland''
| access-date=2009-07-06}}</ref>

===LithTech 3.0===
LithTech 3.0 was being developed concurrently with Talon, but, along with its revisions, LithTech 3.x would largely be considered an internal version of the engine. While it was sent to licensees, no games were finished on it. The primary feature announced for LithTech 3.x was the Distributed Object System, a new system for [[MMORPG]]s and [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]].<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2700842.html
| title=GDC 2001: Looking at LithTech 3.0
| date=2001-03-24
| publisher=[[GameSpot]]
| quote=''The engine's multiplayer has been overhauled to add client-side prediction(...)As seen in games like Quake III, such prediction routines make network games much more playable for modem users''
| access-date=2009-07-05}}</ref> Unfortunately, LithTech 3.x was also plagued by a significant number of bugs and problems and all games developed with LithTech 3.x would eventually convert to the newer LithTech Jupiter or to Talon. 

The unreleased Monolith game ''Shogo II'' was being developed with this iteration of the LithTech engine.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/gdc-2001-shogo-2-revealed-2700369
| title=GDC 2001: Shogo 2 revealed?
| date=2001-03-22
| publisher=[[GameSpot]]
| quote=''...featured a giant anime-style robot presumed to be from a sequel to Shogo: Mobile Armor Division...Monolith's CEO Jason Hall stated plainly that the demo was designed to showcase the latest version of the LithTech engine [2001's LithTech 3.0]...''
| access-date=2012-09-05}}</ref>

===LithTech Discovery===
''LithTech Discovery'' was created with the [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG]] genre and its unique requirements in mind. Discovery improved upon the working technology from LithTech 2.2, but also included the Distributed Object System which was the centerpiece of LithTech 3.x. The only game title to be powered by LithTech Discovery was ''[[The Matrix Online]]'' by Monolith. The engine was never licensed to any other company.

===LithTech Jupiter===
LithTech Jupiter was a thorough overhaul of the LithTech technology, developed as an alternative to 3.x.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.gamespot.com/news/2824026.html
| title= LithTech Jupiter powering NOLF sequel
| date=2001-11-12
| publisher=[[GameSpot]]
| access-date=2009-07-06}}</ref> In some ways, the original version of Jupiter was even more technologically advanced than its competitors, since it supported [[Shader]] Model 1.x and included a visualization tool, whereas at the time Unreal and Quake only supported CPU-based shaders.{{Citation needed|date=November 2010}}

A custom version of Jupiter was made especially for Monolith, for use with their ''[[Tron 2.0]]'' game; this release was codenamed ''LithTech Triton''. Eventually, LithTech Triton's new features were merged back into LithTech Jupiter for licensees. In 2024 the Monolith website christened this incarnation as V3, with no mention of 3.0 or Discovery.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825205804/https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-date=25 August 2024|title=Our Tech|website=[[Monolith Productions]]|access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref>

===LithTech Jupiter EX===
As of 2005 the latest public iteration of the LithTech engine was ''Jupiter Extended'' (or Jupiter EX), which was featured in ''[[F.E.A.R. (video game)|F.E.A.R.]]'' and ''[[Condemned: Criminal Origins]]'',<ref name="fear">{{cite web
| url=http://ixbtlabs.com/articles2/video/tech_fear.html
| title=Graphics Technologies in Games: F.E.A.R
| date=2006-10-20
| publisher=ixbtlabs.com
| quote=''When LithTech 1.0 was released, it couldn't compare with more famous engines like Quake and Unreal. It lacked support for some modern graphics technologies, which were supported by the above-mentioned engines. In return, it was very easy to use, because it was initially developed as part of DirectX, to facilitate game development by third-party companies''
| access-date=2009-09-20}}</ref> both developed by Monolith. Compared to its precursor Jupiter, the Extended version was driven by a new DirectX 9 renderer and other advancements, including the addition of [[Havok (software)|Havok]] physics software for improved real-world physics simulation, dynamic per-pixel lighting, [[bump mapping]], normal mapping, and specular highlighting. Along with Havok's character dynamics, Jupiter EX also includes the "Havok Vehicle Kit", which adds support for common vehicle behavior. In 2024 the Monolith website christened this incarnation as V4 for the initial releases, and V5 for ''[[F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin]]'' and ''[[Condemned 2: Bloodshot]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825205804/https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-date=25 August 2024|title=Our Tech|website=[[Monolith Productions]]|access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref>

===LithTech Firebird===
''Firebird'' was created with purpose of larger-scale battles and the expansion of the Nemesis system for ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]''. In 2024 the Monolith website christened this incarnation as V7, with the engine used in ''[[Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor]]'' titled V6.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240825205804/https://lith.com/our-studio|archive-date=25 August 2024|title=Our Tech|website=[[Monolith Productions]]|access-date=2024-08-05}}</ref>

==Games using LithTech==
The following is a partial list of [[video game]]s built with the LithTech engine, arranged by the version of LithTech used.

===1.0===
* ''[[Shogo: Mobile Armor Division]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (1998)
* ''[[Blood II: The Chosen]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (1998)

A "[[Claw (video game)|Claw]] 3D" was prototyped on the engine.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://kevinlambert.com/claw/|title=Claw|first=Kevin|last=Lambert|access-date=2025-03-08|quotation="This was one of a few game prototypes I made in Monolith’s LithTech engine when we were deciding what games to work on next. Unfortunately, the platform game enthusiasts at Monolith were far fewer in number than the first person shooter folks and therefore other games continued to show a higher perceived ROI in internal pitch meetings than Claw 3D, all factors considered."}}</ref>

===1.5===
* ''[[TNN Outdoors Pro Hunter 2]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (1999)
* ''[[KISS: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child]]'' by Third Law Interactive (2000)

This is also the version of the engine used in the development of the LithTech Film Producer [[machinima]] tool by [[Strange Company]], most notably used in their short film "[[Ozymandius]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://betanews.com/2000/01/18/introducing-ozymandias/|title=Introducing Ozymandias|publisher=Beta News|date=January 8, 2000}}</ref> Later development switched over to LithTech 2.0 however.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_strangecompany|title=Hugh Hancock of Strange Company|publisher=[[Eurogamer]]|date=May 10, 2000}}</ref>

===2.0 and 2.2===
* ''[[No One Lives Forever]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2000)
* ''[[Sanity: Aiken's Artifact]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2000)
* ''[[Legends of Might and Magic]]'' by [[New World Computing]] (2001)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Online News - Legends of Might & Magic |journal=[[PC Zone]] |date=December 2000 |issue=96 |page=108 |url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_096_2000-12_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n107/mode/2up |publisher=[[Future plc]]}}</ref>
* ''[[Die Hard: Nakatomi Plaza]]'' by [[Piranha Games]] (2002)

===ESD===
* ''[[Tex Atomic's Big Bot Battles]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2001)
* ''[[Super Bubble Pop]]'' by [[Zombie Inc.|Zombie]] (2001)

===2.4===
* ''MTH Railking Model Railroad Simulator'' by IncaGold (2001)
* ''[[Global Operations]]'' by [[Barking Dog Studios]] (now known as [[Rockstar Vancouver]]) (2002)

===Talon===
* ''[[Aliens versus Predator 2]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] and Third Law Interactive (2001)
* ''[[Elite Forces WWII: Normandy]]'' by Third Law Interactive (2001)
* ''Elite Forces: WWII - Iwo Jima'' by Third Law Interactive (2001)
* ''[[Purge (game)|Purge]]'' by Tri-Synergy (2002)
* ''Western Outlaw: Wanted Dead or Alive''<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/westernoutlaw/review.html
| title=  Western Outlaw: Wanted Dead or Alive Review
| date=2003-12-22
| publisher=[[GameSpot]]
| quote=''According to the manual, Western Outlaw's graphics engine is the LithTech Talon system, which is the same one used in Aliens Versus Predator 2.''
| access-date=2009-07-06}}</ref> by Jarhead Games (2002)
* ''Nina: Agent Chronicles'' by [[City Interactive]] (2003)
* ''[[CTU: Marine Sharpshooter]]'' by Jarhead Games (2003)
* ''[[Marine Sharpshooter II: Jungle Warfare]]'' by Jarhead Games (2004)
* ''MARCH!: Offworld Recon'' by Buka Entertainment (2004)

===Jupiter===
* ''[[No One Lives Forever 2: A Spy In H.A.R.M.'s Way]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2002)
* ''[[Rubies of Eventide]]'' by Cyber Warrior (now Mnemosyne) (2002)
* ''Sniper: Path of Vengeance'' by [[Xicat Interactive, Inc.]] (2002)
* ''[[Contract J.A.C.K.]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2003)
* ''[[Gods and Generals (video game)|Gods and Generals]]'' by [[Anivision]] (2003)
* ''[[Tron 2.0]]'' (LithTech Triton) by [[Monolith Productions]] (2003)
* ''[[Mysterious Journey II|Mysterious Journey II: Chameleon]]'' by [[Detalion]] (2003)
* ''[[Mob Enforcer]]'' by Touchdown Entertainment (2004)
* ''[[Sentinel: Descendants in Time]]'' by [[Detalion]] (2004)
* ''[[GunGriffon: Allied Strike]]'' by [[Kama Digital Entertainment]] (2004)
* ''World War II: Sniper - Call to Victory'' by Jarhead Games (2005)
* ''Terrorist Takedown: Conflict in Mogadishu (A.K.A. Army Rangers: Mogadishu'' by Jarhead Games (2005)
* ''[[Sudden Attack]]'' by GameHi (2005)
* ''[[Face of Mankind]]'' by [[Duplex Systems]] (2006)
* ''[[Terrawars: New York Invasion]]'' by Ladyluck Digital Media (2006)
* ''[[Combat Arms (video game)|Combat Arms]]'' by Doobic Studios (2008)
* ''Cyclone BMX'' by Unknown creator (unknown year released)
* ''[[Mistmare]]'' by Arxel Tribe (2003)
* ''Wolfteam'' by [[Neosonyx]] (2007)

===Discovery===
* ''[[The Matrix Online]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2005)

===Jupiter EX===
* ''[[F.E.A.R. (computer game)|F.E.A.R.]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2005)
* ''[[Condemned: Criminal Origins]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2005)
* ''[[F.E.A.R. Extraction Point]]'' by [[TimeGate Studios]] (2006)
* ''[[F.E.A.R. Perseus Mandate]]'' by [[TimeGate Studios]] (2007)
* ''[[Crossfire (2007 video game)|Crossfire]]'' by [[Smilegate]] (2007)
* ''[[Condemned 2: Bloodshot]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2008)
* ''[[Terrorist Takedown 2: US Navy SEALs]]'' by [[City Interactive]] (2008)
* ''Mortyr: Operation Thunderstorm'' by [[City Interactive]] (2008)
* ''Code of Honor 2: Conspiracy Island'' by [[City Interactive]] (2008)
* ''[[SAS: Secure Tomorrow]]'' by [[City Interactive]] (2008)
* ''Royal Marines: Commando'' by [[City Interactive]] (2008)
* ''[[F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2009)
* ''Armed Forces Corp.'' by [[City Interactive]] (2009)
* ''Battlestrike: Shadow of Stalingrad'' aka. Battlestrike: Force of Resistance 2 by [[City Interactive]] (2009)
* ''Code of Honor 3: Desperate Measures'' by [[City Interactive]] (2009)
* ''Wolfschanze II'' by [[City Interactive]] (2009)
* ''Combat Zone: Special Forces'' by [[City Interactive]] (2010)
* ''Terrorist Takedown 3'' by [[City Interactive]] (2010)
* ''[[Gotham City Impostors]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2012)
* ''[[District 187: Sin Streets]]'' by [[Netmarble]] (2012)
* ''[[Combat Arms|Combat Arms: Reloaded]]'' by Doobic Studios (2017)
* ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor]]'' by [[Monolith Productions]] (2014) (Modified Lithtech Jupiter)<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2014-shadow-of-mordor-face-off
| title= Face-Off: Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
| publisher=[[Eurogamer]]
| quote=''Built on a new revision of Monolith Productions' LithTech engine...''
| date=2014-10-04
| access-date=2017-11-04}}</ref>

The cancelled [[Batman]] game "Project Apollo" was also being developed on the engine, later re-worked into ''Shadow of Mordor''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/gameplay-for-canceled-nolanverse-batman-game-that-became-middle-earth-shadow-of-mordor-unearthed|title=Gameplay for Canceled ‘Nolanverse’ Batman Game That Became Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor Unearthed|first=Wesley|last=Yin-Poole|date=2024-04-04|access-date=2025-03-08|publisher=[[IGN]]}}</ref>

===Firebird===
* ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]'' by Monolith Productions (2017)<ref>{{cite web
| url=https://www.pcinvasion.com/middle-earth-shadow-war-pc-technical-review
| title= Middle-Earth Shadow of War – PC Technical Review
| publisher=pcinvasion.com
| quote=''Shadow of War appears to once again use the (even more modified) LithTech engine, now rebranded as Firebird''
| date=2017-10-11
| access-date=2017-11-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2017-shadow-of-war-face-off
| title= Shadow of War highlights the strengths and weaknesses of PS4 Pro 
| publisher=[[Eurogamer]]
| quote=''In three years, it takes us from the Lithtech engine to the new Firebird Engine - upgraded code that now supports larger-scale battles, and an expanded Nemesis system''
| date=2017-10-14
| access-date=2017-11-04}}</ref>

===Unknown version===
* ''Vietnam: Black Ops'' by Fused Software (2000)
* ''Vietnam 2: Special Assignment'' by Single Cell Software (2001)
* ''Crisis Team: Ambulance Driver'' by Antidote Entertainment (2001)
* ''[[Alcatraz: Prison Escape]]'' by [[Zombie Inc.]] (2001)
* ''Elite Forces: Navy SEALs'' by Jarhead Games (2002)
* ''[[Might and Magic IX]]'' by [[New World Computing]] (2002)<ref>{{cite video game| title = Might and Magic IX | developer = New World Computing | publisher = The 3DO Company| date = 2002| platform = Windows | scene = Credits (main menu) | quote = This product contains the LITHTECH game engine licensed from LithTech, Inc. LITHTECH game engine (c) 1997-2000 Lithtech, Inc.}}</ref>
* ''Navy SEALs: Weapons of Mass Destruction'' by Jarhead Games (2003)
* ''[[Arthur's Quest: Battle for the Kingdom]]'' by 3LV Games (2003)
* ''[[Heat Project]]'' by Doobic (2003)
* ''Repulse'' by [[Aeria Games]] (2012)

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{Monolith games}}
{{Video game engines|state=autocollapse}}

[[Category:1998 software]]
[[Category:Game engines for Linux]]
[[Category:Video game engines]]
[[Category:Monolith Productions]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Games]]