When comparing ShiVa vs S2 engine HD, the Slant community recommends ShiVa for most people. In the question“What are the best 3D game engines?” ShiVa is ranked 35th while S2 engine HD is ranked 45th. The most important reason people chose ShiVa is:
The free ShiVa Web version is limited to web publication, but otherwise has the same capabilities as the $200 ShiVa Basic. Upgrading to the $1000 ShiVa Advanced brings tools geared toward team development and professional releases, such as integrated SVN support and profiling tools. All versions are royalty-free.
Specs
Ranked in these QuestionsQuestion Ranking
Pros
Pro Straightforward pricing with capable free option
The free ShiVa Web version is limited to web publication, but otherwise has the same capabilities as the $200 ShiVa Basic. Upgrading to the $1000 ShiVa Advanced brings tools geared toward team development and professional releases, such as integrated SVN support and profiling tools. All versions are royalty-free.
Pro Lua can be used for fast coding and C++ for optimization
All game logic can be scripted in Lua. ShiVa also provides a cross-compiler from Lua to C++, allowing Lua scripts to be further optimized and compiled to native code for performance.
Pro Great support
In addition to the help forum, Basic and Advanced licensees have chat and direct email access to the developers.
Pro Native c++ export
Pro C++ plugin development options
Pro Great performance on mobile
Smaller platform specific executables, native code export, good FPS even for complex scenes. ShiVa has great advanced optimization features, including PVS and LOD, decreasing number of drawcalls even in complex level. Platform specific profiles allow developers to customize size and compression level for textures and test those settings directly in editor. Other engine features, like lightning baking, mesh combining and GPU skinning will boost performance too.
Pro Built-in weather system
It is possible to edit weather conditions (rain, thunders,wind, clouds, night and day cycle) by simply moving some sliders.
Pro UI is intuitively laid out
Important functions can easily be seen and accessed, making the engine quite user friendly, even for beginners or those who are new to the engine.
Pro Great rendering
S2ENGINE HD rendering power is comparable to more famous engines like Cryengine and UE4.
Pro Complete terrain editor
S2ENGINE HD is integrated with a complete terrain editor that lets you sculpt, paint, add vegetation, and add splines like roads, rivers, fences, etc.
Pro Easy to use
Essential functions are very easy to use and understand.
Cons
Con ShiVa 2.0 has been worked on for nearly 4 years!
After 4 years of development and promises ShiVa 2.0 has JUST gotten into beta access.
Con Outdated
The current version 1.9.2 of ShiVa was released in December 2013. While there is active development on version 2.0, its beta is available only to paid licensees of the current version.
Con High Cost
Costs $200 for the basic version alone, which allows you to publish to any format other than web. The Team/Pro version costs $1000
Con Still in early access
Might be quite buggy.