Cross- (console) development formats / platform libraries?

Question

What frameworks / libraries are used to develop cross-console platform-games, for example, released on the Xbox 360 / PlayStation 3 at the same time? Or similarly, the Xbox Live / PlayStation Network / WiiWare right away?

Of course, such things are not free, but just ... what are they in the first place?

Answer 1

The main cross-platform commercial game engine / toolkit that I know of:

Unity - Includes a free 30-day trial for PC. Also supports browser hosting
Unreal - Quite popular and used in many names, for example, Mass Effect. They provide a free beta here
PhyreEngine - developed by SCEE, supports PC, PS3 and PSP - completely free, although you need to be a registered developer to use it, comes with full source code. Gaining popularity especially with PSN names that were used on flOw, color and Burn Burn Burn

Other than I heard:
Torque Engine - supports PC / XBox 360 / Ps3 / IPhone
Euphoria is more of an animation engine than a general game engine, although it was used in GTA IV and StarWars - The Force Unleashed

Many studios still develop their own cross-platform mechanisms, as a rule, because they have enough experience in the house to do this, but the investment costs, both in resources and in development, are significant, so many companies begin to look for solutions to intermediate level.