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An intro sequence is a non-interactive introductory sequence for a computer or video game. They were very often prerendered, hand drawn, or otherwise outside the main game engine. In recent years, sophisticated game engines have been able to render graphics of comparable quality to raytraced sequences, and so modern intro sequences often take place within the game engine (Unreal Tournament), or even as a scripted subsection of the game (Half Life).
The term is used almost exclusively in the game industry. The non-abbreviated term introductory sequence usually refers to the opening of a film. Indeed, the game term follows from the film term, as games use intro sequences to create a cinematic atmosphere.
Before the advent of powerful 3D video cards, the mismatch between what a game developer's workstation could render, and what the target home computer could render in real time, was large enough that games would nearly always include some kind of scene or mood setting intro sequence.
The interactive movie genre, and games like Myst, whose graphics are almost completely prerendered, are a separate phenomenon.
Notable games
Amiga CD32 games often included long, cinematic intro sequences, as the hardware was no more powerful than an Amiga 1200, but the 650Mb space on each CD could be easily filled with pre-rendered videos. The launch titles Microcosm and Captive 2 featured a long cinematic video, with Super Stardust and Alien Breed: Tower Assault following later.
'Frontier: Elite 2' was an early game to feature an intro sequence created entirely with the game engine.
Cut scenes
Closely related to intro sequences are cut scenes, where normal gameplay is suspended while a short piece of exposition plays out. Like intro sequences, cut scenes have tended to take place in the game engine recently (Half Life, Deus Ex).
See also
"Intro sequence"