Scaleform GFx

Last updated

Scaleform GFx
Original author(s) Scaleform Corporation
Developer(s) Autodesk
Stable release
4.6.34
Written inC++. C++ API provided, [1] C# API available in Unity Plugin; [2] ActionScript virtual machine included
Platform Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, as well as Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, [3] PlayStation 4, PS Vita, [1] 3DS, [1] Wii, [1] Wii U, [4] Windows Phone, [5] iOS, [1] and Android [1]
Type Game middleware
Game development tool
License Proprietary
Website www.autodesk.com/products/scaleform/overview

Scaleform GFx is a discontinued game development middleware package, a vector graphics rendering engine used to display Adobe Flash-based user interfaces and HUDs for video games. [6] In March 2011, Autodesk acquired Scaleform Corporation [7] and Scaleform GFx became part of the Autodesk Gameware line of middleware. On July 12, 2018, Autodesk discontinued Scaleform GFx, and it is no longer available for purchase. [8]

Contents

Authors created user interfaces using Adobe Flash authoring tools, such as Adobe Animate (formerly Adobe Flash Professional); the resulting SWF files were used directly by the GFx libraries, providing similar functionality to the Adobe Flash Player but optimized for use within game engines.

Scaleform GFx supported all major platforms, including game consoles, mobile and PC operating systems. [1] Scaleform provides APIs for direct communication between Flash content and the game engine, and pre-built integrations for popular engines such as Unity, Unreal Engine, and CryENGINE. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Scaleform GFx could also be licensed for use as a standalone Flash runtime system on mobile platforms, [15] competing with Adobe AIR.

Features

Scaleform GFx contains several core systems, including:

Additional components

In addition to the engine, documentation, and samples, the Scaleform GFx SDK includes several additional components:

Scaleform 3Di
ActionScript 2 extensions allowing for three-dimensional location and rotation of Flash elements. Scaleform 4 includes support for ActionScript 3's built-in 3D capabilities, making 3Di unnecessary. [19]
Scaleform CLIK
Common Lightweight Interface Kit - easily customizable Flash UI component framework, including buttons, list boxes, drop down menus, sliders, trees and windows, created in collaboration with gskinner.com. These components are intended to be lightweight, while providing for bi-directional communication with the engine and other considerations for game development. [20]
Scaleform UI Kits
Prebuilt customizable examples including sample C++ engine and ActionScript code, as well as corresponding Flash content. These currently include an MMO UI, FPS HUD, and frontend menu kit.
Scaleform AMP
Analyzer for Memory and Performance - profiler tool used to analyze memory and performance of Flash content inside a game or 3D application while running on PC, console or mobiles. AMP is similar in purpose and design to Adobe Scout. AMP gives detailed stats for CPU usage, rendering, and memory, and includes a complete ActionScript profiler with function and per-line timing.

Separately-licensed add-ons

Scaleform also provided two optional add-ons for GFx:

Scaleform Video
Fully integrated video codec for Flash Video workflow support (currently powered by CRI Movie.)
Scaleform 3Di
Fully integrated Input Method Editor (IME) for Asian chat support.

Technology partners

Game engines

Other middleware

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adobe Flash</span> Discontinued multimedia platform used to add animation and interactivity to websites

Adobe Flash is a discontinued multimedia software platform used for production of animations, rich internet applications, desktop applications, mobile apps, mobile games, and embedded web browser video players.

A game engine is a software framework primarily designed for the development of video games and generally includes relevant libraries and support programs such as a level editor. The "engine" terminology is akin to the term "software engine" used more widely in the software industry.

SWF is a defunct Adobe Flash file format that was used for multimedia, vector graphics and ActionScript.

RenderWare is a video game engine developed by British game developer Criterion Software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unreal Engine 3</span> Game engine

Unreal Engine 3 (UE3) is the third version of Unreal Engine developed by Epic Games. Unreal Engine 3 was one of the first game engines to support multithreading. It used DirectX 9 as its baseline graphics API, simplifying its rendering code. The first games using UE3 were released at the end of 2006. It was succeeded by Unreal Engine 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Autodesk Softimage</span> Discontinued 3D graphics software

Autodesk Softimage, or simply Softimage was a 3D computer graphics application, for producing 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling, and computer animation. Now owned by Autodesk and formerly titled Softimage|XSI, the software has been predominantly used in the film, video game, and advertising industries for creating computer generated characters, objects, and environments.

SpeedTree is a group of vegetation programming and modeling software products developed and sold by Interactive Data Visualization, Inc. (IDV) that generates virtual foliage for animations, architecture and in real time for video games and demanding real time simulations.

gameswf(pronounced "game swiff") is an open-source public domain library for parsing and rendering SWF movies, using 3D hardware APIs for rendering. It is designed to be used as a UI library for video games.

FMOD is a proprietary sound effects engine and authoring tool for video games and applications developed by Firelight Technologies. It is able to play and mix sounds of diverse formats on many operating systems.

Kynapse is the artificial intelligence middleware product, developed by Kynogon, which was bought by Autodesk in 2008 and called Autodesk Kynapse. In 2011, it has been re-engineered and rebranded Autodesk Navigation.

HeroEngine is a 3D game engine and server technology platform originally developed by Simutronics Corporation specifically for building MMO-style games. At first developed for the company's own game Hero's Journey, the engine won multiple awards at tradeshows, and has since been licensed by other companies such as BioWare Austin.

Scaleform Corporation was a developer providing middleware for use in the video game industry. As a result of Autodesk's acquisition of the company in March 2011, Scaleform has become part of the Autodesk Gameware line of middleware. As of July 2017, Autodesk no longer makes Scaleform available for purchase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Away3D</span>

Away3D is an open-source platform for developing interactive 3D graphics for video games and applications, in Adobe Flash or HTML5. The platform consists of a 3D world editor, a 3D graphics engine, a 3D physics engine and a compressed 3D model file format (AWD).

Fork Particle is a computer graphics visual effects modeling and software development kit (SDK) developed and sold by Fork Particle, Inc. Fork Particle uses its real time particle system technology to simulate visual effects or particle effects such as CGI explosions, fire, rain, smoke, dust, etc. Fork Particle is used in video games and visual simulation software such as a flight simulator. It has been licensed to game developers for Windows, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

Autodesk Gameware is a discontinued middleware software suite developed by Autodesk. The suite contained tools that enable designers to create game lighting, character animation, low level path finding, high-level AI and advanced user interfaces. On July 12, 2017, Autodesk removed Scaleform, Beast, HumanIK, and Navigation from their online store, and announced the ending of support for the products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flare3D</span>

Flare3D is a framework for developing interactive three-dimensional (3D) graphics within Adobe Flash Player, Adobe Substance and Adobe AIR, written in ActionScript 3. Flare3D includes a 3D object editor and a 3D graphics engine for rendering 3D graphics. Flare3D runs on current web browsers utilizing the Adobe Flash Player, and uses Stage3D for GPU-accelerated rendering. Flare3D has not been under active development since late 2014.

Stage3D is an Adobe Flash Player API for rendering interactive 3D graphics with GPU-acceleration, within Flash games and applications. Flash Player or AIR applications written in ActionScript 3 may use Stage3D to render 3D graphics, and such applications run natively on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, Apple iOS and Google Android. Stage3D is similar in purpose and design to WebGL.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">OpenFL</span> Software framework for video games

OpenFL is a free and open-source software framework and platform for the creation of multi-platform applications and video games. OpenFL applications can be written in Haxe, JavaScript, or TypeScript, and may be published as standalone applications for several targets including iOS, Android, HTML5, Windows, macOS, Linux, WebAssembly, Flash, AIR, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, Xbox One, Wii U, TiVo, Raspberry Pi, and Node.js.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Scaleform - Usage - Platforms". Autodesk . Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  2. ↑ Frequently Asked Questionsgameware.autodesk.com Archived January 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ Brandon Boyer (April 19, 2007). "Scaleform GFx Comes to PSP, PS3". Gamasutra . Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  4. ↑ "Autodesk Enters License Agreement with Nintendo - News". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  5. ↑ "A wealth of tools support for Windows Phone 8". MCV. October 31, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Games Central: "Masthead Licenses Scaleform for Earthrise"". Archived from the original on July 11, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Autodesk & Scaleform". Autodesk. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Autodesk Scaleform GFx Middleware Overview" . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ Unreal Development Kit Game Design Cookbook, Packt Publishing Ltd, 22-Feb-2012
  10. ↑ UDK Game Development, Cengage Learning, 2012
  11. ↑ Beginning iOS 3D Unreal Games Development, Apress, 04-Apr-2012
  12. ↑ CryENGINE Game Programming with C++, C#, and Lua, Packt Publishing Ltd, 22-Nov-2013
  13. ↑ Game Coding Complete,
  14. ↑ Cryengine 3 Game Development: Beginner's Guide, Packt Publishing Ltd, 21-Sep-2012
  15. ↑ "How to quickly convert flash games into mobile apps".
  16. ↑ Kris Graft. "Scaleform GFx 4 Supports Flash 10 AS3". Gamasutra . Retrieved October 1, 2010.
  17. ↑ Scaleform 4.2 Extensions, Autodesk
  18. ↑ Features. Audiogameware.autodesk.com Archived January 17, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  19. ↑ Kris Graft. "New Scaleform Supports 3D Menus". Gamasutra . Retrieved April 7, 2010.
  20. ↑ http://gameware.autodesk.com/scaleform/tools [ bare URL ]
  21. ↑ "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive".
  22. ↑ "Unreal Engine in major Scaleform UI deal". Develop . Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  23. ↑ "Scaleform to be free for UDK". MCV. Develop. April 15, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
  24. ↑ "CryEngine 2 Uses Scaleform GFx". GameSpot . Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  25. ↑ "Emergent Fully Integrates Scaleform and SpeedTree in Gamebryo Under Company's Growing Partner Program". Reuters. February 5, 2008. Archived from the original on November 13, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
  26. ↑ Will Freeman (March 21, 2009). "Key middleware providers pledge support for Gamebryo LightSpeed". MCV. Develop . Retrieved August 14, 2009.
  27. ↑ Chris Remo (March 12, 2009). "Scaleform announces CRI video codec partnership". Gamasutra . Retrieved August 14, 2009.
  28. ↑ "Scaleform and GameSpy Launch Comprehensive In-Game Lobby Solution". IGN. February 13, 2008. Archived from the original on February 20, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.