Amazon launches Lumberyard, a cross-platform 3D game engine that's free to use

[Shawn Knight]

Amazon has launched a new video game engine it's calling Lumberyard. The e-commerce giant says its free, cross-platform, 3D game engine will allow developers to make top-notch titles and tap into its bevy of web services (for a fee, of course).

Lumberyard is packed with hundreds of features including cloth physics, character and animation editors, a particle editor, a UI editor, audio tools, weather effects, vehicle systems, perception handling, camera frameworks and more. Amazon even says developers can add cloud-connected features like community news feeds, daily gifts and server-side combat resolution in minutes using a drag-and-drop interface.

As you'd expect, Lumberyard is fully integrated with Twitch. With the Twitch ChatPlay feature, viewers can use the chat interface to directly impact the game they are watching someone play in real-time. For example, a developer could make a game that lets Twitch watchers vote on game outcomes using simple chat commands. Another feature called Twitch JoinIn lets Twitch broadcasters invite viewers from their audience to play alongside them on-the-fly.

Amazon also detailed a new managed service for deploying , operating and scaling session-based multiplayer games called GameLift. The company promises it'll reduce the time required to create multiplayer back-ends from thousands of hours to just minutes.

Available as of today in beta, Lumberyard allows developers to build both PC and console games with support for mobile titles and virtual reality platforms coming soon. Lumberyard is free to use, including the source code. Amazon stresses that there aren't any seat fees, subscription fees or requirements to share revenue. Should a developer want to use AWS services, however, standard fees will apply.

GameLift, meanwhile, is priced at $1.50 per 1,000 Daily Active Users on top of the standard AWS fees for AWS services consumed.

If you're serious about creating that game you've already dreamed of or are an established developer looking to broaden your horizons, Lumberyard may be worth a look.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/63759-amazon-launches-lumberyard-cross-platform-3d-game-engine.html

 

[LNCPapa]

Downloading this now and will check it out tomorrow if I have time. I need to check the specs and see if it supports VR output for project builds.

 

[oldikes]

Definitely will look into this. Although I am wary of amazon. What are their rules for commercial use? do they try to own content you publish?

 

[Evernessince]

Definitely will look into this. Although I am wary of amazon. What are their rules for commercial use? do they try to own content you publish?

It's in the article as well but not revenue sharing requirement at all. Pretty huge and it looks well designed. Going to have to check this out.

 

[DJMIKE25]

Definitely going to check this out. Hope the mobile build feature comes soon.

 

[Arris]

Not sure about the terms and conditions though...
https://aws.amazon.com/service-terms/

57.10 Acceptable Use; Safety-Critical Systems. Your use of the Lumberyard Materials must comply with the AWS Acceptable Use Policy. The Lumberyard Materials are not intended for use with life-critical or safety-critical systems, such as use in operation of medical equipment, automated transportation systems, autonomous vehicles, aircraft or air traffic control, nuclear facilities, manned spacecraft, or military use in connection with live combat. However, this restriction will not apply in the event of the occurrence (certified by the United States Centers for Disease Control or successor body) of a widespread viral infection transmitted via bites or contact with bodily fluids that causes human corpses to reanimate and seek to consume living human flesh, blood, brain or nerve tissue and is likely to result in the fall of organized civilization.

 

[wastedkill]

Not sure about the terms and conditions though...
https://aws.amazon.com/service-terms/

57.10 Acceptable Use; Safety-Critical Systems. Your use of the Lumberyard Materials must comply with the AWS Acceptable Use Policy. The Lumberyard Materials are not intended for use with life-critical or safety-critical systems, such as use in operation of medical equipment, automated transportation systems, autonomous vehicles, aircraft or air traffic control, nuclear facilities, manned spacecraft, or military use in connection with live combat. However, this restriction will not apply in the event of the occurrence (certified by the United States Centers for Disease Control or successor body) of a widespread viral infection transmitted via bites or contact with bodily fluids that causes human corpses to reanimate and seek to consume living human flesh, blood, brain or nerve tissue and is likely to result in the fall of organized civilization.

OMG that is great! XD

Also if this had a blueprints type scripting then that would make me move to it as im not a programmer but I can atleast understand blueprints and how to create certain features, makes a nooby make a decent game.