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]
 A user interface in Borderlands, rendered using Scaleform GFx | |
| Original author(s) | Scaleform Corporation |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | Autodesk |
| Stable release | 4.6.34
|
| Written in | C++. 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 |
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
editScaleform GFx contains several core systems, including:
- a GPU-accelerated rendering engine for display objects, featuring a vector-to-triangle tessellation engine with an edge anti-aliasing algorithm that uses subpixel triangles to smooth the edges
- mesh rendering backends for DirectX and OpenGL APIs
- a mesh cache to manage tessellated triangle data
- a vector-graphic based font system that uses a single texture to dynamically cache glyphs on demand
- support for all major Flash display classes including Sprite, MovieClip, TextField and Filters (Glow, Bevel, DropShadow, etc.)
- optimized ActionScript 3[16] and ActionScript 2 virtual machines with garbage collector, as well as GFx-specific ActionScript extensions[17]
- audio support via a licensee-implementable C++ interface, with a default implementation supporting FMOD[18]
Additional components
editIn 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
editScaleform 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
editGame engines
edit- Source Engine (Scaleform was used as the former UI backend for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, prior to the game switching to Valve's in-house Panorama UI.[21])
- Unreal Engine 3[22] and UDK[23]
- Crytek CryEngine 2[24] and CryEngine 3
- Emergent Gamebryo[25] and LightSpeed[26]
- Sony PhyreEngine
- Forgelight Engine
- Infernal Engine
- BigWorld
- HeroEngine
- Trinigy Vision Engine
- Instinct Technology
- LithTech
- RAGE (used in the game Grand Theft Auto V for user interface elements including the map)
- RedEngine
Other middleware
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "Scaleform - Usage - Platforms". Autodesk. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
- ^ Frequently Asked Questions gameware.autodesk.com [dead link]
- ^ Brandon Boyer (April 19, 2007). "Scaleform GFx Comes to PSP, PS3". Gamasutra. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
- ^ "Autodesk Enters License Agreement with Nintendo - News". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ "A wealth of tools support for Windows Phone 8". MCV. October 31, 2012.
- ^ "Games Central: "Masthead Licenses Scaleform for Earthrise"". Archived from the original on July 11, 2011.
- ^ "Autodesk & Scaleform". Autodesk. Retrieved March 1, 2011.
- ^ "Autodesk Scaleform GFx Middleware Overview". Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Unreal Development Kit Game Design Cookbook, Packt Publishing Ltd, 22-Feb-2012
- ^ UDK Game Development, Cengage Learning, 2012
- ^ Beginning iOS 3D Unreal Games Development, Apress, 04-Apr-2012
- ^ CryENGINE Game Programming with C++, C#, and Lua, Packt Publishing Ltd, 22-Nov-2013
- ^ Game Coding Complete,
- ^ Cryengine 3 Game Development: Beginner's Guide, Packt Publishing Ltd, 21-Sep-2012
- ^ "How to quickly convert flash games into mobile apps".
- ^ Kris Graft. "Scaleform GFx 4 Supports Flash 10 AS3". Gamasutra. Retrieved October 1, 2010.
- ^ Scaleform 4.2 Extensions, Autodesk
- ^ Features. Audio gameware.autodesk.com [dead link]
- ^ Kris Graft. "New Scaleform Supports 3D Menus". Gamasutra. Retrieved April 7, 2010.
- ^ http://gameware.autodesk.com/scaleform/tools [bare URL]
- ^ "Counter-Strike: Global Offensive".
- ^ "Unreal Engine in major Scaleform UI deal". Develop. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ "Scaleform to be free for UDK". MCV. Develop. April 15, 2010. Retrieved May 15, 2010.
- ^ "CryEngine 2 Uses Scaleform GFx". GameSpot. Retrieved July 21, 2008.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Will Freeman (March 21, 2009). "Key middleware providers pledge support for Gamebryo LightSpeed". MCV. Develop. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
- ^ Chris Remo (March 12, 2009). "Scaleform announces CRI video codec partnership". Gamasutra. Retrieved August 14, 2009.
- ^ "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.