Original author(s) Development status Active | ||
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Initial release LayaFlash 0.9.1 / May 20, 2015; 21 months ago (2015-05-20):. Stable release LayaAir 1.0.0 / June 30, 2016; 8 months ago (2016-06-30), LayaFlash 2.6.0 / February 27, 2016; 12 months ago (2016-02-27) Written in C, C++, Objective-C, Java (Runtime),ActionScript 3.0, JavaScript, TypeScript (API) | ||
LayaBox (simplified Chinese: 搜游网络科技; traditional Chinese: 搜游網絡科技; pinyin: Sōu Yóu Wǎngluò Kējì; literally: "platform game network technology"), also named Laya, is a freeware framework which include cross-platform game engine targeting apps and HTML5 web browsers, as well as online publishing and digital distribution services. First announced on the Global Mobile Game Confederation in March 2015, it offers a list of rich Internet application lightweight and stable, suitable for developers and publishers.
Contents
- History
- Name and mascot
- Technology and features
- LayaFlash
- LayaAir
- LayaPlayer
- LayaPublish
- LayaStore
- LayaOpen
- Distribution
- Awards and recognition
- References
Currently an hundred games officially use Laya engine solutions. The LayaPublish module purpose to linked them with a dozen of popular online store in China.
History
Founded in 2014 by Xie ChengHong, LayaBox was at the start mainly focused on high-performance transcompiling flash game coded in ActionScript 3.0 to HTML5/WebGL. It has since been extended to offer more tools and features for the developers with full support for commercialization.
During the Internation Game Developers Conference hold in November 2015, Xie ChengHong announced a new 3D engine is currently developing. 30 June 2016, LayaAir 1.0 is published on official website, with 3D and VR support features.
Name and mascot
The name "Layabox" was inspired from Laya village, nestled at the foot of the Himalaya. Logo's company, a shape of front primate face, referred to Yeti, which is a famous story in the region. Also lot of monasteries may contain a sacred box which remain inside some body part of this legendary creature like scalp or fur.
Another reason would be a Chinese play on words between ape (猿) and coders (程序员), which have the same pronunciation and writing in pinyin: «yuán».
Technology and features
The "Layabox Product Family" is a components suite solution designed to implement web/mobile game publishing, translating contents, profit monetization, 3rd party API and online distribution.
LayaFlash
LayaFlash is source-to-source compiler that runs as a back end to the LLVM compiler, making it the most suitable for ActionScript 3.0 programmers to release on HTML5 platform. It is also fully compatible with Flash IDE such as FlashBuilder, FDT, FlashDevelop or LayaAir IDE.
LayaAir
LayaAir is a dedicated open-source API for games and multimedia routines modules. It can be integrated from different ECMAScript standard language (ActionScript 3.0, JavaScript and TypeScript). LayaAir engine use his own 3D data format file. To handle importation of assets data from 3D graphics software, LayaBox provide a tools converter from FBX files. Also Unity plugin is available to convert "GameObject" into LayaModel files (*.lm).
The last core librairies released support:
LayaPlayer
Written in C and C++, LayaPlayer (codenamed Conch) is a runtime accelerator for Android and iOS to execute HTML5 games with low memory footprint, low CPU consumption, logic render with dual core running, GPU acceleration, video memory intelligent management and extremely optimized rendering flow with high FPS result. Supports Canvas, WebGL and DOM-type engine. HTML5 web-based applications, released with LayaPlayer, run on mobile at near-native speeds.
It is possible to call native librairy function from HTML5 code.
LayaPublish
Related to publication services, LayaPublish helps channels mainstream companies to acquire internet traffic. Available as RIA form, it gives also an opportunity for developers to spread their game visibility in wide portal
LayaStore
LayaStore is an embedded program which can run directly into native applications, it gives access to a full list of HTML5 APP games from LayaBox store. Introduced as a lightweight (20 Kb) add-on component to head into a monetization for developers. They can generate revenue on either a microtransaction or numbers of mobile installation basis service.
LayaOpen
LayaOpen is a platform exchange offers revenue management and leaderboard statistics activities for developers and channels distributors. Both can get product information and feedback on User data , Social sharing / analytics and monthly active users
Distribution
Developers Account lets users connect all of their game product across all distribution channels platform. Mobile marketing technology is the main target audiences.