Scaleform GFx

Updated on Dec 29, 2024

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Original author(s) Scaleform Corporation Stable release 4.4		Developer(s) Autodesk
Written in C++. C++ API provided, C# API available in Unity Plugin; ActionScript virtual machine included Platform Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, as well as Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PS Vita, 3DS, Wii, Wii U, Windows Phone, iOS, and Android Type Game middlewareGame development tool

Scaleform GFx is a game development middleware package, a vector graphics rendering engine used to display Adobe Flash-based user interfaces and HUDs for video games. As a result of Autodesk's acquisition of Scaleform Corporation in March 2011, Scaleform GFx has become part of the Autodesk Gameware line of middleware.

Authors create user interfaces using Adobe Flash authoring tools, such as Adobe Flash Professional; the resulting SWF files can be used directly by the GFx libraries, providing similar functionality to the Adobe Flash Player but optimized for use within game engines.

All major platforms are supported, including game consoles, mobile and PC operating systems. 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. Scaleform GFx can also be licensed for use as a standalone Flash runtime system on mobile platforms, competing with Adobe AIR.

Features

Scaleform 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 and ActionScript 2 virtual machines with garbage collector, as well as GFx-specific ActionScript extensions

audio support via a licensee-implementable C++ interface, with a default implementation supporting FMOD

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.

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.

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.