Learning AWS Lumberyard Game Development

260 Pages·2016·21.802 MB·English

by  Dr. Edward Lavieri

Learning AWS Lumberyard
Game Development

Create stunning 3D multiplayer games with integrated cloud-
based features

Dr. Edward Lavieri

BIRMINGHAM - MUMBAI
Learning AWS Lumberyard Game
Development

Copyright © 2016 Packt Publishing

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First published: October 2016
Production reference: 1211016
Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.
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ISBN 978-1-78646-086-8
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Credits
Author Copy Editor

Dr.Edward Lavieri Safis Editing
Reviewer Project Coordinator

Randy Lutcavich Ritika Manoj
Commissioning Editor Proofreader

Ashwin Nair Safis Editing
Acquisition Editor Indexer

Anurag Banerjee Tejal Daruwale Soni
Content Development Editor Graphics

Sachin Karnani Abhinash Sahu
Technical Editor Production Coordinator

Sachit Bedi Melwyn Dsa
About the Author
Dr. Edward Lavieri is a veteran game designer and developer with a strong academic
background. He earned a doctorate in computer science from Colorado Technical
University and three Master of Science degrees in Management Information Systems (Bowie
State University), Education – Instructional Design (Capella University), and Operations
Management (University of Arkansas), demonstrating his passion for academic pursuits.
He has developed and taught computer-related courses since 2002. Edward retired from the
U.S. Navy after 25 years as an Intelligence Specialist and Command Master Chief.
Edward has authored Adaptive Learning for Educational Game Design, Getting Started with
Unity 5, LiveCode Mobile Development Hotshot, LiveCode Mobile Development Cookbook, Software
Consulting: A Revolutionary Approach, and was the technical editor of the Excel Formulas and
Functions for Dummies book. He has also authored numerous computer science and
information systems college courses.

To IBB, my ride or die.
About the Reviewer
Randy Lutcavich is a software engineer focused on leveling up his skills in mobile and
gaming technology. As the cofounder of WiNF Studios LLC, he creates games for all. You
can follow him on Twitter at @WiNF_Randy.
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Table of Contents
Preface
1
Chapter 1: Welcome to the Lumberyard
7
What is Lumberyard? 7
System requirements 8
Downloading and installing Lumberyard 9
Launching Lumberyard 12
Introducing the Lumberyard Editor 16
The Welcome screen 16
Creating a new level 18
Editor user interface – overview 19
Pull-down main menu (area A) 20
Toolbars (areas B and C) 21
Viewport header (area D) 21
Rollup bar (area E) 21
Perspective viewport (area F) 21
Viewport controls (area G) 21
Console (area H) 22
Status footer (areas I and J) 22
Summary 22
Chapter 2: Planning Your Game in the Lumberyard
23
Beta software 24
Release notes 24
Beta 1.0 25
Beta 1.1 25
Beta 1.2 25
Beta 1.3 26
Beta 1.4 27
Overview of sample content 27
Starter content 28
getting-started-completed-level 29
start-section03-terrain 30
start-section04-lighting 31
start-section05-camera-playerstart 31
start-section06-designer-objects 32
start-section07-materials 32
start-section08-physics 33
start-section09-flowgraph-scripting 34
start-section10-audio 34
Sample games 34
Animation_Basic_Sample 35
Camera_Sample 35
Dont_Die 36
Movers_Sample 36
Trigger_Sample 37
UIEditor_Sample 38
Game design and game design documents 39
Game description 39
Game genre 39
Distribution platforms 40
User interface 40
Lumberyard's UI Editor 41
Creating a gameplay in Lumberyard 42
Creating immersive games in Lumberyard 43
Natural user controls 44
Game audio 44
Planning your Lumberyard development process 45
AI System 46
Amazon Web Services 46
Art asset creation 47
Audio system 47
Cinematics System 47
Flow Graph System 48
Geppetto 48
Mannequin Editor 48
Production team 48
Terrain Editor 48
Twitch ChatPlay system 53
UI Editor 53
Summary 53
Chapter 3: Constructing an Immersive 3D Game World
55
Your first level 56
Creating terrain 58
Creating terrain texture layers 58
Assigning materials to texture layers 59
Painting the terrain 59
Configuring the game world 62
Adding color 63
Painting our terrain 63
Adding vegetation 64
[ ii ]
Terrain sculpting 67
Terrain modification tools 68
Brush settings 69
Noise settings 69
Reposition 70
Making terrain modifications 70
Adding a water feature 71
Playing Mother Nature 73
Adding fog 74
Adding shadows 75
Adding sunlight 75
Testing your environment using Game Mode 77
Adding a camera 78
Game Mode 81
Controls 81
Summary 82
Chapter 4: Creating 3D Characters
83
Dissecting 3D characters 83
3D Character vocabulary 84
The process 85
Lumberyard's capabilities 86
FBX Importer 87
Geppetto 88
Exploring Geppetto 90
Attaching objects to characters 91
Creating your own character 93
Character definition file 93
Adding attachments 96
Summary 101
Chapter 5: Animating Your Characters
102
Basic animation concepts 102
Introducing Mannequin 103
Understanding the Mannequin file conventions 104
Mannequin file considerations 105
Getting familiar with Mannequin's UI 105
Area A – pull-down menus 106
File menu 107
Previewer menu 108
View menu 108
Tools menu 108
Area B – Browser pane 109
[ iii ]