User interface (UI) is something that Microsoft is intimately familiar with, being an operating system and office program company first and foremost. Still, game UI is a very unique beast, and Microsoft Game Studios today announced a master license agreement with Scaleform Corporation to address the issue.
"We have been following GFx's development for the last two years, using it on selected properties and working with Scaleform on feature enhancements," said Jason Mangold, business manager at Microsoft Game Studios. "We have been impressed with the rapid internal adoption and are excited to take the next step in our business relationship, making it easier for MGS and our first-party developers to choose Scaleform."
Scaleform GFx uses an Adobe Flash solution that helps designers and artists create superior UI elements more quickly.
"We have worked closely with several Microsoft teams, including Lionhead, Rare, Ensemble and now Ruffian Games, developers of the highly anticipated Crackdown 2, to develop the Scaleform product line to a level that makes it attractive for the majority of their studios," said Brendan Iribe, president and CEO of Scaleform. "Microsoft was an early Scaleform customer; with this new master agreement we have streamlined the process for their teams to fully embrace GFx as the recommended user interface solution."
