Ebb Works

Sandbox 3 version 1.1 and New project section live on CryDev

The Ebb — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:18:38 +0000

The folks a t Crytek have a released a new update to the Sandbox 3 1.1 editor which is based off the CryENGINE 3.3.6 code base. The list of changes is immense and can be found here. There several notable changes fixing issues specific to the 64bit version of the editor and many changes to the engine. They added more example assets including my favorite a “new outdoor toilet asset for Forest” in case you find yourself out in the middle of nowhere placing objects and just cannot make it back to town. The most notable addtion to the sand box editor this go around would be is integration with the CryDev project database.

The new project database is an innovative approach to how indie teams can work. You set up a team, then set up your project(s) and begin recruiting talent to help realize your vision. The system allows you to set up your team page and invite other CryDev members to the team. You may have multiple projects running but the system allows you to add folks in to each project separately so if you have a super secret project your working on with your closest friends you can set it up so they are the only ones that have access to it. This is an exciting approach that I have not seen done before by an engine vendor and I am looking forward to setting up Ebb Works Design as a team and playing about with the project management tools.

P roject Main Page – Go here to get started with your CryDev project.

New Horizons for Ebb Works Design

The Ebb — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:31:45 +0000

At the start of this year I announced that I would be taking the Ebb Works Design (EWD) in a new direction. I invested a great deal of time in learning and asset creation for the Unity 3D platform and I learned allot. The scope of my aspirations as a designer have expanded in the interim and new horizons have presented them selves to me. When the announcement was made that the Crytek would be releasing a free indie SDK with all the tools to the general public I knew it was time to change direction. For several months I have been hard at work familiarizing my self with the Sandbox tool set with the intent to change my focus to the CryENGINE 3. To my surprise, having invested so much time into Unity, I found that this had prepared me well for the transition to the CryENGINE 3, I found the task was strikingly fluid, so much so that when a new opportunity came to bear I jumped on it and it payed off.

A few weeks back the folks at Crymod.com brought me on as a new writer and I have started to mingle with the community and in the process have learned far more than I would have had I not taken the chance that they would accept my application as a writer. Fast forward to today Crydev.com is fresh out of the gate and now I can begin focusing on the projects that have been in planing since my Dev partner and I decided that CE 3 was the way to go.

I have started work with an good friend who currently works in the gaming industry on a brand new IP. We are not in the position to talk publicly about the project as it is still too early in the design, but when it’s time we will share. Additionally I will be starting a new personal project I have decided to give the code name Blueberries which I will talk more on in a future news post. I will continue my writing gig with Crydev to help build up the Indie presence in that community with the added benifit of the continual learning curve this work provides.

I cannot say it enough now is the greatest time to be in game development. The playing field is beging to level. The independent game development teams are on the rise. The dev pipeline for game creation is getting faster and faster is only being bolstered by bold moves like the one Crytek has made with the release of the CE3 Free SDK. To top it all off it is easier now more than ever to distribute and monitize your work. The sky is no longer the limit, we are now only limited by our imaginations and the depth of our collective creativity.

~Ebb

Crytek Releases the Free CryENGINE 3 SDK

The Ebb — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:39:42 +0000

Today marks the launch of the official Free CryEngine 3 SDK! This is a long awaited release for many folks and for Ebb Works Design it marks a significant change in direction. You can find all the information you like at the links in the navbar above as well as the download and the SDK documentation. With a new heavy hitter in the independent game development arena the competition should heat up quite a bit.

The prime three, as I see it, at this point are Unity, Unreal Development Kit, and now CryENGINE 3 SDK. I am very excited about this release. The tool set that Crytek is putting forth is unparalelled in the Indie market and soon we will get a chance to see what they will offer in the way of indie licencing. As I have said and will continue to preach this is a fantastic time in the gaming industry.

[button url="http://www.crydev.net/dm_eds/download.php?id=4" color="orange" ]Download[/button]

[blockquote type="blockquote_quotes" align="center"]Anyone can now download a full version of the best All-In-One Game Development Engine, for free and use it without charge for non-commercial game development. You can try out the fastest toolset for creating game worlds and use the power of CryENGINE 3 in your own games[/blockquote]

~Ebb