In a move that completely blindsided me personally, the company that we all know for exceptional service for purchasing goods has created their own game engine. That's right, a (beta) game engine made for making games.
It isn't the fact that Amazon is deviating away from the usual selling of goods; after all, they're sprouting out revolutionary ideas like delivery drones and one-button orders, but never have they dropped into the gaming community like this. There had been hints that Amazon planned to dabble in gaming since 2015, but I doubt many people expected this.
Lumberyard itself and the source code is completely free, firstly, so it seems like a great method for creating games, much like Unreal Engine 4, Unity, or other similar game engines. According to Amazon's website fees only apply for when a developer wishes to purchase Amazon's services such as for multiplayer.
Additionally, two of the highly marketed additions to Lumberyard is the heavy integration of Twitch, the popular gaming broadcasting service, and AWS Cloud, which stands for Amazon Web Services (mentioned previously for providing multiplayer). Such an integration seems ideal for developers, as the entire package for a game to be readily published comes with the game engine, albeit with a fee for the AWS (of which you can pick and choose which ones you want to use).
Other notes that Amazon brings is that it is cross platform, uses C++ as code, that there are technologies like GameLift, and heavy emphasis on visual aspects of the engine such as scripting. Sorry, but I have no idea what I'm actually talking about. However, I'm absolutely sure the people over at Amazon do, so check out the website for the Lumberyard beta right here!
Also, note that there is a clause in the code that nullifies the restrictions of Amazon Lumberyard in case of zombie outbreak.
"57.10 Acceptable Use; Safety-Critical Systems. Your use of the Lumberyard Materials must comply with the AWS Acceptable Use Policy. The Lumberyard Materials are not intended for use with life-critical or safety-critical systems, such as use in operation of medical equipment, automated transportation systems, autonomous vehicles, aircraft or air traffic control, nuclear facilities, manned spacecraft, or military use in connection with live combat. However, this restriction will not apply in the event of the occurrence (certified by the United States Centers for Disease Control or successor body) of a widespread viral infection transmitted via bites or contact with bodily fluids that causes human corpses to reanimate and seek to consume living human flesh, blood, brain or nerve tissue and is likely to result in the fall of organized civilization."
