For any gamer who has ever wanted to create complex 3D gaming environments of their own — like those first seen in the classic Nintendo 64 title Mario 64 — Atmosphir is for you.
Developed by Minor Studios, Atmosphir is a game platform that allows PC and Mac users to create their own 3D adventure games, share them online, and play games created by others. It’s like a more refined and modern version of early game-creation platforms like RPG Maker, except it’s simple enough for anyone to use, and is built with social gaming in mind. Atmosphir is competing as a finalist today in the startup competition at our GamesBeat@GDC event in San Francisco.
The game platform has been running in closed pre-beta testing since October 2008. The developers will open up Atmosphir to anxious gamers waiting on their beta list over the next few months. While previous testers had to download a client to their computer to create and play Atmosphir games, the developers are moving towards a web browser-based model for new beta testers.
Thus far 25,000 levels have been created by the some 20,000 pre-beta testers. Atmosphir will add another 20,000 testers in its new beta rollout. Atmosphir’s competitors include Roblox, Wild Pockets, and Sony’s Little Big Planet for the Playstation 3.
San Francisco-based Minor Studios is part of the Minor Ventures family, and has received $1.2 million in funding.
View a video of Atmosphir in action below:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zIyu-K4yig&hl=en_US&fs=1&]