Case Study: Software Advanced Research achieves console testing capability for Pixel Game Maker MV with Microsoft Azure

A test environment for Pixel Game Maker MV gives users the power to create commercial PC and console games

Software.Advanced.Research Co., Ltd. partnered with Gotcha Gotcha Games to solve a roadblock for Pixel Game Maker MV: although creators could build PC games, consumer consoles wouldn’t accept direct copying of PC-built game files for testing. To enable console testing and expand distribution beyond Steam, SAR proposed a server-based download workflow and agreed to design and build the required infrastructure.

SAR implemented the solution on Microsoft Azure—combining Azure Kubernetes Service, Blob Storage, Database for MySQL, Redis, Load Balancer and other PaaS components with containerized services—so developers can upload large game bundles to Azure and download them to consoles for testing. Launched in January 2021, the environment is stable and scalable, shortened development time, added sales-surveillance and publishing support, and gave GGG the bandwidth and resilience needed to grow console distribution.

Software Advanced Research

Masanori Takada

General Manager, Consumer Products Headquarters