Will the New Amazon Web Services Game Put More Fun into Cloud Computing?

The history of cloud computing goes back to the mid-20th century, but it was towards the end of the century that it first started to have a big effect on our lives. Since then, the launch of Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2006 and Microsoft Azure in 2008 have helped this technology reach users around the planet. The latest announcement by Amazon concerns a new 3D game, but will it make cloud computing more enjoyable?

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What Is AWS Cloud Quest: Cloud Practitioner?

This new game from Amazon is a 3D online role-playing effort that is more about learning new skills rather than winning the game. It takes the player through a series of tasks to be carried out in a virtual city. The design reveals it to be a metaverse-style adventure that allows users to gain cloud computing skills by solving the sort of technical problems with cloud computing that they’re likely to come across in real life. The overall aim is to improve their skills using Amazon Web Services and be able to take the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner exam to boost their career prospects.

The company’s announcement at the launch of the game said that they want to help their users “become AWS cloud experts” and that this can be done by solving the real-world cloud business use cases they come across in the Cloud Practitioner game. They also confirmed that this initiative is part of their plan to “invest hundreds of millions” in free cloud computing training. The game marks a move away from passive training content and towards giving users the chance to learn through real, interactive situations that should also add some enjoyment to the process of learning new things.

Players need to help the virtual city’s residents with each quest that they attempt to complete, enhancing their skills in crucial areas such as database, security, and data storage along the way. Quizzes, exercises, and videos are all included to make it an interactive and varied experience. Amazon wants to train 29 million people across the planet by 2025, and this game can be found in the AWS Skill Builder section of their site.

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Existing Uses for Cloud Computing and Live Streaming in the Entertainment Industry

Using cloud computing and streaming in gaming isn’t new, although this is just one part of the entertainment industry that has taken this approach. According to PCMag, the best cloud gaming services include Google Stadia, Nvidia Geforce Now, and Amazon Luna. These are typically set up as subscription services where the gamer gets access to a big range of games for a fixed monthly price. One benefit of this is that it reduces the need for players to buy the latest generation of consoles, as they don’t need to run games on their own devices.

A version of cloud computing can also be seen in online casinos. The slots Betway offers are all instant-play games that are played in the user’s browser, with titles such as Immortal Romance, Masters of Valhalla, and Thunderstruck II. However, the cloud computing element is best seen with their live dealer games, where the action takes place in a studio or land casino and is live-streamed onto the screen. This lets players follow games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat as though watching a video. At the same time, they can place their bets on the screen and chat with the dealer.

Cloud computing is also used for the most popular video streaming services, allowing viewers to access all of their shows and movies instantly from anywhere in the world. It’s no surprise to find that Amazon Prime uses AWS, but this isn’t the only on-demand TV and movie service that puts its content in the cloud, as HBO Max also stores their content in this way. Hulu Plus users get the added benefit of being able to use a cloud DVR option that lets them record an unlimited amount of materials that they can then scroll through in the way that suits them. We can also see cloud computing used in the eCommerce world, where it allows for scalability, stability, and speed in a fast-moving environment.

Cloud computing seems set to become even more important in the future, as we can expect to see it appear in more industries and in various interesting ways.