CompuServe Messages

<<Is it just the render or the entire program that is going over to the SGI platform? thanks>> Please note, this product has not been released. Autodesk and SGI are jointly porting the renderer to the SGI platform. You will be able to access it through network rendering. See the release below. -Brian The following information was released today, March 18, 1994 at 11:31 am PST. For your benefit, we have provided the following key messages of the press release: 1) Leading 3D Graphics Software on the PC to be ported to SGI 2) Multi-platform strategy addresses heterogeneous environments of todays graphics professionals, and will serve both companies, create new opportunities 3) Key 3DS markets, such as game and MM title development, will benefit by improved Time-To-Market and lower-cost development cycles. ————————————————————————— For Immediate Release Contact: Garth Chouteau 415-491-8853 Autodesk Multimedia Announces 3D Studio(R) Renderer for Silicon Graphics Leader in 3D Visualization Software to Develop with Leader in 3D Graphics Hardware SAUSALITO, Calif.–March 18, 1994–The Multimedia Division of Autodesk, Inc. today announced that it has agreed with Silicon Graphics, Inc. to codevelop a Silicon Graphics version of the rendering module in Autodesk's market-leading PC-based 3D Studio(R) Release 3 software. In addition, a Silicon Graphics version of AutoVision(TM), Autodesk Multimedia's photorealistic still renderer for AutoCAD(R), will be developed. "By combining the leading PC-based 3D software with the leading graphics workstations, we address the fact that 3D graphics designers live in increasingly heterogeneous environments," said Joe Fantuzzi, general manager of Autodesk Multimedia. "Many of our existing PC-based customers either use some Silicon Graphics workstations on their network or are evaluating this powerful platform. Conversely, a majority of high-end production studios and service bureaus that use Silicon Graphics workstations now see that the PC can deliver enough functionality for the modeling and animation parts of the production process. As the leading 3D tools software company, Autodesk is broadening its solution set for these converging groups." Professionals and enthusiasts in the CAD, videography/broadcast and computer/video game production markets will be the primary beneficiaries of the Silicon Graphics-based 3D Studio Release 3 renderer. Existing 3D Studio customers who utilize the sophisticated modeling and keyframing tools in 3D Studio Release 3 to create and animate objects and scenes on PCs, can use the processing power of Silicon Graphics workstations on their network to quickly render final images. With the current price of the full PC-based 3D Studio software at US$2,995, the combined solution of the PC-based animation and modeling modules and the Silicon Graphics rendering module is expected to create a new price point for this type of solution. Postproduction companies and "F/X" studios integrating PCs with Silicon Graphics systems will be able to cost-effectively add or expand modeling and animation services. "The 3D Studio rendering technology is something that our customer base has been requesting for some time, and we're excited about the opportunities this new product will create," said Kirk Loevner, vice president and general manager of Silicon Graphics' Applications and Markets Division. The quality of the renderer is outstanding, and the speed is a great benefit to users," Loevner stated. "With the introduction of Release 3 last October, 3D Studio's rendering engine has boasted many capabilities previously only available in a few of the workstation-class renderers: gamma correction, analytical antialiasing, 64-bit color computation," said Bob Bennett, group product manager for Autodesk Multimedia. "We're looking forward to taking such a compute-intensive application as 3D Studio to the Silicon Graphics platforms, where it can really flex its processing muscles." "When this product becomes available, DOS-based game developers will improve their time-to-market with faster, lower-cost development cycles," stated Michael Moon, president of the market research firm GISTICS, Inc. "This announcement leverages the dominant market position that 3D Studio maintains in the game development community — upwards of 70% market penetration. The announcement also marks a move by Silicon Graphics to become more accessible to broader multimedia markets," Moon said. With the advent of AutoVision for SGI platforms, Autodesk will leverage the Silicon Graphics versions of AutoCAD and AutoCAD(R) Designer, Autodesk's parametric, feature-based solid modeler, to offer a complete MCAD solution. The two companies will work together to pursue new and existing dealer and sales opportunities, as well as expanding existing customer accounts. Silicon Graphics, Inc. is the leading manufacturer of high-performance visualcomputing systems. The company delivers interactive three-dimensional graphics, digital media and multiprocessing supercomputing technologies to technical, scientific and creative professionals. Its subsidiary, MIPS Technologies, Inc., designs and licenses the industry's leading RISC processor technology for the computer systems and embedded control markets. Silicon Graphics has offices worldwide and headquarters in Mountain View, California. Autodesk's Multimedia Division was established in 1990 to develop and deliver affordable visualization software products for professionals such as architects, engineers, designers, game developers and videographers. The Division's products are aimed at automating and enhancing a wide range of tasks, from modeling and rendering to animation and beyond. Autodesk is the world's leading supplier of desktop computer-aided design- automation software. As such, it develops, markets and supports a family of design-automation software products, as well as professional multimedia software products for use on personal computers and workstations. A global company since its founding in 1982, Autodesk markets products in 85 countries and 18 languages. Autodesk shares are traded on NASDAQ under the symbol ACAD. For more information on Autodesk, please call 415-332-2344 or type GO ADESK on CompuServe(R). -30- Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, AutoCAD and 3D Studio are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. AutoVision is a trademark of Autodesk, Inc. Silicon Graphics is a registered trademark of Silicon Graphics, Inc. CompuServe is a registered trademark of H&R Block. All other brand names, product names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.