Multigen brings realtime 3D worlds to the PC with support from Intel and New Strategic PC Partners; Windows NT-based development tool is the first 3D authoring environment to introduce a new era of PC-based entertainment software.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 1996--MultiGen(R) Inc., the leader in realtime 3D authoring software, today unveiled and demonstrated a new realtime 3D authoring tool that will enable the creative community to build realtime 3D graphics on the PC platform.

MultiGen's announcement of GameGen(TM) II for Microsoft(R) Windows NT(R) Workstation is the first product announcement of its kind. The development of extraordinary 3D worlds on the PC hinges on three equally critical enablers: MultiGen's GameGen II for Windows NT as the authoring software component, advanced processors from Intel as the hardware component, and the efforts of a new generation in the interactive development community as the creative component. MultiGen, with support from Intel Corporation and additional strategic partners, provides the creative community with the most productive environment for the development of realtime 3D worlds on the PC platform.

Held at the birthplace of multimedia theater, the George Coates Performance Works Theater in San Francisco, the event featured MultiGen's GameGen II for Windows NT, a 3D coprocessor from Intel, and a demonstration of next-generation games from SingleTrac Entertainment Technologie(TM), which were developed using MultiGen realtime 3D tools. New MultiGen strategic partners at the event included: Evans and Sutherland Computer Corporation; Intergraph Computer Systems; Lightscape Technologies, Inc.; Real 3D (an operating unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation); Viewpoint DataLabs; and 3Dfx Interactive, Inc. Kinetix (the new multimedia division of Autodesk Inc.) is also in support of the announcement.

"Today, we made the first of what will be many announcements that make compelling realtime 3D applications on the PC a reality," said Joe Fantuzzi, president and CEO of MultiGen. "To catch the realtime 3D PC wave, game and Web masters have about a year to create their magic, and MultiGen is ready today with the tools they need."

Regarding the announcement, Ron Whittier, senior vice president of Intel's Content Group, said: "Intel expects arcade-quality 3D graphics to be a standard feature in the next year's Pentium processor-based systems for the home. The explosion of Internet-enabled 3D applications and games will greatly increase the demand for 3D content and for enhanced scalability. The availability of MultiGen's GameGen II for Windows NT on the Intel architecture is an important development for creators of high-quality, realtime 3D content."

Shattering the Realtime 3D Cost Barrier

Realtime 3D graphics performance requires that a computer create new images for screen updates at a rate of 15 to 30 times each second. This is a radically different mandate than fixed-path frame animation, in which individual still frames are rendered separately, and then compiled into 2D graphics as video.

"GameGen II for Windows NT results in efficiency and affordability for our development infrastructure," added Mike Ryder, president, SingleTrac. "MultiGen's new authoring tool will enable our developers to build increasingly more spectacular interactive worlds in less time. We hope to see GameGen II for Windows NT, the first authoring tool of its kind, become one of our standard tools for 3D world-building on the PC."

GameGen II for Silicon Graphics(R) Inc., is currently being used to create interactive 3D worlds for a wide variety of entertainment applications, and with the new GameGen II for Windows NT, MultiGen's authoring tools will continue to drive development on a range of playback platforms. In addition to the video game market, MultiGen's entertainment authoring software is the tool of choice for virtual sets in television and film, arcade development, and multi-user games across networks, including the Internet.

"Although realtime 3D graphics development has always been available to high-end shops with big budgets, MultiGen has broken through the prohibitive cost barrier to enable the same kind of realistic 3D development on a lower-cost PC," said Tim Bajarin, president, Creative Strategies Research International, a leading industry analyst firm. "The time for developers to build killer apps for the realtime 3D PC is now. MultiGen's leadership is energizing the development of entertainment applications for the PC by adding the medium that has been missing--interactive realtime 3D."

About GameGen II for Windows NT

MultiGen's GameGen II for Windows NT provides the authoring tools required to build optimized 3D worlds in the OpenFlight(R) data format, with the specialized attributes and organization required to maximize performance on selected target platforms including the PC, the Apple(R) Macintosh(R), the Nintendo 64(TM) and the Sony PlayStation(TM). Additionally, GameGen II for Windows NT includes tools to structure edit, tune and integrate existing databases into a format that is "realtime ready." This improves overall productivity and allows application developers to concentrate on entertainment value and creativity, without getting bogged down by programming throughout the process.

With a 10-year history of supplying software for ground, air and sea simulations, as well as entertainment applications, MultiGen has played a role in solving many of the problems of realtime simulation now faced by game developers. Proven in use for these demanding applications, the tools and techniques provided in GameGen II for Windows NT enable previously unattainable levels of dynamic interaction and realistic fly-through capability in 3D worlds. GameGen II for Windows NT also provides advanced features, such as Level of Detail (LOD) model creation, Drawing Priority, and Binary Separating Planes, that are not available to developers working only with animation and rendering software.

Price and Availability

The new GameGen II product line will be made available as a core product with options. The core product, GameGen II Author, has a suggested retail price of US$7,500, and two options, ModelMaker and BSPMaker, have suggested retail prices of US$2,500, respectively.

GameGen II will be available through authorized MultiGen distributors and VARs. GameGen II for Windows NT will be delivered in September 1996. GameGen II for Silicon Graphics is currently available with an upgrade planned for September 1996; current maintenance users on the Silicon Graphics platform will receive upgrades to the core product with options at no charge. The current GameGen II for Silicon Graphics product, which includes GameGen II Author, ModelMaker and BSPMaker, is now available as a bundle and has been repriced at US$12,500.

MULTIGEN INC.

MultiGen Inc., founded in 1986, is the leading supplier of 3D authoring software for realtime visual simulation, entertainment and CAD visualization applications. Its products, including MultiGen II, GameGen II and SmartScene are used to create 3D objects and scenes used in realtime applications for non-immersive and immersive environments. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., the company markets its products worldwide directly, through a network of distributors and VARs, and via partnerships with leading computing and realtime simulation companies. -0-

MultiGen and OpenFlight are registered trademarks and GameGen and SmartScene are trademarks of MultiGen Inc. Microsoft, Windows NT, Windows and Direct X are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective owners.

CONTACT: MultiGen Inc., San Francisco

Juli Godsil, 408/261-4100

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Shwartz Communications Inc.

Dave Close 617/431-0770

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Hallie Loring, 415/512-0770

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