DAZ 3D (http://www.daz3D.com) and Gizmoz (http://www.gizmoz.com) have
announced a merger that "will create the foremost online marketplace
for high-quality and inter-compatible digital characters and
accessories," according to Eyal Gever, president of the merged
company and CEO and founder of Gizmoz.

With the largest community of active digital character artists, the
merged company will allow users to experience personalized digital
goods and identities across any platform, he adds. Gever says the
combination of Gizmoz's consumer-friendly, photo-realistic head
reconstruction and online personalization service with DAZ 3D's
sophisticated full-figure content, desktop software tools and
thriving community will provide creative professionals, gamers and
consumers alike with a substantially more expansive virtual goods
design center and marketplace.

The merger will enhance distributive capabilities as well: the custom
avatars can then be managed and transported to any virtual
environment or production pipeline. All characters and technologies
can be used in computer and console games, social networks, video
clips and mobile applications, as well as in professional modeling,
animation and illustration projects. The merged company plans to
unveil its first new products in the first quarter of 2010.

DAZ 3D and Gizmoz also announced that existing investors participated
in a new round of funding to focus on the market opportunity for
character-centric virtual goods. Benchmark Capital, Highway 12
Ventures and Columbia Capital led the round, with participation from
DOCOMO Capital and Village Ventures.