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1994-03-22
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Date: Wed, 23 Mar 1994 16:37:33 +0000
To: scivw@hitl.washington.edu
From: Mike King <mking@criterion.canon.co.uk>
Subject: RenderWare
Status: OR
Hi,
Here is some information about RenderWare(TM).
I've also arranged for a Windows demo to be emailed to you.
We are starting a University program where RenderWare for non-commercial use
is UK PDS 250. I'll forward more info. in the next couple weeks.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
Regards,
Mike King
Criterion Software Ltd.,
20, Alan Turing Road,
Guildford,
Surrey, GU2 5YF,
UK.
Email: mking@criterion.canon.co.uk
Tel: (44) 483 44 88 00
Fax: (44) 483 57 43 60
***************************************************************
RenderWare - 3D for Windows
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Real-time 3D graphics on PCs"
Opening a world of opportunity
RenderWare is the 3D graphics API which delivers where it counts -
on over 100 million desktops.
Only RenderWare's breakthrough technology provides real-time 3D on
out-of-the-box PCs.
Only RenderWare gives multimedia and graphics software professionals
access to 100 million desktops.
Delivering where it counts :-
Performance - Unparalleled 3D graphics performance without add-on
hardware
Functionality - Advanced shading and texturing
Usability - Object-based API for clean, consistent, usable power
Integration - Mix and match with existing 2D graphics and text
Availability - On all popular platforms, including: Windows,
Macintosh, OS/2, UNIX X11
Designed by Canon for real-time 3D multimedia applications, and
available today for ISVs and OEMs.
RenderWare Specifications
-------------------------
RenderWare is a high performance, device independent 3D graphics API
with a simple and elegant interface consisting of a small number of
object types and a rich set of associated functions. Developers
utilising RenderWare are able to dramatically reduce the development
time for 3D applications.
RenderWare is targeted at Independent Software Vendors and Corporate
developers, as a tool to assist them with the development of 3D
applications or to add 3D capability to existing applications.
RenderWare API Features
* Multiple directional, point and spot light sources
* Multiple orthographic and perspective cameras
* Texture maps
* Environment maps
* Object instancing and hierarchical models
* Picking (scene, object, polygon, vertex)
* Materials support (Ka, Kd, Ks, colour, opacity, texture)
* Geometry sampling (vertex, edge, facet; i.e., point cloud,
wirefame, solid)
* Light source sampling (facet, vertex; i.e., flat or interPhong)
* Debugging Kernel available to developers
* Floating-point and Fixed-point versions available
Typical RenderWare Applications
* Multi-media * Visual Simulation
* CAD * Virtual Reality
* Presentation Graphics * Training/Education
* Entertainment/games * Molecular Modelling
* Visualization
RenderWare Performance - RenderWare performance scales with CPU
performance. Typical performance* at the application level is 40,000
polygons/sec on 486/DX @50MHz. * Calculated using a 4K polygon model
(Utah teapot), transformed, lit, clipped, painted software
double-buffered to the screen in a 400 x 400 viewport.
Platform support - RenderWare is a software solution to interactive
3D graphics. It is written in C and has no operating system
dependencies, thus it can be ported to any CPU with a C compiler.
RenderWare software development kits are available for Windows 3.1 or
later /DOS 5 or later, on 386/SX and upwards. Also for Macs and UNIX
workstations (X11). OEMs who wish to port RenderWare to other
platforms should contact Criterion.
The RenderWare Software Development Kit is available today.It
contains;
* Development Library
* Debugging Library
* Documentation Set
* Example code
There is also a RenderWare Developers' Support Programme providing;
* Priority e-mail technical support
* Priority fax technical support
* Exclusive telephone support
* Regular Developer's Technical Notes
* Early Access to Upgrades
* Participation in new technology forum
* Access to Developer Pricing Schedule
*************************************************************
Industry endorsement
"RenderWare is truly an impressive product, one that takes 3D
graphics to new performance levels," said Paul Allen, chairman and
CEO of Asymetrix Corp. and co-founder of Microsoft. "Asymetrix is
looking forward to incorporating this new technology into future
versions of our products and bringing more complete graphical
solutions to our customers."
**************************************************************
Recent Press releases about RenderWare.
RENDERWARE BRINGS FULL-FEATURED 3D GRAPHICS TO THE
PC ENTERTAINMENT SOFTWARE INDUSTRY
Criterion announces the licensing of RenderWare by Velocity Development
NEW YORK March 2, 1994--Criterion Software Ltd., the leader in interactive
3D graphics for personal computers, announced Wednesday that Velocity
Development
Corp. has licensed RenderWare(TM), the first interactive 3D graphics
Application Programming Interface (API) for Windows. RenderWare
provides interactive 3D graphics performance without the need for
special 3D graphics accelerators.
Velocity, a fast-growing company in the entertainment software
industry, is well known in the PC and Mac markets for introducing
Spectre, the best-selling 3D cyberspace action game, which was
recently nominated for Best Action Game of the Year by the
Software Publishing Association. Velocity has licensed
RenderWare 3D graphics software to better focus its resources
toward game content and game action.
"For the entertainment software industry, RenderWare is the
most important new breakthrough of 1994. We believe that
in the future, there will be two kinds of games companies --
those that use RenderWare and those that don't," said Moses Ma,
Velocity's chairman. "The former will be focusing on content,
gameplay and increasing the entertainment value in their products,
while the latter will still be using up their resources struggling
with in-house 3D code."
A major facet of RenderWare that makes it appealing to developers
is its cross-platform support. This feature enables developers to
maximize revenue from game titles without expending their own
engineering resources. Cross-platform capability for games will
become a vital issue when interactive cable systems begin
supporting multiple set-top box standards. Game-players
with different set-top boxes will be able to interact with each
other, regardless of platform.
According to Ma, "Someday, writing your own 3D code will appear as
odd as writing your own MPEG drivers or your own compilers. Thanks to
RenderWare, you can expect to see the next generation of high-energy
3D games from Velocity very, very soon." "RenderWare provides games
developers on the PC and Mac with stunning 3D graphics performance,
without compromise on the 3D functionality," said Mike King, Criterion's
vice president of marketing. "It offers a fully interactive 3D environment,
with texturing, lighting and hidden surface."
"A major factor in our choice of RenderWare was the fact that it is backed
by Criterion, a subsidiary of Canon," added Ma. "When you are relying on
such a key component as the 3D graphics engine, then you need to get it from
a supplier you know will be around for a long time."
RenderWare is currently available for DOS, Windows and Mac, with
development underway for Power PC and the next generation of games
consoles and set-top boxes. RenderWare, a Criterion product, is marketed
directly to games developers.
Velocity Development Corp., based in San Francisco, is a leading developer
of Virtual Reality action games for the PC and Mac.
Criterion Software Ltd., a subsidiary of Canon, develops, markets and supports
customer software products and technologies that expand the interactive 3D
graphics frontiers on the desktop. The company licenses its products and
technology to major software developers. Criterion Software is headquartered
in the United Kingdom, and markets its products worldwide.
**************************************************************
Criterion Introduces RenderWare -- the first interactive 3D graphics
API for Windows; a milestone in the evolution of 3D graphics
technology.
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Criterion Software Ltd. announced
Wednesday that is has released RenderWare(TM), its first product
based on the breakthrough 3D graphics software technology from its
parent, Canon Inc. (CANNY-NASDAQ). With this software, interactive 3D
graphics applications can be placed within the reach of the average
personal computer user.
RenderWare is the first interactive 3D graphics Application
Programming Interface (API) for Windows. It provides Windows
application developers with stunning 3D graphics performance, without
the need for special 3D graphics accelerators.
"RenderWare is 3D for Windows(TM), and provides, on low-cost
personal computers, the 3D graphics performance and functionality of
more expensive workstations," said Mike King, Criterion's
vice-president of marketing. "This dramatically changes the dynamics
of the multi-media market for PCs because it allows for mid-range
workstation performance from a 486/DX at 50MHZ."
Although targeted at low-cost PC and consumer platforms,
RenderWare is strong on functionality, providing the developer with
a device-independent 3D graphics API, a simple and elegant
object-based interface consisting of a small number of object types
and a rich set of associated functions, including advanced shading
and texturing.
"The object-based interface gives developers easier access to the
underlying power of RenderWare," said Adam Billyard, Criterion's
vice-president of research and development. "This reduces
development time -- to an impressive degree -- and makes it easier
to produce applications incorporating high-performance 3D graphics."
RenderWare is totally software-based, so unlike 3D graphics
solutions based on hardware accelerators, RenderWare's performance
increases as processor performance increases, providing users with a
simple growth path and protected investment.
Developer investment in the RenderWare API is also protected, as
RenderWare is available on other popular platforms besides Windows,
including Mac, UNIX (X11) and OS/2.
RenderWare is targeted at independent software developers and
consumer device operating system developers who want to develop 3D
graphics and multimedia applications for desktop, lap-top and
hand-held PCs, and also PCs embedded in units such as kiosks,
set-tops and other consumer platforms.
"RenderWare is truly an impressive product, one that takes 3D
graphics to new performance levels," said Paul Allen, chairman and
CEO of Asymetrix Corp. and co-founder of Microsoft. "Asymetrix is
looking forward to incorporating this new technology into future
versions of our products and bringing more complete graphical
solutions to our customers."
Typical applications for RenderWare include: multimedia, visual
simulation, scientific visualization, CAD, virtual reality,
presentation graphics, entertainment/games, fashion software (3D
GUIs, screen savers etc.)and education/training.
"RenderWare is the 3D graphics API that delivers where it counts
-- on more than 100 million PCs," said David Lau-Kee, Criterion's
president. "RenderWare opens up new worlds of opportunity for
high-quality, high-volume, 3D graphics solutions."
RenderWare is sold directly by Criterion. RenderWare software
development kits (SDK) are available immediately. Priced from
$10,000, the SDK includes development library, debugging library,
documentation, examples and demos. RenderWare requires Windows 3.1
running on a 386/SX or better with 4Mb RAM.
Criterion Software Ltd., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (Tokyo,
Japan), develops, markets and supports computer software products
and technologies that expand the 3D graphics frontier on PCs and
consumer devices. The company licenses its products and technology
to major software developers. Criterion Software is headquartered in
the United Kingdom, and markets its products world-wide.
**************************************************************
Criterion Company Backgrounder
Criterion Software Ltd., headquartered in Guildford England is a
subsidiary of Canon set up to develop, market and support software
products based on a major breakthrough in interactive 3D graphics technology.
This new 3D graphics technology was developed at Canon Research
Centre Europe (CRE) in Guildford, England, where 3D graphics algorithm
research has identified a new approach to interactive 3D graphics
processing. The new 3D graphics algorithms allo Windows-based
personal computers, without special graphics accelerators, to
deliver workstation-level interactive graphics performance.
Criterion is the second UK company to be established from CRE,
the first being Canon Audio in 1990. Canon Audio is a UK business
based on wide-imaging stereo research from CRE.
Criterion has been formed from the development team at CRE and
has brought in sales and marketing expertise to strengthen the
commercial side of the business. The executive directors of Criterion
are Dr. David Lau-Kee, Managaing Director, Adam Billyard,
Technical Director, both formerly of CRE; and Dr. Mike King,
Marketing Director, formerly with Du Pont Pixel Systems.
Hiro Negishi is the chairman of Criterion, and the board has
non-executive directors from Canon.
Criterion's first product is RenderWare (TM), an interactive
3D Graphics API for Windows. This OEM product is the first
of its kind and is being marketed, world-wode to major software
developers.
**************************************************************
Commercial information
RenderWare is an OEM product.
Pricing for the Software Development Kit license starts at
US Dollars 10,000. There is a runtime license fee of between 5% - 15% of the
money you receive for your application. The % depends on RenderWare's
contribution to your application. The % is further discounted with volume
commitments.
In addition there is an annual fee for the Developers' Support Programme
Special pricing is available to Educational Establishments for
non-commercial use of RenderWare.
**************************************************************
RenderWare is a trademark of Canon Inc. 3D for Windows and the
Criterion logo are trademarks of Criterion Software Ltd. All other
trademarks are those of their respective companies. Copyright 1993, 1994
Criterion Software Ltd. All rights reserved Criterion Software - a
Canon company.
#EOF#