3D Blaster is a graphics display card that supports a hardwareaccelerated 3-D rasterization that is claimed to bring "workstation level" graphics performance to the PC at "consumer level" pricing. According to the company, the graphics system is capable of drawing perspective-correct, texture mapped images so that graphics do not warp, swim, or shake in a distracting manner.

According to Chris Boyce, graphics brand manager for Creative Labs Europe, 3D Blaster for VL-Bus systems is now shipping and a version for the PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) bus will follow in the next few months.

More than 200 software developers have pledged their support for the 3D Blaster system, but the three leading games out in the next month -- Battle Arena Tshibden from Playmates Interactive Entertainment, and Fatal Racing plus Actua Soccer from Gremlin Interactive -- were developed using the Creative Graphics Library (CGL) platform to maximize their usage of the 3D Blaster system,

Boyce said that it is pleasing to see top games software houses such as PIE and Gremlin supporting the 3D Blaster system. "Our goal of offering the best games on the most widely supported 3-D platform available continues to be realized as new and exciting 3-D games come to market that support our products," he commented.

According to Boyce, 3D Blaster supports multiple 3-D graphical APIs (application programming interfaces), including Creative's own CGL, Microsoft's Direct3D system, and others.

(Steve Gold/19960614/Press Contact: Noiseworks, +44-1628-522122; Reader Contact: Creative Labs, +44-1734-344322)