Los Angeles, CA (August 6-11, 1995)--SIGGRAPH is the show to catch for future developments in the Computer Graphics Imaging industry. This year VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) was one of the hottest topics being discussed from day one. Several 3D software companies, including NewTek, announced that they will support "the creation of 3D worlds on the Internet". VRML, pronounced vir-muhl, committee members admitted that they got together following last year's SIGGRAPH to create this new standard.
On the opening day of this year's conference, Jan Hardenbergh, Gavin Alexander Bell, and Mark Pesce lectured on the development and use of VRML. So popular was this course, that the lecturers returned that evening to an open discussion group to an even larger audience. Other VRML 1.0 committee members introduced themselves and announced special VRML events that would take place that week.
"The VRML standard is poised to change the face of the Web," said Tony Parisi, president of Intervista Software, Inc. and one of VRML's founding architects, "Since VRML is not tied to any one company, all vendors are free to develop products using the standard at no charge. Like all good things on the Internet, the VRML standard was a collaborative effort and had input from many people. NewTek's reputation and high-end expertise will make LightWave 3D a very compelling choice for professional graphic artists and animators who will shortly be making their mark on the Internet through VRML."
"We are very excited to be among the first companies to offer VRML world creation," said Arnie Cachelin, director of plug-ins for the LightWave Group at NewTek. "As the leading company in professional 3D animation and graphics, NewTek has applied all of its high-end expertise and background in creating this VRML plug-in. Working with Intervista, we are now certified as fully VRML-compliant and we believe their WorldView browser is the best tool for viewing the VRML worlds created using LightWave 3D." "LightWave 3D v.4.0 users will be offered the VRML authoring tools as part of their next upgrade."
Los Angeles, CA (August 9, 1995)--The first annual Wavey Awards were the climax of SIGGRAPH'95 for the pioneers of desktop video. "The annual Wavey Awards recognize excellence in LightWave Animations and feature entries from around the world with prizes at over $20,000!" Host Penn Gillette called on a dozen or more dignitaries such as John Gross, Allen Hastings, Stewart Ferguson, and the phantom of the Orpheum, Tim Jenison, to present the Awards to the winners. The Best of Show and Best Character Animation awards went to "The Adventures of Johnny Quasar".