Light ROM 3/Light ROM 3 - Disc 2.iso/tess/tess510.txt

Text File | 1995-05-01 | 19KB | 404 lines

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 THE   T E S S E L L A T I O N   T I M E S   #510
     Issue #10 of 1995, for Monday, May 1st
==================================================

*The Tessellation Times* (TESS) is Columbine, Inc.'s weekly electronic
publication usually posted Monday evenings to supplement 3D ARTIST magazine.

See the end of this file for contact information for companies whose
products are mentioned here.
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Published by and (c)Copyright 1995, all rights reserved by...
  Columbine, Inc.
  P.O. Box 4787, Santa Fe, NM 87502 USA
  505/982-3532 voice - 505/820-6929 fax
  505/820-6929x3 voice mail
  E-mail: [e-mail]

Staff:
  Alex Kiriako, Editor, TESS & Sysop, 3dartist.com <[e-mail]>
  Bill Allen, Publisher & Pres., Columbine, Inc. <[e-mail]>
  Sally Beach, Vice Pres., Columbine, Inc. <[e-mail]>
  Carol Williamson, Admin. Asst. <[e-mail]>
________
CONTENTS
510.00 - Heads Up
  510.00.01 - The Fortnight in 3D
  510.00.02 - Computer Shows Soon
510.01 - SGI Set-Top Box Architecture
510.02 - 1995 Game Developers' Conference by Rob Glidden
510.03 - NAB Report, Part 3 of 4
510.04 - News on High End
510.05 - Other News
510.06 - What's Up in Santa Fe
  510.06.01 - TESS
  510.06.02 - 3D ARTIST
510.07 - Continuing Listings
  510.07.01 - Special Offers
  510.07.02 - Galleries & Exhibits
  510.07.03 - Shows & Exhibitions
  510.07.04 - Artists' Calls
  510.07.05 - Computer Shows
510.08 - Contacts

_________________
510.00 - Heads Up

See also "Continuing Listings" (510.07 below).

Here's the stuff you need to know the soonest...

510.00.01 - The Fortnight in 3D

May 4, Chicago, Ill.: AutoCAD on the Road training series for Release 13.
One day class ($99), 800/373-3284.

May 5, Santa Fe, N.M.: Opening reception for Binary Visions '95 art show.
5-8pm. See 509.00.04 below.

May 10, Waltham, Mass.: BCS CAD-special interest group has monthly meetings
at 7pm. 617/647-5418, 617/893-1501 fax, [e-mail].

May 15, Seattle, Wash.: Open Studio, a monthly forum for artists and
technologists to present their work. Symbionics in the Western Building, 619
Western Ave., 7:30pm. Contact Bret Battey 206/281-8639 or [e-mail].

New York City, School of Visual Arts Amphitheater, MFA thesis presentation
series, 6:30pm, 212/679-7350:
  May 2, Networks: The Internet and Cyberspace.
  May 4, Objects/Installations: Intermixing Media.
  May 5, Animations: Animated 'Shorts.'

Los Angeles, the American Film Institute hosts Computer Media Salons
beginning now for the first, second, and third Tuesdays for three months.
They focus on digital media issues in the professional production arena.
800/999-4234, 213/856-7690.

510.00.02 - Computer Shows Soon

May 11-13, Los Angeles, Calif.: Electronic Entertainment Expo, L.A.
Convention Ctr., 10-6pm except 9-4pm May 13. Held by Knowledge Industry
Publications, 800/787-3976; 914/328-9157, -2020 fax.

May 14-17, Anaheim, Calif.: Interactive '95 conference & Expo. Contact: Ziff
Institute, 10 Presidents Lndg., Medford, MA 02155-9865. 800/348-7246;
617/393-3322 fax.

May 16-17, Brooklyn, N.Y.: Symposium of computer visualization & digital
production technologies, 9-7pm, College of Aeronautics, La Guardia Airport,
$15/day. Contact Lee Palmiter: 212/741-2320, 201/226-9105; 212/206-6759 fax;
[e-mail].

May 22-25, San Jose, Calif.: VR World, Convention Ctr., sponsored by *VR
World* and *CyberEdge Journal*, held by Mecklermedia, 800/632-5537;
203/226-6967, -6979 fax; [e-mail].

510.01 - SGI Set-Top Box Architecture

In a move that promises to expand the market for 3D artists, Silicon
Graphics, Inc. and its subsidiary MIPS Technologies, Inc. today 5/1/95
announced Magic Carpet, a "media architecture" aimed at the coming consumer
market for products such as set-top boxes. Simultaneously, AT&T Network
Systems, Samsung Electronics, Time Warner Cable, and Philips N.V. announced
adoption for future products and services.
  The MIPS Magic Carpet system starts with the MIPS Media Accelerator and
adaptable Media Microcode, using a CPU such as the new R4300i. The Media
Accelerator can process two streams of full-screen, broadcast-quality video
with audio, including MPEG2 decompression.
  The SGI announcement notes that set-top boxes and digital TVs with
"high-performance local processing...lead to more compelling, advanced
applications with decreased network bandwidth requirements and cost...that
could incorporate virtual reality capabilities."

510.02 - 1995 Game Developers' Conference
Adapted from a report for 3DA#20 by Rob Glidden <[e-mail]>

3D was everywhere at the 1995 Game Developers' Conference with 2000-plus
attendees April 22-25 in Santa Clara, Calif., followed by Microsoft's April
26 Win95 game developer seminar.
  Basically, 3D is sweeping the game industry, Microsoft is positioning
Windows 95 as the game platform of choice, and eye-popping 3D acceleration
boards are on the horizon at consumer-level pricing. Furthermore, Intel aims
to make 150MHz Pentiums the common home system ($1,500 level) by Christmas
1996, by when 3D should be pervasive.
  Microsoft is wooing skeptical game developers away from DOS with Win95's
new DirectDraw (formerly "DCI") video memory access and Z- and texture
buffers, and with easy access to hardware acceleration. It appears that the
days are numbered for traditional 320x240, 8-bit color DOS games as 640x480
(or perhaps 512x348) 16-bit color becomes a standard game mode.
  The race is on for 3D on Win95 graphics accelerator boards. All major chip
and board companies have announced intentions, many for Christmas 1995
delivery, including Yamaha which demonstrated its YGV611 with texture mapping.
  Intel promoted its new 3DR v2, now with geometry processing and rational
quadratic patches (which for the first time could expand realtime 3D beyond
polygon-only renderers).
  Argonaut and IBM announced an OS/2 relationship. OS/2 game developers will
receive a free developer copy of BRender and significantly reduced royalties.
  Microsoft unveiled its Virtual_Input OS strategy for just about any
real-world input you could imagine, and not just high-end joysticks. Beta
code is scheduled for May and final release in September.
  Still missing from all this are authoring tools to create interactive,
nonlinear 3D content.
________
Rob Glidden regularly reports to 3D ARTIST's readers about developments
related to 3D operating systems and hardware acceleration. See his wrapup
report in 3DA#19 about where Microsoft is going with its many 3D efforts.

510.03 - NAB Report, Part 3 of 4
By Bill Allen, TESS Publisher <[e-mail]>

Here's our next-to-last report on this year's NAB:

CyberBook is "the world's only 3D stereoscopic notebook" according to VRex,
Inc. Could be. At least I've never seen a portable LCD computer screen that
you can use to view color stereo images. It comes as either a 25Mhz or 33Mhz
486 (from $6,495), or 33MHz 68030 PowerBook (from $4,950). Or you can send
your own laptop in for a $1,500 stereo active-matrix transplant. The
cordless, polarized, passive viewing glasses each are only $5 standard, $10
clip-on, or $18 deluxe.
  The company sells other hardware such as a 3D camcorder, 3D digital camera
($7,925, S-VHS resolution), and 3D projection system. Various Smux (spatial
multiplexing) programs are available for DOS, Windows, and Mac, and coming
for Unix. These accept many still image formats and run $295 to $395. A $450
Stereo-IPAS routine lets you generate the correct camera angles inside 3D
Studio for rendering in stereo.
  No pricing was given for a game environment called VR Cove. A promotional
flyer shows how you sit at controls with three stereo projection panels
angled in front of you. But if you have to ask the price, you probably don't
have enough friends who would pay admission to use it.

Realsoft was promoting Real 3D v3 for Amiga (needs 68020 or better,
optimized for Amiga 4000) and Windows 3.1/95/NT. It is supposed to ship
sometime in May. Meanwhile, you can get v2.5 for $595, and upgrade to the
$1,295 v3 for $300. You can ask for v2.5 to come with its interface
configured especially for modeling (this complex flexible program has a
user-configurable interface).
  Version 3 includes general enhancements, more ways to model, and new
animation features including collision deformation. It has .3DS file support
giving Real 3D users access to the many CD-ROMs of 3DS models, including
object color and hierarchy support (but not texture mapping).
  Bill Batchelor is working on a book that Realsoft plans to publish about
spline modeling in general. It will include a roundup of his tips from
Autodesk's CIS asoft forum about how to use Real 3D for creating models to
export to 3D Studio.
  Real 3D was the first NT 3D package and it comes compiled for Intel, MIPS,
or Alpha. An SGI renderer is also available. This spline modeler and
raytrace renderer now includes 3D Studio file import, which gives it access
to the many 3DS model CD-ROMs.

Two new digitizers were on display at NAB. Impulse's Larry Halvorson was
demonstrating their new $695 DigiMax "model on a spit" device for PC DOS and
Amiga. You attach a physical model, perhaps a toy car or dinosaur, to a
shaft (hot glue is suggested), then manually rotate it while taking points
with a pointer mounted on a parallel track. It's a bit like reverse lathing.
Physical limitation is 12" diameter and 20" length, and accuracy is claimed
to 0.03125". Software is included, connection is via RS-232 serial port, and
output is to DXF or Impulse Imagine file format. This product sets the new
low price point for 3D digitizing.
  Immersion was showing their new $2,395 MicroScribe-3D digitizer
(TESS#507.02.01) with spherical model area up to 50" and accuracy claimed to
0.02". Software is separate and Immersion sells Viewpoint's HyperSpace
(Windows/Mac, $600, see 3DA#16), Blevin's Vertisketch (Amiga, $950, see
3DA#18), and Vortex-3D. This $600 Windows program is new to us. It comes
from SaberTooth Software, creates polygonal mesh, and outputs to DXF, OBJ,
and raw file formats.

510.04 - News on High End

Through 6/30/95 the new SGI Indy Modeler is available for $8,995. The
special price includes a 133MHz R4600, 1Gb hard drive, 32Mb RAM, 20" color
monitor, Macintosh 20Mb floptical drive, and bundled applications. This
system is targeted toward people who work primarily with solids-based design
such as CAD. 800/800-7441 Dept. D440.

510.05 - Other News

Corel Corp. has licensed Enhanced Mosaic from Spyglass to use in their Corel
CD Office Companion. Enhanced Mosaic 2.0 will offer security and payment
processing for business transactions. The Mosaic software development
interface will enable other applications to access the Internet. Another
claimed advantage is improved network performance.

Caligari is using 3DR technology in trueSpace2 for what they say will be a
dramatic improvement in rendering speed. Intel's 3DR is a 3D graphics
library optimized for the Pentium processor (see Rob Glidden's article in
3DA#19).
  Game developers should also note that Caligari reports it has delivered a
special version of trueSpace for the Sony PlayStation including support for
its TIM and RSD file formats.

Animator Studio from Autodesk (3DA#17) was reported 4/25/95 to be shipping.
An added goody until October 1995 is a special addition of Kai's Power Tools
from HSC Software. Upgrade from Animator Pro is $295, $395 from Animator.

Advanstar has updated their book *3D Studio Applied* (3DA#16) with the
$14.95 *Release 4 Supplement to 3D Studio Applied.* Both are by Nancy
Fulton. Topics in the supplement include inverse kinetics, Keyscript special
effects like attraction and explosion, intermediate and advanced
Keyscripting, and matchview perspective.

Buried in back of 3DA#16, we mentioned "a beautifully produced book" written
by Frederick Louguet and published by Dunod. It is entitled *Formation 3D
Studio 3 de l'apprentissage a la maitrise,* which gives a clue why we
haven't given it a regular review. All we can do is look at the pretty
pictures, but there are 608 pages of French text and a CD-ROM.
  Today 5/1/95 by fax we learned that Louguet has just turned in his next
manuscript, *3D Studio 4.0: Theorie et Pratique* to be printed at 850 pages
plus CD by International Thomson Publishing in June (no contact info
available). He says "I hope there will be an English version."--B.A.

510.06 - What's Up in Santa Fe

Our last frost in Santa Fe comes in mid-May and quite a few gardners are
champing at the bit. How many would understand if I told them to plant some
3D seeds instead?--A.K.

510.06.01 - TESS

Deadline for TESS#511 will be 1pm MDT (3pm Eastern) Fri., 5/5/95 for early
broadcast. We will resume a regular schedule with the deadline for TESS#512
at 1pm MDT Mon., 5/15/95.

510.06.02 - 3D ARTIST

This afternoon, 5/1/95, we learned that 3DA#19 has started printing, and
should mail sometime between 5/5 and 5/12.
  3DA#20 is pretty well closed up and about to go into its main production
phase here.
  Deadlines for 3DA#21 are 6/6 for editorial and ad space reservation, and
6/20/95 for ad materials.--B.A.

510.07 - Continuing Listings

See 510.00 above for new items of immediate interest.

510.07.01 - Special Offers

Through 5/30/95: Schreiber Instruments' IPAS six-pack: Lightning, Explode
Volume, Particle Cloud, Rings, Comet, Starburst, all for $150.

Through 5/31/95: SGI version of LightWave $995 (regular $1,995), available
from Xaos Tools, SGI version distributor.

Through 6/15/95: Macromedia's MacroModel with RenderMan for Mac or Windows
for $199. It can be ordered from Macromedia vendors such as Audio Images
415/957-9131 and PC/MAC Mall 800/222-2808. A free demo on CD is available
from Macromedia.

Through 6/15/95: Vibrant Software's Liquid Speed, a display speed enhancer
for 3D Studio for $195 (normally $295). Use reference #207 when ordering:
U.S. 800/937-1711, Europe 44 (0) 91/478-1016.

510.07.02 - Galleries & Exhibits

Through 5/28/95, Sharon Arts Ctr., Sharon, N.H.: "Out of the Internet," held
by the Center and *Digital Video* magazine. Works by artists from 17 states.
Open Mon.-Sat. 10-5pm, Sun. 12-5pm, four miles south of Peterborough on Rt.
123, admission free, 603/924-7256.

May 5 to June 16, Santa Fe, NM: Binary Visions '95, a juried show of digital
art hosted by The Printmaker Ltd., 1807 - 2nd St. #40, 505/425-9456.

510.07.03 - Shows & Exhibitions

June 10-12, Los Angeles, Calif.: ShowBiz Expo West, L.A. Convention Ctr.
Covers the fields of feature films, TV, new media, commercials, and theater.
Held by Advanstar Expositions 800/854-3112; 714/513-8400, -8481 fax.

510.07.04 - Artists' Calls

June 1 for Autodesk's Siggraph '95 Demo Reel. Send Betacam SP tape(s) to the
Autodesk Multimedia Unit at 111 McInnis Pkwy., San Rafael, CA 94903,
attention "Siggraph 95 Video." See TESS#506.00.05 for more info. Fax
inquiries to 415/507-5150.

June 16, 1995 for CD-ROM Showcase, a CD of software demos with a "Digital
Portfolio" section for artists' work, to debut at Siggraph '95. Contact
Oregon Data Products, 1730 S.W. Skyline Blvd. #208, Portland, OR 97221;
503/292-5119, -5146 fax.

July 31, 1995 is the new deadline for 3-D Coolness '95 animation contest.
See TESS#507.00.04 for more info. Contact World Fusion Software, 5942
Edinger, #113-718, Huntington Beach, CA 92649; 714/894-4094; worldfusion.com.

510.08 - Contacts

The following companies have products mentioned in this issue of *The
Tessellation Times*. When you contact companies, please BE SURE to say you
heard about them from TESS.

> Advanstar Communications Inc.; 7500 Old Oak Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44130;
800/598-6008; 216/891-2726 fax
> Autodesk, Inc.; 111 McInnis Pkwy., San Rafael, CA 94903; 800/879-4233;
415/507-5000, 491-8311 fax; autodesk.com
> Caligari Corp.; 1955 Landings Dr., Mountain View, CA 94043; 800/351-7620;
415/390-9600, -9755 fax
> Corel Corp.; 1600 Carling Ave., Ottawa, ON K1Z 8R7, Canada; 613/728-8200,
761-9176 fax
> Dunod; 15 rue Gossin, F-92543 Montrouge Cedex, France; 33-1/409265-12, -97 fax
> Immersion Corp.; P.O. Box 8669, Palo Alto, CA 94309; 415/960-6882, -6977 fax
> Impulse, Inc.; 8416 Xerxes Ave. N., Minneapolis, MN 55444; 612/425-0557,
-0701 fax
> Macromedia; 600 Townsend St., San Francisco, CA 94103; 800/326-2128;
415/252-2000, 626-0554 fax
> Realsoft International; 380 Queen St. #2, Chatham, ON N7M 2H6, Canada;
519/436-0988, -2429 fax; CIS 73544,3103; [e-mail]
> Schreiber Instruments, Inc.; 4800 Happy Canyon Rd. #250, Denver, CO 80237;
800/252-1024; 303/759-1024, -0928 fax, -3598 BBS; [e-mail]
> SaberTooth Software; P.O. Box 2781, Santa Clara, CA 95055; 408/450-9915
> Spyglass Inc.; 1230 E. Diehl Rd., Naperville, IL, 60563
> Silicon Graphics, Inc.; 2011 N. Shoreline Blvd., Mountain View, CA 94043;
415/960-1980, 390-6153 fax; http://www.sgi.com
> Vibrant Graphics; 12741 Research Blvd. #102, Austin TX 78759;
512/918-2270, -3411 BBS
> VRex, Inc.; 8 Skyline Dr., Hawthorne, NY 10532; 914/345-8877, -9558 fax
> Xaos Tools, Inc.; 600 Townsend St. #270E, San Francisco, CA 94103;
415/487-7000, 558-9886 fax

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