MultiGen Tools Used to Develop VRX for

ESPN's Winter X Games

SAN JOSE, Calif., January 31, 1997 -- MultiGen Inc., the leader in real-time 3D authoring software today announced that its MultiGen II Pro tool was used in the development of VRX for ESPN's coverage of the inaugural Winter X Games, a four-day winter extreme sports showcase airing January 30 through February 2, 1997.

Under ESPN's direction, MultiGen II Pro was used in conjunction with Shoreline Studios and Silicon Graphics to create a Real-time 3D virtual world which contains a highly detailed real-time model enabling live digital computer graphics to simulate the courses of Snow Summit Mountain Resort in Bear Lake, California, the site of the Winter X Games.

This state-of-the-art television technology provides the Winter X Games commentators with the power to show each competition venue from any viewpoint, as well as travel through each course from the perspective of the participants. As a result, ESPN viewers will be able to experience the course in ways that would be impossible with traditional pre-recorded helicopter fly-overs. In addition, this technology gives the commentators a powerful tool for analyzing the challenges each course presents, and the techniques the competitors will use to conquer them.

"ESPN wanted to make watching the Winter games as visually exciting for the viewers as it is for the participants. One key element of this is allowing the viewer to see in detail what the mountain is like," said Jed Drake, ESPN vice president of remote production. "MultiGen's unique technology provided the foundation for ESPN to create its computer-operated 'virtual camera' to zoom in from any area within the virtual world, to within a square meter on the competition courses in one continuous television motion."

"ESPN's use of MultiGen's technology demonstrates the potency, realism and excitement that our tools can unlock for the viewer," said Dennis Yeo, Chairman and CEO of MultiGen Inc. "Not only will ESPN be giving its viewers stunning realtime visuals, but combined with the flexibility of VRX, they'll be able to show the experience of the Winter X Games in more detail than ever."

MultiGen software technology was used to develop the three-dimensional virtual world. ESPN, in conjunction with MultiGen, Silicon Graphics and Shoreline Studios developed VRX, an application allowing ESPN to show the viewer the scene from around the mountain much like a helicopter and camera. Using MultiGen II Pro, ESPN generated the real-time model from a combination of satellite imagery, digital terrain data and aerial photography. The VRX System is then run on SGI's Infinite Reality hardware.

 MultiGen Inc., founded in 1986, is the leading supplier of realtime 3D authoring software for visual simulation, entertainment and CAD visualization applications. Its products, including MultiGen II, GameGen II and SmartScene, are used to create 3D objects and scenes used in realtime applications for immersive and non-immersive environments. Headquartered in San Jose, Calif., the company markets its products worldwide directly, through a network of distributors and VARs, and via partnerships with leading computing and realtime simulation companies.