SAN JOSE, Calif., - April 7, 1997 - MultiGen, Inc., the leader in realtime 3D authoring software, today announced that MultiGen II Pro is a core technology of LiveWorld. LiveWorld, developed by Shoreline Studios, Inc., is a software program used for producing realtime, computer generated fly-throughs of complex 3D worlds for broadcast purposes. It will be demonstrated this week at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention in Las Vegas.

This state-of-the-art television technology provides broadcasters with the power to show environments from hundreds of camera angles, as well as travel through the environments from the perspective of the viewers. Therefore, LiveWorld enables media buyers to make informed placement decisions by seeing how their advertisement or product functions within an environment, such as a sports arena or a movie set.

"LiveWorld's use of MultiGen Pro II demonstrates the power of our technology and how it can be integrated into innovative applications," said Carl Suttle, MultiGen product manager. "Now advertisers and broadcasters can instantly see the impact of product and advertisement placements before production."

Unique in the world of 3D computer graphics, MultiGen Pro II is specifically designed to put the most powerful modeling tools in the hands of realtime 3D simulation builders. It is the leading realtime 3D modeling tool to create, edit and view databases for visual simulation and CAD visualization applications.

"The MultiGen Pro II tool allows us to easily create virtual worlds using a combination of satellite imagery, digital terrain models and aerial photography," said Tim Heidmann, president of Shoreline Studios. "This technology contributes to LiveWorld's ability to deliver the most realistic environment for the end user to work within. For example, an advertisement can be placed in the environment that is being considered, and the client can view that advertisement from various angles before making a final decision."

"LiveWorld" can also be tailored for different types of applications. For example, the same technology was used to develop the VRX virtual world in ESPN's coverage of the inaugural Winter X Games. MultiGen II Pro was instrumental in creating a highly detailed realtime, digital simulation of the courses at Snow Summit Mountain Resort in Bear Lake, California.

"VRX allowed ESPN viewers to experience the course in ways that was impossible with traditional pre-recorded helicopter fly-overs. In addition, the technology gave the commentators a powerful tool for analyzing the challenges each course presented, and the techniques the competitors will use to conquer them," said Jed Drake, ESPN vice president of remote production.

About LiveWorld

The "LiveWorld" application gives broadcasters the unique ability to combine traditional keyframe-style computer animation with automatic procedurally generated animation to create and display precise and fluid imagery on the fly.

Dynamically positioned labels, icons, and moving images can be made to fade in and out, and they automatically resize and reorient themselves as the camera moves around. The exponential velocity camera allows for smooth motion from outer space to small scale without abrupt speed changes. On-line extensible libraries of camera moves and views can be called up at the click of a button. Sub-scene control allows control of the visibility of individual parts of the scene.

Live World can be integrated with the full suite of Shoreline Studios Realtime technology including animated annotation, interactive 3D illustration, sound effects, digital media playback and recording, and video device synchronization and control. Also, non-real-time display, compression, and recording is available for later playback from disk on desktop workstations.

About the Companies

Shoreline Studios develops software that enables the creation of live computer graphics animation for applications in television news and sports, business, and information management. Shorelines has created many leading edge broadcast system technologies, such as the FoxTrax , hockey tracking and highlighting used by Fox Sports. Shoreline offers turnkey software applications, sport-specific tracking and animation systems for broadcast events, and semi-custom applications tailored to the particular needs of a television producer. All Shoreline applications are based on the company's proprietary LiveCG software technology, which supports high-quality real-time 3D scene display, automatic procedurally generated animation, flexible application architectures which run across several processors or across the network, rapid system prototyping, and tight connections to real-world devices like tracking systems and video production equipment. Shoreline Studios was founded in 1995 by two former Silicon Graphics software engineers, Tim Heidmann and Wade Olsen.

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 non-immersive and immersive environments. Headquartered in San Jose, California, the company markets its products worldwide directly, through a network of distributors and VARs, and via partnerships with leading computing and realtime simulation companies.

EDITORS NOTE: Images can be viewed and/or down-loaded off of the World Wide Web at ftp://www.shoreline-studios.com/pub/vrx.

 

For More Information, Contact:

Chris Stocker MultiGen Inc. cstocker@multigen.com 408-261-4100

Derek Perez Brodeur Porter Novelli dperez@brodeur.com 408-324-4848

MultiGen and OpenFlight are registered trademarks and GameGen and SmartScene are trademarks of MultiGen, Inc. All other trademarks mentioned herein are property of their respective companies.