ANN: Win 95/NT Release of Cosmo Worlds VRML tool
M. Stone
Cosmo Software Ships Leading VRML 2.0 Authoring Tool on Windows
Cosmo(TM) Worlds 2.0 for Windows(R) Allows More Professional Developers
To Access the World's Most Powerful 3D Web Authoring Software
To Create VRML Content
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Cosmo Software, a
Silicon Graphics (NYSE: SGI) company, today announced it is shipping its
leading VRML 2.0 Web authoring software, Cosmo(TM) Worlds 2.0, for
Windows(R) 95 and Windows NT(R). This PC version of the award-winning
Cosmo Worlds for IRIX(R) now gives Windows(R) platform-based Web
developers
access to the most comprehensive VRML authoring software solution
available. Whether the task is to create a graphically appealing 3D ad
banner, an online commerce storefront or immersive entertainment titles,
Cosmo Worlds provides professional content creators with a world-class
suite of editors and tools.
Cosmo Worlds 2.0 is the only complete 3D Web authoring tool,
combining a
native VRML 2.0 environment, 3D modeling, animation and an open
architecture
and plug-in development kit (PDK). For the first time, Windows content
creators have access to professional authoring software that supports the
entire VRML authoring process enabling them to create content limited
only
by the power of their imagination.
"Having found its mark as the industry standard for cross-platform
interactive 3D graphics, VRML is now going mainstream," said Dr. Kai-Fu
Lee,
president, Cosmo Software. "To capitalize on this market shift, we are
bringing our award-winning VRML authoring system, Cosmo Worlds, to the
large
and growing Web development community on the Windows platform."
Cosmo Worlds for Windows 95 and Windows NT has a wide range of
Internet
and intranet uses. It has been tested by over 120 beta sites, and the
projects have ranged from e-commerce and entertainment to data
visualization
and training. ARCO used Cosmo Worlds 2.0 beta software to build a
multi-user drilling rig simulator to train people on how to react when
problems occur. HollyWorlds, an Internet 3D studio, is using the beta
version to design an online VRML game as a Web site complement to a
soon-to-be-released movie.
ARCO computer programmer Adam Hill particularly liked the intuitive
nature of the modeling and placement tools, noting that "Cosmo Worlds let
me build my multi-user simulator about twice as fast as I could have
otherwise. It has a lot of first-class tools, which makes scripting and
behaviors very easy. I can make my VRML world look exactly the way I
want
it to."
"We've been using Cosmo Worlds' beta very successfully to develop a
VRML
interface for a major e-commerce Web site," said Steven Wallock, creative
director of 3Name3D, a leading 3D model production company and computer
graphics firm whose clients include major movie studios, game developers
and
network TV newscasts.
Key Benefits
Cosmo Worlds 2.0 support for the native VRML 2.0 environment gives
users
access to the entire VRML specification, thus providing a cross-platform
language for 3D models and animation. In-house teams and third-parties
can
create plug-ins and vertical solutions with Cosmo Worlds' extensible
plug-in
development kit (PDK), which allows users to customize functionality such
as
new texturing editors, modeling tools and advanced behavior systems.
Instant WYSIWYG previewing is possible because Cosmo(TM) Player, the
universal VRML 2.0 client, is tightly integrated into the authoring
system.
Productivity is further enhanced by a journaling feature to record and
replay actions to automate complex tasks. A publishing wizard helps
users
manage and optimize their assets by providing instant Web publishing
capability.
Cosmo Worlds gives professional content creators the option of visual
development or direct editing of source code through a sophisticated
outline
editor. User interface tools such as the texture, materials, scene and
lighting editors aid visual development. The outline editor can be used
by
advanced developers for direct editing of VRML 2.0 source code, for
drag-and- drop editing of the scenegraph, and for visual wiring. This
feature gives developers total control over their VRML content.
Cosmo Worlds 2.0 is a comprehensive toolset that streamlines the
entire
VRML development cycle. Features include:
-- Low-polygon 3D modeling
-- Lighting and sound
-- Appearance editing
-- Navigation setting
-- Keyframe animation
-- Source-level editing
-- Java(TM) and JavaScript(TM) scripting
-- Performance optimizations
-- Sophisticated scene assembly
-- Web publishing
Pricing and Availability
Cosmo Worlds for Windows 95 and Windows NT is available now, and is
competitively priced with other 3D authoring tools for the Windows
platform,
at a list price of $999 (U.S. List), and estimated street price of $699.
Cosmo Worlds is also available for the Silicon Graphics(R) IRIX(R)
platform
and has been shipping since September 1996. New Media Magazine awarded
the
IRIX version of Cosmo Worlds the 1997 Hyper Award as the "Number One VRML
Tool," also noting the entire Cosmo suite of authoring tools as "the best
visual Web authoring tools in the business."
About Cosmo Software
Cosmo Software, a Silicon Graphics company, provides leading-edge
content creation tools, client software, and development services for the
World Wide Web. The company focuses on next-generation web technologies,
including VRML (virtual reality modeling language), Java, and multi-user
interactivity, leveraging Silicon Graphics' leadership in 3D and visual
computing. Cosmo Software offers the Cosmo studio line of professional
web
authoring tools and the Cosmo(TM) HomeSpace(TM) Family of 3D Internet
personal creativity tools. Cosmo Software is headquartered in Mountain
View, California. For more information call (888) 912-6766 (91-COSMO) or
visit the Web site at http://cosmo.sgi.com.
Silicon Graphics and IRIX are registered trademarks, and Cosmo is a
trademark, of Silicon Graphics, Inc. HomeSpace is a trademark of
Paragraph
International, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Silicon Graphics, Inc.
Java and all Java-based trademarks and logos are trademarks or registered
trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
All press materials are available on the World Wide Web via
http://www.sgi.com/newsroom
CONTACT: Media Contacts:
Julia Glenister, Niehaus Ryan Group, 650-827-7098, ju...@nrgpr.com; or
Gina Morkes, Cosmo Software, 650-933-6088, gi...@corp.sgi.com
Web Site: http://cosmo.sgi.com