(April 2, 1999) NewTek, the pioneer in desktop digital video and 3D animation software solutions, announced today that LightWave 3D 's modeling and animation tools make it the premier solution for creating games for the Sony PlayStation market. Registered PlayStation console developers can download the latest LightWave 3D development toolkit free from the PlayStation developer site.

The LightWave 3D toolkit includes translators for objects and images as well as full scene support. The export utility supports LightWave 3D motion, skeletal deformation with bones, and multi morph support through Morph Gizmo files. It is available free to download for registered PlayStation developers from the developers web site.

LightWave 3D has long been well known as a very efficient modeling tool.. LightWave 3D's subdivision surfaces engine and MetaNURBS are quick and easy to use and allow developers to create multiple LOD (Level of Detail) objects automatically. The native polygonal modeler is the best modeler for game creation. With support for triangles, quads, and n-gons, users have an incredible arsenal to work with when low ploy modeling for real-time game play.

"LightWave 3D's modeler is one of the best low-polygon modelers available, with very straightforward modeling tools and a no-nonsense interface," said Larry Schultz, a freelance game developer now working with Sony Entertainment. "One of LightWave 3D's most powerful features for low-polygon modelers is its splines, particularly how it handles spline patches."

Splines allow the artist to quickly sketch out a model in 3D. Scanned artwork can be imported into the modeler and used as a template from which to create a 3D model. As a result, the 3D artist can create models that follow the concept art closely and accurately. Other 3D programs support splines and NURBS, but they lack the ability for artists to control the polygon count on a patch-by-patch basis.

"This patch-level control is very important in low-polygon modeling because the exact placement of polygons and vertices becomes critical," explained Schultz. "Spline patching in LightWave 3D allows me to control the polygon count as I go, so I can have more polygons in critical areas and fewer in less-important areas."

"LightWave 3D was instrumental in the production of Jersey Devil," said Christian Aubert, technical director of Behaviour Interactive. "Quite frankly, the game couldn't have been done without it. LightWave 3D's fast polygonal modeling is probably the best out there, and it's simple enough that all our staff could be up and running in a matter of days. LightWave 3D's well-documented file format allows for easy integration into our art path and custom development tools, which is a must for game development houses."

In addition to LightWave 3D's modeling tools, PlayStation developers rely on LightWave 3D's animation tools to create "cut scenes" with Full Motion Video.

"Cut scenes are used to augment the feeling of the game and give the player more realistic scenery and action, " said Brad Peebler, vice president of marketing for NewTek. "The ability to create and add cut scenes to a game giving it more a more realistic feeling is what sets PlayStation games apart from their competition. Since LightWave 3D is the number one tool of choice for video and TV production, game developers have found it to be an invaluable tool when creating full motion video for cut scenes. After all, if you're making a movie for a game, shouldn't you use the same tools Hollywood uses for making big screen movies?"

NewTek is currently working with Sony to help develop 3D tools for the current development system as well as next generation tools. LightWave 3D modeling, animation and rendering tools are designed to help streamline development of games for the PlayStation environment. LightWave 3D tools include:

Modeling Tools
o Native polygonal modeler
o Spline modeling
o Subdivision surfaces
o Direct vertex control
o Extensibility
o Modeling plug ins (free)

Animation Tools
o Intuitive keyframer
o Bones for skeletal deformation
o Morph gizmo for lip sync and detailed morphing
o Extensibilty

Rendering Tools
o Selective Time Based Ray Tracing Engine with reflection, refraction and shadows
o True motions blur
o Real world cameras
o Lens flares and optical effects
o HyperVoxel (1.0) rendering engine
o Cel Shading technology

LightWave 3D in the Games Market
LightWave 3D is the industry's standard and most powerful photorealistic 3D animation system for personal computers and workstations, enabling users to create stunning images and animations. In the recent 3D Tools and Applications Market Study, an independent research study conducted by Jon Peddie Associates, NewTek's LightWave 3D is identified as the leading 3D design and animation software in the Hollywood market.

According to the report, LightWave 3D accounts for 50% of the seats in the film and video supplier market and 53% of the seats in the broadcast-animation software suppliers market. In addition to the video and broadcast markets, LightWave 3D is used extensively by game developers' worldwide. Recent games developed in LightWave 3D for the Sony PlayStation include:
* Jersey Devil
* Ridge Racer R4
* Ghost in the Shell
* Tenchu
* Bushido Blade
* Prince of Persia

"Japan has always proven to be the center for early adopters when it comes to 3D," says Peebler. "In the Japanese games market, LightWave 3D has nearly 70% penetration and growing every day. Now the success we have enjoyed in Japan is happening in the United States."

Pricing and Availability
The LightWave 3D game development toolkit is available free for registered PlayStation console developers from Sony's PlayStation Development site.

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