Feb 19 - Dassault Unveils Virtools 4.1 for Real Time 3D Applications

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Dassault Unveils Virtools 4.1 for Real Time 3D Applications

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PARIS, France, Feb 19, 2008 -Dassault Systems (DS) (NASDAQ: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065. DSY. PA) a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, today announced the release of Virtools 4.1, the latest version of its comprehensive platform for creating highly interactive 3D applications, also part of DS’s 3DVIA lifelike experience brand. Highlights of this revamped version include better platform support, improved Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) libraries, as well as key usability enhancements.

“Providing every Virtools platform user with robust solutions for creating and experiencing real-time 3D applications with complex interactivity is one of our priorities”, said Lynne Wilson, senior vice president and general manager, 3DVIA Online, Dassault Systems. “This technological evolution is based on market needs and client feedback as well as technical advancements in the online and VR fields.”

This release features key enhancements that make learning and producing 3D applications with Virtools even easier. Key enhancements include:

Wider Platform & File Support: Virtools 4.1 and 3D Life Player are now compatible with Microsoft Vista and 3D XML V4. In addition, the Virtools SDK is moving to Visual Studio.net 2005.
Improved Usability Enhancements to Reduce Production Time: One much awaited feature for Virtools is the ability to instantiate a behavior graph that is introduced through a new “Call Behavior” building block. Using this new feature, developers will be able to considerably improve production workflow and delivery time. Virtools 4.1 also provides rich ergonomic and schematic improvements as well as new commented video tutorials, significantly shortening the Virtools 4.1 learning curve.
Simplified Virtual Reality Production Capabilities: Both the Virtools VR Library and the VR Publisher model have evolved to respond to VR community feedback. The simpler publishing model is now available in two versions: “classic”, targeted to mainstream VR displays (simple stereo HMDs or Walls) or “unlimited”, supporting higher-end systems, including multi GPUs or clusters. This new VR Pack 2.5 also provides better clustering support, improving synchronization performance and quality when using Nvidia Quadro Fx G-Sync hardware, and better supporting multi-pipe and multi-core systems. It also includes new ready-to-use application templates (VRNR), provides support for recent VR devices like Natural Point Optitrack and Xsens MTi/MTx, and adds numerous development and deployment time-savers. New demos have been included, enabling new users and integrators to even better demonstrate the power of their VR equipment.
Enhanced Artificial Intelligence Capabilities: Partnering with Kynogon, Virtools 4.1 provides integration of a new AI library 2.0, which simplifies path-finding generation and design of Non-Playable Characters’ behaviors.

The updated Virtools 4.1 platform will be showcased at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco this week. For more information, visit the 3DVIA booth at the Moscone Center North Hall, Booth # 6034.

For more information, go to: www.virtools.com.

About 3DVIA

3DVIA is Dassault Systems’ brand for lifelike 3D experiences. 3DVIA extends 3D to new users, businesses and consumers in order to create new communities with 3D as the common language. With its open web services-based architecture, it enables high-performance distribution of 3D content. 3DVIA also delivers authoring products that revolutionize 3D product publishing and the Virtools platform for developing interactive, real-time applications. For more information about 3DVIA, go to: http://www.3dvia.com.

About Dassault Systems

As a world leader in 3D and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, Dassault Systems brings value to more than 100,000 customers in 80 countries. A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systems develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire lifecycle of products from conception to maintenance. The Dassault Systems portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product - SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design - DELMIA for virtual production - SIMULIA for virtual testing - ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management, and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences. Dassault Systems is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges. For more information, visit http://www.3ds.com.

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