Discreet Unveils 3ds max 6

Press Release

Discreet Unveils 3ds max 6

New Version to Incorporate Dedicated New Tools Specific for Film, Games, and Design Visualization 3D Professionals

San Diego, Calif.—SIGGRAPH (BOOTH #2836)—July 28, 2003—Discreet, a division of Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), today announced the newest version of its acclaimed 3D modeling, animation, and rendering solution—3ds max® 6. Discreet delivered this announcement before the 3D and 2D graphics professionals attending the SIGGRAPH Exhibition in San Diego, California. This major software release will offer advanced customer-driven capabilities that enable the professional 3D artist, developer, and designer to evolve to a higher level of quality, sophistication, and productivity—as they create top-selling games, motion picture visual effects, or intricate visualizations for building design, industrial, or government simulation.

The many features in 3ds max 6 software are being integrated directly from requests by leading film effects, design visualization, and game development customers including SEGA Corporation Japan. Designers and animators across all professional design industries will enjoy the depth and breadth of the new 3ds max 6 features to create their 3D designs with more creative tools and speed.

"SEGA is pleased to have been a guiding force in the development process for Discreet® 3ds max 6, including providing direction on the new schematic view feature,” states Mr. Toshihiro Nagoshi, Officer of SEGA Corporation. “This close connection between SEGA and Discreet encourages us to continue using Discreet's 3ds max as a part of our game development pipeline. SEGA appreciates this strong relationship with Discreet and will continue supporting 3ds max as a user and a part of the development teams."

New features in the 3ds max 6 software release will include: advanced schematic view for easier viewing and better management of complex scenes; included mental ray® rendering software; vertex color painting; design visualization tools and interchange support with Autodesk and other computer-aided design (CAD) and CAD-related solutions; integrated reactor® 2 complete physics—with stuntman and vehicle dynamics; distributed network texture baking, and features that provide greater accessibility to the software for power users. Also included in the release will be a particle flow system for creating realistic fountains, fog, snow, splashes, contrails, explosions, and other environmental effects.

Discreet 3ds max is used by 80% of all game developers, producing best-selling titles such as: Grand Theft-Auto, Tom Clancey’s Splinter Cell, Star Wars:Knights of the Old Republic, and Neverwinter Nights—and continues to lead the game development industry. 3ds max software is used in a growing list of blockbuster films including: X-Men II, Bulletproof Monk, The Core, Final Destination II, Jason vs. Freddy. Used by architects and product designers, 3ds max is the specialty design visualization tool of choice, with the distinction of being the first-ever 3D design software to be used by the Frank Lloyd Wright foundation at Taliesin West (Scottsdale, AZ). When Discreet snowboard enthusiasts hit the slopes this winter, they will see radical Anime-style 3D design appliqués on the “Punch” and “Chopper” line of Burton Snowboards—all designed and rendered in the Discreet 3ds max application.

“3ds max is a powerhouse that keeps pushing the boundaries of our industry,” said Paul Lypaczewski, general manager, Discreet and executive vice president of Autodesk, Inc. “3ds max 6 contains innovative features for all segments of the design and animation industry that will give our broad customer base the most productive and customizable workflow to realize their creative vision in whatever way their unique 3D projects demand.”

3ds max 6 software is expected to be available in fall 2003 with pricing at US $3,495. Localized international versions will be available later in 2003. Upgrade pricing is US $795 from 3ds max 5, and US $1,295 from the 3ds max 4 release. Customers are encouraged to join the Discreet Subscription Program, which allows access to new software feature extensions, patches, upgrades, and e-learning content for an annual fee. For more information, visit http://www.discreet.com/subscription/ for program details, and resellers for pricing information.

About Discreet
Discreet empowers media professionals to realize the visual experience and transform their most evocative and ambitious visions into reality. Discreet's award-winning solutions are designed for digital media creation, management, and delivery—across all disciplines from film and television visual effects, color grading, and editing to animation, game development, web/interactive, and design visualization. Discreet is based in Montréal, Québec, and is a division of Autodesk, Inc., the world's leading design and digital media creation, management, and distribution company. Product and corporate information: www.discreet.com.

Discreet is a division of Autodesk, Inc. Discreet, 3ds max, character studio, cleaner, combustion, and flame are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc. /Autodesk Canada Inc. in the USA and/or other countries. Academy Award is a registered trademark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. All other brand names, product names, or trademarks belong to their respective holders. © 2003, Autodesk, Inc. All rights reserved