Press release: 1995-11-12: NVIDIA NV1 Windows 95 Multimedia Accelerator Announces "Wave" of Software Support

From Sega Retro

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This is an unaltered copy of a press release, for use as a primary source on Sega Retro. Please do not edit the contents below.
Language: English
Original source: The Free Library


NVIDIA NV1 Windows 95 Multimedia Accelerator Announces "Wave" of Software Support; Electronic Arts, Activision, and Sega of America, Lead Strong Industry Endorsement of Breakthrough Technology from NVIDIA

SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 1995--NVIDIA Corporation today announced a wave of industry software support for its production-released NV1 Multimedia Accelerator for Windows and Windows 95.

Among those announcing products for NVIDIA's technology are Electronic Arts, Activision, Sega, Crystal Dynamics, Papyrus, Domark, Alexandria, Martin Hash, Inc., and Sonic Foundry.

"NVIDIA's commitment to uncompromising performance at a consumer price has energized the formation of a complete infrastructure for 3D entertainment, including product, technology and content," said NVIDIA president Jen-Hsun Huang. "With NV1 in full production and innovative content optimized to exploit our technology, we are pleased to report that the 3D consumer entertainment market is here."

The NV1 is a fully integrated, single-chip solution combining real-time, photorealistic 3D graphics, 2D graphics acceleration, concurrent wave-table synthesis audio, full-motion video acceleration and special effects and a direct input joystick engine. 3D consumer products using the NV1 have already been announced by a number of leading OEMs including Diamond Multimedia, Jazz Multimedia, Leadtek and Samsung. Others will be announcing soon.

Electronic Arts

Interactive software developer, Electronic Arts, announced the porting of "US Navy Fighters" to the NV1. Electronic Arts' vice president and executive producer, Paul Grace, said, "The frame rate and high resolution of our top hit US Navy Fighter, accelerated by NVIDIA, brings the flying experience to a level that can only be described as incredible."

Activision

"The NV1's ability to take high-resolution content and accelerate it to full-screen, true-color, at 30 frames per second under Windows 95 is extremely exciting," said Activision's Brad Crystal, director of OEM and online sales. "This technology has the potential to take 3-D action games, like MechWarrior 2, to a new level of intensity."

Sega of America

The world's largest provider of interactive entertainment content, Sega of America, today announced the release of their Sega Saturn hit, "Virtua Fighter Remix", exclusively ported to NVIDIA's NV1. "Virtua Fighter Remix is the world's first 3D title to run fully-textured 3D graphics at full-screen with true-color at 30 frames per second on a PC," said Bill White, vice president of strategic alliances and new business development at Sega of America. "Sega's commitment to PC-based entertainment, together with our strategic partnership with NVIDIA, promises a future of superlative 3D gaming experiences for the PC consumer."

Sega also announced the imminent release of another NV1-accelerated title, "Panzer Dragoon". White said, "People will be blown away with the exceptional quality and play of Panzer Dragoon. NVIDIA's simultaneous acceleration of 3D graphics, high-fidelity audio, and input response, combined with Panzer's incredible content, make this the most beautiful piece of content yet to be brought to the PC."

Crystal Dynamics

Leading software developer, Crystal Dynamics announced that "3D Baseball" will be released as part of the Championship Sports line. "Advanced games require simultaneous acceleration of media such as graphics, audio, and input," said David Kirk, chief scientist of Crystal Dynamics. "The availability of a complete self-contained multimedia subsystem such as the NVIDIA NV1, enables us to deliver our most advanced games to the consumer. Sports game enthusiasts will be stunned by the realistic look, feel, and sound of 3D Baseball and Crystal Dynamics' proprietary technology, Real Motion Control."

"Today's PC is a collection of fragmented technologies," said Dr. Kirk. "The availability of coherent, integrated multimedia subsystems that are able to reach consumer price points, such as the NVIDIA NV1, enables us to deliver our most advanced games to the consumer. Gaming sports enthusiasts will appreciate the realistic visuals and response by Crystal Dynamics' proprietary technology, Real Motion Control as used in 3D Baseball."

Papyrus

Software developer and publisher, Papyrus has already ported the top racing PC hit, NASCAR Racing to the NVI. David Kaemmer, chief technical officer of Papyrus says, "We were able to bring the racing experience of NASCAR from DOS to Windows 95 with full textures, high color resolution, and full-motion 3D frame rate with the NV1."

Domark Software, Inc.

Domark Software announced today the forthcoming release of their NV1-accelerated title, Absolute Zero. "Using the newly-developed tools from NVIDIA, we were able to complete an excellent, fully 3D and audio accelerated Win 95 version of Absolute Zero. We are extremely pleased with the results and believe gamers will be too," commented Collin Boswell, technical director at Domark.

Alexandria Digital Studios

Content developer Alexandria Digital Studios will be porting three flagship PC titles to the NVIDIA NV1. "NVIDIA's ability to accelerate traditional content and support standards such as Microsoft's Direct X, as well as provide unique capabilities, allows us to bring fully compatible and significantly enhanced 3D titles to the home PC market," said Alexandria's Neil Balthaser, vice president of production.

Martin Hash, Inc.

3D modeling and animation tool creator, Martin Hash, Inc., announced today release of a new version of Animation Master, Hash's PC-based 3D modeling and animation software toolset, that supports the NVIDIA NV1 multimedia accelerator. "Hash's Animation Master is the premier 3D character animation tool for the PC and combined with NVIDIA's NV1, allows developers to bring stunning 3D content to the PC in record time," said Martin Hash, president.

Sonic Foundry

Professional digital audio tool creator, Sonic Foundry, today announced that they will extend their industry-leading "Sound Forge" product for Windows to support NVIDIA's NV1. "Superior audio is a major component of any PC entertainment experience," said Monty Schmidt, president of Sonic Foundry. "The NV1's embedded 350 MIPs audio synthesis engine allows for the creation of extremely compelling audio music and effects. With our industry-leading Sound Forge audio editing tools, content developers will have the ability to create and edit music and effects for use with the NV1."

NVIDIA is a privately held company based in Sunnyvale, Calif. The company's mission is to develop acceleration technology to transform the PC into the ultimate multimedia platform. The company was listed this year by UPSIDE Magazine as "one of the five hottest startup companies in Silicon Valley" according to industry analysts.

Electronic Arts, headquartered in San Mateo, California, is a leading interactive entertainment software company. Founded in 1982, EA posted revenues of over $490 million for fiscal 1995. The company develops, publishes and distributes software worldwide for advanced entertainment systems such as the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, as well as IBM-compatible PCs, Macintosh computers, and major dedicated video game systems. Electronic Arts markets its products worldwide under five brand names: EA SPORTS, Electronic Arts Studio, Origin Systems Inc., Bullfrog Productions Ltd, and Jane's Combat Simulations. EA has subsidiaries in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and Austin, Texas. More information about EA's products and full text of press releases can be found on the Internet at http://www.ea.xom.

Activision, Inc. is a publicly held developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software for Microsoft Windows and MS-DOS-compatible, Macintosh and other computers, as well as Nintendo, Sega, 3DO, and Sony PlayStation game systems. Headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in London, Tokyo and Sydney, the company sells and markets products under the Activision and Infocom trade names.

Sega of America is the arm of Tokyo, Japan-based Sega Enterprises Ltd. responsible for the development, marketing and distribution of Sega products in the Americas. Sega Enterprises Ltd is a nearly $4 billion company known as the leader in interactive digital entertainment media with operations on five continents: Sega of America's Internet addresses are: http://www.segaoa.com (World Wide Web); GO SEGA (CompuServe Forum); [email protected] (email); ftp.segaoa.com (ftp site).

Crystal Dynamics, only "pure-play" in the 32-bit arena, is a global leader in developing next-generation video game software for multiple platforms including Sega Saturn, Sony PlayStation and the 3DO Interactive Multiplayer system. The company developed and published the first 32-bit title for a video game home console in 1993. Less than three years later, Crystal Dynamics reached another milestone when it passed the one million, total units shipped mark. Their flagship product GEX is currently bundled with Panasonic's 3DO system. Strategic partners include founding venture capital investors Technology Partners as well as Kleiner Perkins, Caulfield & Byers; Home Box Office; and King World Productions, Inc. The company's products are distributed worldwide by the international media conglomerate Bertelsmann Music Group.

Papyrus develops and publishes high performance gaming software products for the PC, MAC & various gaming platforms. Founded in 1987, the company has a history of producing award winning games software. Building on its experience as a contract developer for Electronic Arts on Indianapolis 500: The Simulation for DOS and the Amiga platform, the company has since established itself as a leading software game publisher with tow other award winning titles: IndyCar Racing (DOS) and NASCAR Racing (DOS). Papyrus products differentiate themselves in the marketplace based on their technical sophistication and adherence to realism.

Domark Software, Inc., established in 1984, develops and publishes interactive entertainment software titles on various platforms including: PC and PC-compatibles, Macintosh, Sega Genesis, CD, and Game Gear, the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, 3DO, and Sony PSX. Domark products are available through major distributors, retailers, and mass merchants in the US and worldwide.

Alexandria Digital Studios designs and develops interactive games for popular video game systems and personal computers. The company creates original content, performs traditional work-for-hire for publishers and produces ports of games to all of the popular home game systems and personal computers. The company also licenses its software development tools and technology.

Martin Hash, Inc. is a privately-held company located in Vancouver, Washington, dedicated to developing cutting edge 3-D state-of-the-art character animation software.

Sonic Foundry is determined to provide professional sound software products of the highest quality and greatest value to our customers. We plan continued development of revolutionary applications as well as refining existing applications to help foster a new standard for audio-based software. Our success is based on leveraging our programming strength with a thorough understanding of the Windows operating system. Combined with an intense emphasis on marketing, our company expects continued growth and greater market share as software becomes more of an integral part of the multimedia, music, and sound industries. -0-

Note to Editors: Photos and screen shots available on request.

CONTACT: Brough Communications

Bruce Brough, 408/438-0204

e-mail: [email protected]
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