Discreet announced it has significantly increased its share in the 3D animation tools market this year with expansion in core and emerging markets. Having exceeded 200,000 license sales of its 3ds max software, Discreet has forged ahead with 3ds max 6, the most recent release of its acclaimed 3D modeling, animation and rendering software. Entertainment and design firms have moved to or expanded their use of 3ds max as a central 3D application for video and console game development, movie blockbusters and design-visualization projects. Discreet 3ds max software has also made aggressive strides in advanced simulation/ design visualization and the emerging mobile games market.
In 2003, 3ds max 6 continued major expansion in the game development market. Already used as a primary 3D application for 80% of the top-selling game titles, 3ds max software was a core 3D application used by 2003's top 10 developers, including: Rockstar, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Konami, and Microsoft for video, console and mobile games. Headlining games include GRAND THEFT AUTO: VICE CITY, PRINCE OF PERSIA: THE SANDS OF TIME, STAR WARS KNIGHTS OF THE OLD REPUBLIC, DEUS EX II: INVISIBLE WAR, MAX PAYNE 2: THE FALL OF MAX PAYNE and NEED FOR SPEED: UNDERGROUND, as well as much-anticipated 2004 releases HALO 2, THE WARRIORS, FAR CRY, METAL GEAR SOLID: THE TWIN SNAKES, SYBERIA 2.
3ds max software purchases also grew in the feature and broadcast visual effects markets, as major studio and animation houses discovered and utilized the strong new features in 3ds max 6, including Particle Flow and improved complementary workflow with other 3D applications such as Kaydara, Alias Maya and SOFTIMAGE|XSI. Visual effects created for movies with 3ds max in 2003 include: THE LAST SAMURAI, ELF, THE MATRIX RELOADED, X2: X-MEN UNITED, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, FREDDY VS, JASON, THE ITALIAN JOB, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, THE CORE and FINAL DESTINATION II.
"For Digital Dimension, 3ds max 6 was the only tool for the film effects woven throughout THE LAST SAMURAI and ELF", said Ben Girard, founder and president of Digital Dimension in Burbank, California. "From the computer-generated swords in THE LAST SAMURAI to snowballs in ELF, the audience is captivated by the story without any hint of the additional 3D-woven invisibly with the live- action footage"
According to Discreet, new design visualization tools and workflow with Autodesk's design products generated a surge of interest and purchases of 3ds max 6 with architects, industrial and mechanical designers and professionals in the government, medical and educational sectors. Some of the most groundbreaking global design-visualization work, spanning buildings, snowboards, planes and golf courses, were completed with 3ds max software, including the Institute of Contemporary Art (Boston), The Great Court at the British Museum (London), Burton Snow Boards, Bombardier Jets, Culture Music Center (Copenhagen) and Cartier Headquarters (Geneva).
Other milestones for 3ds max 6 in 2003 include massive adoption in the education community, from high schools to leading universities and design colleges worldwide. In 2003, 400 new educational institutions adopted 3ds max, including The Art Institutes, which purchased 4000 licenses, and the Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesin West School of Architecture.
Discreet (www.discreet.com) is based in Montreal, Quebec, and is a division of Autodesk Inc., a leading design and digital media creation, management and distribution company. 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 and design visualization.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
