FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Unity Supports Development of Virtual Worlds & Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) Games
In-Browser Experience Sets Unity Apart from Competitors;
Cartoon Network with Grigon Entertainment & Funcom with Artplant
First Developers of Unity-based MMOs
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – July 24, 2008 – Unity Technologies, a leading 3D game development tool provider, today announced support for the creation of virtual worlds and massively multiplayer online (MMO) games. Already the cutting-edge choice for creating visually rich, 3D games on the Web, Unity now boasts a full roster of MMO features, including multiple terrains for virtually limitless environments and new on-demand streaming features that benefit game developer and player alike.
“The Unity engine with the additional MMO capabilities elevates the in-browser experience – resulting in the best and most comprehensive MMO game development engine on the market today,” said David Helgason, CEO of Unity Technologies. “The Unity engine has been tuned to support the unique needs of virtual world/MMO development, resulting in the fastest downloads, smoothest game play and limitless 3D environments.”
Unity was recently chosen by two leading developers for MMO creation. Cartoon Network’s 3D virtual MMO for kids, Cartoon Network Universe: FusionFall, which is being developed with Grigon Entertainment, is slated to debut this Fall. In addition, Funcom, the maker of Anarchy Online and Age of Conan, along with its partner Artplant chose Unity 2.1 for development of theirnew casual market MMOcurrently under production and under wraps.
Lucas Meijer, lead developer of Funcom/Artplant’s casual MMO said, "Unity 3D enables us to create game content for the Web, with higher production values than we've ever been able to do before."
New MMO/virtual world features supported by Unity 2.1 include:
· Multiple Terrains: Unity 2.1 is the only engine to support multiple terrains in any given scene and to load the terrains on-demand and on-the-fly. Multiple terrains instantly immerse gamer in an endless landscape, based on streamed data, which is critical for the success of any virtual world/MMO.
· Streaming Resource Files: Unity 2.1 loads assets on-demand with new streaming features. With the new streaming capabilities, developers can add to or update deployed content without having to completely republish content. This results in significant workflow efficiencies for developer, while delivering the quickest download/smoothest game play for the gamer.
· Scripted Asset Processing: MMOs/virtual worlds are a 24/7 operation that require developers to create a specialized pipeline. Unity 2.1 includes a complete scripting API for post-processing assets on import. For added flexibility, developers can now create their own customized art asset pipeline to work most efficiently with their art team.
· Procedural Characters: To support fully customizable avatars, the entire skinned animation system is now scriptable. It's easy to stitch multiple body parts into one character, and reassign bones to different characters.
· Customized Authoring: With Unity 2.1, developers can completely customize the authoring environment, including creating their own editor windows. This gives developers an unprecedented range of capabilities to meet the complex workflow needs of MMO development.
Unity 2.1 is available in several different authoring packages: Unity Indie ($199), Unity Pro ($1,499) or Unity Pro with Asset Server ($1,998). For more information on purchasing authoring packages, contact sales@unity3d.com.
About Unity Technologies
Unity Technologies’ innovative Unity game engine is the cutting-edge choice for creating visually-rich, 3D games for the desktop, Web, and leading mobile devices and video game consoles. Based in Copenhagen with sales and marketing offices in San Francisco, CA, Unity provides tools to game developers and creative visualization professionals to deliver superior 3D content that can be generated faster and more efficiently than other tool sets. Unity customers include leading game developers, educational institutions and industry visionaries: Smashing Ideas, Trigger, Freeverse, Shockwave.com, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Flashbang Studios, Three Melons and Skyworks Technologies. For more information, visit the Unity website at unity3d.com.
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