April 17, 2003 - Paris, France

For Immediate Release -
Category : Interactive 3D Applications / Technology

VIRTOOLS™ Releases the New Virtools Artificial Intelligence Pack for Virtools Dev 2.5

Paris, April 17, 2003 - Entering the AI arena for game and industrial applications, Virtools™, market leader in the world of interactive 3D development solutions, announces the release of the Virtools AI Pack, an artificial intelligence add-on pack for Dev 2.5.

Artificial Intelligence is a key factor to the success of any video game or simulation application. Interactive applications often fall short because autonomous characters lack realistic, expressive behavior. Viewers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and demand interactive and immersive experiences with greater complexity and greater realism. The field of artificial intelligence can help overcome this hurdle, bringing greater autonomy and intelligence to independent characters. Yet artificial intelligence requires substantial R&D, which remains complex and costly to develop.

Thanks to its versatile architecture, the Artificial Intelligence Pack for Virtools Dev offers a truly innovative, cost-effective solution enabling users to implement Artificial Intelligence in a variety of different applications while improving the production process and significantly reducing cost and time-to-market.

The Virtools AI Pack is an add-on library of building blocks specifically geared to managing autonomous entities. The AI Pack lets development teams create applications with all the power of AI – directly in Virtools Dev's intuitive graphic user interface.

"The Virtools AI Pack's addition to the Virtools arsenal, specially conceived and developed for game and industrial applications, allows the creation of applications whose realism will be beyond anyone's expectations. The AI Pack brings a turn-key solution to implemeting intelligent behaviors in 3D characters," declared Bertrand Duplat, CTO, Virtools.

More information on the AI Pack: http://www.virtools.com/solutions/products/virtools_aipack.asp


About the Virtools™ Development Solution

Built around Virtools' flagship product, Virtools Dev 2.5, the Virtools development package is currently one of the most comprehensive and competitive solutions available in terms of functionality and performance. Thanks to the different modules and add-on packs, Virtools Dev provides a comprehensive, cost-effective development platform: the Physics Pack to add physical behaviors to 3D objects, the Multiuser Pack to enable the creation of shared universes, the Virtools Behavioral Server to deploy interactive content dynamically, and the Virtools VR Pack to create and experience 3D worlds on multiple screens, using any input device, and run it all on a PC cluster. Now, the Virtools AI Pack allows clients to create intelligent autonomous characters.

Virtools solutions are now widely used in complete productions from start to finish, and renowned companies like France Telecom, Electronic Arts, Microïds, Microsoft Ensemble Studios, Warner Bros Online, EDF, Blue Fang Games and Ubisoft all use Virtools development solutions.

For more information, go to http://www.virtools.com/solutions/products/virtools_dev.asp

About Virtools™

Founded in 1993, Virtools™ enables Global 2000 companies and their integrators, as well as game studios, to develop and deploy 3D applications with game-like interactivity. Costs and timeframes are kept under control through a scalable set of software and server-based solutions that reduce the risks associated with developing interactive applications.

France Telecom are among the growing number companies that have benefited from Virtools technology. Using Virtools, clients reduce development costs and increase interactivity. Virtools software is used by online and offline game development studios such as: Electronic Arts, Microïds, Microsoft Ensemble Studios, Warner Bros Online, Blue Fang Games and Ubisoft. Virtools solutions are also used for industrial applications for major corporate clients like EDF, EADS, CEA, CNRS, and France Telecom.

More information at: http://www.virtools.com

Press contacts

Virtools SA
93 rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
Tel: (+33) 1 42 71 46 86
Fax: (+33) 1 42 71 86 53
Email: info@virtools.com