August 3, 2005 – Paris, France

For Immediate Release
Category: Interactive 3D Applications / Technology

Virtools™ Announces Availability of Virtools Software Suite 3.5

Press Conference to Be Held at SIGGRAPH Tradeshow

Paris, August 3, 2005 - Virtools™, recently acquired by Dassault Systèmes (Nasdaq: DASTY; Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), today announced the availability of Virtools Software Suite 3.5. A press conference to discuss Virtools Software Suite 3.5 will be held today at the SIGGRAPH tradeshow at 11am Pacific, in room 514 of the Los Angeles Convention Center.

Virtools Software Suite 3.5, a set of comprehensive software development solutions for building highly interactive 3D content, is the result of extensive client and partner feedback. Virtools Software Suite 3.5 addresses development and production needs for Virtools’ target customers in the industrial, game development and multimedia markets.

Crucial enhancements and new functionalities for release 3.5, which will begin shipping in one month, were defined in conjunction with advanced customers, such as Honeywell and Procter & Gamble.

Procter & Gamble (P&G) will continue to build on the Virtools Dev application as an enabler within their innovation process toolbox. Virtools based applications enable P&G to simulate and experience important aspects of new product development. Those applications are widely deployed within PG.

"The flexibility and depth of Virtools Technology has been a key enabler in helping us to develop quickly a set of tools that are now being used by our different departments in support of their processes" Bernard Eloy - GBS IDS Section Manager Procter and Gamble.

"Honeywell FM&T turned to Virtools technology for an internal training project on its immersive system," said Bob Owens, a staff engineer at Honeywell FM&T, who previously used C-based immersion software on Unix clusters. "Virtools not only supports standard gaming devices, but also high end trackers, power walls and HMDs on PC clusters. Within the first week of receiving our software we had a cluster up and running on 4 displays and a HMD."

Virtools Dev 3.5 offers a broad spectrum of new features oriented towards better compatibility and optimized support for external technologies and formats, as well as enhanced control over the rendering pipeline.

The Virtools Software Suite release is comprised of Virtools Dev 3.5 and additional functionalities relevant for the entire Virtools product line.

Enhancements in Virtools Dev 3.5 include:

• New Video Engine

The addition of a video engine will enable display of:

• "Live" video feed from a video camera
• Videos with soundtracks read from local hard drives
• Videos with soundtracks streamed from a server

The new engine will make it possible to use video as textures or full screen, in today's standard formats: Windows Media, Mpeg, DivX.

• Native VRML Import

The Virtools Software Suite will incorporate VRML import to load objects at runtime.

• 5.1 Sound

With the new release, 5.1 sond effects will be supported thanks to the integration of the latest DirectSound3D engine.

• Ready-to-Use Shaders Library

To make the most of Virtools programmable shaders, a library of ready-to-use shaders will be included. Apply effects to your objects with no programming necessary.

• Support for OpenGL 1.5

Improved OpenGL performance - comparable to that of DirectX9 - will be possible thanks to a new OpenGL 1.5 rasterizer.

• New VR-specific SDK: VRSDK

The VRSDK will give users access to specific VR Pack functions, to facilitate integration of external modules programmed in C++ (i.e. implementation of "warping" and "edge blending" algorithms).

• Point Clouds

Thanks to point cloud integration, Virtools Dev 3.5 users will be able to use data derived from 3D laser scanning. Thus millions of points can be optimally stored and displayed with associated functionalities such as addition of attributes for each point, display of such points by shaders, collision management and level of detail.

• 3D Textures

By supporting 3D textures, Virtools Dev 3.5 will enable easier creation of classic 3D visualization applications: interactive positioning of clipping planes, modification of look-up tables, as well as filtering and treatment by programmable shaders.

• SDK to Visual Studio.net

As of Virtools Dev 3.5, Visual Studio.net 2003 will be the sole SDK development program. Visual Studio 6 will no longer be supported.

• Resource Thumbnail Previews

Thanks to thumbnail previews, it will be possible to preview media assets and resources used in Virtools compositions. A "Thumbnail" mode will offer previews of various Virtools resource libraries (.cmo, .nmo) directly in Windows explorer, as well as media preview in the Resources window of Virtools Dev.

About Virtools

Virtools was formed in 1993 with consulting and services targeting the VR sector. With the needs of this and other key markets in mind, Virtools built the company's initial software solution, Virtools Dev. as an Independent Software Vendor since mid 1999, Virtools has become the leading provider of comprehensive software development solutions for building highly interactive 3D content. With several thousands of users throughout the world, the Virtools Software Suite enables prototyping, development and deployment of offline and online/networked video games, along with applications in the fields of industrial simulation/virtual reality and marketing/multimedia. Virtools clients include industry leaders such as Procter & Gamble, EDF, EADS, CEA, PSA Peugeot Citroen, CNRS, France Telecom, Matsushita, US Department of Energy, Intel, Publicis Networks, Arte TV and L'Oréal, as well as major game studios such as Electronic Arts, Microïds, Sony Computer Entertainment, Microsoft Game Studio, Warner Bros Online, Blue Fang Games and Ubisoft. Virtools' strategic partners include Barco, Orad, HP, Intersense, Ascension Technologies, Advanced Realtime Tracking, Microsoft, and Sony.

For more information, visit www.virtools.com

About Dassault Systèmes

As world leader in 3D and PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) solutions, the Dassault Systèmes group brings value to more than 80,000 customers in 80 countries.  A pioneer in the 3D software market since 1981, Dassault Systèmes develops and markets PLM application software and services that support industrial processes and provide a 3D vision of the entire life cycle of products from conception to maintenance.  Its offering includes integrated PLM solutions for product development (CATIA®, DELMIA®, ENOVIA®, SMARTEAM®), mainstream 3D design tools (SolidWorks®), and 3D components (Spatial/ACIS®). Dassault Systèmes is listed on the Nasdaq (DASTY) and Euronext Paris (#13065, DSY.PA) stock exchanges.

For more informations, visit: www.3ds.com

Press contacts

Virtools SA
93 rue Vieille du Temple
75003 Paris
Julie ERCOLANI
ercolani@virtools.com
+33 1 42 71 46 86