Key Features : Virtools™ Dev

• New paradigm based on separation of objects, data and behaviors, and applications created by assembling objects to behaviors.
• Intuitive user interface with real time visualization window and graphical programmation.
• Web Building Blocks for dynamic media and data download and user-customized content delivery.
• Use the Virtools Scripting Language and its intelligent coloring system, context-sensitive completion and function arguments display.
• Complete project management capabilities (compatibility with NxN's alienbrain in the Dev interface).
• Cutting-edge rendering with Programmable Vertex and Pixel Shaders.

The Graphical User Interface - Download the Dev Quick Start in PDF (612 KB)

• Graphically assemble building blocks to create complex behaviors and generate game-quality interactivity
• Import models and animation created by third-party applications (3D Studio Max, Maya…)
• The Virtools Dev graphical user interface is used throughout every stage of development. It includes:

• A 3D Layout to display content in a real-time environment.
• Graphical tools for navigating, creating, editing, selecting and manipulating 3D objects, lights, cameras and curves.
• Creating and editing lights, cameras, materials, textures, grids and paths.
• Translation, rotation, scaling of 3D entities and navigation within the virtual environment.
• Drag-and-drop behaviors onto 2D and 3D objects.
• Creation of new reusable behaviors by graphically combining existing ones.
• A Schematic View to graphically assemble and fine-tune behavior building blocks for creation of interactive content.
• A Script Debugger to fine-tune the application.
• Entity Setup Tools to edit the parameters of any object that has associated behaviors.
• An Attribute Manager for quick visualization and modification of attribute values for multiple objects.
• An Action Manager to create scripts for frequently used functions which performs a predefined task on a selection or parameter and access them in just a few keystrokes.
• A Hierarchy Manager to display a tree view of all the objects present in any level.
• A Parameters Debugger to inspect and edit data values.
• A Path Manager to define paths to data sources (image, audio or other data files).
• A Profiler to probe how much computing time is devoted to particular tasks.
• A Shader Editor to create programmable vertex and pixels shaders in DX9 HSLS.

The Virtools Scripting Language

The Virtools Scripting Language is a powerful scripting language that complements the Virtools Dev Schematic View and the Virtools SDK with an intelligent coloring system, context-sensitive completion and function arguments display. VSL scripts can be processed at run-time or in Author mode. VSL offers full debugging mode with breakpoint support, watchable variables with value editing, and step by step debugging (also step into/out support).

• For programmers, VSL is an interface to the SDK from within Dev. With no need to create a C++ project, you can easily and quickly test new ideas and implement custom code, without custom DLLs.
• For scripters, VSL is ideal for replacing complex parameter operations (math calculations, string operations) and creating advanced behavioral scripts.

The Behavior Engine

• Deploy both custom and out-of-the box behaviors.
• Use an out-of-the box library with more than 500 reusable behaviors.
• Assign behaviors using an intuitive Drag-and-Drop paradigm.
• Create new and reusable behaviors by graphically combining existing ones.
• Extend your library with custom behaviors developed with the SDK, with Behavior Packs or with third-party behaviors created by the Virtools user community.
  

The render engine provides high-quality, real-time rendering of 3D images and animations in real time. It includes the following features:

• Support for key industry standards: DirectX and OpenGL.
• Supports programmable Vertex and Pixel Shaders (DX9, HLSL).
• Support for 3D modeling objects and animation from 3ds max, Maya and Lightwave.
• Optional access to render engine source code (to replace this tool with third-party rendering engine).
  

Virtools SDK (Software Development Kit) - Download the SDK Abstract in PDF (186 KB)

The Virtools SDK is a suite of development tools (libraries, DLLs, header files) that provide access to all the low-level functionality used by Virtools software. Developers can write the following application components:

• Additional custom behaviors.
• Custom application executables using the Virtools engines as underlying technology.
• Extensions to the Virtools engines, such as Behaviors, Media Importer, Manager, Render Engines Plugins, Rasterizers and Extension Plugins (specific Parameter Types).
• New managers and editors for the Virtools GUI interface with the Virtools Interface SDK.
• Benefit from access to the Rendering Engine and out-of-the box behaviors source code.
  

Technical Features : Virtools™ Dev

• DirectX5, DirectX7, DirectX 8.1,
  DirectX 9.0 and OpenGl support
• Programmable Vertex Shaders
  and Pixel Shaders (DX9 HLSL)
• Compressed textures (DX7, OpenGL)
• Dynamic creation and copying of objects and scripts
• Hierarchical keyframe animation system with motion blending
  (mix of several animations) and warping (transitions)
• Level of Detail for character animations
• Support for Linear, Bezier and TCB animations
• Morph animations (with blending and warping)
• Skin & Bones System
• Bicubic Patch Meshes (uniform tesselation)
• Progressive Meshes
• Spline Curves
• Per Vertex Color
• Procedural textures and movie textures
• Multi Texturing
• Rendering to a texture
• Cube Environment Mapping
• Bump Mapping
• Dot Prod3 Mapping
• Billboard or axis constrained 3D Sprites
• Sprites with hierarchical system
• Hierarchical culling
• Pentium III and IV optimizations
• Dynamic RGB lighting
• Pixel/Vertex Fog
• Mipmapping
• Transparency
• Texture Filtering
• Perspective correction texture mapping

• Particle systems
• Portal culling
• Reflections
• Environment Mapping
• Collision Detection
• Simple Shadows, Shadow casting
• Motion blur
• Lens Flares
• Multi object morphing
• Level of Detail
• 360° environment map
• Animation Recorder
• Filter Texture
• Hardware Level
• LightMap
• Volumetric Fog
• ShadowStencil
• Time Settings

• 3D files: 3DS Max, Maya, LightWave, 3DS, X.
• Images: JPG, PNG, TIFF, TGA, BMP, PCX.
• Sounds: MP3, WMA, Wave, midi.
• Video: AVI, Active Movie supported formats
  

System Requirements

• Pentium III or equivalent
• Microsoft Windows (2000, XP or NT 4.0 (with Service Pack 6))
• 128 MB of RAM (256 MB Recommended)
• CD-ROM Drive
• Monitor capable of displaying 1024 by 768 in 16 bit color (65536 color/Hi-color)
• Pointing device (mouse, trackball, etc.)
• Direct3D or OpenGL compatible 3D graphic accelerator card with 8 MB of RAM
• Sound Card (not required but recommended)
• Microsoft DirectX 7.0, 8.0 or 9.0c for DirectX compatible 3D graphic accelerator cards
• For OpenGL, an OpenGL 1.5-compatible graphics card and driver
• Internet Explorer 4.0+ (for the Online Reference)