Second Life
Linden Lab has licensed SpeedTree for use in Second Life, its revolutionary 3D digital world, and hopes to add real-time’s most popular foliage solution in their next generation client in Q4.
”SpeedTree will enhance the Second Life experience with a remarkable level of visual realism and increased performance,” said Cory Ondrejka, Linden Lab’s Vice President of Product Development. “SpeedTree’s architecture and flexibility adds another layer of diversity and authenticity to the Second Life landscape and is a perfect complement to Second Life’s user creation and built-in development tools.”
Second Life is a 3D online digital world with a growing population of subscribers (or “Residents”): currently, the community has nearly 25,000 Residents from 46 countries around the globe. By providing Residents with robust building and scripting tools, Linden Lab enables them to create a vast array of in-world objects, installations and programs including homes, vehicles, sculpture, stores, AI programs, nightclubs, landscapes, clothing and games. Since its early stages, Linden Lab has allowed its Residents to retain full IP rights over their creations – thereby ensuring that their contributions to the community remain truly their own.
Ternary Software
Ternary Software, Inc., an established US software developer entering the game market, has licensed SpeedTree for a new title under development.
“In our current demo, we could really feel the difference after we added SpeedTree,” said Executive Producer Alexia Bowers. “It took a nice environment with beautiful art assets to a gorgeous environment.”
“We have found SpeedTree to be easy to use,” Ms. Bowers added. “Our programmers can place trees and create wind effects programmatically, and our artist can do the same through 3DSMax. SpeedTree enables rapid prototyping of 3-D outdoor environments, which easily gives the prototype environment a more beautiful, finished feel. SpeedTree also offers a wide variety of trees, as well as shrubs, flowers, and even weeds.”
Tactica Online
Imaginary Numbers, an Australian game developer working on its first title, has licensed SpeedTree for Tactica Online, a fast-moving turn-based strategy RPG set in the conspiracy and intrigue of Leonardo da Vinci’s world.
“SpeedTree is the best choice for balancing realistic, immersive environments and seamless gameplay in an online world,” said Imaginary Numbers CEO Luke Carruthers. “The ease of use makes it possible for us to devote our resources to the creation of compelling gameplay rather than getting hung up on technology.”
Tactica Online is a turn-based strategy RPG focusing on tactical squad combat, with a deep storyline featuring secret societies and the struggle between magic and science in da Vinci’s world.
Fast-paced, engaging combat is central to Tactica Online’s gameplay, requiring players to think quickly and counter the opponent’s strategy in order to claim victory. Combat takes place in missions or through Tournaments and Campaigns that affect the central storyline. Players control a team of characters with skills and abilities of their own design. Building and refining the capabilities of your team is an important element of Tactica Online, similar to designing a deck in a collectible card game.
Bizarre Creations
Bizarre Creations Ltd., the UK-based developer of such popular titles as Disney’s Treasure Planet, Fur Fighters: Viggo’s Revenge and the Project Gotham™ series, has licensed SpeedTreeRT for a new title due for release in 2006.
Peter Wallace, Senior Producer at Bizarre Creations, cited SpeedTree’s ease of use, realism and outstanding efficiencies as prime reasons for the choice.
“Our goal is producing games that meet and go beyond current standards for beauty and realism, and SpeedTree was the clear choice for meeting this standard with regard to foliage,” Wallace said.
Hero’s Journey
Simutronics Corp will bring the unmatched realism, beauty and animation of the SpeedTree foliage solution to Hero’s Journey, a new online title under development. Hero’s Journey is a third generation MMO game that is breaking new ground in graphic quality and gameplay.
“As a game developer, it’s a pleasure to find third party software that delivers a quality product that also saves development time and is reasonably priced,” said Eric Slick, Director of Development, at Simutronics. “SpeedTree delivered a strong product with excellent support. Our decision to use SpeedTree, in the end, was easy to make.”