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 | Platinum has a free "learning
edition" of it's VRCreator software. It includes a large VRML library and many
pre-programmed behaviors. The learning edition lacks a 3D modeler. Platinum purchased
Cosmo from SGI. VRcreator contains many VRML models and easy ways to bestow VRML97
"actions" to those models. Since it was originally a VRML1.0 tool, VRCreator has
comprehensive VRML1.0 to VRML97 capabilities. Sadly, I had difficulty navigating the
unique user interface. I can't wait to see the next tool that is the synthesis of
VRCreator and CosmoWorlds. [NOTE: This tool has disappeared
from the web site sometime around mid 1999]
VRCreator is an
easy-to-use tool for creating interactive 3D worlds based on VRML 2.0 (Virtual Reality
Modeling Language), the new Internet standard for 3D on the Web. VRML worlds can be
experienced over the Web, within corporate Internets, and on standalone computers.
Developers can also use VRML technology as an embedded component within traditional
client/server applications.
No prior knowledge of VRML is required to use VRCreator. Simply drag and drop 3D objects,
colors, textures, sounds and behaviors to create an interactive 3D experience of the
highest quality. Use the drag-and-drop elements that come with VRCreator or add your own.
Animate objects in your world using the animator. Experience worlds as you create them
using the embedded VRML 2.0 browser. Creating the best of all possible worlds is that
easy.
Worlds built for the Web can be experienced on any computer using any VRML 2.0-compliant
browser. New Web browsers, such as Netscape’s Navigator 4.0 and Microsoft’s
Internet Explorer 4.0, include built-in VRML 2.0 browsers—nearly everyone with a
computer can explore and interact with the worlds you build with VRCreator. Enjoy
VRCreator and enjoy your journey into the world of VRML authoring!
VRCreator
by Platinum Tech. - FREE Learning Edition Limited Evaluation Program. When you use the
evaluation program you are limited in the size of the world you create. However all the
worlds presently in the City are small enough to be created by the evaluation program to
give you an example. - 10 MB (installation mini) > 25 MB (installation complete).
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| At Silicon Graphic's web site
I found a form that let me order a 30 demo CD of CosmoWorlds. I found that it is a robust
and comprehensive, but slightly expensive, VRML97 author and animator. The original asking
price of $999.00 US was lowered to $599.00 US. This may be a little too expensive for the
average VRML hobbyist. SGI also made CosmoPlayer (a popular VRML browser plugin), and
Cosmo Create (a HTML editor) and PageFX (a 3D web page graphics builder). SGI's Cosmo
division was sold to Intervista and we expected to see a synthesis of what was good at
Platinum with what was good at Cosmo.
About 6 months later, Computer Associates purchased Platinum. Platinum was in the process
of "Open Sourcing" the code for Cosmo when this happened... C/A has evidently
chosen to "deep 6" this fine software for reasons that they only know.
Use Cosmo Worlds to create VRML worlds
for publishing on the World Wide Web. Cosmo Worlds fully supports the Moving Worlds
specification for VRML 2.0. Cosmo Worlds provides you with powerful tools to model complex
objects and create exciting, animated worlds. Optimization and publishing tools ensure
that your world will be compact once you publish it on the Web — visitors to your
world will find it quick to download and navigate.
[At this time (12/99) CosmoWorlds has
disappeared from the Internet.]
Some cosmosoftware is now (1/31/00) available
through Computer Associates International.
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| In the
early days of VRML (way back in '96) I used a 30 day demo of ARENA Design Pro v2.6 to
create some vrml1.0 objects. This tool allowed digitizing an outline and then extruding or
lofting that 2D outline into a 3D volume. Arena Design Pro also had interesting 3D text
capabilities. Although this company is still in business, the code is no longer available
for downloading. [NOTE: No longer on the web.]
ARENA Design Pro is/was very powerful 3D
modeling, rendering and animation production software. Here are just some features of
version 2.6:
 | Spline profile based modeling editor |
| Network distributed animation rendering |
| New image filters for JPG and PNG |
| 3DS import |
| VRML import and export |
| Internet VRML scene file direct download |
| Higher levels of ray tracing |
| Unlimited image output resolution |
| Alpha channel output |
| Undo/Redo |
| ...plus everything in ARENA Design v2.5 |
| ...plus some new bells and whistles too numerous to list
here.
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