GDC: Virtools Announces Next-Gen Engine Development

Author: by Staff

The Dassault Systèmes-owned Virtools has announced that it is working on next generation game prototyping and game engines for both the Xbox 360 and PS3 consoles, following earlier confirmation that it is working on Wii solutions. With the release of the next-gen Xbox 360 and PS3 lineup, the Virtools line will split into two distinct product lines: Codename NP, expected for release in 2008 for its next-gen offerings, and Virtools 4 (and eventually 5), which will cover PC, PSP, Wii, and a newly enhanced Mac engine rewritten to take advantage of Intel-core Macs. Dassault's Virtools framework combines GUIs, graphical and text scripting, debug tools, and APIs such as behavior and render engines, as well as asset integration plug-ins. As with previous versions, Virtools has told Gamasutra that the company will still support browser-based gaming, which the company maintains will also be true of its next-gen offering. As for the Wii solution, Virtools has included the Wii Remote building block and Wii Remote client, Virtools components which allow the access of Wii controllers on PCs with Virtools 4. "With our next generation solutions, soon to be released for the Xbox 360, we are now addressing top class development studios interested in high performance engine coupled with a new flexible production pipeline. With over thousands of characters fully animated on-screen and impressive shader-based visual effects, we are now playing in the upper league for production too," said Bertrand Duplat, CTO for Virtools, Dassault Systèmes.