RenderWare provides real-time 3D rendering for SolidWorks 95, a new generation solids modeling package

Business Wire, Nov 14, 1995

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 14, 1995--Autofact/Criterion software today announced that SolidWorks Corp. has licensed RenderWare for use in their ground breaking 3D solids based modeling package, SolidWorks 95.

SolidWorks 95 heralds a new era in 3D solid modeling, just as Autocad did for 2D drafting. SolidWorks 95 is a next generation solids modeling package that breaks the traditional mold. It is tightly integrated with Microsoft's Windows 95 and Windows NT, and aims for ease of use through a slick menu driven interface and real-time solid model rendering with RenderWare. It is also priced to match the PC market expectations.

"We are very excited to have RenderWare incorporated into this leading edge product," said Mike King, Criterion's Vice President of Marketing. "When RenderWare was first released it broke the mold and it is great to be helping SolidWorks to do the same."

"We evaluated the various real-time 3D rendering solutions for Windows 95 and Windows NT and selected RenderWare as providing the best performance and stability," said Michael Payne, SolidWorks' Vice President of Development. "Working with Criterion over the last 12 months has been a real pleasure, their support has been outstanding, confirming that we definitely made the right choice with RenderWare."

SolidWorks 95, including real-time rendering with RenderWare, will be demonstrated at Autofact at booth No. 1038.

SolidWorks 95 will ship before the end of the year and will incorporate RenderWare's real-time rendering as a standard feature.

RenderWare, launched in December 1993, was the first interactive 3D graphics API shipping for Windows 95. RenderWare's strength lies in its ability to provide real-time 3D graphics on PC's without the need for a 3D graphics accelerator, thus opening up a substantial installed base of PCs as a target market for 3D applications.

Furthermore, when RenderWare detects the presence of a 3D accelerator it transparently accelerates the application to even higher levels of performance, at greater resolution and color depth. With over 600 developers, RenderWare is the most widely supported 3D API for Windows 95.

SolidWorks Corp., based in Concord, MA, develops and markets mechanical design software products for Windows. SolidWorks was founded in December 1993 with the vision to bring production solid modeling to the desktop of every engineer. SolidWorks has offices in five major cities in the United States and distributes its products world-wide.

SolidWorks is backed by a prestigious group of venture capital firms including Atlas Venture; Burr, Egan & Deleage and North Bridge Venture Partners. This group of venture capital firms has backed other highly successful companies including Powersoft Corp., Watermark Software and Business Objects, S.A.

Criterion Software Ltd., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. (Tokyo, Japan), is the leader in interactive 3D graphics software tools for personal computers. Criterion develops, markets and supports computer software products and technologies that expand the interactive 3D graphics frontiers on the desktop. The company licenses its products and technology to major developers world-wide through its offices in Sunnyvale, Calif.; Guildford, England and Tokyo. -0-

Notes to Editors:

RenderWare is a registered trademark of Canon Inc. SolidWorks 95 is a trademark of SolidWorks Corp. All other trademarks belong to their respective companies.

Photography available upon request.

CONTACT: Criterion Software

Maria Johnson, 44 (0) 1 483 44 88 21

mariaj@csl.com

or

SolidWorks Corp.

Sabine Gossart, 508/371-2910

info@solidworks.com