3D optimization technology coming to Unreal Development Kit
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN – Donya Labs, creators of leading 3D optimization solutions for video games, announce the integration of its state-of-the-art middleware, Simplygon, with Epic Games’ award-winning Unreal Engine 3 (UE3). Donya Labs is the newest addition to Epic Games’ premier Unreal Engine 3 Integrated Partners Program and through its membership maintains code and feature parity for Simplygon in step with the engine as it evolves.
In addition to Unreal Engine 3 licensees having access to the Simplygon integration, users of the Unreal Development Kit (UDK), the free edition of UE3, now can utilize Simplygon via the Unreal Editor. Simplygon’s basic mesh reduction features are available to all UDK users in the June 2011 UDK Beta, and Donya and Epic will work together to integrate the full feature set of Simplygon into Unreal Engine during coming months. UDK developers may use Simplygon’s integrated features for all projects, commercial and non-commercial, as part of Epic’s offer.
Simplygon is used to automatically generate game-ready Level of Detail models (LODs) for a specific pixel resolution by removing as much information as possible without degrading LOD quality for a certain onscreen size. Simplygon uses proprietary 3D reduction methods that retain geometrical LOD integrity and visual quality of LOD switching, producing AutoLODs that can directly be used inside triple-A games.
Unreal Engine 3 leverages Simplygon to provide high-quality mesh reduction without having to leave the Unreal Editor. Developers can quickly simplify meshes, generate LODs, and immediately see the results in their maps.
“Simplygon saves developers hundreds to thousands of hours of manual art adjustment, so we are pleased to extend those benefits to our licensees with its incorporation into Unreal Engine 3,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games. “Simplygon is especially useful for converting high-end PC assets for deployment on mobile devices, which dovetails with Unreal Engine 3’s cross-platform strengths.”
“Epic Games has for long been a key producer of world-class video games and cutting-edge game development technology. Through Unreal Engine 3 and Unreal Development Kit, Epic has further extended its technology to an even broader audience and range of platforms,” said Dr. Max Hamedi, CEO of Donya Labs. “We are very pleased to now be able to help all Unreal Engine developers to “Automagically” optimize any 3D for any platform.”
About Unreal Engine 3
The award-winning Unreal Engine is known for its cutting-edge graphics, best-of-breed suite of integrated tools and scalability across platforms. Epic Games’ research and development continually evolve Unreal Engine 3’s highly mature toolset and content pipeline. Unreal Engine 3 is available across multiple platforms including iOS, Xbox 360® and PlayStation®3, PC, Mac and Android. Unreal Engine 3 is designed to accelerate developers’ productivity for computer and video games, mobile games and applications, training simulations, 3D visualizations, digital films and animated television shows. Unreal Engine 3 is the current holder and five-time winner of Game Developer magazine’s Best Engine award in the US as well as the current holder and three-time winner of Develop magazine’s Best Engine award in the UK. Developers can start using Unreal Engine 3 with the Unreal Development Kit (UDK), the free edition of the engine’s award-winning toolset available at http://www.udk.com. Additional information on Unreal Engine 3 can be obtained athttp://www.unrealengine.com.
About Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, NC and established in 1991, develops cutting-edge games and cross-platform game engine technology. The company has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in its “Unreal” series, including “Unreal Tournament 3” for PC, PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360®. Epic’s “Gears of War” franchise has sold more than 13 million copies worldwide and won more than 50 Game of the Year awards. Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 is the five-time winner of and Hall of Fame inductee for Game Developer magazine’s Best Engine Front Line Award. Unreal Engine 3 has also held the Develop Industry Excellence Award in its category for the past three years. Additional information about Epic can be obtained at http://www.epicgames.com.
About Donya Labs
Donya Labs is a Swedish company, founded 2007. The company vision is “to create a universal 3D optimization standard” through its proprietary “Simplygon” technology, so that any 3D can automatically be optimized into high quality interactive content for any platform.
About Simplygon
Simplygon is today the leading 3D optimization technology for video games, and is being used by some of the biggest AAA game developers such as CCP games, NCsoft, Disney Interactive and BioWare. Additional information on Simplygon can be obtained at http://www.simplygon.com.
Donya Labs’ and Simplygon’s names and logos are registered trademarks of Donya Labs AB in Sweden and elsewhere. Epic, Epic Games, Gears of War, Unreal, Unreal Development Kit, UDK, Unreal Engine, UE3, and Unreal Tournament are trademarks or registered trademarks of Epic Games, Inc. in the United States of America and elsewhere. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.