From: montefus@dsi.unimi.it (Diego Montefusco)
Subject: Re: TECH: MicroSoft Game SDK
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 1996 02:22:08 +0100


From: montefus@dsi.unimi.it (Diego Montefusco)

I got this from a friend, and I am forwarding this to the group. Hope
it helps, although I know nothing about this stuff, those are my
friend's words.


>> According to the CyberEdge Journal Sept/Oct issue, Microsoft has
>>released the Reality Lab 2.0 3D rendering platform with 3D Blaster
>>support for Win-95. Can any one tell me more about it and where
>>it can be bought from ? Microsoft was to also release the Games
>>SDK CD with libraries for Direct3D support. As we intend to write
>>3D games it would be very helpful if someone could shed some light
>>on these new technologies.

I am a Microsoft Developer and Beta Tester for both the products. I do
not know if RL2.0 is released, but it is my impression that CyberEdge
is wrong.  kates@microsoft.com is the product manager of the RL
product line. The W95 Games SDK and so on is definitely available only
as a Beta Tester, so refer to microsoft directly about it. Anyway the
Direct3D has entered beta testing stage only in october, so we are at
the very start.

Ciao!

                                                        Aaron


PS: want more info? OK. RenderMorphics was a UK firm with a very good
and fast 3D library called Reality Lab. Microsoft acquired them ( they
buy everything. Hey, Bill, wanna my old car? just 100,000 dollars and
it is yours! ). So, while they ended the developement or RL2.0 ( we
are now at beta release 33 ), they started a full rewrite which is
called Reality Lab 4.0 with totally rewritten API ( we are now at the
very first beta, which is slower than the 2.0, but this will be the
standard, so focus on this ). This new 4.0 is tightly joined with all
the stuff in the Game SDK, which is DirectDraw, DirectSound,
DirectPlay, DirectInput etc. These are libraries which, in a
HW-independant and transparent way, bypass Windows 95 and go on the
HW. So, for example, with DirectDraw you get on an Tseng ET4000 some
40 frames/sec @ 640x480x8 full screen, and you got W95 jump from
800x600x16 to X-Modes ( 320x240x8, FAAAAAAST!!! ) with just a
SetResolution call ( or something similar ). DirectSound offers wawe
mixing, panning, volume control, frq change etc. DirectPlay manages
connectivity. DirectInput will become the input lib and will suppport
virtual reality input devices like trackers etc. Direct3D will be the
layyer on which Reality Lab 4 will sit, and it will access directly
any 3D acceleration engine, if present.

We are at the very start, but my impression is that the whole thing is going
to be very interesting ( and I am not a micro$oft fan! ).

Ciao a tutti ancora.
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