Dassault Launches Web-Driven 3D Creation Suite

Author: by Staff

Dassault Systemes, owner of the Virtools development environment, has launched a public beta of two web-centric 3D creation applications: the downloadable 3DVIA Studio and the browser-based 3DVIA Scenes. Formally announced during Game Developers Conference, Dassault says the software is intended not only for those familiar with 3D art creation tools, but also for "new communities of web users." They are integrated with an online infrastructure that allows users to publish and share their creations with other users. 3DVIA Studio is a downloadable piece of software for creating "complex, interactive games, simulations, serious games and web-based applications" that can be hosted on the centralized server or on creators' own websites. The suite can also be extended with plugs that Dassault will sort and host. 3DVIA Scenes is a multi-user web-based application that uses a drag-and-drop system to facilitate creation of 3D assets and applications. Due to its relatively simple interface, Dassault says it is suited to both "creative professionals and 3D enthusiasts looking to adopt 3D content creation." Currently both pieces of software are free to use as part of the public beta, but Dassault will employ a "freemium" model after the official launch: limited versions of the software will remain usable for free, but commercial use will require paid access. "3DVIA’s mission is to empower anyone to communicate ideas easily and powerfully in 3D. We have worked hard to open 3D content creation capabilities to a wider market," said 3DVIA CEO Lynne Wilson in a statement. "The release of these two new applications marks a significant milestone in our journey."