Global Majic turns 2D into 3D

NEWS US software firm, Global Majic Software (GMS), has launched a program that it hopes will revolutionise the world of 3D Windows applications development. The product, called 3DLinX, is an add-on for Microsoft's Visual Basic (VB) and Inprise's Borland Delphi development environments. GMS said it offers a "language-independent environment for real-time 3D application development and graphic rendering," and plans to unveil it at the Siggraph trade show in August. Developers are already excited about GMS's product. Chad Tillman of Nichiman Graphics said: "It's not often you can use words like 'liberating', 'monumental' or 'revolutionary' in an honest discussion of software. Those terms are appropriate when describing 3DLinX. It's going to set the 3D industry on its ear." Currently, highly-experienced C++ or Virtual Reality Modelling Language (VRML) programmers are needed for 3D development projects. GMS claimed 3DLinX allows a much wider array of programmers - from VB to Web developers - to create in 3D. 3DLinX is an ActiveX control. Within VB, it shows up as a separate editor within the VB editor. Objects put into the 3D editor appear as they would on the user interface of the finished application. The developer can set the object's characteristics, such as size, colour and speed of movement by using a 'properties' box. GMS claimed that in many cases, just a couple of lines of VB code are necessary to link a 2D GUI (graphical user interface) component on the VB editor to the 3D objects. The VB GUI parts such as buttons or sliding bars would be used in the application to change properties of the 3D object. Because it is language independent, 3DLinX also runs well on the Internet, according to GMS. Advantages over VRML include superior speed and the ability to hide source code, the firm claimed.