Tools Integration

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Tools Integration Dave AronsonProgram
ManagerDirectXMicrosoft Corporation
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Why Is This Here?

• We want to help you create the best looking
  games
• How can the production become more efficient?
• What the current state of DirectX tools
• Whats the future of DirectX tools

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Traditional Pipeline
3D Content Creation Tool
Exporter
Converter
Engine
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Traditional PipelineProblems

• Artist and Programmer have to guess on
  requirements for content
• Artists model and animate blind
• It takes additional work to view the content on
  the engine
• The engine may not be ready for viewing objects
  until a later date
• Viewing the data requires programmer time early
  in the process

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Better Pipeline
3D Content Creation Tool
Exporter
Converter
Engine
Previewer
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Better PipelineProblems solved

• Artist and programmer can view content
  immediately
• Advanced features can be viewed independent of
  the engine
• Frees the programmer

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X File Exporters

• Microsoft created
• Max 3, 3.1, 4.0
• Maya 2.5, 3.0
• Third party created
• Lightwave
• Others

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X File Features

• Model data
• 3D representation
• Material representation
• Single skin weighting
• Animation data
• Extensible

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Immediate Viewing

• Max4 of Direct3D
• Ability to define and view shaders
• MView utility
• Included in an upcoming D3DX release

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Higher Order Surfaces

• Progressive meshes
• N-patches
• Bezier patches

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What Are We Doing?

• Working with content creation tool ISVs
• Working with game ISVs

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Call To Action

• Tell us what you want!
• Tell tool ISVs what you want
• Use Direct3D for display
• Support and display features that you use
• Shaders
• N-patches
• Progressive meshes

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Discussion

• directx_at_microsoft.com
• daronson_at_microsoft.com
• Beta program
• Our booth here