Wave Issue 9601 6/23/96 Article 41-01

***Direct3D ships

Santa in June? Microsoft has announced the long awaited release of
Direct3D, its 3D API and hardware acceleration architecture. "The
infrastructure for a 3-D holiday season is in place" according to MS
vp John Ludwig.

Announced support:

80 hw and sw supporters (virtually every 3D chip)
30 D3D titles by Xmas (is 30 enough to build an industry?)
150 DirectX titles shipping, 300 more by Q4.

Direct3D is a part of the DirectX II SDK, available in the July
release of the Microsoft Developer Network Development Platform.

But for many developers, the important news will be that Microsoft
has put the entire DirectX II SDK on the net for free download and
use. Check the web site below and get ready for a 34 megabyte
download.

Expect more on D3D in coming issues of Wave.

800 759-5474, www.microsoft.com/mediadev/ or

www.microsoft.com/gamesdev/.