According to the manufacturer, the new version integrates numerous functions requested by customers. The latest release of Virtools supports many standard game controllers, high-end trackers and head-mounted displays. Developers also have better access to the real-time rendering engine.
The new features at a glance:
- A new video engine can feed live video into the program and display video from hard disks or streaming servers. Windows Media, MPEG and DivX files can be used as textures or displayed full-screen.
- VRML objects can be imported into the program in real time.
- Integration of the latest DirectSound engine enables 5.1 audio playback.
- A library of ready-made shaders allows effects to be created without programming.
- OpenGL 1.5 is now fully supported.
- A new VR-specific SDK allows users to integrate external modules.
- Point clouds can be used directly from 3D scanners in Virtools and assigned functions like any other object.
- 3D textures enable interactive positioning of clipping planes, modification of lookup tables and filtering with programmable shaders.
- Visual Studio .NET 2003 becomes the new development tool for the SDK.
- Thumbnail previews are displayed in Explorer, simplifying management of CMO and NMO files.
The software is available immediately, although the provider has not announced a price.
