Discreet 3ds max 5 Delivers Ultra Realistic 3D for Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance

Turning to Discreet's 3ds max software, Midway Grabs Gamers' Attention with Riveting 3D Visuals

In the competitive world of PC and console games, Midway Games, Inc. turned to Discreet's 3ds max(tm) software to create jaw-dropping 3D imagery and amazing martial arts sequences for the opening cinematic sequence in Mortal Kombat(r): Deadly Alliance(tm) launching this fall. Debuting in 1992, the Mortal Kombat series has defined the fighting video game genre with revolutionary use of 3D graphics, compelling content and interactive game play. Preferring 3ds max to other 3D packages for ease of use, reliability, flexibility, and speed to deliver their Hollywood-style game elements, the Midway Full Motion Video (FMV) department was able to create an exciting and visually compelling opening cinematic for the game with a very small animation team and within a tight production schedule.

"In a video game genre that really focuses on 3D realism, we searched for top notch technology as seen in block buster movies to bring gamers a captivating and visually stunning opening sequence," said Chad Greene, Cinematics lead, Midway. "We had assessed many options for which software we were going to use and came to the conclusion that for us, 3ds max was the most well rounded and flexible package to meet our demanding needs. Because the project was relatively ambitious, we relied on software we knew would hold up well under very strict and short deadlines - 3ds max was the clear solution."

Midway Games' FMV department used 3ds max to create elements and scenes ranging from the highly detailed and ominous temple of the powerful sorcerer Shang Tsung, to the bright, fiery pits of hell. The easy customization of the 3ds max interface and the ability to incorporate custom scripts enabled the small animation team to streamline the production process and deliver an important story-telling component for what Midway Games hopes to be their best-selling Mortal Kombat version to date. By incorporating procedural modeling techniques on both characters and environments, the team could allow for set dressing changes to be made quickly and efficiently. 3ds max's ease of use and speed of the volumetric lighting and atmospherics also helped the team to keep rendering times low during the process.

The premier choice for game developers, 3ds max 5 offers animators and designers industry award-winning tools to create sophisticated real-time and pre-rendered games and cinematics. From on-board Radiosity Solutions and Render-to-Texture capabilities that enrich both pre-rendered and in-game sequences, to leading UVW Editing Tools that greatly simplify texture management, 3ds max 5 is the choice of animation studios and game developers worldwide.