GDC 09: Game development platform supports new audio, video and 3D capabilities
Adobe Systems has confirmed the release of a new version of its Director development platform.
The updated software promises to provide game developers and e-learning professionals with a range of new features for creating immersive gaming and multimedia applications.
“Director 11.5 is a significant milestone in our mission to deliver an advanced set of audio and video features for game developers and multimedia application authors,” said Naresh Gupta, senior vice president, Print and Publishing at Adobe. “With the brand new audio engine in Director 11.5 along with high quality video, developers can now create 3D online gaming experiences that are simply unparalleled in this space.”
“Adobe Director is a powerful platform for creating compelling and exciting 3D Shockwave games, which play a significant role in establishing our leadership position in the rapidly growing 3D online casual gaming space,” added Rob Small, CEO of Miniclip, the largest distributor of the Adobe Shockwave plug-in.
“With all our 3-D games being developed with Adobe Director, the new version enables us to deliver the kind of rich gaming experience that online gamers worldwide are demanding today.”
Advertisement
According to a press statement from GDC: 'With support for a new audio engine, high-definition video and advanced 3D features, Adobe Director 11.5 provides a rich and flexible platform to create applications for both online and desktop worlds.
The new features in Director 11.5 include a new audio engine that allows developers to deliver 5.1 channel surround sound and create audio effects using real-time mixing capabilities. With support for the H.264 format and RTMP-based streaming, users are able to deliver HD video content.
Developers can also create and import 3D assets through Google SketchUp and SketchUp 3D Importer. In addition, advanced physics capabilities based on the Nvidia PhysX engine help users create games and simulations that model real-world gravity and other life-like effects.'
Adobe Director and Adobe Flash software are both powerful, interactive authoring programs. Used together, they enable developers to create the most compelling and effective rich content, both online and offline. Many Director users have already discovered the advantages of combining Flash with Director, while more Flash users than ever are also discovering this powerful combination.
When to use Flash
Adobe Flash is an ideal authoring tool for creating rich, interactive content for digital, web, and mobile platforms. If you want to create interactive websites, rich media advertisements, instructional media, engaging presentations, or games, vector-based Flash produces and displays small files for speedy delivery.
When to use Director
Adobe Director is an ideal multimedia authoring tool for creating rich, interactive games, demos, prototypes, simulations, and eLearning courses for the web, desktops, DVDs, CDs, and kiosks. Director lets you combine a huge variety of content, including bitmap images, vector artwork, audio, animation, native 3D rendering, text, hypertext, and video — including video created with Flash. What's more, you can control how and when these elements appear, move, sound, and interact.
When to use Director with Flash
If you want to embellish your Adobe Flash content and deliver your rich, interactive experience beyond the web to desktops, DVDs, and CDs, integrate your SWF and FLV files with other types of files in a multimedia application you create with Adobe Director. Add native 3D rendering, real-world dynamic motion, and sophisticated interactivity between 2D and 3D elements.
At-a-glance comparison
Here's an overview of the main strengths of Adobe Director 11 and Adobe Flash CS5 Professional. For more information, visit the Adobe Director and Adobe Flash pages
