3ds Max Design Meets New Requirements for Advanced Visual Communication

At its annual World Press Days event,
Autodesk, Inc. today announced two new versions of its
Autodesk 3ds Max modeling, animation and rendering software – the leading
asset creation tool for game development. The company launched Autodesk 3ds
Max 2009 software for entertainment professionals, and debuted 3ds Max
Design 2009 software, a tailored 3D application for architects, designers
and visualization specialists. Both versions of the software offer new
rendering capabilities, improved interoperability with industry-standard
products including Revit software, as well as additional time-saving
animation and mapping workflow tools. 3ds Max Design 2009 further provides
lighting simulation and analysis technology.
“Every design has a story to tell,” explained Marc Petit, senior vice
president, Autodesk Media & Entertainment. “Entertainment technology
enables design professionals to explore ideas, validate concepts and
communicate design intent. It allows them to experience their designs
before they are real.”

“Autodesk 3ds Max now comes in two distinct flavors to better meet the
specific needs of our entertainment and visualization customers,” Petit
added. “3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max Design 2009 provide users with tailored
online experiences, user interface and application defaults, tutorials,
samples, and more. This simplifies the learning process and makes it easier
for users to find the information that’s most relevant to them.”

New Feature Highlights
Key features in Autodesk 3ds Max 2009 include the new Reveal rendering
toolset, which streamlines iterative workflows; and the ProMaterials
material library for simulating real-world surfaces. The release also
delivers numerous biped enhancements and new UV editing tools. Improved OBJ
and Autodesk FBX file formats import and export vastly enhance
interoperability with Autodesk Mudbox, Autodesk Maya, Autodesk
MotionBuilder software programs and other third-party applications. In
addition, Recognize, a new scene-loading technology, significantly improves
the inter-application workflow with Revit Architecture 2009.

“Autodesk 3ds Max has never failed to deliver; now it’s even stronger with
specialized versions,” said Technical Director Yunus “Light” Balcioglu.
“3ds Max 2009 offers great new features that allow me to be more productive
and creative. The new biped improvements make it easy to build quadrupeds,
Reveal rendering lets me iterate faster, and reworked OBJ import makes it
easier than ever to jump between 3ds Max and Mudbox”.

3ds Max Design 2009 includes all features offered in Autodesk 3ds Max 2009,
with the exception of the software development toolkit (SDK). The SDK is a
set of development tools used in the entertainment markets to integrate
software into a production pipeline and develop in-house tools to be used
in conjunction with the application. 3ds Max Design also includes Exposure
technology for simulating and analyzing sun, sky, and artificial lighting
to assist with LEED 8.1 certification.

“At SHoP Architects we rely on computer-aided design technology not only to
produce innovative architectural forms, but also to create new efficiencies
and cost-savings in the design and construction process,” said David Fano,
designer at SHoP Architects. “Autodesk 3ds Max Design will help us further
this pursuit. The newly enhanced daylight simulation tools and improvements
to the rendering workflow will allow us to iterate more freely and create
better quality work faster. Also, the FBX-based interoperability with Revit
will give us a continuous digital workflow by leveraging our Building
Information Model for advanced visualization in 3ds Max during all stages
of design.”

For more information about 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max Design 2009, visit:
www.worldpressdays08.com.

Pricing and Availability
Autodesk anticipates that 3ds Max 2009 and 3ds Max Design 2009 will be
available in English during spring 2008. The Autodesk suggested retail
price for 3ds Max 2009 or 3ds Max Design 2009 software is US$3,495*. The
Autodesk suggested retail price to upgrade from 3ds Max 2008 to either 3ds
Max 2009 or 3ds Max Design 2009 is US$895*. Product availability will vary
by country. Details and purchasing options are expected to be accessible
starting March 25, 2008, at: www.autodesk.com/purchaseoptions. Information
and selected content from Autodesk World Press Days may be found at
www.worldpressdays08.com.

From March 31, 2008 to July 17, 2008, existing Autodesk VIZ 2008 software
Subscription customers will be able to cross-grade to 3ds Max Design 2009
for US$249**. During this same timeframe, Autodesk VIZ 2006, 2007, and 2008
customers who are not on Autodesk Subscription will be able to cross-grade
to 3ds Max Design 2009 for US$895**, if they purchase Autodesk
Subscription for 3ds Max Design 2009.

Autodesk Subscription will be available for purchase simultaneously with
the product purchase or upgrade. The Autodesk suggested retail price for
Autodesk Subscription for 3ds Max or 3ds Max Design will be US $495* per
year.

* International pricing may vary.
** International pricing may vary. This promotion only applies to Autodesk
VIZ purchases made prior to February 12, 2008.