Press releases
7th Nov 1997. (English)
1st May 1997. (English)
Remedy Entertainment:
17th Nov 1997. (Finnish)
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Press releases |
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VNU European Labs:
Remedy Entertainment:
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| Press release by VNU European Labs, 7th Nov 1997. | |
| VNU European Labs
establishes ground breaking 3D benchmark More than 5 million copies to be distributed Developed by VNU European Labs and Remedy Entertainment Ltd., Final Reality has been developed in response to consumer demand for an accurate benchmark for the increasing number of applications using 3D graphics. Final Reality is the most comprehensive and effective consumer and manufacturer 3D test suite available. It enables consumers to test the effectiveness of their existing PC in processing and rendering 3D images, and provides a standard against which a new PC can be judged. It allows computer manufacturers to use the benchmark to promote the 3D capabilities of new PC’s, and 3D graphics card manufacturers to clearly demonstrate the quality of their product. More than 5 million copies will be distributed around the world, starting in November 1997. A full working version of Final Reality will be available on the December issue cover disc of 10 major computer magazines around Europe including Personal Computer World and What PC? in the UK, PCM and Power Unlimited in the Netherlands, PC Magazine in Italy, SVM in France and PC Actual in Spain. Copies are also being carried by leading US titles and graphics card manufacturers are bundling it with their latest products. It can also be downloaded from the Final Reality web site on www.finalreality.com. A one click installation, Final Reality runs a series of tests which push 3D graphics to the absolute limit. The standard of on-screen graphics which accompany this test are higher than any previously seen, and represent a major advance in real-time 3D graphic creation. The quality is so high that many have mistaken it for video. Once the 4 minute test is complete, a simple overall score and a full report giving a more advanced analysis indicate how effectively the PC handles 3D graphics. The demonstration also includes an original soundtrack and transparent desktop interfaces for the fist time and provides dramatic evidence of the world beating software development capabilities of the VNU European Labs. Head of VNU Labs development Nathan Harley said “We are pleased to be able to offer consumers a much needed new benchmark which is also fun to run and contains the best PC generated graphics they have ever seen. Manufacturers too, will benefit from a universally acknowledged standard of excellence for 3D image processing”. John Meegan, Producer, at Psygnosis, a leading software development company recently said "Final Reality is the benchmark for both the layman and the technician. It successfully showcases all the qualitative aesthetic and speed improvements gained from the advances in the PC field. In an entertaining fashion, it demonstrates how the increases in processing power supplemented by the next generation of 3D accelerator cards benefit the consumer”. More than 25 of the worlds top graphics card manufacturers participated in the testing of Final Reality which runs under Windows ‘95 and the most current version of DirectX (a programme that extends Windows ‘95 ability to handle multi-media applications). The benchmark examines image processing, 3D rendering, the new Advanced Graphics Port (AGP) and utilises MMX or compatible technology where appropriate. VNU European Labs are completely independent and are not linked to any manufacturer. They are the testing division of VNU Business Publications, one of the largest business publication houses in Europe and part of VNU, a Netherlands based international publishing and information company whose operations include consumer and professional magazines, newspapers, business information services, textbooks, commercial television and television production. Remedy Entertainment was established in 1995 and has its offices near Helsinki in Finland. Currently employing 24 people, Remedy is a dedicated and highly innovative team with the emphasis on action gameplay and cutting-edge audiovisuals. Contacts: |
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| VNU European Labs Wisse Hettinga |
Remedy Entertainment Markus Mäki |
| Press release: Thursday 1st May 1997 |
VNU European Labs announces "Final Reality", the future 3-D graphical benchmark standard, and Remedy Entertainment Ltd. as key technology partner. VNU European Labs today announced, in a co-development with Remedy Entertainment Ltd, the new 3-D benchmark "Final Reality." This future industry standard will be the most comprehensive and effective consumer and manufacturer graphical test suite on the market. VNU European Labs also announced Remedy Entertainment as co-developers and key technology partners. Nathan B.D. Harley, heading up VNU Labs development, said: "We felt Remedy Entertainment to be one of the most dynamic and inspiring game developers around. We were impressed by their originality, creativity and high quality of code, as well as their historical graphical programming ability. We are very happy to select them as our technology partner in this product." Markus Mäki, head of development for Remedy, commented: "Final Reality is a great opportunity for us. It will let us set a new standard in 3D benchmarking and create an amazing visual demonstration. The benchmark will show to the consumer what can be accomplished with 3D acceleration when pushed to the limit." In the co-development, Final Reality will tackle many of the issues that currently face 3-D benchmarking. Manufacturers and readers have raised concerns over the accuracy of current benchmarks and have noted a failure to address areas such as image quality. Final Reality will be available to VNU readers throughout Europe on cover disks accompanying many of VNU's titles for the magazine months of October and November. As VNU is a European publishing house, Final Reality will be localised to all the European countries in which the company has an active interest. As a suite of multimedia components aimed to push graphics cards to the absolute limit, Final Reality runs under Windows 95 and the most current version of DirectX. The benchmark will have components based on 3-D rendering, image processing, AGP, and real-world game tests. Where appropriate, it will also utilise MMX or compatible technology. Final Reality will allow manufacturers to run in advanced mode and have diagnostic abilities. VNU European Labs is pleased to also offer its consumers a benchmark that is fun to run. It is theme-styled, upbeat, and guaranteed to push your PC and hardware to the edge of its ability. An accompanying soundtrack has been composed by Purple Motion, whose credits include music for Alien Incident and Remedy's debut game, Death Rally, as well as critically acclaimed demo music in "Second Reality" by Future Crew. Further details are in the FAQ. Details of the BETA participant program are available from Nathan Harley at the London, UK office of VNU European Labs. Remedy Entertainment was established in 1995 and is based in Helsinki, Finland. Currently employing 24 people, Remedy is a dedicated and highly innovative team with its main emphasis on addictive action gameplay and cutting edge audiovisuals. Co-operating with 3D Realms, Remedy is now working on its next title which is planned for release late next year. VNU European Labs is the testing division of VNU Business Publications, publisher of a full range of computing and business titles. |
| Lehdistötiedote, julkaisuvapaa. 17. 11. 1997. | |
| VNU EUROPEAN LABS JULKAISEE
SUOMALAISEN "Final Reality" -3D
NOPEUSTESTIOHJELMAN Yli 5 Miljoonan kappaleen levikki ESPOO, 17.11.1997 - Suomalaisen Remedy Entertainment Oy:n valmistama 3D-nopeustestiohjelma "Final Reality" on julkaistu Euroopassa. Ohjelma on kehitetty yhteistyössä Englantilaisen VNU European Labsin kanssa. Final Reality toimii Windows 95-ympäristössä hyödyntäen DirectX 5-rajapintaa. Se mittaa 3D-grafiikan, yksinkertaisen kuvankäsittelyn sekä mahdollisen AGP-grafiikkaväylän nopeutta. Tämän lisäksi Final Reality hyödyntää prosessorin MMX-teknologiaa (tai vastaavaa) tarpeen mukaan. Testien pääasiallinen painopiste on 3D-nopeus. Final Reality on lajissaan ensimmäinen kuluttajatasolle suunnattu näyttävä, yleistajuinen mutta silti yksityiskohtaisen tarkka PC-tietokoneiden 3D-suorituskyvyn mittari. Se määrittää yksikäsitteisen asteikon laitteistojen ominaisuuksien vertailuun. Lisäksi se tarjoaa laitevalmistajille mahdollisuuden esitellä uusien kiihdytinkorttien suorituskykyä ja ominaisuuksia. Final Reality pisteyttää laitteiston nopeuden lisäksi myös kuvan laadun. Final Realityä jaellaan Euroopassa hollantilaisen VNU Business Publicationsin julkaisemien tietokonelehtien kansiromppuina. Lehtiä ovat mm. englantilaiset Personal Computing World ja What PC?, hollantilaiset PCM ja Power Unlimited, italialainen PC Magazine, ranskalainen SVM ja espanjalainen PC Actual. Myös useat amerikkalaiset tietokonelehdet (kuten PC World, BOOT-Magazine ja Windows Magazine) sisällyttävät Final Realityn kansirompuilleen. Lisäksi monet 3D-kiihdy-tinvalmistajat ovat lisensoineet ohjelman jälleenmyyntipaketteihinsa - Final Realityn koko-naislevikki onkin päätähuimaavat 5 000 000 kappaletta. Ohjelman voi myös imuroida internetistä joulukuun alusta lähtien osoitteesta http://www.remedy.fi/fr Pienen kokonsa takia se leviää todennäköisesti paljon myös internetin välityksellä. Täydellisen asennuspaketin koko on vain 9 megatavua. Final Reality on tehty mahdollisimman helppokäyttöiseksi: se suorittaa perustestiajon yhdellä hiirennapin painalluksella. Audiovisuaalisen esityksen taso on ennen näkemättömän korkea - monet ovat luulleet Final Realityä videoksi. Kun neljän minuutin pituinen testi on ajettu, ohjelma ilmoittaa laitteiston nopeuspistearvon ja haluttaessa tarkemmat testitulokset. Final Reality on saanut maailmalla loistavan vastaanoton. VNU European Labsin ohjelmistokehityksestä vastaava Nathan Harley kommentoi: "Final Reality toimii dramaattisena todistuksena suomalaisesta ohjelmointikyvystä ja pärjäämisestä kansainvälisillä markkinoilla. Olemme positiivisesti yllättyneet ohjelman tehokkuudesta, visuaalisesta ilmaisusta sekä luotettavuudesta." Myös tietokonepeliteollisuus on vakuuttunut Final Realityn kilpailukyvystä - John Meegan, Psygnosis-yhtiössä työskentelevä pelituottaja, sanoo: "Final Reality on testiohjelma sekä tavalliselle kuluttajalle että asiantuntijalle. Se näyttää selkeästi miten sekä prosessoritekniikan että 3D-kiihdytinteknologian kehitysharppaukset heijastuvat loppukäyttäjälle." Noin 25 3D-kiihdytinvalmistajaa osallistui Final Realityn beta-vaiheeseen. VNU European Labs on VNU Business Publications Ltd:n testausyksikkö. VNU Business Publications on yksi Euroopan suurimmista tietokonelehtien julkaisijoista, sekä osa VNU:ta, kansainvälistä hollantilaista julkaisuyhtiötä, jonka toimialaan kuuluvat mm. kuluttaja- ja asiantuntijalehdet, uutislehdet, yritysmaailman informaatiopalvelut sekä kaupalliset TV-kanavat. Remedy Entertainment Oy on espoolainen, vuonna 1995 perustettu tietokonepelejä valmistava yritys. Lisätietoja antaa: |
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| Remedy Entertainment Oy Markus Mäki,
tuottaja |
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