Esperient Creator
Encyclopedia
Esperient Creator is an interactive 3D application authoring tool for the creation of visual computing applications including video games, simulations, real-time interactive presentations and 3D user interfaces for either standalone or web based delivery.
The software user interface is based on a ‘What You See Is What You Get’ (WYSIWYG) editor interface and supporting specialist editors for animation and scripting of scenes, objects and media in real-time. Creator applications can communicate with 3rd party applications through ActiveX/COM interface or a TCP/IP port. Creator authored scenes can be distributed as executable applications or .esp files viewed with a freely distributable viewer.
The engine behind Esperient Creator is based on DirectX 9.0c, and includes support for the advanced pixel and vertex shader effects.
After making the acquisition, Right Hemisphere's core business evolved to focus on Enterprise sales of their core Deep Server platform and 'Creator' was sold as part of an interactive training solution to fortune 1000 companies such as Boeing
, Lockheed Martin
and Northrop Grumman
. While 'Creator' proved to be a valuable tool for Enterprise customers it was never actively marketed as a standalone product for creative media solutions or the visual computing market that lie outside of Right Hemisphere’s core business areas. As a result it has been described as one of the best kept secrets in 3D.
The Esperient Corporation was founded by the development team of Deep Creator in October 2007 to acquire and then continue the development of Creator, then owned by Right Hemisphere Inc. In April 2008, Esperient signed an Asset Purchase Agreement with RHI to acquire 'Creator' and all associated assets subject to Esperient being able to arrange the necessary funding.
In May 2008, Esperient Creator 3.0 was launched and is now used by seven of the top ten aerospace and defense manufacturers including Boeing, General Dynamics
, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon
and United Technologies. The company’s products are also used by leading design agencies including Animation Research, Armstrong White, Pixel Graphics, Speedshape and Sonalyst Studios. In the education and research sector, Esperient Creator is used by more than 30 universities for interactive media, games, simulation, architectural visualization and augmented reality.
File Import
3D modelling software workflow integration
3D Modeling
Interactive Animation
Dynamics
Lighting
Particle Systems
Scripting
Shaders
Plug-in development
Publishing and deployment
Rendering architecture
The software user interface is based on a ‘What You See Is What You Get’ (WYSIWYG) editor interface and supporting specialist editors for animation and scripting of scenes, objects and media in real-time. Creator applications can communicate with 3rd party applications through ActiveX/COM interface or a TCP/IP port. Creator authored scenes can be distributed as executable applications or .esp files viewed with a freely distributable viewer.
The engine behind Esperient Creator is based on DirectX 9.0c, and includes support for the advanced pixel and vertex shader effects.
History
Esperient Creator was originally called Cosmos Creator and developed as a game authoring tool by Radish Works Inc in 2003 , a 3D games software development company established by Michael Bailey, the President of Esperient. All rights to the Cosmos Creator were acquired by Right Hemisphere Inc in 2004 and the product was renamed Deep Creator.After making the acquisition, Right Hemisphere's core business evolved to focus on Enterprise sales of their core Deep Server platform and 'Creator' was sold as part of an interactive training solution to fortune 1000 companies such as Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is an American global aerospace, defense, security, and advanced technology company with worldwide interests. It was formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995. It is headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, in the Washington Metropolitan Area....
and Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American global aerospace and defense technology company formed by the 1994 purchase of Grumman by Northrop. The company was the fourth-largest defense contractor in the world as of 2010, and the largest builder of naval vessels. Northrop Grumman employs over...
. While 'Creator' proved to be a valuable tool for Enterprise customers it was never actively marketed as a standalone product for creative media solutions or the visual computing market that lie outside of Right Hemisphere’s core business areas. As a result it has been described as one of the best kept secrets in 3D.
The Esperient Corporation was founded by the development team of Deep Creator in October 2007 to acquire and then continue the development of Creator, then owned by Right Hemisphere Inc. In April 2008, Esperient signed an Asset Purchase Agreement with RHI to acquire 'Creator' and all associated assets subject to Esperient being able to arrange the necessary funding.
In May 2008, Esperient Creator 3.0 was launched and is now used by seven of the top ten aerospace and defense manufacturers including Boeing, General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon
Raytheon
Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007...
and United Technologies. The company’s products are also used by leading design agencies including Animation Research, Armstrong White, Pixel Graphics, Speedshape and Sonalyst Studios. In the education and research sector, Esperient Creator is used by more than 30 universities for interactive media, games, simulation, architectural visualization and augmented reality.
Features
Integrated Authoring Environment- Fully integrated development environment with What You See Is What You Get integrated editing and runtime preview. The WYSIWYG editing environment provides designers and developers with instant visual feedback for animation, interaction, real time shadows, pixel shaders and post process effects during the creation of the interactive 3D visual computing applications. The fully integrated development environment enables all aspects of an interactive 3D project to be created, modified and published inside a single application.
File Import
- Support for over 30 3D file formats.
3D modelling software workflow integration
- with AutodeskAutodeskAutodesk, Inc. is an American multinational corporation that focuses on 3D design software for use in the architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media and entertainment industries. The company was founded in 1982 by John Walker, a coauthor of the first versions of the company's...
3DS Max, Maya and Softimage XSISoftimage XSIAutodesk Softimage, or simply Softimage is a 3D computer graphics application, owned by Autodesk, for producing 3D computer graphics, 3D modeling, and computer animation...
via the RH file format
3D Modeling
- over 60 inbuilt modeling primitives and polygonal modeling tools and an extensive modifier/alteration system for parametric modification of primitives and imported meshes.
Interactive Animation
- Keyframed, procedural and real time physics based animation support
Dynamics
- Rigid Body Dynamics, Pivots/Joints and Vehicles based on Newton Game Dynamics physics engine
Lighting
- Dynamic Lighting and multiple realtime shadow techniques
Particle Systems
- dynamic particle systemParticle systemThe term particle system refers to a computer graphics technique to simulate certain fuzzy phenomena, which are otherwise very hard to reproduce with conventional rendering techniques...
s for smoke, steam and related special effects, including attractors/deflectors - called gravity objects and currents
Scripting
- Support for Lisp and CScript real time application scripting
Shaders
- advanced support for pixel shaders model 3.0 and vertex shader effects including Bumpmapping, Normalmapping, volumetric imaging, real-time shadows and full screen post process effects. Software ships with over 100 premade shaders effects files.
Plug-in development
- through SDK which enables 3rd parties to create plugins for both the authoring environment and/or specific projects
Publishing and deployment
- scenes can be published to Microsoft Windows executable, or to distributable .esp file viewable with Esperient Viewer or via the Esperient Creator Active-X embeddable viewing component.
Rendering architecture
- based on Microsoft DirectX 9.0c