Adds Playstation 3 support, improvements

Unity Technologies has introduced a new version of its 3D creation tool for game developers, Unity 3.0. After announcing support for Xbox 360 last year, the company is continuing its platform expansion by adding compatibility for the iPad, Android, and Playstation 3. Other 3.0 features include improved performance for faster frame rates, enhanced rendering capabilities, additional support for Bluetooth multiplayer functionality, and faster in-game GUIs.

Version 3 integrates Illuminate Labs' Beast for lighting, along with Umbra's occlusion culling software. Beast allows users to enhance the visual quality of games by incorporating realistic lighting effects, such as colored shadows and point clouds. The occlusion culling technology is used to speed up rendering times for large scenes containing high depth complexity.

The company will be displaying v3.0 this week at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco. The update is expected to be released this summer, with a $1,500 price tag for new users or $750 for upgrades. Pre-orders are available at discounted rates of $1,200 for new users or $500 for upgrades from v2.0 or higher.

by MacNN Staff