Subject: RenderWare 3
Date: Wed, 10 Mar 1999 19:12:15 -0000
From: Callan McInally
Reply-To: rw-list@csl.com
To: rw-list@csl.com
Dear RenderWare Developers
As many of you are already aware, Criterion Software announced RenderWare 3 for Next Generation Playstation on March 3rd (see the press release).
We have since received a number of queries regarding our plans to provide RenderWare 3 for the PC platform. This email attempts to answer some of these questions - more information will be made available shortly through the Criterion website.
The most frequent complaint that we had from developers about earlier versions of RenderWare was that while it was easy to use, it didn't provide enough control over the fine details. RenderWare 3 represents an inflexion point in the development of the RenderWare API and puts the control back in the hands of the developer - where it belongs.
RenderWare 3 provides a lightweight framework within which plug-in components can be developed, modified and reused. Rather than try and second guess the experts -the developers - RenderWare 3 aims to provide a framework in which you can easily develop custom and differentiating software, specific to your applications. The philosophy is very much to encourage a modular approach to software engineering within a clean, consistent framework. Developers can customise existing RenderWare 3 plug-ins, as well as build totally new plug-ins that address exactly what you need. As an example, you might have a unique way of transforming geometry, have a unique lighting model, have developed some custom rendering routines. All of these stages of the pipeline and much more can easily be overloaded allowing rapid integration of your technology within the consistent framework provided by RenderWare 3.
The earlier versions of RenderWare were very firmly rooted in the software and hardware architectures of the 1990's. RenderWare 3 has been redesigned from the ground up to provide the best performance, features and flexibility for platforms of the next decade. As a consequence, we have taken the decision to sacrifice a degree of backward compatibility with the older API. We feel confident that the additional control and flexibility provided by the new API will more than compensate for this. We do not however, wish to mislead our loyal RenderWare developers. Please do not assume that your existing RenderWare application will simply recompile on this new version - it won't. Once RenderWare 3 is available, we will work closely with our existing developers to make the migration path as smooth as possible. Porting notes and updated code samples will be provided with the SDK.
The RenderWare 3 SDK will be available on the PC at the start of Q3 99. It will be available to existing RenderWare developers as a free upgrade from our website, or in CD/book form for a nominal fee to cover the cost of materials/shipping.
As a result of the RenderWare 3 announcement, we are no longer selling RenderWare version 2. The old RenderWare pages have therefore been removed from our website. We will continue to provide support as before to developers using the older versions. The maintenance and driver releases for RenderWare 2 are still available on the new RenderWare site.
Further details of RenderWare 3 will be made available through our website over the coming weeks.
Thank you for your patience. RenderWare 3 has been a long time in development. I'm confident that you will find the wait was worth it.
Regards
Callan McInally
Criterion Technologies