SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 9, 1996--In support of its move into the PC hardware marketplace, The 3DO Company today announced a new digital video product line.
The company unveiled the first product in the family, 3DO(R) MPEGXpress, a real-time MPEG encoding system. The 3DO MPEGXpress system provides a rich set of features at an aggressive price and delivers superior image quality traditionally found only in high-end MPEG encoding systems.
3DO MPEGXpress is a real-time Macintosh-based MPEG-1 encoding solution for developing content used in video games, video CDs, multimedia and corporate authoring, and Internet applications. With component video inputs, extensive digital filtering, and up to 5 megabit per second data rates, 3DO MPEGXpress delivers professional image quality at real-time encoding rates, putting the system at the high end of its class of real-time encoding systems. The product includes full digital audio, balanced XLR inputs, and built-in audio/video encoding synchronization to ensure high-quality audio without the need for extra hardware. 3DO MPEGXpress video and audio features are integrated into 3DO DigitalConnect, a rack-mounted breakout box that accepts all input sources and converts them to D1 video and digital audio to ensure the highest image quality possible.
"We recently announced our strategy to leverage our R&D efforts in the PC marketplace," said Toby Farrand, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering and Operations, The 3DO Company. "With MPEGXpress, we are delivering the first component of the PC strategy. In the future, we will deliver other products that continue to increase performance at an affordable price, exploiting the growing MPEG market."
3DO MPEGXpress' extensive suite of features is complemented by a powerful and easy-to-use interface. MPEGXpress gives the user complete control over the MPEG encoding process with features such as full I, P, and B frame control. Developers save time and achieve consistent image quality from one encoding session to the next by using custom presets provided by the system or saved by the user, to save all encoding parameters. MPEGXpress also includes features of specialized high-end systems, such as frame accurate VTR control, Inverse Telecine support, and batch processing. Unlike other systems, MPEGXpress provides off-line QuickTime encoding support as well. These features save users development time and provide the flexibility needed to deliver MPEG content for a wide variety of applications and delivery platforms.
As part of its commitment to the PC market, 3DO plans to provide MPEG-2 PCI digital video encoding systems for Macintosh and PC platforms later in 1996. The company expects to provide current MPEGXpress customers with an upgrade path to its MPEG-2 PCI digital video systems. Specific product details will be announced at a future date.
3DO has already seeded an MPEGXpress beta program and is scheduled to ship the final product this quarter for a suggested price of $11,995. The system includes 3DO DigitalConnect, a professional-quality rack-mountable box, two NuBus cards (one for encoding, the other for playback), and software. MPEGXpress will be available through selected VARS and distributors. For more product information or to order MPEGXpress, call 3DO Digital Video Product Sales at (415) 261-3300 or visit the company's web site at
http://www.3do.com.
The 3DO Company (NASDAQ: THDO), headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., designs, integrates, and sells interactive technology and applications for the mass market. With offices in North America, Europe and Asia, the company licenses technologies and creates entertainment software for its 32-bit and 64-bit video game platforms, the PC market, and the Internet. Additional company information is available on the World Wide Web (http://www.3do.com) and on America Online (keyword: 3DO). -0-
Note to Editors: 3DO and the 3DO logos are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of The 3DO Company. All other brand or product names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT: The 3DO Company
Diane Hunt, 415/261-3214
Tuesday Uhland, 415/261-3142