VRML Consortium and 3D Design Magazine Organize VRML Contest

San Ramon, CA -- December 10, 1997 -- The VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling
Language) Consortium today announced that it is sponsoring a VRML contest
in collaboration with 3D Design Magazine, an industry recognized source for
3D graphics news and information. The contest will encourage and showcase
the latest Web content using VRML to bring interactive 3D graphics to the
Web.

"Thanks to the combined efforts of the consortium members, the use of VRML
is proliferating among businesses and individuals," said Neil Trevett,
President of The VRML Consortium. "VRML is finding its way into the
corporate world and is being used by companies such as Pepsi and Verifone
for practical business applications -- including Web advertising,
e-commerce and data visualization. We believe the VRML contest will alert a
wide audience to the advantages of using VRML and will encourage further
exploration of the technology's potential."

"3D designers and animators have embraced VRML as an effective way to
communicate their artistic vision across the Internet," said Kelly Dove,
Editor
in Chief of 3D Design Magazine. "We are pleased to be working with the VRML
Consortium to raise the awareness of VRML authoring within the 3D design
community and eager to credit the many animators and artists who are
pushing VRML technology to its limits."

The contest will be divided into 5 major categories:
1) Best Business VRML content
2) Most Artistic VRML content
3) Most Innovative VRML content
4) Best Architecture
5) Best Visualization

Rules and Deadline Information
3D Design will provide judges for the contest and winners will be announced
at the VRML 98 conference in Monterey, CA (February 16-19, 1998).
Submission forms are available on 3D Design Web page at
(http://www.3ddesign.com/vrmlcontest.html) and The VRML Consortium Web page
at (http:www.vrml.org)and the deadline is January 16, 1998.

Prizes
Prizes for this contest include both software and hardware donated by VRML
Consortium members including:

3Dlabs(R), Inc. - a GLINT(R) MX-based 3D graphics card
Ligos Technology -- V-Realm(TM) Builder
Nichimen Graphics -- Fast Track(TM)
Oracle(R) Corporation -- Web Application Server 3.0
SENSE8(R) Corporation -- WorldToolKit(TM) Release 7
Template Graphics Software -- 3Space(TM) Publisher
Visible Decisions -- VizIt/In3D

Freely Available VRML Authoring Tools
Participants may download freely available VRML authoring tools provided by
Consortium members from the URLs below:

ActiveGraphix -- Silly Space 2.0
(http://www.activegraphix.com)

Cosmo(TM) Software -- HomeSpace(TM) Designer, HomeSpace Starter or Cosmo
Worlds (for IRIX)
(http://cosmo.sgi.com/downloads/index.html)

Platinum Technology -- VRCreator(TM)
(http://www.platinum.com/products/appdev/vream/vrc_ps.html)

Wasabi Software -- Skypaint
(http://www.wasabisoft.com)

For more information on the VRML contest, please visit 3D Design and the
VRML Consortium Web pages.

VRML Consortium Information:
The VRML Consortium, Inc. is a rapidly-growing nonprofit organization with
a mandate to establish and promote VRML as an open, ubiquitous standard for
3D graphics on the Internet. Comprised of over 60 leading technology
companies, the VRML Consortium members provide technical and marketing
expertise for the continued evolution of the VRML standard. Supporting an
open enrollment credo, the Consortium provides its members with early
access to new VRML technological and business developments through
participation in technical working groups and promotional and marketing
activities. Membership information on joining the VRML Consortium is
available at (http://www.vrml.org).

3D Design Magazine Information:
3D Design is published by Miller Freeman, Inc. in San Francisco. Miller
Freeman, Inc. is a subsidiary of United News & Media plc, one of the
world's largest publishers and trade show organizers. With divisions in
Europe and Asia as well as the U.S., Miller Freeman produces more than 290
publications and 380 events worldwide.

Press contact: To join the VRML Consortium, contact:
Josephine Mong Deepak Kamlani
Horizon Communications Interprise Ventures
408-969-4888 x103 510-277-8110
jmong@horizonpr.com dkamlani@inventures.com
http://www.horizonpr.com http://www.vrml.org