Simplygon is
3D computer graphics
3D computer graphics, or “3D graphics,” sometimes called CGI, 3D-CGI or three-dimensional computer graphics are graphics that use a three-dimensional representation of geometric data (often Cartesian) that is stored in the computer for th ...
software for automatic 3D optimization, based on proprietary methods for creating
levels of detail (LODs) through
Polygon mesh reduction and other optimization techniques.
Since the launch of Simplygon, the product has been licensed by a number of AAA game studios, for multi-platform games, and used in areas such as architecture, 3D CAD, 3D scan, 3D web and 3D printing.
The algorithms in Simplygon are designed to also optimize different type of input forms, and a number of visualization projects outside gaming are currently deploying this technology in areas such as architecture, 3D CAD, 3D scan, 3D web and 3D printing.
History
The Swedish company Donya Labs was founded in 2006 in Linköping. Donya Labs developed Simplygon with the vision to optimize the handling of 3D graphics to allow game developers to focus on making good games. In January 2017, Simplygon was acquired by
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation producing computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services headquartered at the Microsoft Redmond campus located in Redmond, Washing ...
. In 2019, Simplygon Studios became a part of
Xbox Game Studios division.
Technology
Simplygon's optimization processes are:
; Reduction:
A reduction process reduces the amount of data while preserving all relevant original vertex data.
; Remeshing:
A remeshing process generates a new replacement mesh, often used to replace a group of objects with one so called proxy object.
; Aggregation:
An aggregation process combines all geometry and materials in a scene into one single object.
; Impostor:
An imposter model maps all geometric details as textures and can be used if a model will be viewed from a distance and a certain direction.
; Occlusion mesh:
An occlusion mesh process generates a silhouette based geometry that removes internal features and concavities.
Process integration
API/SDK
Simplygon is available as an
API
An application programming interface (API) is a way for two or more computer programs to communicate with each other. It is a type of software Interface (computing), interface, offering a service to other pieces of software. A document or standa ...
for
C++,
C# and
Python
Python may refer to:
Snakes
* Pythonidae, a family of nonvenomous snakes found in Africa, Asia, and Australia
** ''Python'' (genus), a genus of Pythonidae found in Africa and Asia
* Python (mythology), a mythical serpent
Computing
* Python (pro ...
allowing customized Simplygon integration.
Plug-in
Simplygon is available as a plug-in for the following
digital content creation
Content creation is the contribution of information to any media and most especially to digital media for an end-user/audience in specific contexts. Content is "something that is to be expressed through some medium, as speech, writing or any of ...
tools:
*
Autodesk 3ds Max
*
Autodesk Maya
*
Blender
*
Houdini
Harry Houdini (, born Erik Weisz; March 24, 1874 – October 31, 1926) was a Hungarian-American escape artist, magic man, and stunt performer, noted for his escape acts. His pseudonym is a reference to his spiritual master, French magician ...
Games industry use
Simplygon integration is available for the following game engines:
*
Unreal Engine
Unreal Engine (UE) is a 3D computer graphics game engine developed by Epic Games, first showcased in the 1998 first-person shooter game ''Unreal''. Initially developed for PC first-person shooters, it has since been used in a variety of genres ...
*
Unity
Unity may refer to:
Buildings
* Unity Building, Oregon, Illinois, US; a historic building
* Unity Building (Chicago), Illinois, US; a skyscraper
* Unity Buildings, Liverpool, UK; two buildings in England
* Unity Chapel, Wyoming, Wisconsin, US; a h ...
Awards
Simplygon won a 2015
The Independent Games Developers Association
The Independent Game Developers' Association (TIGA) is a trade association representing the business and commercial interests of some video and computer game developers in the UK and Europe.
History
TIGA was launched in 2001 by Patricia Hewitt ...
TIGA Games industry award in the category “Best Technology Innovation”. Donya Labs was ranked 9th in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50, 2014.
References
Further reading
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External links
*
{{Microsoft
Video game engines
3D graphics software