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Not a Number to Preview Real-Time 3D Animation Package — Blender 2.0 — at LinuxWorld Expo; Recent Funding to Propel Further Development of Blender

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

LinuxWorld 2000

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2000

Dutch company Not a Number B.V. (NaN) announced it will be showcasing the current line of its popular multi-platform 3D modeling and animation software known as Blender during LinuxWorld Expo in New York, Feb. 2-4.

NaN will also offer a sneak preview of Blender 2.0, the next generation of its popular 3D graphics modeling and animation package. NaN can be found in the VA Linux Systems booth, No. 719.

Blender (www.blender.nl) and Blender 2.0 (also known as GameBlender) is optimized for speed and transportability across the Internet, a critical feature of the software, which allows users to create interactive worlds to be shared online. Blender provides the full power and functionality of professional 3D graphics packages at a fraction of comparable products cost and size. The software is free, and its 1.5Mb file size, combined with Blender's 100% compatibility with OpenGL, eliminates the need for costly high-end graphics machines.

Blender includes a versatile animation system, contemporary modeling principles, advanced rendering tools, deformation tools, inverse kinematics and an editor for postproduction. The program can be utilized to create commercials and other broadcast quality content, multimedia, business graphics, technical visualizations and 3D game content for PlayStation and other game consoles. Courses in using Blender are taught in visual design classes in 25 art colleges and universities throughout the world.

A beta version of GameBlender will be demonstrated alongside the current version at LinuxWorld and features integrated editing and playback of realtime 3D content. GameBlender allows users to create compact 3D worlds and realtime interactive 3D animations that can be shared with other users over the Internet.

Blender utilizes solid body dynamic simulation in which all forces such as gravity, impacts from weapons, character interactions and collision detection are handled automatically by the software, allowing the expanding enthusiast game design community to affordably possess the same tools as their professional counterparts. Like the current release, GameBlender will be released as freeware, and in addition a boxed package -- bundling the free software plus manual, tutorials and more than 20 fully playable and editable games -- will be distributed through retail outlets in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. GameBlender will formally launch in July of 2000 at the SIGGRAPH Expo.

Currently, users may purchase a software 'key' which opens additional Blender features such as a python scripting API, facial animation, radiosity and environment mapping. The key sells for EUR 95 (approximately $100 US). The Blender manual can be purchased for EUR 40, or roughly $40 US. A beginner's tutorial guide is also available for approximately $20. All may be ordered through the Blender web site (www.blender.nl).

A leader in the Linux community with 63,000 registered users and over 250,000 downloads of the free software, NaN plans to launch a version of Blender for the Mac operating system in the second quarter of 2000. Currently the software is available for Linux i386/Alpha/PPC, SGI Irix, Sun Solaris, BeOS and Windows 95/98/NT.

&uot;GameBlender continues NaN's full commitment to OpenGL. We see this as a guarantee that we can empower all users to create state-of-the-art 3D animations without the need for high-end machines,&uot; explained Ton Roosendaal, CTO and founder of NaN. &uot;GameBlender takes Blender one step further in allowing users to create and share via the web the sort of game experiences that until now they have only been able to purchase.&uot;

New Capital to Fund Growth

NaN recently secured major funding from NPM Capital (AEX:NPM), ensuring the company's rapid growth and expansion in the year 2000 including hiring 35 people and opening offices in Tokyo and Silicon Valley. Currently NaN has offices in Amsterdam, Eindhoven (Holland) and London. Additionally the new funding is being used to further develop and expand the Blender line with WebBlender, which will allow web designers to make use of Blender's real-time content. WebBlender will be available as freeware on the Blender web site at the beginning of the first quarter 2001.

About Not a Number

Ton Roosendaal founded NaN in June of 1998. Roosendaal was part-owner of NeoGeo, one of the largest 3D animation studios in the Netherlands, where Blender has its roots. Ian Ginn, NaN's co-founder, has spent the last five years as strategic consultant and innovator in the emerging European digital market. Ginn has been active in NaN since March 1999 as the company has emerged and has been instrumental in developing the business model and strategy.

Blender is freely available at www.blender.nl.