June 4, 2008 (Tokyo, Japan)—Acrodea, Inc. (CEO and President: Junya Tsutsumi), headquartered in Meguro-ku, Tokyo, announced the implementation of VIVID Avatar Maker, jointly developed with Eitarosoft, Inc. (President and CEO: Eitaro Nishijima), headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and X-FORGE® of Acrodea and Bandai Networks Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and President: Satoshi Oshita), headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo as the i-Appli® “Avatar Maker for N” and X-FORGE compatible 3D game Avatar*Bowling, respectively, to both of NTT DoComo’s mobile handset models N906i and N906iµ (made by NEC).
Based on photos taken by users or image data stored in the data folder on a mobile phone with camera, VIVID Avatar Maker is a solution that can be used to create, save, edit, and receive and send through data communications “look-alike avatars” in simple steps. VIVID Avatar Maker prepares and places all of the body parts by default. The setup enables the creation of look-alikes by modifying the parts.
Created avatar data can be exported as material for Deco Mail® (decorative email), decorative picture fonts, or Flash in either JPEG, GIF, or SWF file formats, and also be used for game characters or a character-based (or avatar-based) UI.
X-Forge® can operate on a wide variety of operating systems and platforms. The main configuration consists of a software development kit (SDK) for developing high-performance, high-end game content. The SDK contains all components necessary for game production, including the game engine, artist’s tools, utilities, and the runtime library incorporating functions generally required for game execution. A suite of tools, documentation, tutorials, sample programs, and sample data are provided for 3D data creation.
Implementing the X-FORGE engine enables games with enhanced reality supplied as 3D video. In Avatar*Bowling, avatar data created in VIVID Avatar Maker can be used as an original character.
Plans call for the successive release of mobile handsets implemented with VIVID Avatar Maker and X-FORGE in June and beyond.
| Figure 1. X-FORGE compatible game Avatar*Bowling |
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| Figure 2. Avatar Maker for N |
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Acrodea, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a software technology R&D firm involved in middleware technology for mobile terminals. The company is particularly focused on interface technologies connecting between the user and terminal, and currently provides UI (user interface) technologies and email enhancement technologies to the market. We are also applying R&D energy towards the enhancement of graphics performance, which is indispensable in facilitating usage of mobile platform interfaces. Our stance and efforts are a continual commitment to superior products and improving technology, for which we have received recognition worldwide. In addition to Japan and Korea, Acrodea is engaged in business on the global market, including China, Europe, and North America. The company listed publicly on Mothers Exchange of TSE on Oct. 19, 2006, just two years and three months after establishment in July 2004. Acrodea is headquartered in Tokyo (Nakameguro), and maintains an overseas presence in Seoul, Korea; Helsinki, Finland; and Newport Beach, California, U.S.A. For more information, please visit http://www.acrodea.co.jp.
Eitarosoft, Inc., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the first company in Japan to develop a 3D engine successfully as an application. The proprietary 3D technology thus developed forms the basis for 3D avatar systems development. Driving the cutting edge of technology worldwide with ajax, the company has successfully completed a 3D avatar system offering for mobile phone browsers for the first time in Japan. R&D efforts in network technologies have resulted in the development of P2P online technology, and a fully 3D online RPG for mobile phones that permits up to four concurrent participants—for the first time in Japan. Eitarosoft continually delves into R&D for new technology, frequently succeeding in technology development for services seemingly difficult to establish and receiving praise from customers who desire differentiated, unique services. Eitarosoft was established in January 2002, and has an overseas presence in California, U.S.A. For more information, please visithttp://www.eitarosoft.co.jp/.
Marketing Department at Acrodea, Inc.
TEL：+81 3-5768-8603 email: products@acrodea.co.jp
Avatar Division at Eitarosoft, Inc.
TEL：+81 3-3254-3770 email: support@eitarosoft.co.jp
