Sequel to the Award-Winning Homeworld Title Will Feature In-Game Cinematics in High-Quality DivX Video
San Diego, CA and Redmond, WA—May 12, 2003— DivXNetworks, Inc., today announced that Relic Studios has licensed the revolutionary patent-pending DivX® video compression technology to encode high-quality in-game cinematics for the upcoming real-time strategy game Homeworld2.
Homeworld2, developed by Relic Entertainment and published by Sierra Entertainment, is the highly anticipated sequel to Homeworld, winner of PC Gamer magazine’s prestigious “Game of the Year” award in 1999. Combining elements of real-time strategy and space combat, Homeworld 2 takes the next step in gameplay and technology. Cinematic-quality graphics, stunning special effects, brilliantly rendered ships and an innovative interface combine to create an immersive 3-D gaming experience.
The high-quality cinematic cut-scenes in Homeworld2 were created using the new DivX PC Software Development Kit (SDK), designed to meet the specific needs of PC game developers. The DivX PC SDK incorporates the cutting-edge features and technology of DivX Pro 5.0.5 to deliver DVD quality video with superior compression. Cinematic scenes encoded in DivX video will be used throughout the game to create a seamless, story-based campaign. DivX, the world’s leading MPEG-4 compatible video compression technology, provides DVD-level visual quality at remarkably small file sizes. allowing game developers such as Relic Studios to create the highest quality in-game cinematics without sacrificing video encoding time or disk space.
“The DivX video compression codec is unparalleled in terms of quality, compression capability and ease of integration,” said Dan Irish, Executive Producer, Relic Entertainment. “After a reviewing the short list of competing technologies, the choice was clear. The leader in this area is DivX.”
“Games from Relic and Sierra Entertainment have consistently ranked among the most creative and exciting strategy games available, and we’re pleased to bring the power of DivX to the eagerly awaited Homeworld 2 title,” said Jordan Greenhall, co-founder and CEO of DivXNetworks, Inc.
Hailed as a “revolutionary product” by Tom’s Hardware Guide, DivX MPEG-4-compatible video compression technology has been downloaded over 80 million times. For more information on licensing DivX technology for commercial applications, e-mail licensing@divxnetworks.com or visit www.divxnetworks.com/products.
About DivXNetworks DivXNetworks is a consumer-focused video technology company positioned at the center of multimedia convergence. The company’s core offering is the DivX® video codec, the world’s most popular MPEG-4 compatible video compression technology with over 80 million users worldwide. Often called “the MP3 of video,” the patent-pending DivX video technology offers DVD-quality at 10 times greater compression than MPEG-2 files, enabling full length films to easily fit on a CD or be delivered over broadband connections. DivX video technology powers a range of applications that span the convergence value chain, from a secure IP-based video-on-demand solution to next-generation consumer electronics products and video software applications. DivXNetworks is headquartered in San Diego, California, with a satellite office in Los Angeles. For more information, visit https://www.divxnetworks.com.
About Sierra Entertainment Sierra, a studio Vivendi Universal Games, is one of the earliest developers and largest worldwide publishers of interactive entertainment software. Based in Bellevue, Washington, Sierra has released critically acclaimed and award-winning titles that represent a wide variety of computer entertainment on game consoles and PC platforms.
About Relic Entertainment Relic Entertainment Inc. is a developer of original content electronic entertainment located in Vancouver, Canada. Relic’s debut product, Homeworld, was Computer Gaming World’s Game of the Year for 1999. For more information, go to www.relic.com.