UK virtual reality pioneer Superscape VR Plc hopes that the prominent role it plays in the new Intel Corp WebOutfitter service will signal a further upturn for a company that has struggled to find a formula for financial success. IntelÆs new service is essentially an online users club for owners of the new Pentium III processor, which will offer themed programs and plug-ins optimized for IntelÆs new flagship. The theme of the service for the next couple of months is navigating cyberspace. To this end, Superscape has been brought on board to offer its specialist Viscape SVR 3D browser as part of the service.
WeÆre very happy to ride on their coat-tails, says John King, SuperscapeÆs chairman, of the link-up with Intel. Superscape has been working in a virtual reality wilderness for 15 years, struggling to push its 3D and VR technologies to a skeptical business market. WeÆve been in the wars, King admits. However, he claims that there are now signs of an upturn. The company produced 3D entertainment software in collaboration with toy manufacturer Lego, which was a big seller last Christmas and King hopes the Intel tie-up will further raise the firms profile. He says that the firm nearly broke even at the end of January and that the company has changed its approach to delivering VR software to its clients, the firm used to deliver VR toolkits. WeÆre more of a services company now, King comments and adds Superscape intends to leverage its VR expertise with partners like Intel. However, Superscape still sees e-commerce — online shopping malls and the like – as its main business driver. King admits to the immaturity of the market but claims to see signs of change.
Pentium III users who join the WebOutfitter service can either download the Viscape browser or have a CD-Rom with the browser included sent to them. The software has been customized with the new 3D graphics instruction set included on the new Pentium. The service also has additional content from Excite, CNN and CBS. Intel intends to change the theme of its web site every couple of months. A spokesperson said that the next theme would be online music and that the firm would be offering a æliteÆ version of StienbergÆs Cubase music composition and sequencing software. The spokesperson assured ComputerWire that the site did not use the much-maligned security code feature on the Pentium III to identify whether newcomers really did have requisite PIII, instead it is using the CPU ID that has been on every Intel processor since the original Pentium.
