3Deep^TM Enhances Game Play With STB's Velocity 4400 Multimedia Accelerator

SAN FRANCISCO, - Sonnetech Ltd., today announced that STB Systems, Inc. is bundling 3Deep, the first gamma correction software for 3D games and graphics. Inaccurate gamma settings are responsible for the "washed out" or "too dark" images seen on many computer games. 3Deep provides a consistent and high quality solution for improving the lighting and shading effects in 3D graphics.

STB, a leading supplier of multimedia and convergence products, bundles 3Deep with its new Velocity 4400(TM) multimedia accelerator in the retail channel. The Velocity 4400 is a fast, powerful 2D/3D accelerator for 3D games and business applications. "The graphics subsystem is a high profile component of the computer system, and one of the few ways left to differentiate one PC from another," remarked Nathan Bozeman, executive director of product management at STB. "Including 3Deep with our Velocity 4400 multimedia accelerator is another way that STB enhances the end user's computing experience." 3Deep works with Microsoft's latest API, DirectX6(TM). Game developers utilize a new feature in DirectX6 to specify gamma levels in the game. (For a description of gamma visit: http://www.real3D.dircon.co.uk/gamma.htm).

When the game starts, DirectX6 looks for 3Deep on the gamer's system and passes the information needed to make a gamma adjustment. 3Deep then displays the lighting, shading and 3D effects the developer intended by setting an accurate gamma for the game, without slowing game play. "A leading complaint heard by game publishers and video card companies alike is that games appear too dark," said Bill Hilliard, President of Sonnetech. "Only 3Deep provides accurate lighting and shading because it corrects for the unique characteristics of your monitor settings and video card."

STB's Velocity 4400, available at Babbages(R), Best Buy(R), CompUSA(R), Electronics Boutique(R), and Fry's(R) features high-performance 128-bit 2/D graphics, high quality video playback, and impressive 3D rendering for Direct3D(TM) and OpenGL(TM) API's. The Velocity 4400 has a 250 MHz RAMDAC that supports a maximum refresh rate of 160Hz. True color display of 16.7 million colors is supported at resolutions up to 1900 x 1280 for crisp, clear photo-realistic images. The Velocity 4400 is available for the AGP 2X or PCI platform with 16MB of high speed SDRAM, and is targeted at the high-end performance PC and professional PC segments.

STB Systems, Inc. based in Richardson, Texas, designs and manufactures award-winning 3D multimedia accelerators, convergence products, professional-class 3D graphics adapters, and multi-port display solutions for use in consumer and business desktop computers. Since its founding in 1981, STB has been a pioneering force in the field of new graphics technologies for personal computers. Extensive manufacturing resources, engineering expertise, and consistent quality have established STB as a leading supplier to top-tier PC manufacturers including Compaq, Dell, Gateway, IBM and others. STB has multiple facilities in North America, as well as offices in London (England), Belfast (Northern Ireland) and Paris (France). For additional information, visit STB at http://www.stb.com.

Sonnetech, Ltd., the developer of Colorific(R), is the industry leader in color matching technology for computer displays, video cards, Web browsers, digital cameras, and printers. For more information on gamma visit http://www.colorific.com/3Deep.

SOURCE Sonnetech Ltd.
Web Site: http://www.colorific.com