IronCAD - The Fastest and Easiest Way to 3D

Mythic Entertainment Innovates Faster with IRONCAD!

Engine designs courtesy of Mike Gun designs courtesy of Mike Crossmire, Crossmire, Mythic Entertainment

"The engine models I made for our "The guns are a couple models of fictitious human fleet of ships in the weapons used by the human side in game." - Mike Crossmire the game." - Mike Crossmire

"I definitely save a lot of time using IronCAD. I have created models that I would have never even attempted with some of the other modeling software I use." - Mike Crossmire, Mythic Entertainment

Mythic Entertainment creates multiplayer online games for the Windows platform. The company is a part of the electronic entertainment industry, specializing in multiplayer online games. Mythic Entertainment was founded in 1995 as Interworld Productions, and has since changed the name to Mythic Entertainment in November 1997.

Mike Crossmire is a designer at Mythic Entertainment. Mike uses IronCAD to design models for online games. The above work was done for a game called ID4 Online, all the models were designed, built and rendered in IronCAD only the type and drop shadows were added later by using Photoshop.

The components are completely fanciful, yet hint at possible functionality, like the magnetic coil assemblies inside the nacelles, and the various chambers and hoses. Careful observers will probably note that the parts are slightly exploded for easier viewing in the game. These images were made for Independence Day Online, so the creativity allowed Mike to skip over some small details. For fun, Mike also printed vector drawing versions of the models which he comments "came out looking impressive! "

Mike explains that working with IronCAD always promotes a feel of ease with experimentation. He comments that "with IronCAD I can open a blank scene, begin construction parts for my assembly, and really enjoy the whole process because I feel like I have such control over every aspect. The Scene Browser lets me visualize and organize the entire hierarchy, and with the TriBall, parts can be effortlessly manipulated and snapped exactly where I want at any time."

The rich set of capabilities, and for that matter, the entire solid modeling environment itself allows Mike to create parts that would be very difficult (or at least very time-consuming) in a standard 3D modeling program. He especially likes that he can make changes on a whim, he explains that "in my job I build mechanical objects for our games straight from my imagination, and being able to create without a lot of pre-planning is a definite plus for any designer. A unique luxury I now have is that models I make with IronCAD don't actually need to exist or function in the real world - they just need to look as if they could. It's the details like bevels, chamfers, shelling, and precision holes that imbue an otherwise ordinary model with a certain authenticity. "

Mike adds that he "has used IronCAD since its evolution from TriSpectives, it has remained one of my favorite graphic tools. The interface for IronCAD has always been easy and it has been fun watching it evolve. I especially like the context- sensitive menus, and of course, the TriBall is one of my all-time favorite interface gadgets. I'd sure like to have one in a few other programs I use! I sincerely hope that it gains a following in the entertainment industry as well as in the "real world" of mechanical design. No doubt it could be a big asset not only to game developers like Mythic, but could also work tremendously well in prop and set design. "

Mythic, during it's five-year history, has produced several titles. The first products were made in association with Engage, as spin-off company of major game publisher Interplay Productions, and included Splatterball and Rolemaster: . The company also worked in conjunction with Corporation to produce Aliens Online, Starship Troopers: Battlespace, and Silent Death Online for their Gamestorm service. Kesmai is now part of , and Silent Death Online will be appearing on their new gaming service, EA.com. For more information about Mythic Entertainment please visit www.mythicgames.com.