Macromedia DirectorMacromedia Director is a media application created by Macromedia�now part of Adobe Systems. It allows users to build applications built on a movie metaphor, with the user as the "director" of the movie.
Its scripting language Lingo motivated some to use this application. Many companies deliver demonstrations or use it as a user interface (UI) for content on CDs and DVDs. It can incorporate many different file formats (e.g. AVI, BMP, QuickTime, PNG, JPEG, RealVideo), making it possible to integrate without re-encoding files. It also supports vector graphics and 3D interactivity, which can be used for producing games. Version MX and its successors are also easily linked with Flash animation.
Director's functionality can be extended through plug-in applications called Xtras. These can be created by users or purchased from third party vendors. They are created using Macromedia's XDK (Xtra Development Kit), a C++ SDK.
Director started out as MacroMind "VideoWorks", an application for the original Apple Macintosh. Its name was changed to "Director" in 1987, with the addition of new capabilities and the Lingo scripting language in 1988. A Windows version was available in the early 1990s.
By the mid-1990s, over 70% of CD-ROM multimedia titles were authored using Director.[citation needed]
One type of file created by Director can be viewed in a web browser using the Shockwave plugin. These files have a .DCR extension.
Director can also create stand-alone executable applications from a project, called projectors, which can be compiled for Macintosh or Windows operating systems.
3D Max
3ds Max is a full-featured 3D graphics application developed by Autodesk Media & Entertainment. It runs on the Win32 and Win64 platforms. As of August 2006, 3ds Max is in its 9th version generation.
The original 3D Studio product was created for the DOS platform by the Yost Group and published by Autodesk. Autodesk purchased the product at its second release mark and internalized development entirely over the next two releases. After 3D Studio Release 4, the product was ported to the Windows NT platform, and originally named "3D Studio MAX." This version was also originally created by the Yost Group. It was released by Kinetix, which was at that time Autodesk's division of media and entertainment. Later, the product name was changed to "3ds max" (all lower case) to better comply with the naming conventions of discreet, a Montreal-based software company which Autodesk had purchased. At release 8, the product was again branded with the Autodesk logo, and the name was again changed to "3ds Max" (upper and lower case).
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