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LightWave 3D® Bundled With SONY VAIO Series

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Tokyo, Japan - March 19, 2002 - -- NewTek, Inc., manufacturer of industry-leading 3D animation and video products, announced today that they have signed an agreement with SONY in which LightWave 3D®, the professional 3D computer graphics and animation software distributed by D-Storm, Inc. in Japan and China, has been specially customized for SONY VAIO. The specialized version, LightWave 3D® express for VAIO, which is only available in Japan, is preinstalled on SONY's laptop PC, PCG-GRX90/P and began shipping on March 16th, 2002.

The VAIO series has preinstalled 2D graphics and video editing software, and now 3D graphics and animation software has been added. VAIO users will now have the opportunity to create their own CG animations with the bundled software. This is the first time that 3D graphics and animation software has been preinstalled on a PC for consumers.

LightWave 3D® is professional 3D graphics and animation software that is in use all over the world, and has been since the release of Version 4.0 in 1995, making it the leader in the film and commercial industries.

LightWave 3D® express for VAIO, preinstalled in PCG-GRX90/P, is simplified to easily create 3D graphics and animation. It includes LightWave®'s powerful 3D engine, which has the reputation of being the world's fastest, most beautiful renderer. For beginners, there are easy instructions and tutorials included, as well as the FX Monkey plug-in, with which users can create flying logos for video titles with just five clicks.

One of VAIO's powerful features, content creation, has now been greatly expanded, so that animations can be created using high-end CG technology such as particles and bones, and users can also transform a three-dimensional flying logo to a video image.

LightWave 3D® express for VAIO Special Features

• Launcher function for beginners to create 3D worlds with ease
• Tutorials for easy learning of the concepts and terminology of 3D graphics and animation
• Website specially designed exclusively for VAIO users
• Based on high-quality, powerful LightWave 3D® engine
• Professional tools such as Particles, Bones, and Inverse Kinematics
• Easy creation of cool logo animations with FX Monkey
• SONY's Jog Dial Navigator adapted for LightWave®'s essential commands
  

About LightWave 3D® express for VAIO
LightWave 3D® express for VAIO is a special version of LightWave 3D® created exclusively for VAIO. LightWave 3D® express for VAIO users who wish to upgrade to the full version of LightWave 3D® will be offered special upgrade pricing.

About LightWave 3D®
LightWave 3D® is developed by NewTek and distributed in Japan and China by D-Storm Inc. LightWave 3D® has been used in film, television, and games, and also for presentation and industrial design. LightWave 3D® is a professional 3D graphics and animation software that includes the tools required by professionals at an affordable price.

Recent film and television projects using LightWave 3D® include We Were Soldiers, Panic Room, Hart's War, Driven, A.I., Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius, Blackhawk Down, The Time Machine, Black Knight, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The 6th Day, Jurassic Park III, Behind Enemy Lines, X-Men The Movie, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Director's Edition DVD, Pitch Black, Dracula 2000, Star Trek: Enterprise, Roughnecks: Starship Troopers, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The X-Files, The Family Guy, Ally McBeal, Dune: The Miniseries, Dawson's Creek and Family Law. Recent game titles include Deus Ex, Serious Sam I and II, Twisted Metal: Black, Civilization III, Unreal, Quake 3 Arena, Moto Racer World Tour, Giants for PS2, Baldur's Gate II, EverQuest, Planescape: Torment, Dead To Rights, and Escape From Monkey Island.

About D-Storm
D-Storm, Inc., is the distributor of NewTek products and supporting plug-ins for Japan and China, including the industry-leading LightWave 3D®. Additionally, D-Storm has developed many plug-ins and tools for use with LightWave 3D®. With headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, D-Storm has been partnered with NewTek for ten years.

About SONY
Sony Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, communications and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. Its music, motion picture, television, computer entertainment, and online businesses make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world.

About NewTek
With headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, NewTek is a leading provider of full-featured video editing, animation and special effects tools including the VT®, LightWave 3D® and Aura Video Paint. NewTek launched the desktop video revolution in 1990 with the release of the legendary VT®. The company's products are used worldwide on projects ranging from home video to feature film.

· LightWave 3D®, VT®, and Aura are trademarks of NewTek.
· Other product names used in this publication are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective companies.