Reality Lab was a 3D API created by RenderMorphics to provide a standardized API for writing games. It was one of the main contenders in the realtime 3D middleware marketplace at the time, alongside Criterion Software's RenderWare and Argonaut Software's BRender.

Reality Lab was a scene graph API that would run with acceptable performance on graphics cards or the host computer's CPU. After a short time on the market, RenderMorphics was purchased by Microsoft in February 1995 and Reality Lab formed the basis for Direct3D (splitting into separate immediate mode and retained mode APIs). Direct3D shipped for the first time in the DirectX 2.0 SDK in June 1996. At the time Reality Lab was being created, graphics cards were very simple and only helped with the final step of the rendering process. As the cards gained functionality, the original Reality Lab based Direct3D changed considerably into its modern form.

Company

RenderMorphics was founded in 1992 by Servan Keondjian, Doug Rabson and Kate Seekings.

References

• Qube Software - Servan Keondjian and Doug Rabson founded Qube after leaving Microsoft.
• Covers the early years of DirectX development within Microsoft, including the acquisition of RenderMorphics.