BISim releases software developer kits for customizing VBS3 and BLUE IG

Bohemia Interactive Simulations (BISim), a developer of simulation and training software, released two software developer kits for creating custom applications for VBS3, desktop military simulation training package, and VBS Blue IG, BISim’s new CIGI-compliant, 3D whole-earth image generator.

VBS Simulation SKD lets developers customize and extend VBS3 by providing an application program interface (API) and suite of tools. VBS Simulation SKD includes core and simulation-specific APIs, a copy of the VBS Control Editor, which is BISim’s artificial intelligence behavior editing toolkit, and a copy of VBS3 and it provides low-level and direct access to the VBS3 engine without intermediate layers. The APIs included cover basic application controls from mission management to environmental settings.

As VBS Simulation SDK’s capabilities grow, other new APIs covering different aspects of the VBS3 functionality will be added such as external skeleton control or multiplayer and client communication management. Future releases will also provide support for new features such as direct access to the VBS Control actors and behaviors through VBS Control-specific APIs, and will provide support for HTML-based user interfaces.

VBS IG SDK is a set of APIs and tools for IG developers to customize or extend VBS Blue IG. The VBS IG SDK includes core and IG-specific APIs and a copy of the VBS Blue IG runtime. VBS Blue IG customers can access VBS IG Studio, BISim’s tool for multichannel and multi-machine configuration and management. Integrators building complete solutions that include a VBS3 host connected to VBS Blue IG will need both SDKs. The VBS IG SDK provides developers with low-level access to manipulating the VBS Blue IG visual scene by offering full control over environmental parameters, movement and animation of existing VBS3 model content, positioning and attaching cameras, as well as providing an easy-to-use two-dimensional screen drawing API.

“Both the VBS Simulation SDK and VBS IG SDK share a common architecture,” said Cory Kumm, BISim’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Development. “Once you learn one SDK you can easily understand and use the other SDK. Additionally, our SDKs and gears approach to development are designed to be future proof, minimizing the need to redevelop existing capabilities in future versions of our software or third-party extensions.”