KINETIX UNVEILS HYPERWIRE 3D INTERNET AUTHORING TOOL

Sun, Netscape and Intel Praise Visual Tool for Building Interactive,
Java-Based Titles for the World Wide Web

NEW YORK, NY (April 10, 1996) -- Kinetix, Autodesk Inc.'s (NSDQ: ADSK) new
multimedia business unit, today unveiled Hyperwire, a powerful and visual
authoring tool for creating 2D and 3D World Wide Web titles in Sun
Microsystems, Inc.'s Java environment.  A strategic addition to the
Kinetix 3D product line, Hyperwire allows Web content authors to build
multimedia titles that can include works created with Kinetix's new 3D
Studio MAX and other VRML-compliant tools.

With praise from Internet leaders Sun Microsystems, Inc., Netscape
Communications Corp., and Intel Corp.  as well as a host of leading-edge
content developers -- the Hyperwire Web authoring tool was announced today
as part of Autodesk's unveiling of Kinetix, an independent new business
unit devoted to bringing the most powerful 3D content creation tools to
the computer industry's fastest-growing markets.

"Until today, developers have lacked the breakthrough authoring tools they
need to create 3D multimedia content for the Web," said Larry Crume,
Autodesk vice president and general manager of Kinetix. "By integrating
Hyperwire with 3D Studio MAX, Kinetix has delivered a tool with the
richness of 3D, the simplicity of icons, and the power of Java to help
multimedia and Web content developers create applications in an
author-friendly environment."

Applications developed with Hyperwire will add a powerful new dimension to
the World Wide Web by augmenting real-world titles with elegant 3D
capabilities. Hyperwire creates applications in Java, the popular
programming language for the Internet, and supports the VRML (Virtual
Reality Modeling Language) 3D Web standard.

PLATFORM-INDEPENDENT

Because Hyperwire creates titles that can be distributed over the Web  and
built into Web pages  users can access these applications from almost any
computer system. Since they are written in the platform- independent Java
environment, titles created with Hyperwire can be played on platforms
running Microsoft Windows '95, Windows NT, Apple Macintosh and UNIX"
operating systems.

Also, the Hyperwire architecture is extensible, and will accept third-party
plug-in applications that will expand Hyperwire's list of features and
capabilities.

While other Web authoring tools focus on 2D, Hyperwire is the only Java
authoring environment that allows developers to build fully interactive
titles in 2D and 3D, and create titles which can respond intelligently to
user actions and real-world events.

In addition to Hyperwire, Kinetix is also releasing Topper, a VRML player
plug-in for Netscape browsers. Topper and Hyperwire can be immediately
downloaded from the Kinetix website at http://www.ktx.com.

With the "sneak preview" release of Hyperwire available today, developers
can create simple interactive titles and applications that can be
distributed over the Web or embedded in Web sites. Using Hyperwire,
designers and programmers can create far more compelling web sites with
interactive games, financial analysis applications, sales demonstrations,
advertising, and interactive learning. When the final product ships later
this year, developers can extend the Hyperwire environment to create their
own plug-in applets, applications and features. Hyperwire plug-ins will
allow users to connect their applications to relational databases so Web
titles will be more information-rich and can react in real time to new
data.

"Hyperwire is one of the most exciting Web authoring tools we have seen,"
said Louis Castle, founder of CD ROM title developer Westwood Studios.
"Not only will we use Hyperwire to improve our Internet services, but we
plan on using it to prototype new Internet products and stand-alone PC
games. With Hyperwire, our designers can author Web titles in Java without
having to know a programming language."

INTERNET LEADERS PRAISE HYPERWIRE

Kinetix also announced that Sun Microsystems, Netscape Communications and
Intel Corp. today praised Hyperwire for its ability to quickly populate
the Web with media-rich titles.

"Hyperwire gives Java designers a powerful, visual tool for creating
multimedia Web titles," said Lew Tucker, director of Sun's JavaSoft
Developer Alliance Group. "This new tool is an important addition to Sun's
long-term strategy for the Java environment and for developing media-rich
titles and experiences for the World Wide Web."

"Netscape is delighted that Kinetix is releasing Hyperwire, allowing
designers and programmers to create compelling, Java-based Web titles,"
said Mike Homer, Netscape's vice president of marketing. "With Topper,
titles created in Hyperwire can include rich, interactive 3D scenes.  Both
products will up the ante for what can be expected at leading Web sites."

"Hyperwire defines a bold new future for creating media-rich titles for the
World Wide Web," said Ron Whittier, senior vice president and general
manager of Intel Corp.'s Content Group. "Kinetix's powerful new Web
authoring tool is ideally suited for Intel's Pentium" Pro platform, the
authoring engine of choice for multimedia title creators."

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

A "sneak preview" version of Hyperwire is available immediately and free of
charge on Kinetix's new Web site, at http://www.ktx.com.

Shipping versions and pricing of Hyperwire will be announced at a later
date. Recommended development configurations include a Pentium class PC or
compatible system running Microsoft Windows or Microsoft Windows NT, 16MB
of memory, 20MB of free disk space, and an 8-bit, 640-by-480 resolution
color display.

ABOUT KINETIX

Kinetix develops and delivers affordable content creation tools for
professionals such as film and video producers, video/computer game
developers, Web content developers, architects, engineers, and designers.
The leader in PC-based 3D modeling and animation tools with more than 45
percent of the professional market, Kinetix provides a full range of
products for the application development process, from 2D and 3D creation
to assembly and delivery.  With headquarters in San Rafael, Calif.,
Kinetix is a division of Autodesk, the fourth largest PC software company
in the world with three million customers in 130 countries. Kinetix
products are sold through dealers and distributors worldwide. Visit
Kinetix on the World Wide Web at http://www.ktx.com, or contact the
company at 800-879-4233.

Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters
discussed in this news release are forward looking statements that involve
risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially from those projected. These include the timely development and
acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and
pricing, and the other risks detailed from time to time in Autodesk's SEC
reports, including the report on Form 10-Q filed in December 1995.
 
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