Product Features
FirstStage aims to provide you with everything you need to simply deliver what you want, without interruption. So what can you do?
Quickly create beautiful sets
FirstStage offers a number of frictionless ways to build dynamic environments for learners to explore.
We appreciate that often when creating scenes, progress can be hindered by a lack of available content to put on stage, so FirstStage provides a number of solutions to avoid such frustrations and keep you working.
Asset Library
Subscriptions come with a broad selection of categrised 3d models, all supplied with full commercial rights.
3d Sketching
FirstStage has an simple modeling and texturing tool to quickly create any asset from a guitar to a building.
Import 3d models
Simply import FBX scenes and assets into your Asset Repository, via Unity using our Help Centre.
Import characters via Unity
FirstStage accepts rigged characters in FBX format.
As well as 3d models, the asset library contains a variety of 3d characters that can be used as placeholders to quickly choreograph a scene. At any time, high quality 3d character models can be imported to seemlessly replace the placeholders or use from the get-go.
Character Creator
A large variety of characters, from cartoon to lifelike human, with multiple options and LODs.
Ready Player Me
Stylised avatar characters covering with options for sex, ethnicity and costume. Available in three LODs.
Unity Asset Store
Packs of game-style characters around specific themes, such as historical, space, monsters, etc.
Block and layout out your scene
Speed and ease is the key so that ideas can be quickly tested before detail is added. So FirstStage provides multiple ways to animate so you can create dynamic scenes, all from within the tool.
Posing
Easily pose characters to compose scene keyframes, then export them for storyboards or reference images.
Mocap
Create mocap using just a headset and controllers, or full mocap with additional trackers.
Import animation
FBX animations can be imported via Unity and applied to characters on the timeline.
Create interactive experiences for games and learning
FirstStage allows you to easily convert scenes into sequences that can be triggered by an event, such as time, location or action, so that the learning can be paced by both the story and the user, and progress monitored.
Multiple Choice Dialog
Poses questions with multiple options, each triggering sequences, for complex branching narratives.
Triggers
Choose from a variety of triggers to activate sequences, including Click, Volume, and Place.
Branching Scripts
Create sequences and hold them in containers, that can be triggered by a Player using triggers.
Work as a team in real-time
With FirstStage you have the opportunity to jump onto the stage with anyone in your project's team, and work productively in real-time. This is very effective for production teams to work in their roles, or actors to mocap combined action scenes.
Cloud and peer-to-peer
Scene changes update instantly via the cloud, and team members see and chat via a peer-to-peer network.
Ownership and time
Its first come first served for controlling things, and users can own, follow or be independent of time.
Desktop sharing
You can also join users in FirstStage from a shared desktop, using the VR user's view, or set up a camera view.
Export into your workflow
When you have previsualised a scene, or created a VR experience, you'll likely want to share it. FirstStage provides tools to export images for storyboards, create edited camera sequences for animatics,
from the opportunity to create layouts for approval, that can be shared live in VR, or via a live feed into a shared video conference, or via storyboards created from exported stills, or via animatics using the Shot Sequencer - a simple editing tool to output your sequence ideas.
Then once everything is approved and your sequence is ready, you can export it all and create the final quality that you are seeking using your preferred 3d animation tools.
Images
Cameras record the action as a series of images, so it is simple to create keyframes for your storyboard.
Video
Cameras on set record the action that can be assembled into an animatic using the Camera Sequencer.
Scene file
FirstStage can be a simple way to create scenes in Unity. Contact us if you wish to export a specific format.
