It took Pixar 20 years to make a successful 3D software and hardware environment - to become profitable .. all thanks to investors like Steve Jobs who had extra cash to keep a 'good invention alive, but a loss making venture non-the-less' The others seeing the success, just bought the engine and proceeded from there; cutting down 20 years of a research - to create 3D environments, films and games. Of course, Pixar could not give them everything - so these other companies had to figure some things out. ===================== When Ford, Mercedez and the rest came up with the vehicle engine, and the overall design of the car i.e the driver seat, co-driver seat, the passenger seats, the four wheels.. etc Companies like Toyota took it up from the basic and earlier design, of a hydrocarbon engine - without going through the 100 yrs of steam engines and experiments preceding the first successful engine deployment. ===================== In order to reach the skies, you are either a giant - and if not, you may need to step on the shoulders of giants. 12 cents.