the dOktoR
23-12-2004, 12:59 AM
<font face="arial" size="2"><font size="3"><b>Softimage New ?Mod? Tool </b></font><font face="arial" size="2"><br>Softimage Expands Game Development Suite With New ?Mod? Tool<br>
Company extends ability for gamers to manipulate and create content for Half-Life 2 and other video games<br>
Tewksbury, Mass. ? December 22, 2004 ? Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:
AVID) today announced the SOFTIMAGE?|XSI? Mod Tool ? a free version of
its award-winning 3D animation software designed for gamers who are
interested in modifying the content of popular video games. As part of
the company's 3-Democracy plan ? to make the most advanced 3D content
creation software accessible to all levels of CG professionals ? the
SOFTIMAGE|XSI Mod Tool is available immediately from the Softimage
website (www.softimage.com), and enables users to generate material for
Half-Life 2, the recently released action video game by Valve. Gamers
and enthusiasts known as ?modders? ? who routinely change the way video
games are played ? can now use the SOFTIMAGE|XSI Mod Tool with Valve?s
Source Software Development Kit (SDK) to create props, characters,
environment models and output their content directly into Half-Life 2
and other Valve Source? engine-powered titles. Through the use of
additional plug-ins, the Mod Tool can also be used with other leading
interactive game titles, extending playability of existing and upcoming
games. <br>
<br>
?Since we started working with Valve several years ago, it has always
been a priority to ensure that fans would be able to easily customize
their Half-Life 2 experience,? said Gareth Morgan, senior product
manager for Softimage. ?There are thousands of passionate gaming
enthusiasts out there who are deeply immersed in video game art, and
many see themselves as the creators of tomorrow. Continuing our
3-Democracy vision of 3D everywhere, we developed the XSI Mod Tool
specifically for this mod community, giving them easy access to
professional-level 3D character animation software and enabling them to
alter the content and extend the life of their favorite games.
Alongside Valve?s pioneering investment in the mod community, we are
really excited to be able to offer support for all of Valve?s Source
titles ? and we look forward to working with other game developers in
the future.?<br>
<br>
Building on the SOFTIMAGE|XSI EXP for Half-Life 2, which was released
at the 2004 Game Developer?s Conference and has been downloaded by over
100,000 users, the SOFTIMAGE|XSI Mod Tool is based on the same
professional architecture as SOFTIMAGE|XSI software. The SOFTIMAGE|XSI
Mod Tool includes multiple toolsets for creating, texturing and
animating props and characters, designing and previewing real-time
effects, and outputting the results. It also includes the
next-generation normal mapping features found in SOFTIMAGE|XSI 4.2. <br>
<br>
?For many of our fans, modding is a key element of the Half-Life 2
experience,? said Gabe Newell, founder and managing director for Valve.
?Since introducing popular games like Day of Defeat and Counterstrike,
we have seen incredible projects sprout from within the gaming
community. I am thrilled that modders now have access to a free,
professional-level tool based on the same software our own developers
and artists use to develop our award-winning games. I can?t wait to see
? and play ? what the community comes up with.? <br>
<br>
About Softimage Co.<br>
Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., is an industry
leader in 3-D animation, 2-D cel animation, compositing and special
effects software, designed to address the demands of the film and
commercial/broadcast and games/interactive industries. SOFTIMAGE|XSI
software, an integral player in Avid's Make, Manage and Move Media?
strategy, is the flagship product offering from Softimage. It is the
industry's first 3-D nonlinear production environment providing
animators and digital artists the freedom to make professional
animation, visual effects and games - from major motion pictures, to
cartoons and commercials, to animated content for video games and Web
sites. Softimage is proud to count amongst its customers: Ubisoft,
Capcom, Konami, SONY, Valve, Pandemic, Taito, Sega and Atari. The
Softimage product family is designed to help users innovate, create and
collaborate throughout the production process. For more information
about Softimage visit www.softimage.com.<br>
<br>
About Avid Technology, Inc.<br>
Avid Technology, Inc. is the world leader in digital nonlinear media
creation, management, and distribution solutions, enabling film, video,
audio, animation, games, and broadcast professionals to work more
efficiently, productively, and creatively. For more information about
the company?s award-winning products and services, please visit:
www.avid.com.<br>
<br>
?2004 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features,
specifications, system requirements and availability are subject to
change without notice. Avid, Behavior, SOFTIMAGE, XSI and Make, Manage
and Move Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid
Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Valve,
Half-Life, Source, Day of Defeat and Counter-Strike are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Valve Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein
are the property of their respective owners. <br>
<br>
Using Internet Explorer, please go to ftp.softimage.com<br>
<br>
In the browser's menu go to -> File -> login as:<br>
<br>
username: pubrel<br>
password: P_r_5t0F ( 0 is a zero)<br>
<br>
There are screenshots, packaging images and logos.<br><br>
news courtesy <br>
www.xsibase.com<br>
<br>
<br>
</font></font>
postamble()
Company extends ability for gamers to manipulate and create content for Half-Life 2 and other video games<br>
Tewksbury, Mass. ? December 22, 2004 ? Avid Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ:
AVID) today announced the SOFTIMAGE?|XSI? Mod Tool ? a free version of
its award-winning 3D animation software designed for gamers who are
interested in modifying the content of popular video games. As part of
the company's 3-Democracy plan ? to make the most advanced 3D content
creation software accessible to all levels of CG professionals ? the
SOFTIMAGE|XSI Mod Tool is available immediately from the Softimage
website (www.softimage.com), and enables users to generate material for
Half-Life 2, the recently released action video game by Valve. Gamers
and enthusiasts known as ?modders? ? who routinely change the way video
games are played ? can now use the SOFTIMAGE|XSI Mod Tool with Valve?s
Source Software Development Kit (SDK) to create props, characters,
environment models and output their content directly into Half-Life 2
and other Valve Source? engine-powered titles. Through the use of
additional plug-ins, the Mod Tool can also be used with other leading
interactive game titles, extending playability of existing and upcoming
games. <br>
<br>
?Since we started working with Valve several years ago, it has always
been a priority to ensure that fans would be able to easily customize
their Half-Life 2 experience,? said Gareth Morgan, senior product
manager for Softimage. ?There are thousands of passionate gaming
enthusiasts out there who are deeply immersed in video game art, and
many see themselves as the creators of tomorrow. Continuing our
3-Democracy vision of 3D everywhere, we developed the XSI Mod Tool
specifically for this mod community, giving them easy access to
professional-level 3D character animation software and enabling them to
alter the content and extend the life of their favorite games.
Alongside Valve?s pioneering investment in the mod community, we are
really excited to be able to offer support for all of Valve?s Source
titles ? and we look forward to working with other game developers in
the future.?<br>
<br>
Building on the SOFTIMAGE|XSI EXP for Half-Life 2, which was released
at the 2004 Game Developer?s Conference and has been downloaded by over
100,000 users, the SOFTIMAGE|XSI Mod Tool is based on the same
professional architecture as SOFTIMAGE|XSI software. The SOFTIMAGE|XSI
Mod Tool includes multiple toolsets for creating, texturing and
animating props and characters, designing and previewing real-time
effects, and outputting the results. It also includes the
next-generation normal mapping features found in SOFTIMAGE|XSI 4.2. <br>
<br>
?For many of our fans, modding is a key element of the Half-Life 2
experience,? said Gabe Newell, founder and managing director for Valve.
?Since introducing popular games like Day of Defeat and Counterstrike,
we have seen incredible projects sprout from within the gaming
community. I am thrilled that modders now have access to a free,
professional-level tool based on the same software our own developers
and artists use to develop our award-winning games. I can?t wait to see
? and play ? what the community comes up with.? <br>
<br>
About Softimage Co.<br>
Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., is an industry
leader in 3-D animation, 2-D cel animation, compositing and special
effects software, designed to address the demands of the film and
commercial/broadcast and games/interactive industries. SOFTIMAGE|XSI
software, an integral player in Avid's Make, Manage and Move Media?
strategy, is the flagship product offering from Softimage. It is the
industry's first 3-D nonlinear production environment providing
animators and digital artists the freedom to make professional
animation, visual effects and games - from major motion pictures, to
cartoons and commercials, to animated content for video games and Web
sites. Softimage is proud to count amongst its customers: Ubisoft,
Capcom, Konami, SONY, Valve, Pandemic, Taito, Sega and Atari. The
Softimage product family is designed to help users innovate, create and
collaborate throughout the production process. For more information
about Softimage visit www.softimage.com.<br>
<br>
About Avid Technology, Inc.<br>
Avid Technology, Inc. is the world leader in digital nonlinear media
creation, management, and distribution solutions, enabling film, video,
audio, animation, games, and broadcast professionals to work more
efficiently, productively, and creatively. For more information about
the company?s award-winning products and services, please visit:
www.avid.com.<br>
<br>
?2004 Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features,
specifications, system requirements and availability are subject to
change without notice. Avid, Behavior, SOFTIMAGE, XSI and Make, Manage
and Move Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid
Technology, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Valve,
Half-Life, Source, Day of Defeat and Counter-Strike are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of Valve Corporation in the United
States and/or other countries. All other trademarks contained herein
are the property of their respective owners. <br>
<br>
Using Internet Explorer, please go to ftp.softimage.com<br>
<br>
In the browser's menu go to -> File -> login as:<br>
<br>
username: pubrel<br>
password: P_r_5t0F ( 0 is a zero)<br>
<br>
There are screenshots, packaging images and logos.<br><br>
news courtesy <br>
www.xsibase.com<br>
<br>
<br>
</font></font>
postamble()