The Console Wars: Softimage To Support Xbox 360 | Xbox 360, Playstation 3 PS3, Revolution

Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Softimage To Support Xbox 360

Softimage Announces Support for Microsoft Xbox 360

"Softimage, Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., today announced support for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system with the release of the .FX plug-in - a free effects creation tool for SOFTIMAGE XSI software, the 3-D animation element of Avid’s integrated computer graphics solutions for game development. With this new plug-in for XSI, game developers now have the industry’s most advanced 3-D tool combined with the latest in effects technology to create high-definition characters, props and elements for their Xbox 360 titles. The technology powering the Xbox 360 allows developers to build graphically intense high-definition environments with all titles being designed for HD television resolutions (720p and 1080i) in 16:9 widescreen.

Adds Gareth Morgan, senior product manager for Softimage, “By using XSI with the new.FX plug-in, our customers can immediately begin creating art that’s ideally suited to the Xbox 360. XSI delivers a unique combination of the industry’s most advanced 3-D character animation system, integrated support for the latest realtime effects and the extreme scalability that teams need to meet next generation production requirements.”

The .FX plug-in for XSI, which includes support for sophisticated DirectX real-time shaders, allows developers to use third party shader-development tools, to apply those effects to XSI models, and to take full advantage of XSI’s normal mapping and animation tools. Imported effects can be refined and animated with real-time visual feedback. In addition to producing high-definition graphics, next-gen titles will also require larger teams working in a collaborative environment. Earlier this year, Softimage announced support for Microsoft’s XNA software architecture, designed to enable enhanced collaboration between content creators, programmers, management and quality-assurance staff to speed the game production process.

A rapidly growing number of game companies are adopting Softimage’s advanced technology to meet the demand for greater sophistication in game content. XSI features advanced tools specifically for developers, including easy-to-use normal and effect map generation, interactive real-time shader viewing, the fastest subdivision surface modeler in the industry and a scalable, flexible architecture designed to accommodate large production pipelines."