[CGnews]

Softimage Co., a division of Avid Technology, Inc., today announced the latest update to the company’s flagship character production software - SOFTIMAGE®|XSI® v.5.1. This release offers a range of new features designed to simplify deployment and asset exchange for customers working on next-generation game titles and visual effects in mixed pipelines. Feature updates include native COLLADA™ 1.4 support, enhanced asset exchange with other applications and hundreds of other customer-driven enhancements.

"SOFTIMAGE|XSI is the most advanced character software available today, ideally suited for the development of next-gen titles. The unique features in XSI like the popular GATOR attribute transfer tool and the Ultimapper data map generator were designed in collaboration with some of the world’s top games studios," said Gareth Morgan, senior product manager for Softimage. "XSI v.5.1 offers innovative character production tools for artists, backed up by the widest range of supported file-formats, standard scripting languages, and an extensive range of specialized C++ APIs for everything from plug-ins to pipeline deployment."

Featuring unique, non-destructive workflow, SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 enables artists to make changes to rigged and animated characters at any point in the production cycle.

Highlights include:

Built-in COLLADA™ 1.4 import and export of asset production for "PLAYSTATION®3"

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 now includes COLLADAâ„¢ 1.4 support. Released in January 2006, COLLADAâ„¢ 1.4 is a standards-based interchange medium that enables 3D authoring applications to freely exchange digital assets - enabling multiple software packages to be combined into extremely powerful pipelines. COLLADA is the asset transfer format originally created by Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and is an open standard using UTF8 and XML. The COLLADAâ„¢ specification is part of Khronos Group of standards. For more information, see the Softimage demo on the Khronos Booth #1632 at GDC or visit www.khronos.org.

Additional real-time shader support

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 now includes full support for the latest high-level real-time shading languages, including built-in authoring and display of Cg (.CgFX), COLLADAâ„¢ FX, HLSL (.FX) real-time shaders as well as support for SAS v.1.0, enabling artists working on next-gen projects can visualize the final results in XSI viewports as they work.

SDK enhancements to enable mixed-pipeline deployment

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 introduces a new custom operator architecture that dramatically simplifies the process of creating C++ and scripted operators. In all, over 200 new SDK features, commands, classes or functions have been added to improve customizability, including new menu anchor points in the main command panel and view manager.

SOFTIMAGE|FACE ROBOTâ„¢ v.1.0 scene support

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 includes full compatibility with scenes created in SOFTIMAGE|FACE ROBOT v.1.0, the first production toolset for lifelike face animation. By ‘solving’ faces for animation and reducing preparation time, Face Robot allows animators to concentrate on sculpting the details of every expression for unforgettable digital performances.

Support for Autodesk® 3ds Max® & Maya® assets

With enhanced support for both import and export of assets from applications such as Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya, incorporating SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 into a games pipelines has never been easier.

Pricing and Availability

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 is expected to be available at the end of March 2006. Customers who purchased any of the three packages of SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.0 software – Foundation, Essentials and Advanced will be able to download the upgrade at www.softimage.com/download.

New customers will be able to purchase SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 in the following configurations:

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 Foundation will be available for $495 USMSRP from the Softimage web site (www.softimage.com/store) or from authorized Softimage resellers.

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 Essentials will be available for $1,995 USMSRP from authorized Softimage resellers.

SOFTIMAGE|XSI v.5.1 Advanced will be available for $6,995 USMSRP from authorized Softimage resellers.

About Softimage Co.
Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., delivers innovative, character creation and effects tools to animators and digital artists in the film, broadcast, post-production and games industries. Its product line includes SOFTIMAGE|XSI, the industry's only non-destructive character production software, and SOFTIMAGE|FACE ROBOT, the first production toolset that multiplies animation productivity while giving artists precise control. For more information about Softimage, please visit www.softimage.com.

About Avid Technology, Inc.
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 Oscarâ, Grammyâ, and Emmy award-winning products and services, please visit: www.avid.com.

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