Softimage Announces Xbox 360 Support

Softimage has announced its software will support the upcoming Xbox 360 console. The latest release of the free .FX plug-in for Softimage XSI will enable the 3D tool to build Xbox 360 characters, props and elements. Available for download on parent company Avid Technology’s site, the .FX plug-in for XSI, which includes support for 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. According to Softimage’s senior product manager Gareth Morgan, users of XSI with the .FX plug-in “can immediately begin creating art that’s ideally suited to the Xbox 360.” With Softimage technology already in use for current Xbox and PlayStation 2 development, it comes as no surprise that the company would continue to support next-generation hardware. Earlier this year, Softimage announced support for Microsoft’s XNA software architecture, a collaboration tool for game developers which Microsoft is indicating should be an integral part of Xbox 360 software development.