Softimage Expands Softimage|XSI Line With 'Mod' Tool

Avid Technology, Inc. has announced the Softimage|XSI Mod Tool – a free version of its 3D animation software for modifying the content of popular video games. The Softimage|XSI Mod Tool is available immediately from the Softimage website, and enables users to generate material for Half-Life 2, the recently released PC FPS from Valve Software. Gamers and enthusiasts can 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 game titles. Building on the Softimage|XSI 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 architecture as the 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.