U.K.-based Lionhead Studios, creator of the FABLE and BLACK & WHITE game franchises, is adopting SOFTIMAGE|XSI software as the standard 3D art and animation tool for future development projects. Artists at Lionhead plan to use SOFTIMAGE|XSI software to create and animate the characters, props and environments for their next generation of PC and console games. The transition is set to take place in multiple phases starting next month.
After a thorough comparison with other 3D packages, it was clear that SOFTIMAGE|XSI was the ideal solution for our artists, said Andrew Lindsay, senior animator and head of central art technology team for Lionhead Studios. Its an elegant combination of comprehensive, flexible tools for modeling, texturing and animation, and we are also delighted with the customizability and character building solutions. Due to SOFTIMAGES focus on solving real-world production issues, our team will be able to use XSI as the primary digital content creation package for our pipeline, instead of a combination of several other packages.
Gareth Morgan, senior product manager for SOFTIMAGE, added, Lionhead Studios is an industry pioneer in creating cutting edge simulations and unique, innovative role-playing games, and were excited that theyve selected SOFTIMAGE|XSI as their tool of choice for character and content creation. The team at Lionhead is also working with us on further enhancing the product, and were looking forward to a strong, collaborative relationship that will help us both meet the demands of the next generation of hardware.
With the implementation of SOFTIMAGE|XSI v4.2 into their game pipeline, Lionhead Studios joins a growing list of companies that are adopting Softimages advanced technology to meet the demand for greater sophistication in game content. SOFTIMAGE|XSI 4.2 software includes robust normal map generation to simplify the creation of sophisticated effects in realtime, plus one of the fastest subdivision surfaces in the industry and a scalable architecture designed to accommodate large production teams.
Lionhead Studios is based in Guildford, Great Britain, and was founded in 1997. The company currently has four other products currently under development and employs more than 200 people.
Avid Technology (www.avid.com), headquartered in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, is a 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.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
