Alias MotionBuilder 6 is now available to customers on maintenance. Alias MotionBuilder 6 software will be available to the public in late November. Alias will notify MotionBuilder Pro and Standard customers eligible to receive MotionBuilder 6 with instructions on how to acquire the latest release.
MotionBuilder 6 delivers unmatched realtime character animation technology, including an advanced Story Timeline and enhanced world-class keyframing, intelligent character technology (such as auto-rigging with Human IK) and precision-animation tools.
"Ubisoft is developing several AAA title games and we needed a powerful tool that performs well on next generation consoles," said Nicolas Rioux, vp of technology at Ubisoft's Montreal Studios. "We selected Alias MotionBuilder Pro 6 because its keyframe animation tools are simple to use, and yet still provide our artists with an unprecedented level of control and precision when developing highly realistic character animation. In addition, its seamless integration from authoring to delivery will allow us to focus on character animation and performance, and not worry about interoperability between software applications."
MotionBuilder is now even better equipped to work in conjunction with most 3D animation packages. Version 6 includes a more intuitive environment with a high-level animation editor, redesigned properties viewer and the ability to emulate the hotkeys of other 3D packages.
Its simplified camera controls make repetitive camera navigation tasks more clear and direct, and the enhanced viewer with new navigation hot buttons makes editing animation faster and easier. MotionBuilder 6 also features a redesigned transform manipulator and Handles, a new tool that gives artists complete control over selecting and manipulating objects.
"Alias MotionBuilder 6 includes a host of exciting new character animation features that are optimized for today's media rich production pipelines," said Bob Bennett, general manager of product management for Alias. "MotionBuilder's renowned realtime architecture, Story Timeline performance environment, intelligent character controls and the FBX file exchange format make it the fastest, most artist-friendly software solution for any production involving character performance and animation."
MotionBuilder 6 natively supports FBX, an award-winning, platform-independent 3D authoring and interchange format, that allows MotionBuilder customers to quickly and easily acquire and exchange 3D assets and media from a wide variety of sources. FBX is widely supported by most 3D software packages and hardware manufacturers, as well as film and game studios.
MotionBuilder Standard will be available at www.alias.com. MotionBuilder Standard 6 is priced at $995; and MotionBuilder Pro 6 is priced at $4,195, which includes one year of maintenance, offering technical support and upgrades for the duration of the maintenance term. MotionBuilder 6 is available for Windows XP Professional and Mac OS X.
Alias will also offer a 30-day trial version of MotionBuilder 6 beginning Nov. 29, 2004. The trial software is a fully functional, non-commercial version.
As a leading innovator of 3D graphics technology, Alias (www.alias.com) develops award-winning software, custom development and training solutions for the film and video, games, Web, interactive media, automotive, industrial design, education and visualization markets. Alias is headquartered in Toronto with a Custom Development Center in Santa Barbara. Alias was recently purchased by Accel-KKR, a technology-focused private equity firm, and the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
