Alias announced that Alias MotionBuilder 6, the latest version of the famed 3D character performance and animation software, is now shipping to customers worldwide.
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. With an extensive suite of sophisticated motion editing, motion layering and story-telling tools, MotionBuilder 6 is a fast, artist-friendly software solution for any production involving character performance and animation.
MotionBuilder 6 beta testers have found the software's advanced technology greatly improves productivity and makes complicated, highly realistic animation attainable for a wide array of projects ranging from desktop videos and television commercials, to games and high-end feature films, regardless of budget or facility size.
"MotionBuilder 6 includes a multitude of innovations that greatly increase productivity during the animation production phase," said Frédéric Merlos, freelance animator. "One of my favorite improvements is that MotionBuilder 6 allows me to save a rig configuration with all the parameters and reuse it or export it to another project."
"We completely rely on MotionBuilder and Alias MotionBuilder 6 will be at the heart of our dynamic production environment," echoed Philip Weiss, managing director at metricminds in Germany. " Version 6's more intuitive user interface and versatility gives us the freedom to export incredible looking animations into virtually any 3D package." metricminds operates Germany's largest motion capture studio and is a high-end 3D animation service provider for games, TV, multimedia and feature films.
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 3 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, including A&G Soluzioni, Alias, Avid, Discreet, Natural Motion, NewTek, Noitaminanimation, Okino, Qedsoft, Softimage, Strata, TurboSquid, Virsys and Wings3D.
Alias MotionBuilder Pro 6 software and Alias MotionBuilder Standard 6 software are available from the Alias network of authorized resellers and 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.
Prices are list prices for node-locked licenses; floating licenses for MotionBuilder Pro are available at an additional fee. International pricing may vary.
Alias is also offering a fully functional, non-commercial trial version of MotionBuilder 6 beginning Nov. 29, 2004. The 30-day trial version allows artists to experience all of the power of MotionBuilder's award-winning character animation technology.
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 recently acquired Kaydara and 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.
