Softimage and Criterion reach deal
by Kit

Wednesday, October 6 2004

Middleware giant teams with Softimage on development solutions.

Softimage Co. today announced a strategic alliance agreement with Criterion Software, the industry-leading provider of middleware for the gaming industry. Under this agreement, game developers using Criterion's RenderWare solutions now have access to a suite of plug-ins and import/export tools designed to facilitate the integration of sophisticated 3D content created in SOFTIMAGE*|XSI* software.

"This agreement brings together two technology leaders that share a keen interest in addressing complex game development challenges," said Gareth Morgan, senior product manager for Softimage. "With tight interoperability between SOFTIMAGE|XSI and RenderWare, artists and developers using RenderWare middleware solutions can now benefit from the distinct design features found only in SOFTIMAGE|XSI, such as high-performance subdivision surface modeling, truly programmable real-time shaders, and advanced character rigging and animation tools."

RenderWare is the most widely used suite of game development solutions that offers an extensive array of multi-platform, real-time production capabilities to generate characters, objects, and environments that support sophisticated graphics created with independent 3D animation software. Licensed by all major publishers to support a more secure, lower risk, higher quality game development process, over 500 PC and console titles using RenderWare have been developed to date.

--- Kit