Now Shipping—SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 Essentials for Artists and SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 Advanced for 3D Production Facilities

Value-added features and new packaging give artists and technical directors the most complete tool sets needed for 3D content creation and production

Montréal, Québec – September 24, 2007 – Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., today announced the availability of its 3D animation software packages, SOFTIMAGE®|XSI® 6.5 Essentials, geared for artists, and SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 Advanced, created for production facilities.  Softimage has added Hair, Fur and Syflex Cloth features to SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 Essentials—giving 3D artists the most complete creative  3D tool set at the price of MSRP US $2,995. SOFTIMAGE|XSI Advanced adds five batch rendering licenses for facilities that require high-capacity throughput —making it a production powerhouse for MSRP US $4,995. Additionally, both versions include over 30 customer-driven feature enhancements.

SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 Essentials offers the most comprehensive set of tools artists need to create compelling 3D characters and content for games, film and television. Added to XSI 6.5 Essentials are:

• Hair & Fur (previously only available in XSI Advanced)
• Syflex Cloth ($2,200 value sold separately)
• Over 30 enhancements derived from key clients in film, television and gaming
• No change to upgrade or maintenance pricing

SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 XSI Advanced offers everything technical artists and directors need to set up and run a creative animation facility. Added to XSI 6.5 Advanced are:

• Five XSI Batch rendering licenses for six total licenses and support for 36 render nodes           (US $7475 value sold separately).
• Over 30 enhancements derived from key clients in film, television and gaming
• Reduced pricing for both upgrades and maintenance

“Softimage listens to its customers and today we’re pleased to deliver the best configuration of tools and technology for 3D artists and animation production studios,” said Marc Stevens, Vice President and General Manager for Softimage. “SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 Essentials delivers all the tools for professional 3D artists, while SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 Advanced targets technical directors and studios—together setting the standard for value and productivity in the industry.”

Over 30 Feature Enhancements in XSI 6.5:
Softimage has also added over 30 customer-influenced features and enhancements to meet specific workflow needs from the game development, visual effects and visualization industry, including: Lionhead Studios, Valve, EA, Animal Logic, Nerdcorps, Pandemic and Passion Pictures. 

Availability:
SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6.5 Essentials and Advanced are available to purchase from Softimage resellers or direct from Softimage at: http://www.softimage.com/buy/.

About Softimage Co.

Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc. provides intuitive, production proven tools that free 3D artists to create the world’s most compelling characters in the film, broadcast, post-production and games industries. Its flagship product, SOFTIMAGE|XSI is the most complete and intuitive character animation solution available. Easily integrated into any CG production pipeline, XSI software enables 3D artists to create the most lifelike character performances.  SOFTIMAGE|FACE ROBOT is the first commercial toolset that accelerates facial animation that empowers 3D artists to create, refine and repurpose high-quality, lifelike facial animation in less time than traditional solutions. For more information about Softimage, please visit www.softimage.com.

About Avid Technology, Inc.

Avid Technology, Inc. is the 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.  For more information about the company’s Oscarâ, Grammyâ, and Emmyâ award-winning products and services, please visit: www.avid.com.

© 2007Avid Technology, Inc. All rights reserved. Product features, specifications, system requirements, and availability are subject to change without notice. Promotions and discounts are subject to availability and change without notice. All prices are USMSRP for the U.S. and Canada only and are subject to change without notice. Contact your local AVID office or reseller for prices outside the U.S. and Canada. Avid received an Oscar statuette representing the 1998 Scientific and Technical Award for the concept, design, and engineering of the Avid Film Composer® system for motion picture editing. Digidesign, Avid’s audio division, received an Oscar statuette representing the 2003 Scientific and Technical Award for the design, development, and implementation of its Pro Tools® digital audio workstation. Avid, Digidesign, Film Composer, ProTools, SOFTIMAGE, FACE ROBOT and XSI are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Avid Technology, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. mental ray and mental images are registered trademarks of mental images GmbH in the USA and other countries. Oscar is a trademark and service mark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Emmy is a registered trademark of ATAS/NATAS. Grammy is a trademark of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, Inc. All other trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.