Flashpoint, The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences Opens in Chicago— Offers SOFTIMAGE|XSI Training

Chicago’s first digital media arts college introduces two-year immersive courses in 3D game development, visual effects and animation with SOFTIMAGE|XSI 3D software

Montréal, Québec – October 15, 2007 –Softimage Co., a subsidiary of Avid Technology, Inc., today announced that the new education institution, Flashpoint, The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, is offering SOFTIMAGE®|XSI® training as part of its digital arts curriculum. Flashpoint Academy, the first digital arts college to open inside Chicago’s prestigious “Loop” in 40 years, provides a hands-on, collaborative approach for students embarking on a career in digital media arts, where 3D training is an essential course requirement for a large portion of the students. 

“Our primary objective at Flashpoint Academy is to train students to harness their artistic ability, and to learn to observe the world around them, in order to become better animators, visual effects artists and story tellers using 3D tools like SOFTIMAGE|XSI software,” said Perry Harovas, Chair, Visual Effects and Animation Department at Flashpoint Academy. “With the growing demand for skilled 3D artists—now is an excellent time for anyone to come to Flashpoint Academy and embark on a career they will love, and one that will challenge and reward them every day,” added Harovas.

Flashpoint Academy has over 100 students enrolled for its first term, nearly half of whom will receive training on SOFTIMAGE|XSI software. Students will be exposed to multiple disciplines of 3D—from modeling, rendering, character design and animation for the game industry—to visual effects, pre-visualization, and 3D lighting techniques for film students.

The college is additionally a BETA test site for Softimage, reviewing and testing new technology that Softimage constantly innovates. Flashpoint Academy hopes to provide a fresh talent pool of professionally trained animators, programmers and technical directors for film, visual effects, and game development companies such as EA Chicago, currently developing game titles using a SOFTIMAGE|XSI-based game development workflow.

SOFTIMAGE|XSI is professional 3D modeling, rendering and animation software used by 3D artists and technical directors working on cutting-edge games and films. XSI software was used in the making of games like Half Life 2, Fable 2, and Lost Planet, as well as films like the Academy Award-winning Happy Feet, Charlotte’s Web, and the highly stylized 300—a film adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel.

For more information about Flashpoint, The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, visit: http://www.flashpointacademy.com/index.html.  For more information about SOFTIMAGE|XSI software, go to: http://www.softimage.com/.  For a FREE 30-day trial of SOFTIMAGE|XSI software go to: http://www.softimage.com/downloads/XSI_Trial/default.aspx

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 Flashpoint, The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences

Flashpoint, The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences, is committed to the advancement of higher learning in the field of digital arts and entertainment technologies. Surrounded by peers and educators with a passion for the future, students at Flashpoint can pursue two-year programs in Visual Effects and Animation, Game Development, Film and Recording Arts.

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 Oscar®, Grammy®, and Emmy® 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. 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. 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.