Archive notice: This article was originally published on November 19, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
“We welcome Softimage customers, strategic partners and employees to Autodesk,” said Marc Petit, Senior Vice President of Autodesk Media & Entertainment. “This acquisition expands our entertainment portfolio with some of the most advanced 3D tools known and highly respected in the 3D entertainment community. Given the extensive digitization of production pipelines and the convergence of game, film and television content, we expect this acquisition to complement and accelerate Autodesk’s efforts to create interactive real-time 3D authoring tools.”
Petit added: “I would like to emphasize again that we intend to maintain and expand the Softimage product line. The same applies to our current 3D animation, modeling and rendering software products. Marc Stevens, the former General Manager of Softimage, has joined my management team. I look forward to working with him and Softimage’s talented product and business teams to continue developing the capabilities of Softimage products.”
Softimage Products, Brand and Online Business
Autodesk intends to offer standalone versions of SOFTIMAGE|XSI and SOFTIMAGE|Face Robot 3D software and to continue developing these products. The SOFTIMAGE®|Cat™ character-animation system is a plug-in for Autodesk 3ds Max software and is expected to be integrated into the Autodesk® 3ds Max product line. The SOFTIMAGE|Crosswalk interoperability solution is expected to be integrated into Autodesk’s own interoperability technology.
Autodesk intends to continue using the Softimage trademark. The Softimage brand is expected to become part of Autodesk’s brand identity. Although the names of Softimage products will not initially change, Autodesk intends to revise the product branding with the next software releases.
The Softimage online store is temporarily unavailable while Autodesk integrates it into the Autodesk online store. Autodesk expects Softimage products to be available online to U.S.-based customers within a few weeks. Autodesk also intends to add Softimage products over time to its online stores in every region where Autodesk products are sold online.
