Softimage HL2 EXP (HL2 MODing Tool)

[phantomdesign]

I'm happy the site is back up. Hopefully I'm allowed to be here. I was checking some traffic logs and HL2.net by accident. Anyways, the most important HL2 related news that I know of is this....

The world's newest and most advanced 3-D animation software teamed up with the first true next-generation video game.


Unlike other free game modification utilities, the XSI EXP for Half-Life 2 gives full access to all the professional features available in SOFTIMAGE|XSI. Everything you need to create Half-Life 2 characters, models, and environment elements is here. You can design characters, mix and blend animations, render interactively or use real-time shaders, and then export your models to Half-Life 2. Download it now!

The SOFTIMAGE|XSI EXP for Half-Life 2 is a complete version of the industry’s only truly nonlinear animation system: SOFTIMAGE|XSI.

Whether you are a 3-D professional, a novice or just curious, the XSI EXP for Half-Life 2 guides you through all the features and functionality in SOFTIMAGE|XSI, and lets you actually output Half-Life 2 characters and models. From polygon modeling and lightning fast Subdivision Surfaces, to nonlinear animation mixing and interactive simulation and rendering, it is all here.

You can:

Import data from any XSI source including the commercial version of the software.

Save all your scenes and renders to build a library of your best work.

Create content for games with the integrated real-time shaders.

Manipulate renders with 2-D/3-D image processing in the fully-integrated compositing environment.

Learn the product with the six included tutorials, which cover everything you need to get comfortable with SOFTIMAGE|XSI.

Access the EXP for Half-Life 2 community portal which gives you links into the best of the Half-Life 2 mod community.

For a detailed list of limitations click here.

http://www.softimage.com/products/exp/hl2/default.asp

Also some video tutorials for HL2 character creation.
http://www.softimage.com/products/exp/hl2/learn/HL2_tutorials.htm

 

[PvtRyan]

There's more important news: magazine hands-on preview of HL2 on april 29th...

But niw, this is great news too! I like XSI, but there's still lots of stuff I don't understand yet.
But where's the normal map generator we got to see last year in that video? I haven't been able to find it.

 

[phantomdesign]

Unless you're already really advanced with other 3D software packages, don't expect to understand much in XSI immediately.

I still say the XSI EXP is more important news than some magazine preview, because we won't get many pictures, and will already know most of the information. Well, any news is good news at the moment.

Anyone know when E3 is?

 

[Headwires]

what mag is this preview in? i'll be checking that out!

 

[Feath]

http://www.computerandvideogames.co...eogames.com/news/news_story.php(que)id=103236

Anyone know when E3 is?

12 - 14 May.

what mag is this preview in? i'll be checking that out!

UK
PC Gamer - Out on the 15th of April
PC Zone out on the 29th of April

US
PC Gamer

What's interesting is that PC Zone claim they are the only ones to have it and any other UK magazine is lying.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/r/?page=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php(que)id=103236

 

[PvtRyan]

what mag is this preview in? i'll be checking that out!

PC Zone, but they claim it's an exclusive preview and they're the only one in the UK, which pretty much means it'll be in any mag within 2 weeks.
Lemme start a thread on it, might be better than talking offtopic.

Unless you're already really advanced with other 3D software packages, don't expect to understand much in XSI immediately.

Used 3dsmax for almost 2 years now, but XSI is totally different.

Feath, yeah I wonder what's up with that, maybe PC Gamer doesn't have a hands on preview. But PC Zone generally lies about exclusiveness and stuff.

 

[CrazyHarij]

Apparently according to PCZone, there will be some kind of mod-making weekend hoola-balooza.. Will the SDK be released then, does anyone know?