Mods and models

>> Montreal software giant Softimage’s new free download brings 3D animation to the massesct

THE MODDING WORLD: XSI 6 Mod Tool

by ERIK LEIJON

Montreal-based 3D animation software creators Softimage released their XSI 6 Mod Tool software last August with the idea of reaching a whole new clientele. Although the previous XSIs were used in games such as Capcom’s Lost Planet and the cinematic scenes in Assassin’s Creed (they also worked on films such as Jurassic Park), Mod Tool is intended for dull normals who wouldn’t know a render tree from a dope sheet.

“For first-time users, the interface [for a software like this] can be daunting,” says Alexandre Jean Claude, development manager of 3D products for Softimage, speaking at the Montreal International Game Summit last November. “We don’t want newbies to be scratching their heads for the first three days—we want to get people starting in the first five minutes they touch the software.”

A creatively fulfilling and lucrative career in 3D modelling and animation no doubt sounds enticing to anyone with a modicum of artistic ability, but getting into the field isn’t as easy as picking up a pen and doodling. Softimage wanted to kill two birds with one stone and found that by making the stripped down Mod Tool a free download, they could encourage first-timers to give 3D design a whirl and get experienced developers to consider switching to XSI software (which is available in professional versions that vary in cost from $500 to $5,000). Jean Claude points out that it can take a few years before a development team gets fully acclimated to a specific software.

The popularity of mod tools and game modification began with the release of Valve’s first-person shooter for the PC Half-Life in 1998. The company encouraged players to edit and create their own variations of the game with new characters and levels (a process called modding) and spawned popular franchises like Counter-Strike and Team Fortress, which both began as mods.

XSI 6 Mod Tool works directly with Half-Life 2, so anything gamers create using Mod Tool can be imported using the software. Mod Tool also works with XNA, Microsoft’s 2006-released game design software intended for independent developers and hobbyists. Mod Tool was also designed for non-gamers who merely want something professional for their portfolio or to mess around with 3D modelling. As simple as Jean Claude wanted to make Mod Tool, there’s still an extensive tutorial mode featuring videos and exercises since it’s still tough to create something professional-looking.

EASING THE INTERFACE: Alexandre Jean Claude

Jean Claude is proud that importing your completed work of art to a Half-Life mod or an XNA game is a surprisingly painless process. “It detects the project for you,” he says. “You don’t need to worry about where you’re putting your files—it’s all organized for you.”

As is the case with most new software, Mod Tool has had crashing problems since its introduction, but Jean Claude and Softimage have been rigorous in cultivating a strong and helpful online community. Jean Claude himself frequently answers questions from confused users (both new and experienced).

“Obviously we didn’t do everything we wanted for the initial Mod Tool, but it’s an initiative that we want to have regular updates for, so everything we do in the commercial package eventually shows up here,” he says. Future plans include modding possibilities with more games and more tutorial videos.

To download Mod Tool, visit softimage.com/products/modtool/. For help, visit XNA creators’ club at creators.xna.com.