Why do ILM sticks with SOFTIMAGE 3D? I think XSI is better.

[Alex]

How come ILM sticks with SOFTIMAGE 3D to do the CG in Star Wars 2? Why not use SOFTIMAGE XSI ? I thought SOFTIMAGE XSI is a newer and better software than SOFTIMAGE 3D.

[Rock]

I don't understand neither. XSI is so much better than 3D but why big company like ILM still use 3D instead of XSI. I have one more question : Do Centro and Menfond use Softiamage XSI ? I heard from many people that Centro and Menfond are only using Softimage 3D. If the answer is "no", then why do we bother to learn XSI if no companies are using it.

[Wolf]

The Softimage that ILM is using isn't the Softimage that you're used to - it's so doctored up by their in-house programmers that it probably works more like Maya The software is also only a screw in their huge production pipeline, which includes many other softwares.

You choose the software to learn not based on how many companies are using it, but based on how it suits your budget and way of working. In fact, in terms of marketability, if a software suits you very well and you can do really fantastic stuff with it, it's all the better that few people are using it because you would have few competitors. That's why I always find it funny that software fanatics try so hard to convert other people to their camps, and unknowingly making more job competitors for themselves.

[Luke Cheung]

I don't know about Menfond but I am sure that Centro used Softimage XSI in Shaolin Soccer. In fact, they used both Softimage 3D and Softimage XSI. For more information, go to www.softimage.com/Community/xsi/mag/cs/ ... Centro.htm

[tdk]

How come ILM sticks with SOFTIMAGE 3D to do the CG in Star Wars 2? Why not use SOFTIMAGE XSI ? I thought SOFTIMAGE XSI is a newer and better software than SOFTIMAGE 3D.

they have developed tons of custom code, in-house program to use with softimage and their production pipeline. beside a well developed production workflow, it's hard for a company that big to change their main software overnight.

also, I doubt you can call it softimage anymore except the interface look the same.

[stantang]

I think Alex is talking about latest StarWars. I believe one of the reasons is XSI's still in beta when they started the project. No one wants to do a major upgrade in a middle of a huge project.

[tdk]

I think Alex is talking about latest StarWars. I believe one of the reasons is XSI's still in beta when they started the project. No one wants to do a major upgrade in a middle of a huge project.

ILM is ALWAYS in the middle of HUGE project.

take a look at this article

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=6011

if you are right, they would NEVER do such a major platform shift (from SGI to intel linux)

as I said (and wolf said), it's because they have customize softimage so much, they have tons of asset and code written specific for softimage, upgrade is not as easy as you might think.

[Wolf]

> upgrade is not as easy as you might think

Nor is it necessary a lot of the time. He he... how many of you have outdone ILM's Softimage work with your XSI work? No, make it: how many of you have outdone the pseudopod sequence in "The Abyss" (done with Alias PowerAnimator version 1, more than 15 years ago) with your (insert latest software here) work? See?

[stantang]

Yes I agree with what TDK said. What I mean is XSI is not really a upgrade for Soft 3D, but more like a brand new program. Plus XSI was in beta when they started Starwars Ep.II. I believe they are introducing it into the pipeline. I think platform shift is a different story since both sgi and linux are unix based. Just my 2 cents. Peace off.

[HapZungLam]

Capcom, Namco, Tecmo, Konami, they all still using soft3D. i forgot their reasons. there is something that they think 3D is better, but i just forgot what is it.

[aj]

大公司不像小公司 可以說換就換 如果公司有 100人 用SOFTIMAGE 3D,
這100人的教育訓練是見可怕的事. 加上他們為了 SOFTIMAGE 3D開發的 PLUG-INS, 要轉換堧體實在不是一件容易的事 Let's wait and see...