The History of Softimage
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 15 сен 2024
- The story of Softimage is the story of a 3D software that did not really find a home except in the hearts of the Artists who used it over the decades to create amazing pieces of artwork.
Softimage was a genius 3D program that was ahead of its time, at one point of its life cycle it reached new heights in the computer-generated images field and became the number one 3D package in the 90s , and despite its limited toolset, it was super-fast to use, with a highly intuitive UI. Softimage was able to get things done quickly and clients loved it . leaving the industry at large trying to integrate its features into their own products.
But from what we know about 3D programs that came and went over the years Softimage probably was the most impressive. Like any 3D program no longer developed Softimage's absence from the industry is sad, but when we evaluate what Softimage managed to accomplish while it was alive, it's hard not to be appreciative of how it went out.
Visit our Website:
inspirationtut...
inspirationTuts 2D Channel:
/ @inspirationtuts2d
inspirationTuts CAD Channel:
/ @inspirationtutscad
RoninBay Channel
/ @roninbay109
Help Us Create More Content:
/ inspirationtuts1
Facebook page
/ inspirationtuts-107526...
Please Visit Inspirationtuts 2 for Tutorials:
/ @inspirationtuts2210
Sources:
The long and lonely death of Softimage (digitalartsonline.co.uk)
Autodesk Acquires Softimage For $35 Million (gamasutra.com)
Softimage final release announcement (autodesk.com)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
**Check out these amazing Courses**
check out the Blender Shortcut Keyboard
logickeyboard....
Also keyboards for Maya, C4D, After effects, Photoshop...
logickeyboard....
Science Fiction Asset Production in Blender
www.yiihuu.cc/...
Blender 2.8 Complete Training
www.yiihuu.cc/...
use a $5 coupon YHCP5
The Dwarf Warrior 3D Character Creation For Game
www.yiihuu.cc/...
use a $20 coupon YHCP20
The Dwarf Warrior II from rigging to animation and engine
www.yiihuu.cc/...
use a $20 coupon YHCP10
Mastering 3D Modeling in Maya
www.yiihuu.cc/...
use a $10 coupon YHCP10
As a 3ds Max user i'm so sad that Softimage died. We need competorship in order to force Autodek to develop their products. I'm very supporting Blender growth, for example.
Me too, but I have to use Maya at work, Maya is very annoying to use.
THERES AN APP CALLED MODO PERTTY GOOD
How it works in reality, is a big company buys a small one, instead of developing their products. Basic capitalism.
auto desk owns almost all the modeling programs.
Yeah it's sad. I thought it was an amazing program.
Thank you for putting this together. Watching this brings back a bitter memory of proudly purchasing a Softimage XSI license, only for the product to be taken over by Autodesk. For smaller shops, things went downhill very quickly after the acquisition. I recall, simple matters like obtaining activation keys after an OS re-install became a nightmare. I still proudly keep my XSI box, manual, installation disks, and training videos. I just can't let go of them. Such an amazing product! There really was a sense of pride in owning an XSI license.
This software still can do some modelling tricks others can't.
Like what?
@@maxxxmodelz4061 Watch Vitaly Bulgarov's youtube video on learn squared channel. He shows His subd modeling techniques. The selection tools+ subd method allows make crazy shapes incredibly easy
@@onurbasak793 I just watched the G.I.T.S. Exclusive Part 2 video. I didn't see anything they were doing in that video with XSI that couldn't be done in Maya, Max or even Blender. I saw typical edge loop and ring selections, some quick loops cuts (which Max has had since around 2009), and the rest was just standard SubD stuff. They used some FFD cage manipulation, which is also possible in other software. It looks great, but it's all stuff that can be done as quick in other packages.
Can you please share a version of it if you have it?
@@abxgajebrvst drop me a message.
My last gamedev project using Softimage was Hyper Void. It was published on PSVR/XBOne. It heavily utilized ICE to simulate most of the in-game effects. It was a lot of fun using Softimage despite some of the bugs in 2015 that ADSK didn't fix.
Thank for the video , I remember ICE feature in the software, that was awesome and was the first Node-Base system I've had ever seen at the time. Rest in peace dear Softimage and don't worry because Blender is alive ;D
Thanks. Your recount was very accurate as far as I recall. It was important that you mentioned the timing of events and how they coincide to bring about the demise of SoftImage. When Bill Gates bought Softimage and ported it to WindowNT, it also toppled SGI. One of the most amazing power moves in the industry.
Thanks for quoting me at the end there! Softimage forever!!
The user interface of the original Softimage 3D and the way you would interact with it was phenomenal.
I have many fond memories of nights spend next to my Iris Indigo. I still have that machine somewhere in storage.
Unfortunately it's not operational anymore.
Year:2020, you can go back in time and STILL DO things we do now, back then almost 20 years ago because it's technology was way ahead of it's time. Facial mocap? Check! PBR -Ultra check..Nodes to procedural effects? ICE, ICE baby too cold, motion retargeting tools... you got it... Hey 2020, so "what's new"?
Real PBR.. 20 years ago.. HAHHAHAHHAHAHA
Why do you lough. PBR. was in the end of 90s ....like a idea...
Next: "The Rise and Fall of Maya" - if they are going at this rate
it should be "The Rise And Fall Of Maya Due to blender"
@@ArtScouts I can tell you AutoDesk is going nowhere given that it's been used by huge studios that currently make billions of dollars. Blender is good for freelancers, thats about it.
@@dannymorales787 Hah! I have a friend who is a great artist and he worked at ILM in California and he told me that even Phil Tippet's Studio is starting to use Blender. Not even considering the fact that Ubisoft talked about switching to Blender 3D exclusively in about 2 years.
@@Ghartanker I take back what I said last month given that Maya has now taken away the free 3 Year education license and made it 1 year instead. This will eventually kill Autodesks community. I do believe that Blender will succeed and ultimately go toe to toe with AutoDesk
@@ArtScouts LMAO!! so delusional..
I still use Softimage to this day. No other software has this amazing tools.
Its true....alltho i use blender.
@@KARAENGVLOG i tried, but it isnt the same thing. Not even close sadly.
hi can you do tutorials how to use softimage
So.....Share it!
@@jefm32 what about Houdini?
Started using softimage creative environment 1.5 in 1989, right the way through to XSI's last release, sadly though with things like redshift you have to stay current so 2 years ago started learning Houdini. I sit in a room full of people who went from XSI to Maya and they are not happy campers.
I do not understand the mindset of "they stopped developing it, so we have to stop using it"
You stop using it when it no longer does what you need it to do ... or you lack the talent to make it do what you want. I still use SI 2012 (and Max 2008 .. yes, 2008!!!) and have never come across a problem that cannot be done quickly and easily in SI
I agree.
I still use 3dsmax5 sometimes simply because it can run in new wine prefixes.
It has NO editable only tools and NO UVW pelt mapping, but it's a test of my maxscript coding skills so I find it a fun challenge :)
My love and my pain.
The problem with XSI was that it was competing with Maya, which was a titan in the industry by the time Autodesk bought it. Very few studios were using XSI outside of a few specialized features like FaceRobot and ICE. Once those two technologies were acquired and could be integrated into Maya or 3dsmax (a form of ICE technology exists right now in 3dsmax called MCG), it just wasn't financially sensible to keep supporting XSI. It's sad, but anyone who was following the industry since the 90s could have seen that one coming miles away. Even before Autodesk purchased it. XSI had one of the smallest userbases of the big CG packages. Even LIghtwave had more studio seats by the time Autodesk got it.
Actually XSI (and CE before that) has been used across the board in the industry, mostly for animation. The problem wasn't that we competed with Maya as such, the problem was that both Alias and Autodesk had a cash cow in the form of CAD software, providing a steady stream of revenue allowing for more R&D investment. Softimage was only developing 3D software (up until it started the Digital Studio effort).
I like lightwave. I have it.
So, Softimage is basically an abandonware..? Anyone can use a patched version and no one can call you a pirate...?
I used Maya personally at the time, and learned 3Ds Max at scool. I always remember launching Softimage for the first time and actually being able to render parts of your scene directly on the window you were modelling in and my mind exploding! It was when they were one of the only using Mental Ray renderer that was deeply integrated. It was such a beautiful program, just didn't get the push it needed with the standard of Maya being used for Film/broadcat and Max for gaming back in the day.
R.I.P. XSI............
I kind of hate that this video says that Softimage was passed around from owner to owner like a hot potato. Avid owned it for 10 years (1998-2008), and that's a huge amount of time in the software industry. We owe the initial development of XSI to Microsoft and the next 10 years of XSI development to Avid.
Silicon Graphics bought Alias and merged it with Wavefront in the 1990s, then sold that a hedge fund in 2004, then sold again to Autodesk in 2006. That looks to me like the same number of owners.
Silicon Graphics bought alias in 1995 in reaction to Microsoft buying Softimage in 1994.
I really don't know that one of my favourite game is made in softimage. Great information.
Me too! Never knew that Legend of Zelda or RE4 was made in SoftImage. Both were game of the year titles. Also, a version of Guilty Gear was made in that software, nobody realized it wasn't 2D. Check out the GDC Conference 2015 for the Guilty Gear presentation. It's amazing.
@@csmemarketing Me too Never knew MGS4 RE4 woow
Still use it
Nice video, so sad Softimage was killed off by the Autodesk virus. Still works fine though, use it every day, so much better then Maya or Max.
I find it unbelievable that there isn't a single video on the internet about how the pre-rendered images of the old RE games were done. No demo video, no explanation, only talks about Softimage 3d but never showing how it was done. Very intriging!
Amazing video with amazing explanation. I love it. Can you please make same amazing video about Lightwave 3D. 3ds Max. Maya. Cinema 4D. Blender. Houdini. Modo. Please Bro. I hope you will make it.
thank you , i am actually thinking about creating a full series of the history of all the Major 3D software over the next few months.
@@InspirationTuts OK, but, just please learn how to read script or hire someone with a bit of experience. :)
Why autodesk doesn’t sell the Softimage to third party or for free community. that beast of software couldn’t be unforgettable , I really love it since the first time what I was use it. I want it come back 😭
Because then it would still be a competition to Max and Maya, that's why they bought to kill it in the first place.
They bought Softimage and Maya to prevent the competition I lived back when Softimage was XSI Softimage and Maya was Alias Maya at those days 3Ds Max had huge competition. It was great days to see each company innovates to bring a better product today only the Open Source Community Blender is innovating with some little companies like side effects Houdini.
RIP Softimage and Daniel Langlois.
best toon shade and ink ever. its gigapolygon core could enable you to load a cityscape on a laptop with 1gig ram and 1.5 ghz cpu (i did).
A few incorrect statements in your video. SI|3D wasn't used, as far as i know, by ILM for Terminator 2. It was first used at ILM for 'Death becomes Her' and then of course for 'Jurassic Park' after that. Also, Softimage was acquired by Avid (from Microsoft) for 285$ millions, not 2.98 millions. (If i recall Microsoft had paid 148$ millions in 94 to acquire Softimage).
You are high on what Microsoft paid for Softimage. In addition, after the acquisition was completed MSFT needed to put about 20% more into the acquisition to fix it.
@@johnmorey5893 after more verification, the amount was actually 130$ millions CANADIAN $. As for investing in a company you just acquired, it is normal, especially that we were acquired to port our software from Silicon Graphics (IRIX) to PCs (Windows) which meant some investment i formation and equipment, and we had to drop our use of Mac stations. The whole operation has been rather profitable for MS, as the port was highly successful (after this, SGI stations were replaced more and more by PCs for 3D animation all over the world), and MS was able to sell Softimage back to Avid at a nifty price just 4 years after. Avid basically bought Softimage to prevent Softimage | DS from taking over some market share for pricey hardware, they really didn't care for the 3D department.
Saw some disturbing news today of the founder of Softimage. RIP.
Thanks for the summary for a fine generation of traumatized Softimage/XSI artists.
I think a major influence on its demise was very poor shaders and generally, the rendering stage felt left out.
Tight mental ray integration didn't help.
When v-ray came along it created a boom, and XSI users begged (this was long before Autodesk) for v-ray to be integrated, but because of tight coupling between mental ray and XSI it probably wasn't easy for them to do.
Also, there were many complaints around missing mental ray shader options in XSI or generally missing mental ray shaders (e.g. MR archviz shaders) initially -- but Maya and Max had them.
This was all very frustrating, and the lesson is the pretty render pictures (especially back then) were a pretty good marketing strategy.
Softimage fell short in this area.
I think you're right. People are quick to blame companies for the program's demise, but Maya was always quick to implement the newest technologies (in part because they were designed for it), and 3dsmax always had robust and flexible plugin compatibility, making them very complete and appealing packages. No wonder XSI fell behind. It was groundbreaking for a time, but became too oldschool in the mid-00's and could never catch up.
So sad. I had a demo disc of softimage xsi, pretty dam cool. I also had a demo disk of 3ds max and g max.
I was moving and I found a DVD of my xsi software I bought in 2002 for $200.. Still brand new. How can I find my license? I would love to use it.
Would you be able to upload the installer for the sake of archiving/preservation? As for license i am not sure if its still going to work, depends if it needs online activation.
@@highflex370
Upload it where? You mean can install XSI on my computer 🖥? Yes, I can.
@@tempstep4058 he means using ImgBurn to create an .ISO of the disc and then uploading it to the internet to share
@@nonsensicalfox
I am have a copy of Autodesk Softimage Mod Tool 7.5 32 bit
It is the same...?
I used xsi for 17 years. (Until in arch visualization)...its number one in every thing.....I try 3dmax....its stupid software it's like maze....many chaos....I plane to go to blender....
For 3dmax users there is little feature in xsi called model and model instance ... Equal each 3dmax app 🤣
I still own my copy of Softimage 2015 but now I am switching to Blender 3D. GO FOR BLENDER! I used to say that Blender was worthless, but now it's a completely different picture with the release of version 2.8!!! I'm loving it more and more. The only main things missing in Blender is the Softimage's ICE environment. I am starting to feel the vibe again that we will see something great. I will never forget Softimage! It was what motivated to try to work with 3D softwares. But I tell you, Blender feels like it is from the same excentric wonderfull family!
Peace and keep learning! Go have fun!!!
8:02 Thats obviously what happened... Fair enought, Autodesk bought it, if it wants to tear it up its theyr business. Softimage is a masterpiece, one of the greatest softwares ever to be build.
I really miss XSI sometimes
Some features from Softimage are integrated into 3DSMAX. So, 3DSMAX and Maya today will be nothing special if Autodesk not acquire Softimage in that time. So kinda we should thanks to Softimage. Even now Softimage have features that 3DSMAX and Maya don't have, this proves that Softimage is very solid and professional software build specially for the industry.
I started using it in 1997 and still using it today. Best 3d software ever.
man you are lucky. Is there a way to get it?
@@pierregagne1998 ohhh. So the software crack is unsafe now right? I am using c4d lol. You know another modeling software except autodesk cause I dont trust them.
@@pierregagne1998 ik blender is good but I like c4d better.
@@pierregagne1998 thanks a lot.
03:55 Ahhhh Psygnosis
Autodesk is the reverse hand of midas. Everything They touch becomes sewer
Autodesk: I am INEVITABLE...
*Click*
Developers: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!
This is nothing but a dam shame, with Autodesk having treated it the way it was, the best thing they could have done was make it go Free and Open Source in the end to compete with Blender, they don't want to put money into keep it alive, well give it to those who will, Blender can use some competition in the FOSS world, and competition is good even for free open source software
Hummm, now that you mention it, maybe it could become a card Autodesk would use at some point to screw Blender over (wishfull thinking immediately followed by a huge Yeah...right!)
rest in peace...............
Great video!
i used this software before but the hard part is waiting for rendering.
they used this for resident evil 4? no way!
Softimage XSI is better than 3DS max 2021 and Maya 2021 combined.
@Mee Omi Yes, because the UI was well planned and designed.
Softimage had something the the others did not : a soul
coming into 2022 I'm still a dedicated user and refuse to change.... to hell with autodesk and there slapped together products comprised of bits and bobs from everyone elses software.
They used Softimage for Final Fantasy XIII too.
lesson is don't be a fan boy and learn to create art and not be an tool
GO PIRATE SOFTIMAGE (V.1997) BETA 2 RIGHT NOW STAY AWAY FROM BLENDER, UNITY AND ALL THESE NEW PROGRAMS. ARCHIVE IT STORE IT ON A HARD DRIVE SOMEWHERE
that is not the point. if u stay away from the new ones. the new ones will fall and autodesk will buy them too so they dont have competition.
But why Blender?
RE4 was also made in Maya
3:33 Is that Gabe?
No, it's Brad
1:49 Softimage developement started in 1996 ??? I think you meant 1986 cause in 1993 Softimage was already used extensively in Jurassic Park.
i don't know why but i like more sofimage than maya and 3ds i've tried all 3ds software and nothing was like softimage and blender
Soft image was papular in japan
Eeeeh didn't Jurassic Park utilize Alias in combination with analog armatures, and not Softimage??
It was 100% Softimage and nothing else
What is better - Lightwave or Softimage? :-)
Actually, a number of studios have used both. They use Softimage for animating the scene, then passing it into Lightwave for rendering. For example, the Mark I scene in Iron Man.
Fuck autodesk
Jurassik Park and Titanic was created in LIghtwave 3D!
www.businessinsider.com/how-cgi-works-in-jurassic-park-2014-7
Autodesk Killed Softimage
why Autodesk did not make Softimage free and open-source software like Blender?
The interface of this software stresses me for some reason. It looks nothing like Rhino or Blender, and I find it confusing.
Using it with 90s hardware seems a nightmare for someone in the late 2010s, and to me it makes it all the more impressive what they could accomplish with it.
mmh sorry but Softimage is straightforward and easy to learn maybe except ICE ;)
It is because you haven't used the software that was available at the time (end of 80s, early 90s). The first generation of Softimage was seen as a revelation to many, you could do modeling, animation, texturing and rendering in a single easy-ti-use package. All these tasks at the time used to require different packages, loads of file conversion, and some didn
Yeah, at first it seems very rigid and in a sense intimidating, because you don't have all the toolbars and icons you usually got accustomed to. But once you start using it feels very natural. It's one of those 'wait, why aren't we funding this' moments. Blender UI (new) has a similar feel.
There will always be 2 sides in a story, and makes me wonder why didn't Autodesk killed Maya when they bought Softimage?, I mean if it was that really competitive to Maya? it is easy for them to switch softwares that has potential and what was the purpose of this video, it happened a very very long time ago?, It makes you wonder? i guess there really is 2 sides in every story?
Because they don't care which software is better but instead which one sells more and Maya had a much bigger userbase.
OK
X-ass-i :D
"SOF IMOJ"