Softimage adds behavioral animation. (animation).(Softimage/Behavior )(Brief Article)

Softimage has announced a new behavioral animation system that allows animators to create "intelligent" crowds of 3D characters. The Softimage|Behavior system, which features a direct pipeline to Softimage|XSI, provides users with the ability to quickly choreograph animated crowds of people, animals, or objects that are able to respond "intuitively" to other characters or objects in their environments.

Animators can control each character in a simulation through a combination of graphical editing, scripting, and debugging tools, in addition to a library of predefined behaviors. Characters with unique "brains" can be created, so that each one responds and interacts to its environment in particular ways. The system's integrated character engine also has real-time IK, animation ...