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Sponsored Feature: Interoperability and Autodesk FBX Technology
by Staff [PC, Console/PC, Art]
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April 24, 2008
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In a new Gamasutra sponsored feature, Autodesk explains the specifics of FBX technology, which allows developers to easily transfer motion, cameras, characters, skeletal hierarchies, and more across a wide range of 2D and 3D applications.
As industry veteran and Autodesk evangelist Michel Kripalani explains in the introduction to his piece explaining the technology:
"Being able to move data between applications in a production pipeline that employs multiple tools is crucial to the success of any digital content creation workflow, especially for game developers.
For example, such companies often need to access existing content created with varied versions of their software because their pipelines are standardized on a particular version. To attract top-notch talent some boutique studios offer artists their choice of tools. When a film house collaborates with a game studio, data interoperability enables team members to share assets built with one toolset and repurpose them with another.
Data interoperability also enables production facilities to have artists modeling with one tool and animators working with a different tool that is better suited to the task. With interchange technology like Autodesk FBX, a company that prefers to model and animate characters using one toolset is able to outsource architectural and virtual environments to a company that uses a different toolset.
Managing data in production pipelines is becoming more complex. Autodesk FBX technology offers a solution to these complex interchange challenges. FBX technology makes it easier to transfer all manner of 3D data types across applications; including 3ds Max, Maya, and MotionBuilder software tools, as well as countless proprietary and third-party 2D and 3D tools and plug-ins.
Most major 3D data elements, including motion, cameras, characters, non-polygonal surfaces, and skeletal hierarchies, as well as 2D, audio, and video media elements are supported by FBX technology.
Autodesk includes FBX plug-ins with both 3ds Max and Maya. MotionBuilder is built to support the FBX file format natively. Autodesk offers a free C++ SDK and API. There is a free utility for converting OBJ, DXF™, 3DS, COLLADA, and other file formats to the FBX file format. And an FBX viewer is available as a plug-in to QuickTimeŽ.
The FBX plug-in and SDK deliver unprecedented levels of interoperability. But to take full advantage of this power, you need to be aware of the differences among your 3D applications and to understand how FBX technology helps you solve seemingly insurmountable challenges."
You can now access the full Gamasutra sponsored feature on the subject, including lots more specifics on the Autodesk-promulgated FBX format, and how it's intended to help game development.
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