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Alias|Wavefront's Maya: Exclusive 3D
Software Behind The Legend of Zelda
Toronto, Canada - December 13, 2002 - Alias|Wavefront, an SGI
(NYSE: SGI) company, today announced that its Maya software was the
exclusive 3D software package used in the development of the highly
anticipated Nintendo game, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker for
Nintendo GameCube, which begins shipping today in Japan. The Legend
of Zelda: The Wind Waker is the first Nintendo game in which the 3D
graphics were created entirely with Maya.
In early previews, game reviewers around the world were astounded by
the graphics quality of Zelda, the latest edition of the game from
the team led by Shigeru Miyamoto, Director & General Manager,
Entertainment Analysis & Development Div., the genius behind
Donkey Kong and Mario. Nintendo GameCube consistently strives
forward in console power, which means creating more content, at new
levels of quality, within production schedules and team sizes that
are the same as in the days of the Nintendo 64 console.
"We're honored that Nintendo has chosen to work with
Alias|Wavefront's Maya 3D tool," said Geoff Foulds, Games
Marketing Manager for Alias|Wavefront. "Nintendo ranks among
the greatest game developers in the world and having Maya as its
exclusive tool is a privilege. The Legend of Zelda on the Nintendo
GameCube has once again created an entirely new vision of the game
experience."
The Legend of Zelda and The Power of Maya
With its robust architecture, and advanced Application Programming
Interface (API) and the Maya Embedded Language™ (MEL), Maya
delivered significant boosts in productivity.
MEL, combined with the ability of Maya to run in batch mode,
automated many of the repetitive tasks and significantly accelerated
art production. The Maya API and MEL made it possible to deliver the
functionality of the multiple tools that had been necessary in the
old production pipeline. "Standardizing on Maya has a further
benefit for the development teams - resources could easily be moved
from one project to another - reducing bottlenecks and further
accelerating production," said Foulds. "Nintendo was able
to work with external sites much more easily, not only elsewhere in
Japan but around the world."
About Alias|Wavefront
As the world's leading innovator of 3D graphics technology,
Alias|Wavefront develops software for the games, film and video,
web, interactive media, industrial design, and visualization
markets.
Games customers include Acclaim Entertainment, Inc., Core Design
Limited, Electronic Arts Inc., Factor 5 LLC, Kodiak Interactive
Software Studios Inc., LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC, Midway
Home Entertainment Inc., Naughty Dog, Inc., Nihilistic Software,
Inc., Nintendo, Rare Ltd., Retro Studios Inc., Sega Corporation,
Single Trac, Sony Computer Entertainment, Square Co., Ltd., Timeline
Studios, Relic Entertainment and Westwood Studios.
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Alias/Wavefront issued press release today noting Maya was the
exclusive 3D software behind The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker on
Nintendo GameCube. "We're honored that Nintendo has chosen to
work with Alias|Wavefront's Maya 3D tool," said Geoff Foulds,
Games Marketing Manager for Alias|Wavefront. "Nintendo ranks
among the greatest game developers in the world and having Maya as
its exclusive tool is a privilege. The Legend of Zelda on the
Nintendo GameCube has once again created an entirely new vision of
the game experience."
