Autodesk today introduced Autodesk Maya LT 2014, a new 3D modeling and animation tool tailored for independent and mobile game developers. Maya LT draws inspiration from the high-end Autodesk Maya software that’s commonly used in console and PC game development to bring an intuitive, affordable new toolset for the creation of professional-grade 3D mobile, PC and web-based game assets.
“We see indie game developers as a key part of the industry, driving innovative new production techniques and gameplay,” said Chris Bradshaw, senior vice president, Autodesk Media & Entertainment.”The market is fiercely competitive, and Maya LT can provide indie developers and small studios with a powerful, yet simplified workflow for designing and animating remarkable 3D characters, environments and props – at a price that fits within even the most modest budget. It’s a practical solution that closely matches the needs of the mobile game development production cycle and helps developers rise above the noise and really shine.”
Maya LT includes support for the Unity 3D Engine and the Unreal® Engine through the FBX file format, and can import and export textures and objects in a variety of formats. Key features are lighting and texture baking, as well as animation tools like a skeleton generator and inverse kinematics..
Perhaps the most important feature is how Autodesk has priced the software. Autodesk Maya LT 2014 is now available for Mac and Windows at a starting price of $795 SRP per perpetual license. Term licenses will also be available as part of a monthly, quarterly or annual rental plan in the near future, starting at $50 SRP, $125 SRP and $400 SRP respectively.
