Selma, by Herman Saksono, the selection sets manager, consists of two modules. The Selection Sets floater and the Quadmenu updater. The floater lists all selection sets, plus you can edit, remove, hide anda unhide selection sets by using this floater. The updater put your selection sets into your quadmenu, so if you are working in a large scene with many different objects, you can quickly select them using the quadmenu. Check it out here. PS: The Bonetools script has been updated as well, but it has a new name: Skeletools

Visual Magic Magazine reviews CS 3.0.

Animatek's soon to be released World Builder 3.0 landscape creation tool will sport new communication features that will allow users to eliminate import/export hassles between 3ds max / VIZ and World Builder 3.0 and enable them to share lights, cameras, shadows, reflections, depth and more between both 3D programs dynamically. "AnimaTek WorldBuilder Professional is so closely integrated with Max and Viz that you may consider it as a plug-in for these popular professional packages."
Check out some of WB's animation capabilities (animated trees, plants, grass, waves, etc.) at their movie gallery.

The patch as well as a read-me file can be found at Discreet's website. (more...)

Discreet announced that it is teaming with Microsoft to make its extensive suite of 3D tools available to participants in the Xbox Incubator Program. Starting immediately, Incubator Program members will receive -- at no charge, and for the full term of their membership -- a fully functioning license of 3ds max 4, character studio, and the newly announced reactor physics-simulation extension. (more...)

According to a press release from Discreet, Microsoft is planning to include similar gmax game packs to the ones announced for Flight Simulator 2002 in other simulation titles in the future, including Microsoft Train Simulator and Microsoft Combat Flight Simulator. Discreet has also announced an agreement with Criterion Software that will result in gmax licensors having a direct export path to Criterion's RenderWare Platform game development framework (licensed by game developers such as Interplay, Konami, Activision, etc.).

DV.com has a very favorable review of ReelSmart Twixtor (a plugin for AE, Combustion, Commotion and Final Cut Pro that slows down, speeds up or changes the frame rate of image sequences), and a first look at After Effects 5.0.