Wyatt, an attendee of SIGRAPH 2003, sends word that during the show a version of SoftImage XSI was demonstrated that will be freely distributed after the release of Half-Life 2 to serve as a modification tool for the game. According to Wyatt the program will be fully supported by SoftImage and Valve. Also, Valve's Doug Lombardi sends word of plans for another Steam-powered Half-Life 2 movie release today, as well as word on their plans to expand the service:

Valve, creators of Half-Life and Counter-Strike, has partnered with Nvidia, Game-Storm.net, and a host of leading technology companies to deliver high-resolution trailers of the upcoming PC game Half-Life 2 via Steam, a broadband platform for direct software delivery and content management.

"Bugbait," the latest in a series of Half-Life 2 trailers, will be released today. Additional Half-Life 2 trailers, as well as more digital content from Valve, will be delivered to participants of the Steam beta over the coming weeks. Then, later this year, Half-Life 2 will be sold via Steam as well as in retail outlets the world over.

"The delivery of these trailers is just the beginning of several activities and offerings we will be making via Steam with these partners," said Gabe Newell, Valve's co-founder. "Steam will broaden our relationship with companies such as Nvidia, and allow us to extend new offerings and services to our customers in both the current and future generation of our products."