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Metrowerks and Xoreax Collaborate to Speed Console Game Development

Posted on: Thursday, 10 March 2005, 15:00 CST

Agreement Adds Distributed Compilation Capabilities To CodeWarrior(TM) Offerings Targeting Sony Computer Entertainment's "PlayStation(R)2" and Nintendo's GameCube(TM) Platforms

An exclusive agreement between Freescale Semiconductor's Metrowerks organization and Xoreax Software promises dramatically faster game development for titles designed to run on popular console gaming platforms from Sony Computer Entertainment and Nintendo.

Metrowerks plans to integrate Xoreax's IncrediBuild(TM) development tool with the award-winning line of CodeWarrior(TM) development studios for Sony Computer Entertainment's "PlayStation(R)2" and Nintendo's GameCube(TM) platforms. The integration provides the communities of Sony Computer Entertainment and Nintendo console game developers with access to IncrediBuild distributed code compilation technology for the first time ever.

Distributed compilation technology assigns tasks across available machines in a development team's network -- thereby reducing code compile time to a fraction of its original duration. While traditional compiling techniques utilize only the resources of the host PC, distributed compiling harnesses the collective CPU cycles of an organization's entire collection of computers.

"IncrediBuild's distributed compiling technology increased our compilation productivity by a factor of ten for our PC-based games, and we are thrilled at the prospect of using IncrediBuild technology within the CodeWarrior environment to create games for the 'PlayStation(R)2' platform," said Clinton Keith, technical director for Darkwatch. "This integration shows that Metrowerks and Xoreax recognize and respond to their customers' needs."

The collaboration is made possible by an exclusive 6-month reseller agreement whereby IncrediBuild technology is available for Sony Computer Entertainment's "PlayStation(R)2" and Nintendo's GameCube(TM) platforms only from Metrowerks and Xoreax.

"Xoreax's console game development customers have reported compile builds up to 600 percent faster than traditional methods, and initial tests indicate that CodeWarrior customers can expect even better performance," said Uri Mishol, marketing director for Xoreax Software Ltd. "Xoreax is excited to collaborate with Metrowerks to help speed game creation for developers targeting the 'PlayStation(R)2' and Nintendo GameCube(TM) platforms."

"As the game creation process has grown more complex, our customers have increasingly asked for distributed compilation technology," said Roger Edgar, Games marketing director for Metrowerks. "Many of our customers are familiar with IncrediBuild from developing PC-based games. They wanted that same award winning functionality within the CodeWarrior environment, and we are happy to work with Xoreax to meet this demand."

Integration of CodeWarrior and IncrediBuild is expected to be available initially via the .NET interface, and support for other common protocols is planned. Availability of integrated solutions for the "PlayStation(R)2" and Nintendo GameCube(TM) platforms is scheduled for late Q2 2005.

Metrowerks creates CodeWarrior software and hardware products and services for developers, with a particular focus on the following industries: consumer electronics; transportation; wireless; and networking and communications. The CodeWarrior product line includes development tools and middleware that enable customers to decrease their time to market. Metrowerks also offers services including training and custom software engineering. http://www.metrowerks.com/.

About Xoreax Software

Xoreax Software creates IncrediBuild, an award-winning software development tool that cuts down software code build times by up to 90 percent. Based on Xoreax's unique distributed processing technology, IncrediBuild has made it possible for hundreds of software houses to adopt a rapid, dynamic and more productive development methodology. Xoreax Software is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. For more information, visit http://www.xoreax.com.

About Freescale Semiconductor

Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NYSE:FSL)(NYSE:FSL.B) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of embedded semiconductors for the automotive, consumer, industrial, networking and wireless markets. Freescale became a publicly traded company in July 2004 after more than 50 years as part of Motorola, Inc. The company is based in Austin, Texas, and has design, research and development, manufacturing or sales operations in more than 30 countries. Freescale, a member of the S&P 500(R), is one of the world's largest semiconductor companies with 2004 sales of $5.7 billion (US). www.freescale.com

Metrowerks and CodeWarrior are trademarks of Metrowerks Corp in the U.S. and other countries. "PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Nintendo GameCube is a trademark of Nintendo. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners.

Freescale(TM) and the Freescale logo are trademarks of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. (C) Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. 2005.

Source: Business Wire

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