Cpp 64 bit Visual CPP Express(XSISDK)
Using Visual C++ Express to build x64 plug-ins for Softimage
If you want to use the free for non-commercial use Microsoft Visual C++ Express Edition to compile 64-bit plug-ins for Softimage, you should definitely look at "jens' blog" (http://jenshuebel.wordpress.com/2009/02/12/visual-c-2008-express-edition-and-64-bit-targets/)
Before you start however, there are two things to note:
1) You are going to need the Visual C++ Express Edition, obviously (find it here (http://www.microsoft.com/Express/vc/)) and the Windows SDK for it includes the necessary 64-bit tools... (Find it here (http://blogs.msdn.com/windowssdk/archive/2008/02/07/windows-sdk-rtms.aspx))
To configure Visual C++ Express to work with the SDK using use these instructions... (http://blogs.msdn.com/windowssdk/archive/2008/02/22/using-visual-c-2008-express-with-the-windows-sdk-detailed-version.aspx)
2) All the registry-changes that are needed have been "compiled" into one easy batch-file, which you can download from the link given by "Xia Wei" in response 13 to the "jens' blog" item mentioned above, so you don't have to manually do it yourself any more
