IMAGICA Corp. has added 15 seats of Autodesk Toxik software to its post-production pipeline, along with training from Autodesk Consulting. Autodesk has also released the first feature extension to the Toxik collaborative visual effects and compositing software. This extension, called Blend and Comp, contains tools that make frequent digital compositing tasks easier.
Artists at DAZ Prods., a developer of professional-quality 3D software and models, have applied state-of-the-art graphics technology from NVIDIA Corp. to the process of illustrating a new book for the holiday season.
Autodesks 3ds Max core software development team will provide two days of intensive training for game developers as part of Autodesk Universitys annual 2005 confab, with a special session presented by strategic partner Intel Corp. Held at the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida, from Nov. 29-30, 2005. The 3ds Max Developers Conference will teach users techniques and practices to customize production pipelines, build MAXScripts, efficiently transfer scene data and take full advantage of the open 3ds Max framework.
e-on software announced the immediate availability of Vue 5 Easel, the new entry level version of its award winning Vue product line. Vue 5 Easel will be retailing at $99 for physical products and $89 for electronic download versions with an introductory price tag of $79. At the same time, e-on software also announces an aggressive price drop on the Esprit product line for a limited period of time.
With the industry still abuzz over the new Autodesk/Alias alliance, VFXWORLD took the opportunity to find out what happens next by interviewing Autodesks Carl Bass and Marc Petit and Alias Doug Walker. You can read today what they have to say about making their 3D software packages more interoperable and how they plan on taking full advantage of the convergence between the entertainment and design worlds.
On the heels of last weeks momentous Alias acquisition, Autodesk Inc. has begun shipping 3ds Max 8, the latest version of its award-winning 3D modeling, animation and rendering solution. Created to address growing 3D pipeline complexity with new data management, character animation and speed/performance advancements, 3ds Max software will better help customers realize their creative 3D ideas for game development, film and video production and design visualization.
DAZ Prods. Inc., a leading developer of professional quality 3D software and models, will host the "Ridiculously Big CG Sale," an exclusive two-week promotion, Oct. 7-22 on the DAZ Prods. website (www.daz3d.com). This promotion offers discounts on products from top industry companies, including: Caligari, Eovia, Right Hemisphere, Strata Software, EVGA, Corel, E-Frontier, e-on software and TheBest3D.com. Starting Oct. 7 at 8:00 am, MT, each of these companies will offer one of their products at a 30-60% discount for one day each to everyone who is a registered member on DAZ's website.
eyeon Software Inc. has started shipping its core compositing application, Fusion 5. Features include: 3D compositions with lights, cameras and primitives, OpenGL acceleration with display views, and an essential change to ASCII files. These, and all of Fusion 5's advanced features, are the result of significant artist feedback.
Avid Technology Inc. announced the worldwide availability of SOFTIMAGE|XSI version 5.0, the latest edition of the companys flagship 3D animation software. Unveiled at the SIGGRAPH tradeshow in August, XSI v.5.0 software includes a wide range of powerful new features, including non-destructive character tools and a comprehensive set of migration tools for Maya users, all of which enable artists to meet todays demanding production deadlines while future-proofing their existing pipelines.
Pipelinefx has signed a reseller agreement with Rahul Commerce to market its enterprise-class render farm management software Qube! Remote Control throughout the Indian animation industry.
Rahul is the leading system integrator in entertainment software technologies in India. Under this agreement, Rahul will market and provide training on Qube! software through its offices in Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.
LookAhead Decisions Inc. (LDI) announced the release of its breakthrough software product for videogames and animation. Locust uses proprietary simulation-based look-ahead methods similar to those used by world-championship chess programs, except it handles in realtime aspects such as uncertainty, complex time/cost tradeoffs and dozens of parallel decision-makers.
Side Effects Software, developer of the award-winning Houdini family of 3D software, has appointed industry veteran Garman Herigstad as production consultant. Herigstad will leverage more than 19 years of experience in 3D animation and vfx at Digital Domain and Sony Pictures Imageworks to provide on-site production and training support to studios using Houdini software.
Side Effects Software offers learning opportunities at its training center within the Santa Monica office for the Fall/Winter 2005. The Houdini 8 Boot Camp is an intensive one-week introduction to Houdini for technical directors with at least 2 years professional experience using production-level 3D software. This intensive hands-on course, providing 30 hours of training over five days, offers a working knowledge of Houdini in production.
e-on software announced the September release of Vue 5 Easel, the new entry-level version of its award winning Vue product line. Vue 5 Easel will sell for $99.
Vue 5 Easel is specifically designed for digital artists and hobbyists looking for a simple introduction to 3D. With a rich and easy-to-use feature set, Vue 5 Easel will let newcomers to 3D create images and animations within minutes.
Going into its 10th year, QuakeCon remains true to its original mission as an event created by gamers, for gamers. Sponsored by id Software and other industry-leading software and hardware manufacturers, QuakeCon continues to be run by a dedicated group of 30 year-round volunteers and more than 200 on-site volunteers. Nearly 6,000 people attended QuakeCon in 2004, and the event has expanded to include QUAKE, QUAKE II, QUAKE III ARENA, QUAKE III: TEAM ARENA, RETURN TO CASTLE WOLFENSTEIN and DOOM 3.
According to leading marketing information provider, Sonys GRAN TURISMO 4 for the PlayStation 2 ranked top in sales for the first half of 2005. The NPD Group also reported retail sales of U.S. console and portable videogames hardware, software and accessories saw an increase of 21% during the first half of 2005 (January June), compared to the same time period last year. The videogames industry saw sales figures rise to more than $4.1 billion in the first half of the year compared to $3.4 billion in the first half of 2004.
With Illuminate Labs set to launch Turtle 2.0 at SIGGRAPH 2005, Xen Wildman provides a sneak peek of its new and improved features.
Children's digital media and publishing company FableVision Inc. extends its educational products offerings with the acquisition of the award-winning GET A CLUE software program from the Core Learning Group Llc as well as the release of its new ESSAY EXPRESS software product.
NaturalMotion Ltd. announced the immediate availability of the companys free endorphin Learning Edition (eLE). Based on the award-winning 3D character animation software endorphin 2.0, the eLE has no time restrictions, includes all relevant product documentation and offers a comprehensive support network via the companys endorphin forum. The software is fully functional; however, it is motion file export disabled and is not to be used for commercial production.
Side Effects Software announced that U.K.-based Vanguard Animation utilized Houdini software to create new levels of realism in the 3D-animated VALIANT, which Disney will release domestically on Aug. 19, 2005.
Key to the believability of this bird-centric world about carrier pigeons in London during World War II was the feather effects needed for virtually all of the characters. In order to create this visual effect, Vanguard selected Houdini software to achieve realistic motion in the feathers while providing an efficient and cost-effective pipeline.
Craig Zerouni looks at the state of CG and wonders if weve reached the end of significant technological breakthroughs in the medium.
Pipelinefx, a leading provider of enterprise server farm management software for 3D animation and interactive entertainment companies, has achieved optimized status in IBMs PartnerWorld Industry Networks program. As a result, Pipelinefx can help customers achieve higher productivity in the production of 3D content and game development for next generation platforms.
Luxology, the creators of modo, a leading subdivision surface and polygonal 3D modeling platform, announced the availability of an enhanced version of modos end-user license agreement, which gives users the right to both Mac and Windows versions when they purchase modo. Luxologys licensing strategy is a natural extension of the companys trusting relationship with customers and commitment to delivering solutions that enable designers to work with greater freedom and speed.
Alias announced its intention at E3 to join the Sony Computer Ent. Inc.'s Tools and Middleware Program for PlayStation 3 (PS3) when it launches in spring of 2006. This will enable Alias to tailor the roadmap for software products such as Maya, Alias MotionBuilder and Alias|HumanIK middleware to the needs of developers working on Sonys PS3 titles. These three Alias products are development musts for the leading current-generation console titles.
Leading game developer and publisher Midway will be using 3ds Max 7.5 to bring new levels of dimensionality and artistic quality to its next generation of game titles.
Midway has been a 3ds Max software customer for years, creating scores of successful game titles, including AREA 51 and the upcoming MORTAL KOMBAT: SHAOLIN MONKS and BLITZ: THE LEAGUE, out of its Chicago, San Diego, Austin and Los Angeles studios. The decision to advance its use of 3ds Max software comes as the company wraps up an intensive review of tools to drive future development.
