GDC 2012 has opened the call for submissions through October 31 for the show's specialized Summits, revealing new Games For Changeand Game IT Summits for the March 2012 event. Games for Change @ GDC is an event hosted in partnership with the Games for Change non-profit organization, which facilitates the creation and distribution of games that exist for humanitarian or educational purposes.
The latter Game IT Summit is a daylong event, curated by notables such as Jane McGonigal, Ian Bogost and Ben Sawyer, that explores how video games can be used to tackle common organizational goals, encouraging discussions about the link between games and the technology-oriented practices used by today's forward-thinking organizations.
With these two new additions, GDC 2012 will now host eight unique Summits, with the remaining Summits including the AI Summit, the Localization Summit, the GDC Education Summit, the Independent Games Summit, the Smartphone & Tablet Games Summit, and the Social & Online Games Summit
more information on submission guidelines, restrictions here!
Evermotion has unveiled the next collection - Archmodels vol. 102 includes 82 highly detailed models of clothes, shoes, caps, carpets and wardrobes, all with textures, shaders and materials. It is ready to use, just put it into your scene.
With 3 cover scenes included with all models, materials, lighting and scene setup. All scenes are prepared for vray 1.5 with 3dsmax 2008
Download Evermotion Archmodels vol. 102
Autodesk announced the Autodesk Maya 2012 Subscription Advantage Pack and Service Pack are now available for download
Features of Subscription Advantage Pack: Alembic ( an OpenSource project from Sony Pictures Imageworks and LucasFilm ) point caching—Efficiently manage complex simulated and animated data, with the ability to read and write Alembic open computer graphics interchange format. Bullet Physics—Create highly realistic soft body, rigid body, and ragdoll simulations with high-performance open source AMD Bullet Physics engine. New Node Editor—Manage and debug complex node networks with a new Node Editor that features drag-and-drop connections, color coding, and three levels of detail. Download here!
Chaosgroup has unveiled V-Ray for Softimage Public Beta Testing Program with support Softimage 7 – 2012 (64-bit supported on all platforms)
V-Ray for Softimage is the fifth product in the Chaos Group portfolio covering platforms from Autodesk 3ds Max and Maya to Rhino and SketchUp
V-Ray for Softimage now supports all major Softimage features and comes with ICE support, animated parameters, strong render tree support, weightmaps and Sun & Sky functionality.
video courtesy LemonGood
Softimage supported features• ICE support support - render geometry produced by the award-winning Softimage ICE system, including particles, strands, hair, ICE-managed color arithmetic, all fully animated
• Animated parameters - V-Ray will efficiently render Softimage objects with animated parameters and an arbitrary number of keyframes. All geometry modifications and many color-oriented animatable parameters are supported
• Strong render tree support - V-Ray supports dozens of the procedural shader node types for the Softimage render tree, and new ones are added on a regular basis and made available through service packs
• Weightmaps - apply transformations to geometry or color attributes of a scene on a per-vertex basis with full support for Softimage weightmaps
• V-Ray Sun and Sky - create realistic outdoor scenes with physically accurate lighting and atmosphere effects, while maintaining control over rendering times V-Ray supported features
Shading
• Support for efficient material layering
• VRayCarPaintMtl
• Support for PTex textures
• V-RayToon shader
• Support for dispersion in refractions for VRayMtl
Lights
• Physically accurate lights
• Efficient illumination from HDR environments
Camera
• Lens distortion through Nuke displacement maps
• Option to turn off camera motion blur
• Shutter efficiency for motion blur
Render output
• Support for additional render elements
• Output of multi-channel scanline OpenEXR files with data-window
Effects
• Depth of field with bokeh effects
• Accurate motion blur
Scene translator
• Support for .vrscene output for rendering with V-Ray Standalone
To be a beta tester please use this form!
More information here!
a graphic designer from Appleton, Wisconsin, USA - Mike Winkelmann (a.k.a Beeple)has shared: Cinema 4D project file:fleer.ultra video: beeple / music: Thundercat - "Fleer Ultra" Download here!
Ari Sachter-Zeltzer talks about how he used Cebas thinkingParticles and finalRender to create the main title sequence for John Carpenter’s recent film, “The Ward” at Shadowplay Studio Read the interview here! Credits:
Title Designers - Gareth Smith & Jenny Lee
CG Supervisor - Ari Sachter-Zeltzer
Visual Effects artist - David Glicksman
Still Photographer - Terence Heuston
Assistant Art Director - Sean Starkweather
Additional Research/Still Shoot Producer - Tina Chiang
The 3DS Max 2012 subscription advantage pack is now available to download for subscribers.
Features :
- Render pass system—Segment your scene for downstream compositing with an entirely new render pass system that features a visual interface.
- After Effects and Photoshop interoperability—Enjoy significantly enhanced interoperability with Adobe After Effects and Adobe Photoshop software.
- ActiveShade for iray— Experience a truly iterative creative process for finalizing renderings with new ActiveShade support for the iray renderer from mental images.
- .NET Exposure of 3DS Max SDK—Take advantage of .NET enabled languages to extend and customize certain features of 3DS Max.
The Max 2012 online reference manual has been updated with documentation covering some of the new features here! Download Subscription Advantage Packs for Autodesk 3ds Max 2012 and 3ds Max Design 2012 here!
(Venice, California--September 26, 2011) For the new Gears of War 3 spot "Dust to Dust," Epic Games, Director Adam Berg and digital production studio Digital Domain created an all-CG spot using an innovative virtual production technique that gave Berg complete camera control to shoot the spot like live action and deliver a cinematic showpiece for the trilogy’s final chapter – a single time-lapsed take that traverses all three Gears of War (GOW) worlds.
"Gears of War 3," the latest installment of the blockbuster franchise for the Microsoft Xbox 360, became available September 20. The new :60 second spot, which premiered on machinima.com September 1.
Digital Domain has been a digital production partner to twofifteenmccann on all five commercials for the GOW franchise. Working with the agency and Berg (via Smuggler Films), Digital Domain VFX Supervisor Vernon Wilbert (who directed the GOW3 trailer “Ashes to Ashes”) devised a production process for wrapping the storylines of all four previous trailers into a single time-lapse story and realizing Berg’s vision of a single-take feel from a hand-held camera. The result is a seamless first person experience of being alongside protagonist Marcus Fenix in GOW1 as the Locusts emerge, battling the Horde in GOW2’s Jacinto City when the flood surges in, and facing up to a horrifying new enemy in the opening of GOW3.
To begin the production process, Digital Domain first tapped Epic Games’ library for 3D assets from all three games, then re-rendered them to create preliminary pre-vis. Then, working in Digital Domain’s new virtual production studio in Marina del Rey, Wilbert and his team provided Berg with the pre-vis and a virtual camera so he was able to go onto the stage and direct the movement of CG sets and motion-capture actors in real-time. As Berg moved his camera around, a pre-vis artist repositioned set pieces and built the set in real time, according to what Berg wanted to shoot.
Wilbert explained, “Adam was trying to get an angle shooting down the escalators, for example, and we were able to rotate them until he was comfortable where it should be. When Fenix jumped down the escalator into the Badlands, Adam was able to tell us where he wanted the helicopter placed – 10 feet away? 30? And we’d put it there – all in a matter of seconds.”
“Doing CG and traditional pre-vis usually means being two steps removed from the action,” said Tom Wright, Director of Integrated Production at twofifteenmccann. “You’re standing at a workstation asking someone, ‘Can we move that there?’ Can we try this with the camera?’ What Digital Domain set up was entirely different. Adam was able to get on set and see the framing for every shot, and more importantly, to manipulate it in real time, like shooting live action. It allowed the process to be about filmmaking, and not just moving things around in the computer.”
Unlike live action, the flexible virtual production process enabled Berg to shoot from any perspective he could imagine, without the need for cranes, jibs or dollys, instantly. And unlike traditional pre-vis where only one or two set changes can be accommodated in the typical 2-week period, Digital Domain was able to make 12 changes to the set and more in the camera in just one day of on-set virtual production with Berg driving.
On the creative front, Vernon and his team also applied their artistry to the complex challenges of time-lapse. “Typically when you use time-lapse the camera is still or fluid. What we’ve done is a hybrid – you see the staccato nature of the action, and we added trees and buildings that disappear over time, and had things shrink, decay and darken,” said Wilbert. Digital Domain also created the sophisticated fluid effects in the Jacinto City flood segment.
“Virtual production emerged in the feature film world because it gives directors more options, more flexibility, and ultimately more choices for creating exactly what they have in mind,” said Ed Ulbrich, EVP of Digital Domain and President of Mothership. “Extending these capabilities to games and advertising is a logical evolution and the techniques are ideally suited to the project timelines and budgets of commercial production.”
About Digital Domain
Digital production company Digital Domain was founded in 1993. The company has created visuals for more than 80 movies, including Titanic, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and TRON: Legacy and hundreds of commercials. Its artists have earned multiple Academy Awards®. Digital Domain recently completed visual effects for Thor and Transformers: Dark of the Moon and is in production on Real Steel, Jack the Giant Killer, 47 Ronin and a full slate of commercials. Digital Domain is headquartered in Venice, California with studios in Vancouver, San Francisco and Florida. http://www.digitaldomain.com
CREDITS
Directed by: Adam Berg (via Smuggler)
Agency: twofitteenmccann
Scott Duchon: Chief Creative Officer
Mat Bunnell: Associate Creative Director
Steve Couture: Associate Creative Director
Jeremy Diessner: Art Director
Nicole Clainos: Copywriter
Tom Wright: Executive Producer
Chris Weldon: Producer
Eric Rasco: Producer
Peter Goldstein: Account Director
Luke Lamson: Account Management Supervisor
Stephanie Scott: Account Executive
Production Company: Smuggler
Adam Berg: Director
Lisa Rich: Executive Producer
Patrick Milling Smith: Executive Producer
Brian Carmody: Executive Producer
Production, Animation, Mocap, Editorial & Visual Effects by: DIGITAL DOMAIN
Ed Ulbrich: President, Commercial Division; Executive Vice President
Tanya Cohen: Executive Producer
Vernon Wilbert, Jr: Visual Effects Supervisor
Melanie La Rue: Senior Producer
Chris Fieldhouse: Producer
Richard Morton: CG Supervisor
William Lemmon: Coordinator
Todd Miller: Editor
Zach Christian: Matte Painter
Cody Williams: Motion Graphics Artist
Niles Heckman: Previs Artist
Derek Crosby: Technical Director
Adrian Dimond: Technical Director; Rigger
Ryan Apuy: Digital Artist
Lee Carlton: Digital Artist
Daisuke Nagae: Digital Artist
Dave Carlson: Digital Artist
David Liu: Digital Artist
Desiree Lundsferd: Digital Artist
Rick Glenn: Lead Animator
Kevin Culhane: Animator
Scott Kravtiz: Animator
Jason Mortimer: Lead FX Artist
Ken Jones: FX Artist
Adrian Graham: FX Artist
Rafael F. Colón: Lead Nuke Compositor
Aruna Inversin: Nuke Compositor
Soyoun Lee: Nuke Compositor
Jeff Heusser: Flame Artist
Gary Roberts: Virtual Production Supervisor
Gaby Rios: Mocap Production Supervisor
Damon Shelton: Sr. Mocap Pipeline Engineer
April Warren: Lab Supervisor
Alia Dong-Stewart: Mocap Artist
Ronaldo Benaraw: Mocap Artist
Ryan Beagan: Mocap Artist
Steve Madonna: Manager, Systems Admin
Jenn Grundstad: Production Assistant
Music: Mazzy Star “Into Dust”
Sound Design: Skywalker Sound
Randy Thom: Supervising Sound Designer
Randy Thom: Re-recording Mixer
Leff Lefferts: Re-recording Mixer
Mac Smith: Supervising Sound Editor
Steve Boeddeker: Sound Effects Editor
Sean England: Foley Artist
Ronni Brown: Foley Artist
Tony Eckert: Foley Mixer
Corey Tyler: Foley Recordist
Mix: Lime Studios
Joel Waters: Mixer
Menno Dijkstra- FX TD at Double Negative has shown his FX Showreel 2011 . Check it out!
Check out Autodesk Mudbox Subscription Advantage Pack 2012 new features video. US English for global localization.
Rockstar Games launched Its Max Payne 3 First Trailer Presenting the annotated version of the recently released first trailer for Max Payne 3 - highlighting many of the things you glimpsed in the video, now illuminated by some new details being revealed for the first time
Including first information on game characters like Raul Passos, the Comando Sombra gang, and early details on Max Payne 3's weapons, melee, cover, physics, the long-awaited return of Bullet Time® and more...
Boston, MA – September 26, 2011 – Robert MacLeod, President, Neoscape, has announced the promotions of Rodrigo Lopez and Ryan Cohen to Chief Creative Officer and Principal, respectively.
“Rodrigo and Ryan are passionate leaders and demonstrate an unwavering commitment to this studio,” said MacLeod. “They inspire greatness from their teams and drive innovative marketing solutions that create tangible, effective results for our clients.”
Rodrigo Lopez, Chief Creative Officer, Principal
Ryan Cohen, Principal, NYC Studio Director
About Neoscape
Neoscape is a creative agency for the built environment, helping the real estate industry visualize and effectively market new developments. Headquartered in Boston with a growing New York office, we are a group of artists, filmmakers, designers and consultants who love the expression of architecture and environmental design. We support these movements with valuable stories and elegant imagery that communicate the next generation of development and design. Our toolset is based on 3D, film and photography, design and branding, interactive applications and sales environments—and we constantly explore emerging techniques and technologies to bring the freshest approach to our stories. Our goal is to create meaningful and memorable experiences for our audiences to better understand the un-built environment. More information please go to their Website:http://www.neoscape.com/
In this review article SandroS will show us how to do Importing, Materials, Browsing, IBL, Instancing, Interactive Rendering, Tone Mapping, Relight and Repainting all work in a render engine developed by Solid Iris Technologies - Thea Render v1.1
Check out the article here!
Autodesk has just released another Service Pack for 3DS Max/Design 2012 with 87 fixes to issues reported through Autodesk Support or their CER system, including bugs related to CAT, Nitrous viewports, MassFX and Iray
Download here!
Pixolator has unveiled ZBrush 4R2 and also announced that ZBrush 5 ( with 64 bit versions of ZBrush for Mac and Windows operating systems) is coming. More information here!
This tutorial series will introduce you to a relatively new option that combines the use of both mr Proxy Objects and Object Paint in 3ds Max Design 2011. Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
TORONTO -- Side Effects Software, an industry leader in 3D animation and visual effects is pleased to announce a promotion for first-time users of their Houdini software. VFX, commercial and game studios looking for a new level of flexibility and control can now save money while enjoying the benefits of Houdini’s procedural node-based workflow.
The Houdini First-Timer promo includes either a workstation or network license of Houdini Master and one year on the Annual Upgrade Plan. This promotion is for freelance artists and studios that have never owned Houdini before, is limited to 2 licenses per studio and must be purchased within the month of October.
“Right from the get go, Houdini became a valuable part of our production environment,” says Yanick Wilisky, Executive VFX Supervisor and Co-Founder of ModusFX. “It lets us achieve high-end VFX in film projects such as “Source Code” and "Immortals" and the workflow eases the creative approach to shots and assets. With Houdini as our primary VFX and Simulation package, we know that we can offer our customers top-of-the-line quality today while achieving even greater results in the future.”
Houdini Master applies a node-based procedural approach to creating high-end VFX, environment modeling, animation, lighting and rendering. The Annual Upgrade Plan lets studios maximize their investment in Houdini with production-level technical support, access to online daily builds and early access to our upcoming Houdini 12 release. Houdini Master is available for Mac OSX, Windows and LINUX systems.
In October, Side Effects is holding free webinars for artists interested in using Houdini for the first-time. The “Going Procedural” webinar introduces animation and VFX studios to the possibilities of this new way of working while “Houdini in Games” introduces game studios to Houdini’s node-based approach. Join a webinar and learn how, even as a first-timer, you can be productive with Houdini. Visit www.sidefx.com/webinars to register.
To take advantage of this great opportunity, studios can visit www.sidefx.com/first-timer or email Side Effects at first-timer@sidefx.com.
About Side Effects Software
Established in 1987, Side Effects Software is a world leader in the development of advanced 3D animation and special effects software for use in film, commercials and video games. Side Effects Software leads the field of procedural animation with its unique, award-winning Houdini technology. Houdini is used by numerous digital content creation leaders including: Disney Feature Animation, Double Negative, Framestore-CFC, Guerilla Games, EA, The Mill, Method Studios, Digital Domain, Rhythm and Hues, and Sony Pictures Imageworks amongst others.
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Sept. 21, 2011 – A new video-based course structured for beginning modo® 501 users is now available through lynda.com, offering a quick on-ramp to proficiency with modo's modeling tools, Shader Tree and ultra-intuitive workflow. For more information, please visit http://www.lynda.com/Modo-501-tutorials/Essential-Training/83741-2.html.
The seven-and-a-half-hour course, “modo 501 Essential Training,” is taught by Dan Ablan, a devoted modo user and president of Chicago-based AGA Digital Studios, Inc. In the course, Ablan demonstrates key skills such as how to model using both polygons and subdivision surfaces, and how to apply materials with the Shader Tree. After the basics, he sets up scenes with a variety of objects and animates them using keyframes, while editing their motion in the Graph Editor. The class also delves into lighting for product shots, environmental lighting and volumetric lighting. It concludes with rendering techniques for various playback media.
About modo
modo is an innovative 3D modeling, painting and rendering software designed to accelerate the creation of world-class designs and ultra high-quality renderings. modo’s modern workflow and advanced toolset easily deliver enhanced productivity for professionals and schools working in design visualization, package design, film/broadcast and graphic arts. A favorite tool among many designers and artists, modo's innovative toolset offers one of the fastest paths to 3D content creation on the PC and Mac.
About Luxology
Based in Mountain View, Calif., Luxology® LLC is an independent technology company developing next-generation 3D content creation software that enhances productivity via artist-friendly tools powered by a modern underlying architecture called Nexus®. Founded in 2002 by Allen Hastings, Stuart Ferguson and Brad Peebler, Luxology is home to some of the top 3D engineering expertise in the industry. More information on the company, its licensable Nexus technology, its flagship product modo and a gallery of artists' images from the active modo community is available online at www.luxology.com.
About lynda.com
lynda.com is an online subscription library that teaches the latest software tools and skills through premium instructional videos featuring recognized industry experts. Members have 24/7 access to comprehensive training in 3D, video, business, photography, web design, graphic design, and more to help people better understand and maximize their software. With over one million individual, corporate, academic and government subscribers, lynda.com has recently been ranked the 13th fastest-growing, privately-held education company in the U.S. by Inc. magazine.
A Quick Tip to connect sound with Thinking Particles by Derya Öztürk
Petah, Tikva Israel and Draper, Utah – September 20, 2011 – 2D/3D CAD software leader OptiTex, and DAZ 3D, a leading developer of professional quality 3D models and software, are pleased to announce a new Dynamic Cloth Engine plug-in for Mac OS and a coinciding upgrade to the OptiTex Windows plug-in, which now enables it to support 64-bit architecture.
Enhancing the existing capabilities of DAZ Studio 4, OptiTex’s virtual clothing solution allows anyone to load in a DAZ 3D figure of their choice and apply dynamic clothing sets to them. With this tool, creativity can be brought to life through real-world cloth simulations and a user’s ability to quickly alter any clothing’s fabric type, garment size, or stylistic variation. Mac users, in particular, have awaited this new release with great anticipation; a testament to the quality-first focus that has been a boon to the 3D community ever since DAZ 3D and OptiTex joined forces four years ago.
"We're very excited that 3D artists and animators of all backgrounds can now take full advantage of their hardware any time they combine OptiTex’s dynamic clothing engine with our 3D software tools," says Dan Farr, founder of DAZ 3D.
Since the vast majority of new personal computers come standard with 64-bit Windows 7 or Mac OS X, accessing the power of a 64-bit computing is essential to maximizing the DAZ 3D Studio 4 package. Thanks to the newly upgraded OptiTex software and the proprietary OptiTex physics engine, DAZ 3D software can now fully utilize all 64-bit hardware for better performance on both platforms.
“This new Mac version of the OptiTex dynamic clothing plug-in for DAZ Studio will allow users, both new and old, to have great experiences with clothing sets. OptiTex is fully committed to giving game developers, animators and illustrators an opportunity to enjoy these advanced technologies,” says Ran Machtinger, CEO of OptiTex.
Available for free download, DAZ Studio provides an ideal solution for budding 3D artists as well as professional 3D designers, photographers, filmmakers, animators and illustrators. With the addition of this new dynamic clothing plugin, users can work with virtual actors to create images and animations of any genre with a level of realism that was previously unavailable to the general public.
About DAZ 3DTM
Based in Draper, Utah, DAZ 3D is the leading publisher of personalized 3D digital characters, software and accessories for creative professionals and 3D enthusiasts. Known for its large catalog of inter-operable and versatile 3D models and accessories, DAZ 3D is a growing technology company focused on developing next-generation 3D models and supporting tools. Founded in 2000, DAZ 3D provides a central solution to create, customize and share professional quality digital creations. More information on the company, its 3D catalog and tools, is available online at www.daz3d.com.
About OptiTex
OptiTex develops innovative, user-friendly 2D and 3D CAD solutions for all cut-fabric and fashion-related industries. OptiTex solutions are designed to facilitate collaboration among partners throughout the manufacturing process. OptiTex is also active in e-commerce, providing online sales tools to promote branding and customer loyalty. As the industry standard, OptiTex is a cornerstone of design training with installations in universities and educational centers worldwide. OptiTex products are sold and supported around the world through certified distributors and OEMs. For more information visit www.optitex.com
Following the success of several recent live performance projection mapping projects, Leviathan again partnered with VJ Vello Virkhaus...this time for hip hop artist Drake’s much-hyped OVO show in Toronto. The stage’s structural set consisted of gigantic columns with retractable scrims, upon which a barrage of animated type, colorful patterns and ambient effects were projected. To highlight performances by musical guest Stevie Wonder, the team utilized a Kinect sensor to capture a surreal point-cloud avatar of the artist, which was projected live on the set to an astounded audience.
Chaosgroup has launched The Official V-Ray Demo Reel 2011 - Architectural Industry. Let's check it out! Credits: /in alphabetical order/
ARC MediaFocus 360
Atomic 3D
Aurora Visuals
Blink Image
Cadman
Focus 360
FoundationCGI
Industioromantik
Lichtecht
Lightfeel
Motion Farm
Motyw
Neoscape
Squint/Opera
Original Music by Peter Samnaliev /Gravity Co./
French Vfx Artist - Kendy shared us his shortfilm “Shutdown”. Check it out! 
Inspired by the world of Deus Ex
With A.Glose
Voice by Mireille Antoine
Direction/Shoot/Edit/Colorgrade/VFX/Motion design & Sound design by Kendy
Music by Danny Elfman/Salvation
Taken with a Canon 550d/Sigma 30mm 1.4
No steady cam, no rig.
Exocortex, in collaboration with Helge Mathee, announce that Momentum 3.0, the ultimate high speed multi-physics simulator, is now immediately available for Autodesk Softimage 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Exocortex Momentum 3.0, because it relies on the industrial strength Bullet physics framework, provides robust support for Rigid Bodies, Soft Bodies, Cloth, Ropes, Constraints, Interactions and Attachments.
Exocortex Momentum 3.0 adds support for shattering. Interactive, high performance, as well as collision based runtime destruction is now in reach. Proper procedural normals as well as UVs are also supported.
Try or buy it today:
exocortex.com/simulation/momentum3
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