Not much to say about this release. I don’t really think it worth upgrading to. The only great thing about it is the new linear workflow as well as a new render queue which is a time saver. There is also the inclusion of Python scripting which opens a whole new world for C4D. Other than that, nothing really screams buy me. The cloth dynamics has been improved, but how much are you really going to use it for your projects. Anyways to get more information and to decide for yourself head on over to Maxon for the full detail and price.
Check out the intro movie to Mickey Mouse’s new video game called Epic Mickey. The feeling I get is more like the Kingdom Heart games. The game seems very dark, but with a Disney touch to it. As far as the intro goes, it looks to be rendered in real-time (check the anti-aliasing). I’m surprised it’s in HD because you know that the game is only coming out to the Wii and it’s supposedly not capable of HD. With Mickey, he always so curious. Playing with thing and creating trouble. Is this what Curios George was created from? Anyways, it looks to be fun.
If you’re don’t know what the game play is about, it’s pretty much an adventure game where Mickey has a paintbrush and you can paint things or erase things to your liking or to help you progress in the game. I’d really like to play this game, but it’s for the Wii. It looks so outdated not being in HD.
I was once doing an ice cube in Blender. I never really got too far, but if you check out the videos below, it’s truely amazing how far Blender has come. In the hand of the right people with the right tools, nothing is impossible. Make sure to check out the making of as well.
So when Microsoft announced that the Courier was just a concept, people were let down. Here comes Toshiba to the rescue. The question is, is it the same as the Microsoft Courier? From looking at other articles on the web, it’s heading in the right direction, but no dice. Just hardware wise it has a pretty decent spec. Two screens (capacitive), a decent processor that isn’t an atom processor thank god. The Libretto has a very portable design. When folded open, it’s as big as an iPad. When folded it’s around three or four time thicker that an iPad. The device weighs less than 2 pounds. Probably what most want is a full featured on OS on a device and the Libretto offers that with having Windows 7 Home included.
In my opinion, it’s a cool gadget, but I could always get a netbook since the second screen will most likely have the keyboard input. The only thing the second screen will be used for is if you’re reading an ebook or looking at 2 documents at the same time or web surfing. You can also view a document or window in full mode that spans the two screens, but who want to do that when there is a huge gap between it. The screen looks really small from the videos. Good for Toshiba for making something totally different, but for portability they would have to design something that is one thin and two have great battery life. I’m sure powering two screens is good for the battery. If you’re a gadget freak this is a must, but the for the general public save the cash and just get an iPad or even better just get a netbook for less that half the price of the Libretto.
I’m always amazed at what a Nintendo DS can do. I’m even more impressed with the developers to have envisioned the DS as something more than a video game system. People have been making some great things with the Flipnote software. Take this for example. Billy Polard created a music video for one of his original songs. What better way to create a music video and not spend more that a couple benjamins to create it. His style is very similar to the look of the Where the Wild Things Are characters. Even though the video is simple, I think it ties in very well to his simple and not blaring song.
Don’t worry, if you’re more into the action oriented type, Flipnote can do it, granted the person has to be skilled too. The next video are a bunch of stick figures. You might remember a few years back when flash was starting to be used as an animation tool. They had a series with stick figures doing matrix style moves and martial arts. Well this video seems to be a homage to it. Check it:
While looking through Vimeo, I stumbled upon a 2D piece by animator/illustrator Scott Benson. The piece was called “On The Subject Of Depression”. I was thinking to myself, wow this is some really cool shyt. I then looked through all his other videos and was more blown away. His pieces aren’t all about the next best trick you can do with software, or what’s hot in animation right now. He has his own style. Add the great mood and colors he used, you get an animation that get it’s story or emotion through.
I got a little more curious and noticed that he had a blog. In his blog he talks about some of the pieces he’s done and the process to how he came to the final product. There are some good read like how excited he was getting a new computer to getting the biggest single paycheck he’s ever gotten. Make to sure to check out his other videos at www.bombsfall.com and his blog at bombsfall.blogspot.com.
