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assets—or the applications NewTek showed
artists use to build them. off LightWave 11.5,
Autodesk, Pixologic, the latest version of its
NewTek, and other workhorse 3D modeling
developers were on hand at and animation suite.
Siggraph 2012 to show their This release introduces
newest wares. Genoma, a modular rigging
Autodesk’s 2013 system built into Modeler
Entertainment Suite (3ds that lets artists quickly
Max, Maya, SoftImage, rig biped or quadruped
Mudbox, Motionbuilder, models, and includes
and SketchBook Designer several preset rigs for
Pro) should be intimately common parts like spines,
familiar to any reader of arms, legs, and even octane render.
Game Developer. Beyond wings. Also, LightWave’s
the usual application- core modeling toolset has
specific incremental been catching up to its emerging trends and products
updates, the overall competitors with new tools
theme is improved like Edit Edges, Thicken, Cl oud rend eri n g: Cloud rendering is a growing trend for smaller development houses that do
interoperability between and UV Unwrap, and its not have their own data centers or render farms, and we saw plenty of them on the show floor, including
Keyshot (www.luxion.com), Fox Renderfarm (www.foxrenderfarm.com), XL render (www.xlrender.com),
Autodesk products and animation and special and Rendercloud (www.scalar.ca/rendercloud).
external applications. For effects features have
example, Maya features added a new specialized o ptis Ma terial s C anner ( o M s 2): The OMS2 (www.optis-world.com/products/
hardware/OMS2.html ) is a handheld device that essentially lets you scan textures into your CAD
native support for Alembic, particle system called application, which could be handy for artists looking to make their materials and textures more realistic.
making it easier to transfer Flocking, which simulates The OMS2’s sensor picks up surface and light information and dumps it to your laptop so you can quickly
scene and animation data more organic-looking flock work with your new material. You can also pair the OMS2 with Theia-RT, Optis’s real-time raytracer, to scan
between applications; movement, and improved real-world objects and update Theia-RT immediately.
Media Sync in 3Ds Max soft-body bullet dynamics. p a th tra C i n g: Jules Erbach showed two interesting tech demos that aren’t quite ready for prime
can transfer scene and NewTek also spotlighted time yet: OTOY’s Path Tracing renderer, called Octane Render (http://render.otoy.com), and a real-time
path tracing tech demo called Brigade. Octane Render is a path-tracing renderer that is so fast that
animation data to and LightWave’s Virtual Studio users can change their material settings and receive near-instant feedback. Brigade (http://igad.nhtv.
from Adobe After Effects; Tools, which provide artists nl/~bikker) is a research project attempting to provide a real-time path-tracing solution. Brigade’s path-
Mudbox’s compatibility with real-time performance tracing implementation tracing uses both the GPU and CPU, and balances the use of both depending on
with Adobe Photoshop capture for virtual cameras the time to render each frame. The renderer can support an unlimited number of light sources.
continues to improve the and lights and character Z- s p a C e : Z-Space (http://zspace.com) is a 3D-viewing station that features a 24-inch passive
process of exchanging paint puppeteering via game stereoscopic 3D display fixed with tracing sensors. With a pair of polarized 3D glasses and the included
stylus, you can use the display to view and manipulate objects in 3D. This wasn’t the only 3D-viewing
layers and data between the controllers. For example, a system shown on the convention floor, but it was certainly one of the most impressive systems, and we
two applications. development team could can expect to see many more 3D systems appearing in future shows. — Carey Chico
Pixologic’s ZBrush 4R4 move through and interact
was released a few weeks with a game level inside Digitizing
before Siggraph, and the LightWave to work out tablets Also, Wacom has Having worked on all platforms,
hot topic at the booth animation and design. discontinued its popular from PC to console to mobile,
was the new QRemesher Lightbrush ($1,500) is Wacom’s booth was Cintiq 20UX model in favor he has carefully nurtured his
Alpha, which automatically an intriguing new shadow constantly crowded with of the new Cintiq 22HD, talents toexpand his skill sets
retopologizes any mesh, and lighting manipulation attendees waiting to try out which features a high- driving products and managing
and the QRemesher Guide tool by Tandent Vision Wacom’s latest line of Cintiq definition, widescreen studios from creative,
Brush, which lets artists Science that was recently drawing tablets. The main LCD panel that is brighter production, and business
direct polygon and edge released for the Mac (http:// attraction was Wacom’s and has higher contrast mindsets. He has always
flow for cleaner, more tandent.com/lightbrush. new flagship panel, the levels than the 20UX, been an active member of the
predictable quad meshes. html). In the demo, Tandent Cintiq 24HD Touch, which and a stylus built on the industry at-large, formerly as a
Also new to version 4R4 is representatives showed lets the artist directly Intuos 4’s design, with GDC Advisory Board member, a
the Virtual Machine, which how artists looking to use manipulate documents 2,048 pressure levels freelance writer for Gamasutra
lets the artist look through photos as sources for and content with hand and 60 degrees of tilt and Game Developer magazine,
thousands of undos to textures could take a photo gestures, so you can rotate, sensitivity. Unlike the and a frequent speaker at
review a model’s history of a brick wall that had tree move, and scale with one much larger Cintiq 24HD industry trade shows and
over time, and the new shadows splayed all over hand while holding your (see our review in the events.
Curve engine, which works the surface, use Lightbrush pen in the other. It does September 2012 issue
with various brushes to indicate an area of diffuse take a little getting used of Game Developer) the Mike de la Flor is a freelance
(such as the Insert Multi color and an area of shadow, to, and right now it’s only 22HD retains the standard medical illustrator, animator,
Mesh brush or Tube brush) and let Lightbrush separate supported in Corel Painter popular Cintiq stand. instructor and writer. He’s the
to help you lay down the shadows out into a and a handful of Autodesk author of The Digital Biomedical
complicated organic or separate layer. A Windows productions, but we think Carey ChiCo is a 16-year Illustration Handbook and other
mechanical details. version is in the works. it’ll catch on quickly. veteran of the game industry. CG books.

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