Animated Travels: AnimfxNZ

3-D or not 3-D? That is the Question.

EventsEditor — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 17:12:07 -0800

One of the hot topics at AnimfxNZ was 3-D stereo and digital cinema. Dave Scammell, the President of SohoNet, ran a panel on the issue with Steve Schklair from 3ality Digital, Patrick von Sychowski from Adlabs/Reliance India, and Habib Zargarpour from Electronic Arts Los Angeles.

A Few Words from Joseph Olin

EventsEditor — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 16:46:43 -0800

Joseph Olin is the President of the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Just like that Other Academy, on which it's modeled, the AIAS exists to recognize and reward outstanding accomplishments in video games. The Academy is 12 years old, has 15,000 members, and acknowledges the best of the gaming best every year through the Interactive Achievement Awards.

The Experience Is the Story, says Tim Willits

EventsEditor — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 15:16:05 -0800

Tom Willits, Creative Director at id Software, provides insight in his talk about the gaming industry.

Carolyn Soper Builds a Hamster Named Rhino

EventsEditor — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 17:02:50 -0800

Carolyn Soper is a Vice President of Disney Animation Studios, and has been working on the upcoming Disney feature Bolt. She walked AnimfxNZ attendees through the process of building a hamster named Rhino.

How to Run Realistically with Henry LaBounta

EventsEditor — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:57:04 -0800

According to Henry LaBounta, Chief Visual Officer for EA Black Box, Game Art Direction has three main focus areas – the look of the game, the characters and animation, and the graphic design (menus, user interface, and fonts) – and most of the unsolved problems are with the characters and animation.

Animfx Day 1: Maori Welcome and Park Road Post

EventsEditor — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:26:14 -0800

AnimfxNZ 2008 began with a song. A contingent of Maori gathered to perform a 'powhiri', or New Zealand traditional welcome. The foreign visitors and speakers lined up so the kaumatua could determine if they were friends or foes. Thankfully, there were no enemies among them, and the conference was able to proceed.