The migration of digital effects work to offhshore studios is a continuation of a movement of animation work that began over forty years ago.  This means of cutting labor cost is now a normal consideration and VSX is only the newest branch of our industry to be effected.

Rin Daughters of Mnemosyne

Rin is a private dick in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district. She also happens to be immortal! Within in her resides the time fruit of Yggdrasil, the tree of all life. Yet, immortal she may be, Apos, a hermaphroditic demi-god, desires to tear this berry from her body and devour its delectable memories. Over sixty-five years, and cases ranging from lost identities to missing virtual girls, Rin will have her body torn apart, even blown up, as she folds time to unravel her destiny.

The ‘Elemental Magic –An Organic Approach to Visual Effects Animation’ workshop is not just a cute little tip of the hat to traditional animation principles.  This is vital stuff, that cannot be left behind, in the rush to embrace ‘cutting edge’ digital technology!

Elemental Magic brings the organic imaginative process back into the picture of the 'digital' revolution of visual effects.

Elemental Magic Workshop in action at PennDesign

Last Thursday night was the annual Visual Effects Bake-off held at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences Theater in Beverly Hill.  This screening was open to the public and has increasingly become more popular over the years. However, the toughest ticket traditionally has been for the Kate Mantellini’s Before Party.  Wildly popular among the visual effects set this party has progressively grown more expensive as the years pass. This year it cost a mere ninety dollars to achieve entry. For your ninety bucks you can expect to be packed together in what was called by my drill instructor during boot camp as “balls to butts.” That’s very close. There wasn’t even standing room.

Almost everyone has heard of the tragedy that befell Haiti after a magnitude 7 earth quake struck leaving over 150,000 dead, and even more wounded.  Many charities and aid organizations have been collecting donations to help the poor souls in Haiti.  The game industry wants to lend a helping hand, too.  The folks over at IGN.com have rallied companies throughout the industry to donate tons of fantastic gaming related items - all to be auctioned off in order to benefit Haiti.

Ultimo

Here are few new titles to keep a critical eye open for.  

Unlike other years, when finding the ideas for a new short projects were scarce, this year, that has not been the case. A plethora of films have presented themselves - just waiting to be produced.

Probably one of the most impressive and hilarious games of 2009, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time get's reviewed on AWN. Hit the jump to see the full review.

Blassreiter

In a parallel Germany, a sanguine plague is rapidly transforming humans into Amalgams, deformed beings capable of melding with technology and exploiting it to civilization’s detriment. XAT, a special police unit piloting advanced mecha, is supposedly mankind’s only defense. But Joseph Jobson, an Amalgam himself, rises above his disease to prove that humanity is not yet lost. Only the secret of his blood can save the world. 

I’ll start by saying; Bayonetta is pure, unadulterated, fun.  It’s a game that represents the complete package – game-play, art, sound, and character.  I personally can never seem to find the time to play all the games that constantly accrue on my entertainment center, but I kept coming back to Bayonetta for more.

Hit the jump for the full review!