At the 2009 Game Developers Conference (GDC), Autodesk will showcase its latest middleware and art creation tools for building innovative game experiences. Daily presentations at the Autodesk Booth (#5716) will highlight how the company's solutions have helped artists create AAA titles, such as FIFA SOCCER 09, WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING, PRINCE OF PERSIA and JAMES BOND: QUANTUM OF SOLACE. Industry visionaries and technology experts will also host four free Autodesk MasterClasses and six free Autodesk-sponsored training sessions during the show.
Virtual GDC Provides On-Demand OptionFor those who cannot attend the show, Autodesk will host Virtual GDC on the AREA, its online user community site. Virtual GDC includes live video streaming of Autodesk MasterClasses and theater presentations, as well as a blog and image gallery. Streamed videos will be available on demand shortly after the show. (Note to Press: Virtual GDC will also include a press room where Autodesk's GDC press kit and imagery will be available.)
Product ShowcaseFrom software for sculpting 3D models and animating believable characters to runtime technology integrated within the game engine, Autodesk provides developers with tools to help realize their creative visions. Many of these products will be showcased at Autodesk's booth #5716, including Autodesk Kynapse artificial intelligence (AI) middleware and Autodesk HumanIK animation middleware.
Also at the Autodesk booth, game industry visionaries will offer daily presentations about how they used Autodesk products to create AAA games. Presenters include:
-- Gareth Eaves, senior animator, and Paul McComas, senior software engineer at EA Canada, presenting how HumanIK, Autodesk MotionBuilder and Autodesk Maya software were used in the creation of "FIFA SOCCER 09-- Greg Grimsby, art director at Mythic Entertainment, an EA Studio, discussing how Kynapse and Autodesk 3ds Max software were used in WARHAMMER ONLINE: AGE OF RECKONING-- Mathieu Latulippe, technical animation director at Ubisoft, demonstrating how HumanIK, 3ds Max and MotionBuilder software were used in the creation of PRINCE OF PERSIA-- Ludovick W. Michaud, senior technical and creative director at Janimation, showcasing how Maya, Autodesk Softimage and Autodesk Face Robot software were used to create cinematics for JAMES BOND: QUANTUM OF SOLACE.
Free Training OptionsDuring GDC, Autodesk will offer six training sessions and four MasterClasses taught by game developers from Lionhead Studios, Ubisoft and Mythic Entertainment an EA studio, as well as Autodesk technology experts. All Autodesk sessions and MasterClasses are included with the GDC conference registration pass, so there is no additional cost to attend. Registration is required for MasterClasses only. For more information, or to register, visit www.autodesk.com/gdc2009.
On Tuesday, March 24, from 8 a.m. to noon PST, Autodesk will host an Education Summit¬ — bringing educators from around the world together with industry professionals and Autodesk representatives. This event includes a series of strategic discussions with industry visionaries from top game development studios and an update on Autodesk 2009 education initiatives. Speakers include Joe Shoopack, director artistic development at Sony Online WW, and Professor Kathy Blashki, head of research and animation at the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. To register, visit https://autodesk.wingateweb.com/attendee/event/GDC_ES09.ww.
On March 23, Autodesk will unveil "Creative Careers Classified," its new careers section for the digital entertainment industry on the AREA community website. This page offers aspiring game artists "day in the life" interviews with young professionals, online tutorials to help them hone their skills and access to job listings at leading companies. Visit the page at http://area.autodesk.com/creativecareers.
Autodesk will also introduce its new Maya for Games curriculum -- a free, downloadable module that takes students through the fundamentals of Autodesk Maya. This module has been designed to simulate the experience of working as an associate environment artist in a game studio. Upon completion of the module, students will have created a games environment to include in their portfolios. The final lesson helps them organize their projects for presentation. To download the curriculum, visit the Autodesk Student Community at www.autodesk.com/school.
