News Stories

Buyer Beware: Rating Nintendo 3DS Launch Games

3.26.2011

[By Chris Kohler, Wired.com]

Having played the majority of the first wave of games for the Nintendo 3DS, we can say one thing for sure: The glasses-free 3-D handheld, which hits U.S. stores Sunday, will be stuck in the launch doldrums for a while.

Yes, many of the 16 games that will be available at launch prove entertaining enough. And there’s a lot of fun stuff to do with the hardware, even if you don’t buy a single game.

But in the rush to make it out on Day One, developers have cut corners. Some games last only a few hours, others lack the communication features that were supposed to make 3DS games special, and some are rush-job ports from other hardware. It’s not that there’s anything particularly bad about them. It’s just clear we’re going to have to wait for games that fully exploit what 3DS can do.

Like iPad early adopters, gamers who snag a 3DS this weekend will no doubt be itching for something to do with their snazzy new machines. Unlike iPad apps, 3DS games typically retail for $40 a pop. If you want to spend that money wisely, read our hands-on impressions of games that will be available for Sunday’s launch.

See the original post and read the comments on each game here: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/03/3ds-games-buyers-guide/

 

Sky 3D to air Nintendo 3DS launch event Live

3.25.2011
[By Andrew Laughlin, Technology Reporter, Digital Spy]
Sky has announced plans to broadcast a special event tomorrow on the Sky 3D channel marking the launch of the Nintendo 3DS handheld.

Staged at London’s Old Billingsgate, the Nintendo 3DS Ignition event will feature performances from comedian Russell Kane, BRIT award winner Plan B and indie band Hadouken.

Around 2,000 members of the company’s Club Nintendo loyalty program will attend the event, which starts at midnight to coincide with the retail launch of the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo 3DS Ignition will be broadcast live on the Sky 3D channel, as well as in standard and high definition on Sky1 and Sky1 HD.

In January, Sky confirmed plans to supply taster content from Sky 3D to the 3DS, including short-form clips of sports, entertainment and documentaries.

Sky joins Eurosport and other broadcasters in bringing content to the handheld device to promote the possibilities of 3D media.

Graham Appleby, director of commercial partnerships at Sky Media, said: “We’re delighted to extend our relationship with Nintendo to help build their own 3D association whilst providing our customers with yet more high-quality entertainment content on Sky 3D.

“This is yet another example of innovation from Sky responding to the demands of customers and brands alike.”

Dawn Paine, marketing director of Nintendo UK, added: “Nintendo 3DS Ignition is not only a games industry first but marks the arrival of portable, glasses-free 3D gaming and entertainment.

“The opportunity to work with Sky to broadcast the event in 3D offers the perfect synergy in terms of helping build our credentials and bringing 3D to as many people as possible.”

In preparation for the expected consumer demand, more than 1,200 UK stores will open at midnight on March 25 for the 3DS launch, including selected GAME, HMV, Argos and Tesco locations.

However, the 3DS will face tough competition as it launches on the same day as Apple’s new iPad 2, an improved version of the hugely popular tablet computer.

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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