Posted 09/09/09 at 08:04:40 PM by Ryan Whitwam

It doesn’t matter that almost all the text is in Japanese, and you probably don’t speak Japanese. This adorable look at how Google Street View works is easy viewing for all nationalities. Sure, it takes some creative liberties, but that’s why it’s so darn endearing. 

The video opens on a charming little fellow with a camera for a head puttering down the street. He snaps pictures as he goes, and then takes them back to his (also charming) workshop, where they are scanned.  Identifiable information is blurred out, and all is well. Well, there are some additional complaints about unwanted elements in the pics, but the little camera-headed fellow works late into the night to keep you safe.

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Posted 08/15/08 at 02:05:23 PM by Chris Moody

SIGGRAPH 2008 brings roughly 30,000 computer graphics and interactive technology professionals from around the world together focusing on science, research, art, animation, gaming, and education. They hand out prizes for the best in computer animation from submissions. This year’s conference ends today.

"The caliber of submissions this year was truly phenomenal, which made the jury's job especially difficult." said Jill Smolin, SIGGRAPH 2008 Conference Entertainment Director. "The winners truly showcase what is possible today and provide a glimpse into what artists can achieve in the future. Really, the only limitation is the imagination."

The SIGGRAPH 2008 Best of Show award goes to Oktapodi by Gobelins, l'école de l’image, from France.

Best Student Piece Winner award goes to 893 by Supinfocom from France.

The Jury Award Winner is Mauvais Rôle by École Supérieure de Réalisation Audiovisuelle, also from France.

It seems the French made a clean sweep. The conference was held in Los Angeles. Go figure.

Oktapodi and Mauvais Rôle are both pretty entertaining. although I found Mauvais Rôle funnier. It must have been the gamer references. I couldn’t find a link to 893. Check them out!

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Posted 08/08/08 at 10:33:22 AM by Pulkit Chandna

Microsoft and Havok have further cemented their longstanding association with each other. The two reached an agreement whereby Microsoft Game Studios and its development partners world over will have access to Havok’s Physics, Animation and Behavior products and all future offerings.

Those Microsoft’s internal studios and development partners that license Havok Physics will also get Havok Animation. If this agreement provides easy access to Havok’s innovative products to Microsoft’s game developers, it also guarantees a loyal consumer base to Havok, which will allow it to push its new and lesser known products – other than Physics - far more easily.

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Posted 07/15/08 at 11:36:54 PM by Pulkit Chandna

MTV is busy optimizing popular comic book Invincible, using a process called Bomb-xx, for distribution through iTunes, Xbox Live and MTV Mobile, besides airing it on MTV2. The enhanced version of the comic book will not be a conventional animation but, on the contrary, an audio visual compilation prepared using actual scans of the comic.

One can perceive it to be something between a usual comic and an animated cartoon. The first six installments of the series will become available through the abovementioned digital distribution services on August 22.

It is indeed a novel idea as this way the peculiarities of the comic might not be compromised as is usually the case when a comic is turned into an animated cartoon. Not all comics travel well across to TV screens just like most videogames turn out to be contemptible movies.

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