July 29, 2005
Interactive Television Emmy Finalists Announced
This is the first year that the winners will receive a physical statue for the award.
"I feel like we have taken a quantum leap this year," said Hurst. "The caliber of the entries has been truly remarkable and has in fact raised the bar for creative excellence in interactive television. The quality and range of content also signals both the viability and maturity of our industry. The winners will certainly be worthy of the Emmy statuette."
July 27, 2005
IMD @ SIGGRAPH 05
Here's a line-up of what some IMD faculty and grad students are up to during SIGGRAPH.
Professor Mark Bolas will be panel wrangling at E-Tech on Thursday for a discussion titled, "Emotion and Camera Analysis and Laval Virtual" Thursday, 10:15-12:15, rm 407
Professor Tracy Fullerton is one of the organizers of the sweet sounding Guerilla Studio Games Atelier. It runs pretty much all week. The schedule is available below.
http://www.siggraph.org/s2005/main.php?f=conference&p=studio&s=tech
Professor Julian Bleecker will be participating on the panel "Networked Performance: How Does Art Affect Technology and Vice Versa?" on August 1st from 3:45p-5:45p, Room 515B
Professor Perry Hoberman has got a whole wagon load of stuff exhibiting in the SIGGRAPH Art Gallery. He'll also be on a panel discussing "Digital Activism" on Wednesday August 3, 2005 from 1:45 - 3:30 in Room 407, Moderated by Dr. Edward Shanken, along with panelists Hoberman, Ligorano/Reese (Nora Ligorano and Marshal Reese), David Lu, MarkDavid Hosale and John Thompson.
Professors Peter Brinson and Julian Bleecker will be demoing their location/orientation-aware game framework developed last spring and this summer in the Mobile and Pervasive Lab, featuring what has to be the world's first electronic version of the kid's classic, "Red Light, Green Light, Go!", with an extra special twist, at the Guerilla Studio Games Atelier, Tuesday, August 2nd, from 11-noon in Room 403AB.
http://www.visavisgames.com
Professor Mark Bolas is an author of a hopped-up sounding technical sketch - "Performance Geometry Capture for Spatially Varying Relighting"
A technique for capturing reflectance and geometry for real-time performances using high-speed, time-multiplexed LED and projector light patterns. This sketch explores how the dataset allows for local lighting effects.
Thursday, 4 August
10:30a-12:15p
Petree Hall D
http://www.siggraph.org/s2005/main.php?f=conference&p=sketches&s=sketches25
2nd year IMD Graduate Student Mihai Peteu will be part of The Incubator (Educators Program), showcasing "Wonderwalls: Playful Peer-to-Expert and Peer-to-Peer Collaborative Learning Spaces".
http://www.siggraph.org/s2005/main.php?f=conference&p=edu&s=incubator
July 26, 2005
design seminar - location-based mobile media: maps, stories & games
Announcing a project-based seminar focused on designing location-based, mobile and pervasive media experiences.
Through readings, discussion and presentations of prior art related to the topic, students will design and develop a project that addresses the opportunities presented by locative, mobile and pervasive media concepts.
This course has no set prerequisites, although experience doing concept prototyping for or development of technology applications sufficiently to demonstrate or realize a concept will be necessary to complete the required project.
CTIN599
Monday, 12-2pm, Zemeckis Media Laboratory
2 Credits
Advance Mobile Media Flyer
Advanced Mobile Media Syllabus
unprecedented data set about continuous human behavior
From the Mit site:
We have captured communication, proximity, location, and activity information from 100 subjects at MIT over the course of the 2004-2005 academic year. This data represents over 350,000 hours (~40 years) of continuous data on human behavior. Such rich data on complex social systems have implications for a variety of fields. The research questions we are addressing include:* How do social networks evolve over time?
* How entropic (predictable) are most people's lives?
* How does information flow?
* Can the topology of a social network be inferred from only proximity data?
* How can we change a group's interactions to promote better functioning?
If you have a series 60 phone you can participate... check out the MIT site for details.
http://reality.media.mit.edu/
Wired article
MoSoSo's
GDC Submissions Deadline, Aug. 1st.
The open call for speaker proposals for the
2006 Game Developers Conference closes on August 1.
If you are interested in speaking at the upcoming 2006 GDC
event, we would like to hear from you. The GDC is the
premier professional conference for the creators of games
and interactive entertainment. Speaking at the GDC provides
a forum for you to share ideas, issues, or problems with
your peers.
July 25, 2005
Another ZML
As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Digital Cinema Lab and Media Design Cluster at Keio University's Shonan Fujisawa campus, they have built an (almost) mirror image of our ZML (view image). The intent is to develop collaborative immersive apps over the 10G link that connects the two spaces. Work is progressing on another space at a research insititute in Nara that will also be linked in.
Laurie Anderson @ICC
Went to an amazing 30 year retrospective of Laurie Anderson's works that opened last week at the ICC center in Tokyo. Professor Hoberman's influence was well represented.
At the opening she performed while wearing ice skates embedded into large blocks of ice (sorry for the crappy phone image).
Fun for all ages...
Playing the future
Series of articles interviwing game industry figures. Filled with the usual hype and hollywood lines, but worth reading to compare the different perspectives:
BBC articles
Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft: Our goal is to do what they do in movies, but where you are the actor.
Michel Cassius, Xbox: When I look at this and the number of games in development right now, I definitely think the next generation, and even current generation, can tap into broader audiences...Broadening will come as well through different experiences on the Xbox 360. We want one billion people to experience gaming in the next generation.
Kathy Vrabeck, Activision: But it is not a big focus for us. There is so much untapped opportunity for us among the core male gamer, that going after the female gamer is not high on the priority list for us.
Tameem Antoniades, Ninja Theory: There is an understanding among a few companies but you don't see a lot of it. I can't remember the last time I felt emotionally attached to a game.
David Gosen, I-Play: Look at DS. Through the touch screen approach it created something that is innovative and new...That is a small example of how technological advancement can create new gaming experiences and that is the challenge for the three console manufacturers.
July 22, 2005
"HP Drops 4 Research Groups in Downsizing"
from San Francisco Chronicle (07/22/05) P. C1; Pimentel, Benjamin
Four research groups at HP Labs will be dropped as part of Hewlett-Packard's latest downsizing effort, one of which was headed by renowned computing pioneer Alan Kay. Kay won the ACM's A.M. Turing Award and the National Academy of Engineering Charles Stark Draper Prize, and was a co-designer of ARPAnet, the Internet's predecessor. HP Labs' Dave Berman says Kay's group dealt with advanced software research, but insists that HP's research agenda will remain "rich and varied" despite the loss. The other groups eliminated by the downsizing include a pair of Palo Alto labs focusing on consumer applications and emerging technologies, and a Cambridge, Mass., group whose work covered health care and medical issues. Berman cites HP Labs' continuing quantum computing and nanotechnology research as evidence of the company's dedication to R&D-supported innovation. "We are trying to refocus our research into the areas of greatest promise and our core strength and those areas which are most important to HP in the medium and long term," Berman says. Analyst Michael Dortch warns that HP could put itself at a disadvantage if it no longer has access to talent of Kay's caliber. He says, "How many times in a lifetime does a company like HP get access to a mind like Alan Kay's?"
Need a buzz? Try Google...
From BBC News:
Ten people have been arrested in Brazil after authorities discovered them allegedly using Google's online community site, Orkut, to sell drugs.
Read the Article
Not too smart if you ask me, illegal activity conducted in a place made of data trails and footprints, sounds like a great way to get busted!
July 21, 2005
Mobile Monday LA Hosted at USC Annenberg Center for Communication July 25th
This Monday, July 25th the monthly meeting of Mobile Monday LA will be held at The Annenberg Center for Communication here at USC.
Monday, July 25th, 2005
7-9pm
The Annenberg Center for Communication
734 West Adams Blvd, LA CA
(Directions)
Secondish year IMD grad student and inestimable fire pit handler Justin Hall will present his "naescent mobile entertainment project" (asbestos gloves will be provided).
IMD Professor Julian Bleecker will share some of the magic of the Mobile and Pervasive Lab, the near-future research, design and development lab he runs.
July 20, 2005
EA + Verizon
EA has agreed to launch its first round of mobile titles via Verizon Wireless and Sprint. EA says the deals will probably be worth $25 million. The titles include mobile games for popular EA franchises like Madden and NBA Live. There will also be a special version of Need for Speed for Verizon V-CAST subscribers. EA currently has a relationship with mobile development house I-Play, again the gaming giant is rumored to be looking at an acquisition in the mobile space, namely JAMDAT and Superscape.
Mobile sale to hit 1 billion by 09
A new BBC article on the potential take over of the consumer electronics market by mobile devices.
July 16, 2005
"Simulated Society May Generate Virtual Culture"
This idea sounds awfully familiar...It is like an upgrade to the Sims, minus the fun factor. It is interesting and crazy at the same time that we are now observing virtual people, as if there aren't enough real people around to observe. Are we headed toward extinction? Perhaps they should hire Jane Goodall for this project...
Researchers participating in the New and Emergent World Models Through Individual, Evolutionary and Social Learning (NEW-TIES) project are developing a society of virtual characters that can eat, reproduce, communicate, and learn through interaction. The scientists hope the virtual people's communications ability will spawn sophisticated cultural activities similar to those found in human societies. The project will place about 1,000 "agents" in a simulated environment hosted on a computer network distributed across two U.K. universities, two Dutch universities, and one Hungarian university. Each agent will be programmed to move throughout the simulation, build simple structures, survive through eating, and learn from its environment; they will also be able to mate with members of the opposite gender and produce offspring that will receive a random collection of hereditary traits from both parents. Moreover, the virtual characters will concoct their own language by pointing to objects and employing randomly generated "words." University of Surrey scientist Nigel Gilbert says the experiment could be particularly incisive if the simulated people develop ritual practices or learn to use non-functional objects symbolically. Indiana University's Edward Castronova is skeptical that NEW-TIES will generate important insights into human society and culture, arguing that "Inferences from an entirely artificial system are always going to be weakened by the artificiality." He says it is more sensible to study real human societies that mature within virtual fantasy environments.
July 15, 2005
THEREMIN: AN ELECTRONIC ODYSSEY
WALK-IN MOVIE SERIES PRESENTS - THEREMIN: AN ELECTRONIC ODYSSEY
Leon Theremin was the secret link between sci-fi films, the Beach Boys and Carnegie Hall. His electronic musical instrument took the world by storm in the 1920s and '30s. Winner of the Sundance Filmmakers Trophy, this fascinating documentary includes an interview with Robert Moog as well as clips from movies such as The Day the Earth Stood Still.
Before the movie, hear two of the city’s finest thereminists, Sukho Lee and Charlie Lester demonstrate the instrument’s ethereal and compelling music.
When: Friday July 22nd 2005, 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Cost: FREE
Where:
California Plaza
350 S. Grand Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Phone: 213-624-2146
Downtown LA residents are invited to attend the Walk-In Movie Series Sponsored by the Downtown Center Business Improvement District
July 14, 2005
Indie Games Con '05
For those interested in Indie Games ... www.indiegamescon.com.
Indie Games Con 2005 will be held in Eugene, Oregon, October 7, 8 and 9th. Registration is now open. Indie Games Con (IGC) is a fun, informal and informative community gathering of independent game developers from around the world. IGC is designed to be a summit meeting of like-minded developers with the shared goal to focus on collaboration and building community. Along with sessions on game art, technology, tools and business, the event has a central ShowOFF Center where developers can showcase their current prototypes, demos and newly released games. This provides an excellent opportunity for their peers to play and provide valuable feedback.
"IGC has become an annual pilgrimage to premiere new games and connect with like-minded entrepreneurs," comments Mark Frohnmayer, Co-Founder and President of GarageGames. "For three inspiring days, developers get to experience first hand the excitement and momentum of the indie game development phenomenon that is bringing innovation and fun back to gaming."
IGC provides connections and content for programmers, artists and indie entrepreneurs. If you've caught the incurable desire to make games commercially, or even as a hobbyist, this is a community gathering of talented individuals you will not want to miss.
Register online now at www.indiegamescon.com. Pay $195 for a three-day pass, including sessions, food, parties and a t-shirt for those registering before September 16th. Space is limited so reservations will be on a first come first serve basis. Registrations after September 16th will be $250. More information is available at www.indiegamescon.com.
July 13, 2005
"Optical Lounge and Audio Lab"
Art event (predominently photography) downtown this Saturday purported to have "interactive installations".
In addition, live video artists will integrate sight, sound and music at the event. Bert Spangemacher will perform live Polaroid transfers. Jennifer Evonne and iC will integrate photography and latex. Franklin Londin will compose 3D free-floating photography sculptures. Miss Surex will interpret the evening's music with a video projection loop.
Not sure how spectacular the interactive work is really going to be, but hey, it's multi-media-interactive-vj-3D something! It looks to have some established artists and money behind it, as well as a good rep.
Los Angeles, CA - Arts organization Create:Fixate presents its second annual all photography edition of the "Optical Lounge and Audio Lab" on Saturday, July 16, 2005. This Create:Fixate event will take place in the mezzanine of the Spring Arts Tower, a refurbished Art Deco Bank Building at 453 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (at the NW corner of 5th). Photographic exhibits and video presentations will fill the historic space as two sound systems pump a variety of musical accompaniment. The evening begins with a free preview of the exhibit from 4:00pm - 7:00pm. The official event runs from 7:00pm - 2:00am. Admission is $10.00, $7.00 before 9:00pm. For more information please visit www.createfixate.com.
July 12, 2005
EA: buying into the mobile arena?
In yet another aquisition, rumors circulated yesterday about a potential EA purchase of the Mobile Media Giant JAMDAT Mobile, causing an over 9% rise of the JMDT stock price to $33.17 on Monday.
After working at both I have to say the dry lack-luster cubicle cultures found at both will be a good match; it's strange what people will pay for a few old-skool brands and a suprisinngly uncreative infrasturcture.
I imagine the purchase revolves around JAMDAT properties like DOOM, Tetris, and Lemonade Tycoon.
I hope this pushes JAMDAT to create some good content. After playing thier mobile titles for hours (forceably;))I can honestly say they are very poor; crap content driven by basic game mechanics.
Maybe this would push them to create some cutting edge games, as EA currently hopes it is.
Buy, buy, buy.... or so said the market; pick up some JMDT stock soon an maybe you too could make a few bucks!
Yahoo finacial Summary
As you can see this afternoon the market cooled off dropping the price by 0.51USD; so maybe these are just rumors?
A spokesperson from Jamdat was not immediately available to comment, and a spokeswoman from Electronic Arts declined to comment on what she called "rumors."
Sex, drugs and GTA
Apparently you can now "unlock" explicit sexual content in "GTA: San Andreas".
"Software code developed by GTA Dutch fan Patrick Wildenborg is said to have unlocked mini-games in the PC version of San Andreas that allows players to make game characters perform sexually explicit acts."
"But all this material is completely inaccessible in an unmodded version of the game," he said in a statement on his website.
"It can therefore not be considered a cheat, Easter Egg or hidden feature But is most probably just leftover material from a gameplay idea that didn't make the final release." --BBC News Article
download the mod:
http://www.gtasanandreas.net/news/single.php?id=1469
More images:
http://www.ukresistance.co.uk/2005/06/gta-san-andreas-hack-confirmed-as-real.html
Is this real?
Has anyone moded thier game to see if this is true?
Lots more on google
It doesn't sound to different from the "GOD OF WAR" minigames I heard of...
Do u think this violates the ESRB rating?
July 11, 2005
Health and Wellness Video Games
Here's a few interesting nuggets on the trend toward tying in a health and wellness throughline into video games, and different kinds of games that may remind us that we have legs and they, like..are for things other than propping up on the ottoman while taking out enemy shooters in Rainbow Six..(not that I would know..)
Fat is the villain.. [LA Times, Free Registration]
Nutrition Explorations
Yourself Fitness
July 09, 2005
7/7 Community
Flickr set of the London bombings. Interesting example of news coverage, expression, and commentary by the embedded masses.
NYtimes, not exactly impressed.
July 06, 2005
Casual Games Conference
http://www.casualgamesconference.com/
The new Casual Games Conference takes place July 19-20, 2005 in Seattle, Washington and provides insights to the business opportunities and design considerations required for developers, publishers and distributors to succeed in this rapidly-expanding game industry segment.
This looks interesting! More for us non-hardcore gamers who play Zuma and what not on every portable device they own...
July 05, 2005
Façade released
After 5 years of development, Andrew Stern and Michael Mateas have released Façade, their one-act interactive drama, under their new aptly-named shingle Procedural Arts. You can download Façade for free, or if you don't want to wait for all 800MB of it, you can order a 2-CD installer.
Those of you who haven't seen Façade yet are missing out. It represents the latest and greatest in AI-driven characters, dynamic drama management, and it doesn't give up any humanity in favor of pure technology (The New York Times recently called Façade "the future of video games"). You can read more about the technical details from our friends at Grand Text Auto. Congratulations to Andrew and Michael!via water cooler games
July 03, 2005
NY Times: Television That Leaps Off the Screen
By MICHAEL KRANTZ
Published: July 3, 2005
IN a nondescript optics lab in tucked into an anonymous office park in the San Fernando Valley, the photon hackers of Deep Light are showing me the future of media. The object of their affection is a small screen on which an animated gladiator is clashing scimitars with a horned monster in a Coliseum-like setting. But this isn't a flat cartoon image: it's full 3-D space, the combatants circling each other inches from my eyes so convincingly that my hand twinges to grab them - and I'm not wearing those clunky red-and-blue cardboard glasses, either. I'm seeing a 3-D image with the naked eye. My host, Deep Light's co-founder Dan Mapes, bounces on his heels, giggling with delight. "It's cool, isn't it?"
July 02, 2005
Slamdance Student Game Competition
Slamdance Games has announced a Student Game Design Competition for this year's Slamdance Film Festival. Selected finalists will be displayed on Slamdance’s website and be shown at the Games venue during the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City.
Deadline: August 1, 2005
More at: www.slamdance.com
Slamdance is calling for all new games from student designers, programmers, and artists. Selected games will be judged online, and winners will be announced before the Slamdance Film Festival, which occurs in Park City, Utah, January 19-27, 2006. There will be two awards; Physics, an award that will judge engine, tool, and A.I. programming, implementation, and game play; and Philosophy, an award that will judge story, character design, sound design, and visual effects.
Game submissions have an early-postmarked deadline of August 1, 2005 and a final postmarked deadline of September 19, 2004. The entrance fee is $25 for games that meet the early deadline, and $35 for others. Entrants must submit 3 hard copies of their game and provide a URL. Entry forms and application information are available through the Slamdance website at www.slamdance.com.
Is the Game Industry Really Bigger than the Film Industry?
Once a niche market and considered by some as a curiosity in the mid-1970s, the video game industry now takes in USD$10 billion per year worldwide. Contrary to the popular belief, the video game industry is not bigger than Hollywood. The film industry as a whole makes $180 billion per year, while book publishing makes $23 billion per year. (From Wikipedia)
The claim that the video game industry has surpassed the film industry has been made a lot in recent years. I'm not sure I buy it. I have heard reports that the game industry bloats their numbers by including console sales, while the film industry only counts the box office. If the two industries went head-to-head comparing everything specifically related to them (including motion picture cameras, projectors, DVD players, etc. on the one hand vs. consoles, high-end graphic cards, etc. on the other), I wonder which would truly come out on top. Anyone got hard numbers they want to show me?
