Siggraph 2011

[luceric]

The current opencl implementation in bullet is experimental and only support ATI, which is why this is sponsored by AMD. OpenCL is still a huge mess. Anyway, the feature is not bullet, it's exact shape collision in ICE, however it might be implemented

[Hirazi Blue]

In other Siggraph related (as in: announced at the same date) news:

Side Effects Software Inc. today announced that DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA) has procured a global site license of Houdini software. This announcement is an expansion of DreamWorks Animation's use of Houdini to create visual and character effects in its animated feature films.

(Quoted from here)

"We are excited to integrate Houdini as our core platform for effects and character effects development throughout our studios,” commented Darin Grant, Head of Production Technology at DreamWorks Animation. "Having a single platform for development allows us to focus on developing well integrated and leading edge techniques for our artists.”

(Quoted from here again)

[mattmos]

The London user group was good while it lasted, but sadly it didn't die because of Avid/Autodesk/Whoever. It mainly came down to the people who ran and managed it not having enough time to do it, along side their normal day jobs

That's true, I wasn't suggesting otherwise. When raff went to LA, and Alan went to LA, and I went to .. Bristol.. it didn't really seem feasable to keep it going.

Personally I would really like a Softimage and Maya users group for London, although at the moment we'd probably be showing self-defence lessons.
Joking aside, there has been attempts to get things going with Autodesk 'help', but nothing has ever stuck. If anyone has any ideas for London, I'd be happy to hear them.

There are a few people who are interested in starting something back up, and some of them are definitely staying around London for a while, so we should definitely talk about it over beers on thursday. When we're not venting that is.

I like the possible acronym for the Softimage London User Group ;)

[Rez007]

Anyone catch the URL for the guy who did the hummingbird ICE/feather tutorial? Thanks in advance.

[Hirazi Blue]

@Rez007 - Do you mean this one (just a guess): Ruffle demo?

[Rez007]

@Rez007 - Do you mean this one (just a guess): Ruffle demo?

Yup, that is the one. Mark just demoed it in the video, and that is the first time I saw it.

Thanks again!

[Hirazi Blue]

Not quite sure what to make of this (if anything):
Walt Disney Pictures and Autodesk Sign XGen Technology License Agreement
(but at least it's Siggraph related)
;)

[Hirazi Blue]

Is it just me, or doesn't Siggraph generate quite as many press release as it used to anymore? Looking at BusinessWire the pickings are quite slim. I seem to recall earlier editions resulted in way more press releases all around.

[ActionArt]

Well, it's a bit like space travel. CG is old news. To the casual observer, there isn't much new.

Anyone see anything from Nvidia/Mental Images yet? I haven't looked very hard.

Anything non-autodesk related that's exciting of SI users?

[calmasacow]

yeah there was something the other day about a change in strategy from nvidia. and it looks like there is going to start being a small Quardo card that will be the base model for just about everyone and then if you need more horsepower you will simply add more tesla GPUs to the system.

http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/08/nvid ... irtual-gr/

[Hirazi Blue]

Not something Softimage users will probably enjoy much at the moment,
but "Alembic 1.0", the open source computer graphics interchange format
developed by Sony Pictures Imageworks and Lucasfilm Ltd.
has been officially released...
More info: Alembic

[Rez007]

Not quite sure what to make of this (if anything):
Walt Disney Pictures and Autodesk Sign XGen Technology License Agreement
(but at least it's Siggraph related)
;)

I actually think that this is a pretty big deal and good news as well.

[ActionArt]

Looks like Marcos and the guys from Sony are showing some interesting volume stuff...

http://www.siggraph.org/s2011/for_atten ... ssions/126

[Hirazi Blue]

As this is once again a terribly slow day on the si-community,
let me spice it up a little with my very personal, (but not all too serious, I admit) feelings about the upcoming SAP:


Or to put it in (slightly more serious) words: there are some features that really appeal to me (the selection stuff mainly), but overall and especially after the inclusion of all them highly necessary model meshes, this SAP doesn't feel like a 2012.5 IMHO, more like a 2012.05. For some of the new features I have already been using user scripts/addons, so while it's nice they are included in the software now, I'm not terribly overwhelmed by them.

[ace63]

I agree on this upgrade not being so awesome, but it leaves me with hopes that they are planning something bigger for 2013.

[ActionArt]

I agree. It seems a bit light. When I saw modeling improvements I did expect a bit more than the small handful we got, and as you say, almost all of which were available as addons already. The modeling tools could have used a lot more cleanup and work I think but that's just me.

I was disappointed that there was really nothing at all for rendering improvements.

Siggraph itself seems quite lackluster this year. Maybe it's just the general economy and mood this year.