Languages in Muds
A look at how to create computationally, a variety of different languages in a themed virtual environment, such that those native to one culture have a language they can communicate in, which only those who learn the language can understand. The article discusses how to set things up so that those who ?speak? it in the virtual, don?t actually have to understand that they are speaking it on a conscious level. Article has text in mind, procedure would work as well for voice.

One of those rarest of rare books: An animation tome that is not tied down to a specific package. Instead, expect a hefty dose of mathematics, as the author leads you through a variety of animation techniques, both 2D and 3D, from a formulae and expression based perspective.

Timing for Animation by this pair of authors, is back in print. This book, over 20 years old, was and still is the definitive tome for animation. Whether drawn sculpted or CGI, making something move realistically is all about timing. Timing first, second, and last. When to move, when not to move, what to move, and how much to move.

There always seems to be an artificial disconnect between the skillset necessary to draw in 2D and that necessary to animate with CGI. Many books treat it as if you have to unlearn all you know from one, to learn the other, even when that is clearly not the case. This tome shows why it is not.

This tome is, as the4 title suggests, more of an overview for the subject than a detailed how-to. It covers everything from the very basics of computerised model animation, right through rigging and boning, on to timing and lighting ? but it does so without going into painstaking detail on any one topic.

This book is an animation expert's attempt to ?dump his kit? as the author puts it, and share with others the fundamentals of animation that are not generally taught outside of industry practice, and always were taught behind closed doors.

Much of the book is understandably dedicated to cinematography and animation using theatric props. However, even these sections provide insight on how to create an interactive 3D area that achieves dramatic effect almost effortlessly for those entering it, or different approaches to creating a winged avian, that the mind of a visitor will still process as a graceful bird.

C is one of the languages of choice for virtual world development. Clean, efficient, and quick, it does require a slight shift in paradigm from the BASIC collection.

20 issues of porting C++ code on the 64-bit platform
A gamedev article, ritten for programmers who use C++ in particular, but applicable to all languages. Discusses problems in the port of code from 32bit, to 64 bit architectures.

virtual learning centre using the power of animation and simulation
This report from Fort Hays State University in the US, is a refreshing look at how educational establishments are independently starting to make use of VR to bolster learning. In this case, via the creation of a virtual learning centre using the power of animation and simulation.

(03/06/2009)
10 June 2009 - 10 June 2009
Edinburgh, UK

Facial animation is a broad and exciting area of research drawing on multiple disciplines: computer graphics and animation provide the means to render and display a face; com...

(03/06/2009)
June 17th - 19th, 2009
Amsterdam, Netherlands

CASA is the leading international conference in the field of computer animation and social agents. CASA 2009 will provide great opportunities to interact with leading expe...

(13/04/2007)
(Press Release) Cheetah3D 4.0 was released at the end of March. The fourth major release of Cheetah3D finally offers character animation tools. With Cheetah3D 4.0 you can now easily animate characters for creating your own 3D short films.

Cut-and-paste simplicity for computer animation

(01/08/2010)
Tools developed by European researchers bring cut-and-paste simplicity to gaming and animation. Users will be able to cut-and-paste complex elements like emotion, tone of voice and facial expression, making compelling new content, cheaply a...

Mundos Digitales 2012 - 11th Conference on Animation, VFX, Videogames and Digital Architecture

(23/07/2012)
July 4th 2012 - July 7th 2012
Coruña, Spain

Mundos Digitales is a festival based on 3D Animation, Visual Effects, Videogames and Architectural Visualization. Each festival includes several conferences on 3D Animation,...