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Tales of the Shire trailer shows what life as a regular Hobbit looks like
Weta Workshop and Private Division have released the first trailer for Tales of The Shire. You play as a Hobbit in this Lord of the Rings cozy life sim.
Unity cuts 265 jobs as part of a company 'reset'
Unity Software is eliminating 3.8 percent of its global workforce and terminating an agreement with VFX company Weta as part of a 'reset.'
Engadget Podcast: A $249 Surface Laptop and Black Friday prep
This week, Cherlynn and Devindra chat about the launch of our Holiday Gift Guide, and the $249 Surface Laptop SE.
Epic Games partners with 'Hobbit' effects company Weta for VR tech
Last year, Epic Games Chief Technology Officer Kim Libreri and Unreal Engine 4 General Manager Ray Davis visited some friends at Lord of the Rings effects studio Weta Digital in Wellington, New Zealand. They only wanted a tour of the studio, but along the way they ran into Weta's head of R&D, Alasdair Coull. He mentioned that he was messing around with Unreal Engine 4, Epic's game development platform. Fast-forward to March 2015: Epic Games and Weta are showing off a virtual reality demo featuring the greedy dragon, Smaug, swimming through mountains of gold in the second Hobbit film, voiced in all his baritone glory by actor Benedict Cumberbatch. Smaug speaks directly to the person in the headset -- Oculus Rift's Crescent Bay model -- and his daunting size is on full display; 500 feet of red-scaled, deep-speaking Smaug.
Valve's full-scale Portal turret is another treat from Weta Workshop, check out the unboxing video
Last week Valve showed off an impressive Portal turret replica, but didn't mention where the thing came from, or why. Now it's posted another video of the original unboxing, and mentions that like its earlier TF2 turret, this is a Weta Workshop project complete with motion sensor for tracking. Those flashing lights appear to be just for show, but with both of those monoliths patrolling the lobby we'll probably wait for an invitation before stopping by.
WETA Workshop takes time off from The Hobbit to design for TF2
In case you missed it buried behind the Soldier's glorious mutton chops, Team Fortress 2's new weapons from Dr. Grordbort's Infallible Aether Oscillators were created in conjunction with WETA Workshop, the makers of Orcs, Na'vi and Prawns for most of the blockbuster movies of this generation. WETA's Greg Broadmore designed Dr. Grordbort's Infallible Aether Oscillators, which include the Righteous Bison and Cow Mangler 5000, two new weapons in the Victory Pack. To better acquaint players with these stellar WETA weapons, Valve has posted a comic featuring the Soldier and WETA promises special promo coupons at its booth at San Diego Comic-Con. Just watch out for the cow pies.
Weta Workshop builds real-life TF2 sentry gun, minus the screaming and blood (video)
Weta Workshop is filled with engineers, and that means they solve problems. Practical problems. For instance, how Valve Software is going to keep its throng of Team Fortress 2 players in awe. The answer? Use a gun. Like this heavy-caliber, tripod-mounted, fastidiously crafted life-size reproduction of The Engineer's level 1 Sentry Gun, which features a bona fide motion sensor for tracking whosoever is fool enough to venture into Valve's geektastic lobby in Bellevue, Washington and touch the darn thing. We're ready to volunteer. Video after the break.
Check out Weta's Halo Warthog this weekend in Sydney Harbor
For those within the vicinity of Sydney, Australia, the land down under, it might be fun to check out the Halo Warthog on display this weekend on Cockatoo Island. The car is the same one from Neill Blomkamp's Halo short Landfall created by special effects studio Weta. Although for many the idea of putting on their best Master Chief uniform and spending a couple grand to fly to Sydney isn't exactly a viable option, with any luck, a version of the car will make the rounds in the States for the Halo 3: ODST launch. No guarantee, but keep the dream alive, trooper. [Via Kotaku]
Weta's Cortana statue unboxed, fabulous
About a year ago, Weta -- the studio behind the effects and sets in the Lord of the Rings films -- announced it was producing several Halo collectibles, including an awfully gorgeous Cortana statue. It looks like a Halo fan by the name of MsValentine has finally laid hands on one and, lucky for us, she decided to share the unboxing pictures with the whole internet. These things are going for upwards of $150, so, unless you've got the cash to throw around, this might be the only chance you'll have to actually see one.Our verdict: It looks pretty slick, apart from that distracting Master Chief hand.[Via HBO]
Double-amputee New Zealander has mermaid dreams fulfilled
New Zealander Nadya Vessey -- who lost both of her legs to the knee when she was a child -- has just received a prosthesis that's pretty much unlike anything we've ever seen (outside of Splash). About two years ago, she approached Weta Workshop, who specialize in design and manufacturing of costumes and special effects (and have worked on projects such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy) to see if the company might be interested in making her a working, prostethic mermaid tail. Turns out they were, and they've just completed the final product. The tail, which is composed of wetsuit fabric and plastic molds, with a custom paint job and digitally-imaged effects, enables Nadya to swim quite effectively, apparently, and is an all around sexy piece of machinery. No word on what one of these slick dudes would cost in real life, but we have a feeling we couldn't justify the expense just to tool around in the kiddie pool.Update: Check out the video after the break![Thanks, Pyper]
Weta unveils gorgeous new Halo 3 collectibles
We have Halo 3 collectible figure news that comes straight from the floor at Comic-Con, where Weta unveiled a set of five new collectible statues depicting Master Chief, Cortana and various action scenes from within' the Halo universe. Currently, there are no pricing or release date details available, but just by looking at the quality and detail put into each one, we'd expect them to come with a pretty hefty price tag. You can drool over the collectible loveliness after the jump. But be warned. You may need an extra drool rag for these.
"Employee only" bronze Orc and wolf statue finds its way onto eBay
Here's an eBay auction that might be worth watching: A rather spiffy looking bronze statue of an Orcish Wolf Rider. While the statue looks pretty awesome on its own, what's intriguing is the source: the seller claims that this is the statue created exclusively for Blizzard by WETA employed sculptors Eden Small and Daniel Cockersell. You may recall this article in the OC Register (Alex Ziebart reported on it for WoW Insider here), which mentions the commission of a 12 foot high version of this statue for the courtyard of their new headquarters, to be installed this summer. Certainly, the statue looks pretty good, and it has an impressive pedigree. Daniel Cockersell himself has also created some pretty good looking Warhammer sculptures, and Small and Cockersell have also worked together on official merchandise for the upcoming Prince Caspian Movie and Doctor Who, among other things. I'm not sure I'll have the money to get in on this auction, since I imagine it'll get pretty high, but I do sort of want to head down to Irvine this summer just to drool over the larger version. I'm sure it'll look pretty sweet if this smaller statue is any indication.I have to admit to being curious as to which Blizzard employee decided they'd rather have a bit of extra pocket money instead of the statue, though, or if there's another reason that this statue has appeared on eBay, and from a seller in Ireland, at that. [Thanks for the tip, Lim!]
Halo film NOT still in production at WETA
Update: The source article cited by 1UP is outdated and concerns the studios' now dashed prospects at the time the Halo film was originally canned. Joystiq regrets the error.The Halo film is not "entirely dead" as director Neill Blomkamp said earlier this month. In fact, preparation for the movie continues at Peter Jackson's WETA Studios while Microsoft pursues new distribution partners, according to a report in Variety (via 1UP).Concerning the previous deal that went sour, Ken Kamins, a representative for Jackson and partner Fran Walsh, told Variety that Universal had a meeting on behalf of both studios with the filmmakers just prior to a significant payment due date."Basically, [the studios] said that in order to move forward with the film, the filmmakers had to significantly reduce their deals," said Kamins. "They waited until the last minute to have this conversation. Peter and Fran, after speaking with their producing partners and with Microsoft and Bungie, respectfully declined.""We're very confident this film will move forward with the creative partners intact, who will take the film to production," said Kamins, who also noted that everyone involved is still confident with Blomkamp as the director.
Halo's Arms Race, or when live-action is more dead than CGI
In an obvious move, Peter Moore concluded Microsoft's E3 keynote with a trifecta of Halo data. But what we're still a bit befuddled by, is the 1 minute, 52 seconds of quasi-live-action footage, presented as a collaboration between Bungie, director Neill Blomkamp, and WETA.Moore introduced the footage as "a chance to see what they've been working on, and a new chance to believe." It's a fuzzy statement, to be sure, and one that was not clarified once the live-action spot, and the keynote, ended. Admittedly, we were perplexed. Was this an indication that the Halo movie was back on track? Or something else?
Halo short film revealed, along with special 360 console [update]
The Microsoft E3 2007 keynote ended with a blast, as Peter Moore introduced "Arms Race," a short live-action Halo short film produced by a collaboration of Weta Studios and Bungie, as well as introducing a special, limited-edition Halo-branded Xbox 360.Said Moore, "I'm very pleased to present to you a unique partnership between Bungie Studios, Weta down in New Zealand, and director Neill Blomkamp... [It] gives you a chance to see what they've been working on, and a new chance to believe." The footage featured shots of a young man being prepped for battle, the manufacturing of UNSC-branded helmets, as well as several recognizable vehicles and weapons from the Halo universe.Moore also showed off a new Halo-branded Xbox 360, a dark, Spartan green, with orange highlights. Moore announced that the console -- designed for what he affectionately calls the "Halo Nation" -- would be available during the holiday season, although no further details about either the console or the potential film were revealed. [Update: Added video andt clarified information concerning the footage.]
Peter Jackson: no Blomkamp, no Halo movie
The Halo movie has been through its share of ups and downs. Fans will recall that Universal and FOX backed out of the picture some time ago. Speaking to Stuff.co.nz, Peter Jackson, previously brought on as producer of the film, said that he expects Universal and FOX to show renewed interest in the film after the release of Halo 3. Given the game's staggering pre-order numbers, he might be right. Also noteworthy, Jackson states that he won't produce the film without Neill Blomkamp, whom Jackson chose based on his short film work.What do you think, fanboys? Has Halo missed its chance at Hollywood success, or will Halo 3 spark a renewed interest?[Via Joystiq]
Industrial Research creates 3D crime scene/movie set scanner
New Zealand's Industrial Research looks to be attracting quite a bit of interest in its prototype handheld 3D scanner, snagging fellow New Zealanders Weta Digital to help put the technology through its paces and now hoping the police will hop on board to put the scanner to more grisly uses. According to the company, the scanner's equally adept at creating a detailed 3D model of a crime scene as it is of a movie set and, what's more, it can be done in only two minutes. The model can then be examined at will by police, presented to a jury, or be used to create the most disturbing Second Life avatar ever. The scanner itself consists of a digital camera with an on-board laser that determines the distance to the object, although it also apparently requires that targets be placed around the scene to properly scan the object -- or person, as the case may be. It also currently needs to be wired to a computer to work, although NZIR says the scanner will be fully wireless by the time its ready to hit the market two years from now. [Via The Raw Feed]
Bungie optimistic about Halo movie's future
In response to news that Universal and Fox have pulled out of the Halo movie project, Bungie claims there's more to the story than has been reported. For now, Bungie is all "optimism, satisfaction and happiness for reasons [it] can't go into."In its most recent weekly update, Bungie takes a stab at Universal and Fox, suggesting that the studios were too concerned with "the numbers" to be ideal partners. After all, Bungie reminds us that the Halo film is a delicate "creative process," implying that a reported $200 million budget, in the hands of a rookie director, is an investment worth making when Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, WETA, and Microsoft are on-board -- and, Bungie confirms, they are all still on-board and continuing with pre-production. Sounds like a deal to lure a new partner is already in the works.
Halo gets a director and another year
Please take a moment to sample the video above. Now, let that sink in. What you have just witnessed is the work of the newly chosen director of (drumroll please) Halo. That's right ladies and germs, the mystery has been put to rest. It's not Guillermo. It's not Peter Jackson himself. It's a relatively unknown South African (did you hear that Ludwig?) director by the name of Neill Blomkamp. Though Blomkamp's resume consists mostly of short films and commercials, his work has garnered him many awards (including 3 Clios and a Visual Effects Society Award). Also, the Halo movie has been pushed back to 2008, ending any speculation that it would launch day and date with Halo 3. Choosing a little known director whose work has been primarily in commercials and short films is an interesting choice. Then again, Jackson himself started out making campy horror films (so did Sam Raimi of Spider-Man fame) so, who's to say? Do you think he's up to the job?[Via Joystiq]
Weta's giant, imposing love letter to Nintendo
Weta Workshop's "Tripod" -- launched in November '05 to promote the film industry in New Zealand -- is a 6.5m (about 21') tall, 5 ton bronze and steel statue that "appear to be made from railway sleepers for legs, excavator arms and hydraulic pistons, videogame console parts and toasted sandwich makers." Video game console parts, eh? Like what? A poster at the NZGamer forums took some close-ups of an N64 controller (pictured) and a Game Boy (after the break) built into the legs. It's only a matter of time before this thing takes on religious significance for the Nintendo faithful; jaded gamers will go on pilgrimages to Wellington to experience the healing effects of the Tripod. [Via El Jaso]
