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How 'feel' trumps realism in H1Z1's weapon design
H1Z1 Senior Game Designer Jimmy Whisenhunt has penned another dev blog about SOE's inbound survival sandbox, this one aimed at weapon design, starting with the modeling and rigging process. Animation design in particular, he says, is critical. "A huge part of the tuning process that is commonly overlooked in FPS game development is how a weapon reacts to in-game actions," Whisenhunt explains. "Design and Animation have to be in lock-step for a successful feel in combat; we need to have the same vision to ensure a solid experience for the player." He also discusses recoil and shooting mechanics and how "feel" can trump realism. "We've mentioned in the past that we want to avoid tuning and creating things simply because they 'that's the way it is in real life,' which means I get to take to take a realistic ballistic and weapon recoil feel and make it feel satisfying and fun. Typically the gravity of projectiles in real life doesn't fit the intended play experience we seek out. After all, the weapon feel and functionality has to fit our world design as well as Zombie and Player combat." The full dev blog is on the official site. We took a look at H1Z1's art and lighting effects last week.
WoW Moviewatch: Blood Shaman
Yes, we're getting a Warcraft movie, but this animated trailer by Dragon Films -- which is more than we've seen of the actual Warcraft movie -- makes us kind of want an animated version. Sure, this trailer has its flaws, with Russian voiceover and slightly stiff (in places) animation, but the art is undeniably gorgeous. Considering the trailer itself is about a year old, we aren't sure whether we'll be seeing any more of Blood Shaman... but even without English voiceover, we're pretty sure it would be worth watching. Plus, with WoW's recent storyline putting orcs center stage, it's nice to see other races in the spotlight -- and the animation style works great with the tauren characters on display. And if you'll excuse me, I need to roll a tauren shaman now.... Interested in the wide world of machinima? We have new movies every weekday here on WoW Moviewatch! Have suggestions for machinima we ought to feature? Toss us an email at moviewatch@wowinsider.com.
Lords of War Part Two: Grommash Hellscream
The second installment of Blizzards animated short series Lords of War debuted today, shedding more background on the leader of the Iron Horde: Grommash Hellscream. There's not doubt that Grommash is a pivotal figure in the upcoming expansion, with his son, Garrosh, having been a central figure in the Mists of Pandaria. Like the previous installment of Lords of War, the new episode opens with Maraad urging Varian to take the offensive and march through the new Dark Portal to face the Iron Horde head on. He then goes on to tell the tale of the events that earned Grommash the undying loyalty of his Warsong clan and how he, against incredible odds, bested the ogre nations united against him. We also get a glimpse of Grommash's mate, Golka, and her fate at the hands of the retaliating ogres. Check out Lords of War Part Two: Grommash, and learn more about the senior Hellscream, and what makes him who he is.
FireScribe for iPhone lets you share colorful animated messages
FireScribe (US$0.99) is a cute app for sending something beyond a typical text message. The app creates fireworks against any background you choose, then spells out your custom message in pyrotechnics, letter by letter. You start be selecting a background. It can be from your camera roll, Facebook, or from a gallery included with the app, or you can take a fresh photo from within the app. Type your text, and then the app will render the video. From there it saves it to your camera roll for sending via email or Apple Messages. The videos are pretty compressed and are 12-15 seconds in length. I wouldn't want to send a fireworks message on a regular basis, but they are attention getting and easy to create. Of course the app is most appropriate around certain fireworks-friendly holidays like Independence Day here in the US, but really it works anytime. Your text sits on the standard fireworks lattice that such displays in the real world use. I'd also like to see an option to lose the lattice and just have the fireworks float unattached. FireScribe requires iOS 6 or greater. It's not universal, but it will run on any iDevice. If you are a frequent messenger you might like it, and the people I sent some FireScribe messages to were pretty happy and surprised.
Riot Games promises to increase diversity in League of Legends
League of Legends features a lot of diversity among its male champions, but the female champions all feature a fairly uniform body type. That's something the developers at Riot Games are keen on changing. In response to a fan question at SDCC, producer Omar Kendall said that the company has been introducing new ways of looking at body types and shapes, with the end goal of making female champions who don't look like the others. Kendall went on to specify that the call for more diversity is one that players should see represented soon in a new character coming out. He also noted that diversity is being strongly considered with further character designs and any new champions. Game designer Brian Feeney noted that it would be a net boon to the game as a whole -- as Riot is very concerned with distinctive silhouettes, a more robust selection of body types makes it easier to tell champions apart.
Morph's crowdfunded comeback premieres on YouTube today
It's been a long time since Morph came out with any fresh material, but thanks to a lump of crowdfunding cash, the comical clay character's put together a new sketch show that premieres on YouTube today. Shape-shifting Morph first appeared on a children's art show in the late '70s before starring in several of his own, but his career's been stagnant for several years now. In an attempt to revive it, the stop-motion specialists at Aardman Animations -- who also created Wallace and Gromit -- pulled a Veronica Mars and took to Kickstarter for funds. They raised enough to bankroll a new 15-part series featuring Morph and friends, the first episode of which has just been released on YouTube (and is embedded below). If you're interested in future episodes, hit the subscription button on Morph's channel, where you'll also find a wealth of classic footage to eyeball.
Mythbuster Adam Savage explains how to bring cartoons to the real world with an iPhone
Last month, you might remember seeing the work of storyboard artist Marty Cooper (aka Hombre McSteez). If you didn't (then go watch it right now), he's the man behind "Aug(De)mented Reality," a three minute collection of entertaining stop-motion cartoons that have been brought into the real world. He does so using only transparent plastic cells, a sharpie, Wite Out, then capturing it all on his iPhone 5s. If it left you wondering what iPhone app Cooper uses (StopMotion Recorder) or how he manages to match each frame with the scene, then you're in luck, as he's taken the time to show none other than Mythbusters legend Adam Savage the tricks of the trade. In the video below, Cooper unleashes one of his creations inside the workshop, giving you a taste of how to bring your own imaginary monsters to life without any special effects.
Mythbuster Adam Savage on how to make stopmotion animation with iPhone
Adam Savage is no stranger to mixing science with whimsy. With his hit show Mythbusters, he and partner Jamie Hyneman have tackled everything from shark attacks to death rays. Of course, that show can't film all the time. To fill the other hours in the day, Savage runs a web series called Inside Adam Savage's Cave, where he does experiments, shows off oddities, and generally makes merriment. In today's episode, Savage has invited animator Marty Cooper into his cave to talk about traditional hand-drawn animation and augmented reality cartoons. The best part? All of the animation is made with an iPhone. Using the app StopMotion Recorder, a series of by-hand drawings made on transparencies, and a little bit of time, Savage and Cooper are able to create a few glorious stop-motion cartoons that delightfully float in the real world. We're including two videos. The first is the episode of Adam Savage's Workshop featuring Cooper and his animations. Finally, we've included Cooper's Aug(De)Mented Reality YouTube short featuring even more of his incredible animations. Enjoy.
Adobe updates its iPad Voice app, linking it to Lightroom Mobile sync
Adobe has posted a quick update to the fascinating Adobe Voice app. Adobe Voice is designed to create animated videos with very little work. As we noted in our review, it integrates animation, photos and music to create quick, but professional-looking, presentations. With this latest update, Adobe Voice now syncs to Lightroom Mobile, which also lets you add photos from your Lightroom collection with a single tap. Since Adobe has now tied Lightroom on the Mac, iPhone and iPad together, collections become a use-and-edit-anywhere phenomenon. On top of the major Adobe announcements earlier today, it's clear that the company is looking to further dominate photo editing and presentation creation. Adobe Voice has already found its way into company boardrooms and education settings. The app is free, but using it requires an Adobe ID.
Create your own 'Toy Story' sequel with free tools from Pixar
Renderman is the in-house software that Pixar uses to produce its amazing animated films, oh, and Cars. The studio charges a pretty penny to license it out to its rivals, but doesn't feel that hobbyists and students should cough up those same fees. That's why it's going to give the full version of Renderman v.19 away for free when it launches at SIGGRAPH in August. Unlike other trial versions of high-end software, the company isn't hobbling the tool, instead, it's just trusting you to use it for non-commercial purposes only. Who knows, maybe you'll spend the next year building up a showreel that'll swing you a job over at Emeryville -- wouldn't that be the dream, eh?
Angry Birds Stella debuts in September, is familiar, pinker
The first screen of the Angry Birds Stella spin-off series doesn't reinvent the wheel, but simply gives it a touch-up. Clearly Rovio's looking to attract a certain audience with "feisty" new heroine Stella and her "fierce" friends when the first game hits in September. On the other hand, it's not like it's overflowing with tiny dogs in handbags. "The Stella story will engage and entertain everyone," said Rovio. "It's about courage, fun and daring to be you, with a spirit of female heroism and friendship. Each character is unique and powerful in their own way but together they cause even more mischief, take adventures to new heights and prove that true friends are there for each other through every battle." IRovio also adds the game will prove a challenge for even the "most hardened" Angry Birds players. There's no news yet on other Stella entries, but a new 13-episode cartoon series is confirmed for ToonsTV and other services in November. Also expect books, the Skylanders-like Telepods accessories, and miniature Stellas in handbags by the end of the year.
Watch an artist bring cartoons to the real world using his phone
If you think that plain reality is boring, you're not alone. Storyboard artist Marty Cooper (aka Hombre McSteez) has been bringing his "Aug(De)mented Reality" cartoons into the real world through a clever technique that draws on both his iPhone and the transparent plastic cells used by old-school animators. When he finds an interesting location, he both draws dozens of frames to match the scene and captures it all with an equal number of photos; from there, he stitches together short videos that bring everything to life.
The Daily Grind: Which MMO has the best 'ding'?
Unless you're into sandboxy skill-based MMORPGs, the actual process of leveling up is probably an important part of whatever themepark you're playing. WildStar has been jeered at for its over-the-top level-up animation. EverQuest's ding is infamous; the jarring "chonnggggg" of it still haunts me, and some clever modder even made a plugin to add it to Skyrim. On the other end of the spectrum is Guild Wars 2, in which I frequently overlook the fact that I've leveled up at all because the cues are relatively unobtrusive. What do you guys think is the best MMORPG "ding" of all time? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
YouTube find: 10,000 iPhone "dominoes"
This clever animation from Atama Studio was produced to illustrate the potential of NFC on the iPhone 5. You'll notice that, as each CG iPhone falls, it triggers the image on the phone next to it. The effect is most dramatic at the end, when a huge grid of fallen iPhones create a single "display" and produce one huge image. Of course, the iPhone 5 came and went without a NFC bone in its body. Still, this is a pretty cool animation. The elevator bit is my favorite.
Fuzel updates its collage maker with animation and music
I looked at the Fuzel app last year and found it a nice way to make some striking collages on iOS. A new update puts your images in motion with tasteful zooms, and lets you add music from your iTunes library or use the music contained in the app. You can also select frames and the arrangement of photos or make static collages. You can create your own photo arrangement instead of relying on the provided templates. Variations can easily number in the hundreds. The app lets you determine the length of your video, and changes can reflect the beats in the music. Making an attractive collage is easy, with intuitive commands and an undo feature. Once your collage is done, it can be saved to your photo roll, or shared via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr and Tumblr. The app works well, but it is not universal. I saw a couple of crashes using it scaled up on my third-generation iPad. It was rock solid on my iPhone 5s. While the app is free, there are a variety of in-app purchases that range from US$0.99 to $4.99. The purchases get you more frames and other graphic elements. When you save your work in the free version, you get a Fuzel logo at the lower-right corner, and it can be removed with an in-app purchase. I would have preferred there be no logo, and the non-animated older version did not have one. Fuzel requires iOS 7 or later, and it is optimized for the iPhone 5. I can only vouch for the app stability on an iPhone, but you may have better luck on your iPad. As the app is free, it is easy to check.
Would Warcraft make a good animated movie?
If you've ever wondered what Jasmine from Aladdin would look like as a blood elf, wonder no more. Thanks to this story on Kotaku, we get to see how DeviantART poster LiberLibelula would design various Disney characters in terms of the races of World of Warcraft, and while some are no real surprises (Snow White as a dwarf lass) some caught me off guard (Rapunzel as a gnome I did not see coming, and I was pleasantly surprised by draenei Cinderella and troll Kida from Atlantis: The Lost Empire). The art style here is interesting and captures both inspirations well, in my opinion, and it gets me wondering why we've never seen a Warcraft cartoon of any kind. Frankly, while we're waiting for a Warcraft movie, I've always wondered why we never saw anything like the Diablo III Wrath trailer for the Warcraft setting. Seeing these images only makes me wonder more - we've seen enough comics and graphic novels in the Warcraft setting to convince me a wide variety of animation styles and artwork could work, so where's our Animatrix for WoW? I've always been a big fan of the DC Animated films (frankly, I think they're better than the live action movies in most cases) and I'd definitely like to see Blizzard do something similar for Warcraft. While we wait, you can always head over to LiberLivelula's gallery and dream.
Review: Animation Desk for iPad
This app goes in the "I can't believe you can do this on a iPad" category. Animation Desk (U.S. $4.99) lets you create freehand animations using a generous set of drawing tools and brushes. If you have any artistic ability at all, you can create animations that look professional. The interface Animation Desk presents looks similar to the tools an animator would use in the physical world. Make your drawing, add a new page and redraw with the changes. You can make really good looking animations for business presentations, for animated e-cards for friends, or just for your own enjoyment. When you're done, you can upload to YouTube or share your work on Facebook. Other nice features are the ability to add sound effects, and there are multiple frame rates, from 3 FPS to 24 FPS. I gave Animation Desk a try, and without any drawing ability, I created a passable animation with some moving stick figures. Frankly, it exceeded my expectations. If I have any criticism of the app it is that when you first turn it on you see an animation pad, some icons, and some buttons, but I didn't know what to do first. Happily, there was a drop down menu with excellent help, and some videos, but the app needs help marked on the main screen. Users should not have to search for assistance, as when you first start the app the array of features and icons is bewildering. Animation Desk has some in-app purchases, with things like pre-drawn Xmas elements, but I don't think the add-ons are a necessary requirement. You can get more info on Animation Desk at the developer website, with some example animations that are pretty impressive. I'm amazed at what can be achieved with this app. It's bargain-priced, and there is a version for the iPhone as well. Animation Desk requires IOS 5 or greater. There is also a free lite version if you wish to try the app without risk.
Gloria Victis updates animation tech, hires famous writers
We first heard of Gloria Victis during last year's unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign, but the medieval MMO has grown by leaps and bounds since then. The most recent update provides news on a reworked database, Warband creation, mo-cap animations, and the addition of three well-known writers for the game's lore. Jacek Komuda and Maciej Jurewicz have both worked on The Witcher and Bulletstorm, as well as dozens of other published works. Their "gritty, bloody, dark" style will show through in the game's storyline and the team at Black Eye Games hopes to show off a few lines for fans soon. [Source: Black Eye Games press release]
Visualized: global DDoS attacks animated and mapped by Google
Earlier today, Google announced it had built Project Shield to help small websites stay online during DDoS (distributed denial of service) strikes, and it turns out the search giant also unveiled a frequently-updated online map of such assaults. Dubbed Digital Attack Map, the project was created in partnership with Arbor Networks, which updates the site every hour with anonymous DDoS events from over 270 internet service providers it counts as customers. Animations of inbound, outbound and internal volleys from countries across the globe fill the map, and are accompanied by data regarding duration, bandwidth and more. However, only a partial picture of the situation is painted, and the source of incursions can be incorrect. Not only does the effort rely on an incomplete data set -- though Mountain View argues this is the most fleshed out around -- but the origin of DDoS attacks are often forged, and are sometimes unwilling computers directed by foreign-controlled botnets. This affair is far from scientific, but feel free to play security researcher for a day at the source.
Apple's iPad to join Disney's Little Mermaid in theaters in worst idea ever
Disney has announced plans to rerelease The Little Mermaid to theaters on September 20 in a move that should fill any fan of classic animation with glee. Of course it's not just a rerelease, or we wouldn't be talking about it on TUAW. No, this rerelease is dubbed The Little Mermaid: Second Screen Live, and it unofficially redefines "watching a movie" as "playing with your iPad in the theater." The rereleased film has been synced with an iPad app that gives users the ability to play games, sing-a-long to the movie (not such a terrible idea for kids) and interact with the characters. It's a brilliant idea for home video, especially since, at home, you won't be paying a premium price for each of your children to play with an app while not watching a movie. But in a theater? For a movie aimed at children? Should we as a culture further demystify going to see a movie by normalizing children to the idea that it's okay to play with their smartphones and tablets during movies? At first I worried I was overreacting. Maybe the full moon is around the corner and I'm about to turn into Andy Rooney at any minute. And then I watched the trailer for Second Screen Live. Yes. "Let's train children to compete" with other audience members to be the biggest distraction during a movie. This is charging parents a premium to teach their kids terrible in-theater behavior for a well-thought-out, glorified Blu-ray special feature. In a world where the movie-going experience is already regularly ruined by adults who are too selfish not to text, talk or web browse in the middle of an expensive movie experience, this seems like a short-sighted cash grab. I believe the children are the future, and if this is a trend that picks up, the children are going to be even more annoying than their parent's to watch movies with. Andy Rooney out.
