RenderPal 2.3 has been released

The third point release of RenderPal V2 brings many major new features and improvements:

Most notable is the introduction of net job presets, which can be used to store several net job settings for later reuse. These presets can also be used in conjunction with the console remote controller, so they are an ideal addition for advanced pipeline integration.

We made many improvements to the frame checking. Manual frame checking can now be performed on single net job chunks, as well as on net jobs which are still pending, which wasn't possible previously. Also, most frame checking settings are now made automatically, making its configuration even easier.

To further automate automatic shutdown of unused clients in a render farm, it is now possible to specify a schedule for automatic idle clients shutdown activation. During these scheduled times, the automatic idle clients shutdown will be automatically activated for the corresponding pool.

The entire networking code of RenderPal V2 has been rewritten, which results in a huge traffic reduction, as well as improved performance. We also vastly improved the connection handling, leading to far less unnecessary connections made.

There are also numerous smaller additions and improvements (and some bug fixes, of course), like VNC integration, new console remote controller features like importing render sets and net job presets, a net job column to show the total CPU time of a net job and much more.

Monsters, Inc. 2 Confirmed?!

Remember the big Toy Story display at the Las Vegas International Licensing Fair we posted about last week?

Wasn’t this about a Monsters sequel? You did not read the title of this article incorrectly, that big display for Pixar’s 2010 release wasn’t the only thing Disney showed for Pixar Animation Studios… Jim Hill Media is reporting that another Pixar sequel (besides Cars 2) was previewed for potential licensees at this year’s fair behind closed doors . Yup, you guessed it! It’s the long rumored sequel to Pete Docter’s directorial debut, Monsters, Inc.!

Unlike the other Pixar sequels, the blog is reporting that the original director will be helming part 2. So while the Up DVD/Blu-ray/Awards tours are wrapping… UP, we can expect Pete to talk up Mike and Sulley’s return to the big screen! When can I come back to Monstropolis I hear you ask? Tentatively, 2013.

Also of note: Remember how Monsters, Inc. on Blu-ray was supposed to come out this Spring but was pushed back to this Fall? Sounds to me like a good conversation starter for a sequel. Speaking of release dates, this rumored (or is it confirmed?) sequel will be out 12 years after the original in 2001, just saying.

We’ll bring you any more information that finds it’s way online as soon as possible. But for now, tell us what you think? Are you excited for this project or are the scream canisters in Monstropolis quickly filling up?

Tale of Tales releases "The Path - Prologue"

The Path, a controversial indie horror game based on the fairy tale of Little Red Ridinghood, has been out since March. But we've released a free demo version over the weekend which you may enjoy.

http://tale-of-tales.com/blog/2009/...w-chapter-free/

http://tale-of-tales.com/ThePath
for more info and downloads.

'Heavy Metal’ Adds Cameron, Verbinksi, Snyder as Directors

Later today you’ll have the chance to read our full interview with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman, but I figured I’d whet your appetite by sharing the news that not only is the project on track with David Fincher behind the wheel, but that James Cameron, Zack Snyder and Gore Verbinski have all signed on to direct segments of Heavy Metal.

These are Eastman’s own words:

I’ve got breaking news that Fincher and James Cameron are going to be Co-Executive Producers on the film. Fincher will direct one. Cameron will direct one. Zack Snyder is going to direct one and Gore Verbinski is going to. Mark Osborne and Jack Black from Tenacious D are going to do a comedy segment for the film. Three other directors have agreed but we haven’t signed them, but they’re equally as jaw-dropping. So we’re on cloud nine to be working with such an amazing amount of talent.”

We’ve known for a bit that Verbinski and Snyder had been involved, but James Cameron’s involvement is news to me. A bit earlier is was reported that Mark Osborne (Kung Fu Panda) would also be directing a segment, but teaming up with Jack Black again could definitely be awesome.

This is incredible. “An amazing amount of talent,” is probably the only way I’d know how to describe that group of directors. Scoring James Cameron not only as an Executive Producer, but also as a director for one of the segments is a major win. Although, considering the subject matter, I could see how Cameron’s love of science fiction solidified his involvement.

I think I’m on cloud nine right now, too.

Government Funded Face Cloning

It's interesting to see the US and UK governments funding something like face tracking/cloning technology. I suspect the primary application for this will play some role in national security protocol somewhere (probably quite a few somewheres), but it also looks like it will make it's way into the commercial sector at some point. It looks pretty accurate, may deliver a solution for capture free non-linear face animation and may eliminate the need for blend shape creation almost completely for those situations that really require breakneck speed production at a higher quality than what's currently available. My hope is that if it does become commercially available, because it is partly publicly funded there will be less profit motive behind it's delivery, in a perfect world it would be nice to see a version of this released to the open source community, but we'll see.

The research is being done at the University of East Anglia (UEA):

UEA: Face Cloning

Some Vids:

Expression Cloning

The Register's Article on this:

'Cloned' CGI faces mimic people 'better than skilled actors'

Box Office Buzz: Up Still High Up There; Breaks $100 Mil. Mark

Up is still flying high at the box office, word of mouth seems to be bringing Pixar’s latest to new heights!

Up puns aside, these past week days were outstanding, but the projections for the weekend are phenomenal! Since a major chunk of Up’s audience is still in school, week days have seen a little bit of a downgrade from that of WALL•E‘s but it’s still doing remarkably well overall slightly ahead of the studio’s predecessor.

The weekend is when it really gets exciting. Slash Film is reporting that Up is headed for $45 million, possibly achieving a second weekend at #1! That would bring Up’s total up to an estimated $138 million, hovering past the competition including sequels like Night at the Museum 2 and Terminator Salvation! If it doesn’t reach the top spot again, it’ll be right behind The Hangover which, alongside Up, destroyed Land of the Lost!

Some more exciting news (but not surprising), Up zoomed past the $100 mil. mark Friday bringing in an estimated $13,500,000! That gets Pixar’s 10th film an almost guaranteed $106,572,000 at the box office as of that day!

Want to see Up… up where it belongs? Keep on supporting the film and tell all your friends how amazing it was! We’ll bring you the final weekend numbers when they’re available!

More Details on Toy Story Mania! and Cars Race-O-Rama Video Games

With the E3 Expo wrapping up, video games have been in the spotlight lately. Of course games based on Pixar movies were previewed there, specifically Toy Story Mania! for Wii and Cars Race-O-Rama.

Let’s start with the Wii version of the extremely popular DCA/DHS ride. Cover art for the September release of Toy Story Mania! has recently been revealed and I have to say it looks pretty great, let’s just hope the game is as well. Unlike most Pixar games, this shooter is being developed by Disney Interactive Studios and Papaya, DIS will be the norm starting with the Toy Story 3 VG. Let’s also hope Disney’s in-house developers manage this side of Pixar’s operations better than THQ. Click here for hands on game play!

Speaking of THQ, the interactive house is releasing the third video game in the Cars franchise, Race-O-Rama. In this new installment you play as your own version of Lightning McQueen, customize him as you’d like and race through new tracks. Out of all the THQ/Pixar games, Cars has to be one of the most fun and interactive so I have higher hopes. The trailer that premiered at E3 can be seen over at Game Trailers.

Both games have a projected E rating and will cost $49.99. Do you think you’ll be buying either one of these upcoming Pixar interactives?