As you probably already know, this newsletter is basically about whatever we find interesting or exciting or earth-shattering at the given moment – whether it's software development, Queen tribute bands, Fallobello pony racing, or whatever else strikes our fancy. Naturally, we also include lots of information to help you get the most out of Illuminate Labs' incredibly cool tools, Turtle and Beast.
So read and enjoy and let us know if you have any input for future issues. Happy reading!
Epic Games has announced that it will make Illuminate Labs a part of Epic's prestigious Integrated Partners Program. This means that we will be working even more closely with one another and that Beast will be available to any publisher or developer that licenses UE3.
Unreal Engine 3's new toolset is designed specifically to accelerate developers' productivity for ultra-complex, next-generation content, and by being an Integrated Partner, we will be able to bring the power of Beast's lighting solutions to even more UE3 artists. Epic only establishes such formal business relationships with a limited number of exceptional companies that produce exceptional cross-platform technologies that integrate with or complement UE3. The end result will make it even easier to create even cooler games, and to utilize the best global illumination techniques in the universe while doing so.
To read the entire scoop in press release form, click here
For more info about Unreal Engine, check out www.unrealtechnology.com.
We are extremely proud that Gearbox Software (creators of the celebrated Brothers in Arms franchise, the upcoming first-person shooter based on the Aliens motion picture and Borderlands for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3) is taking advantage of the UE3 and Beast technology integration.
"Gearbox licensed new technology from Illuminate Labs for several of its upcoming games," says Randy Pitchford, president of Gearbox Software. "This new arrangement with Illuminate Labs and Epic Games will ensure that the technology is supported at the source and will help Gearbox Software continue to make the most technologically advanced and graphically impressive video games as a licensee of Unreal Engine 3."
Beast is an obvious choice for any developer that wants to push the envelope. Explaining why Gearbox has chosen the technology from Illuminate Labs, Randy Pitchford says simply, "Gearbox Software likes to stay on the cutting edge of video game technology." We couldn't have put it any better ourselves!
You too can try out this cool development, simply contact beast@illuminatelabs.com to set up an evaluation-account, or click here to find out more about Beast.
3D World magazine gave Turtle 4.1 major praise for its cool new features and went so far as to describe Turtle's latest outing as a unique product in its approach to rendering and baking for next-gen games artists.
"Turtle 4.1 remains a unique product in its approach to rendering and baking. No rival products offer its direct, useful functionality," they said, and continued, "Previous versions were very popular with Maya-based games artists, and this latest revision will no doubt be another notch in the belt for Illuminate Labs."
We can only bow in thanks and concur.
3D World issue 98 is now on sale. But for those who cannot wait to get their hands on a copy of their own, the full review can be read here.
HOT GAMES, COOL TECHNOLOGY OR OH, HOW WE FEEL USED
(IN A GOOD WAY)
As some of you may already know, our technology is being used in a number of AAA game titles. In our online gallery you can check out images from such titles as Killzone 2, Mass Effect and Haze. More titles are underway, but their names are still top-secret and if we told you now we'd have to kill you. Better to just keep an eye out for coming releases!
PRACTICAL PRECOMPUTED GLOBAL ILLUMINATION
Recently, Illuminate Labs had the honor and pleasure to show our stuff in presentations at both MIGS in Montreal, Canada and at GDC Lyon in France. Our most grateful thanks and fancy curtsies to all those who attended and the wonderful response we received. And for those unfortunate enough to have missed the shows, we've put the presentations on our website for your enjoyment. So log on and enjoy!
NEW TEAM MEMBER
The Illuminate Labs' development team welcomes Anders Nilsson to their ranks. "Anders' extensive mathematical and programming skills make him a perfect addition to our expanding team," says Magnus Wennerholm, CEO of Illuminate Labs. Welcome Anders!
- http://www1.cs.columbia.edu/~ravir/papers/envmap/
- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJBNSDIOBXo
- http://www.killerbeanforever.com/
- http://www.ling.su.se/staff/evali/glogg.htm
- http://youtube.com/watch?v=FjeMDvCdrtc
Our website features a host of really cool tutorials that will help you get the most from your Turtle experience. In addition to being extremely hot looking, they're also quite useful, explaining in easy terms how to squeeze every last drop from your Turtle. And by the way, Turtle uses the same technology that is found in Beast!
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