The Future of 3d Animation and Video Games

The video game and animation industry is about to take another leap forward in the development quality realistic images and animation. The current crop of video games tend to utilize low poly models in the gaming environment. In the near future, more advanced video cards will allow the use of more high poly models. The differences will be astounding. Other major innovations are underway which will allow artists to create visual simulations that will become a true virtual reality to the users. One such technology is used in the popular graphics software Maya.

In Maya, the artist can use a plugin called Blast Code, by FerReel Animation Labs, Inc. to create realistic explosions within the CG realm. The program actually allows the artist to devastate and deform actual geometry on the fly. This has not been previously possible, and all the explosions in video games have been canned. Other technologies that support these new innovations abound. Realflow is another technology that speeds up realism in CG. Here, liquid states and gelataneous states of matter are simulated in a most convenient way. When you think of how much of the natural environment is immersed in liquids, and interracts with them, it is no wonder why this technology had to be developed. Most people have played a video game and have said to themselves: "Wow, that character is realistic!" Imagine doing that when the character has natural looking tears and droplets of sweat emitting from pores in their CG skin.The technology for advanced gaming is tied directly to the innovations that are occurring in the field of animation. The motion picture industry will spend as much money on one animated movied as the US government will spend on AIDS research during a given year. This vast amount of money is allowing companies like Alias, XSI, Discreet, and Newtek to spend large amounts of capital on research and development. This driving force is behind many of the innovations that have made movies like "Finding Nemo" and "Shrek" staples for shildren everywhere.New movies with even more advanced and arguably better animation quality are enroute. Pixar's new movie "Cars", which is set for a 2006 release date, may be a frontrunner to display many fo these new technologies and techniques. The trailer sure does it justice. Another fascinating movie that is being made is called "Delgo". It is being made by Fathom studios, a rather small studio on the East coast. This may indicate that one of the major innovations of animation technology, is the new ability of smaller oranizations, and even eventually individuals to make feature link films. Some aspiring individuals and groups are already putting this theory into practice. Many of these films are available on the internet and are free to view and enjoy. Many sites have these films posted. A site for all types of films is http://www.ifilm.com Thsi is a huge site with alot of different films that you can watch. Another one, that is more specific to animation, is http://www.3dexcellence.com Both of these sites will have examples of the innovation that exists out there. When you look at some of these films and video game sequences, you will see that the new crop is tending to have more and more elaborate textures and models. The lighting is becoming more reactive and realistic. The models are nto yet high poly in video games, but they are tending to be in animation. Soon we will all have some very nice entertainment to look forward to. I look to the day when John Wayne will again take to the silver screen and say "saddle up"