Note: Written in response to an article on Stuff entitled, New iPad making waves in game market. While it may be a hyperbole to announce currently, what does the future hold for iOS gaming?
Could iOS become a platform allowing triple-A console games in the next couple of years?
Obstacles to overcome:
Note: All images captured on 24″ desktop monitor. Images shown in no particular order.
The highly anticipated Windows 8 Consumer Preview (Beta) has arrived, and has been downloaded by possibly a few million people by now – mostly on desktop systems. Some people have been using it a few days, some more than a week, many others haven’t used it all, but have seen some videos (which tend to focus on the tablet experience), or heard others commenting on it. Thus feel inclined to join in and offer their best guess, about whether the approach Microsoft is taking, is the right one. Some articles were written haphazardly, as soon as the CP became available, giving very little time for testing (or none). Some users after initial concerns have warmed to the changes in Windows 8. There are a lot of enthusiastic people, who like the direction Microsoft are going in, but are requesting many small tweaks – as expected at beta stage (I’m one of these people). Then there are others that are highly opposed, to such large changes for a variety of reasons. Some of which include statements about making a Windows for hipsters, kids, the mindless tablet crowd, dumbing down and making Windows less efficient. Then of course as expected, a select group of dedicated fans, from the other teams (Apple, Android), that wouldn’t have a high opinion of anything Microsoft does – and all the people in between. So as expected there has been a lot of debate, some thoughtful, some mindless, and some incorrect statements about lack of hotkeys, extra clicks, and lack of certain features. Of course there has been a lot of constructive criticism regarding feature improvements, and tweaks.
Everyone who follows technology knows Windows 8 is a big change, a bold new direction, and a risk for Microsoft. The Developer Preview in September created a lot of buzz about the future of Windows, and quite a lot of controversy about how it would all come together, and how two interfaces can exist simultaneously on one platform. People should be sceptical; Apple has carved out a massive and unexpected new market, using a scaled up phone interface, where Microsoft’s starting point for a tablet is a desktop operating system.
I have added a page with examples of my hard surface meshes & topology. Recently I have also updated my Show reel to 720P high definition, with significant improvements to many projects. Still lots missing, needs some free time to finish off these tasty bits, and my other reels will be getting updated shortly to. This blog was moved from Blogspot to here on WordPress a few weeks ago, and so far I’m finding WordPress to be a much nicer content management system.
There is varying opinions regarding Microsoft’s approach of a dual interface mode for Windows 8 (Example 1, Example 2). But just because Microsoft aren’t following Apple’s approach of a fully separate desktop and mobile operating system, doesn’t mean Microsoft doesn’t get what consumers want and need. After all the tablet market is still at its infancy stage, with “3% of Americans owning an iPad and 2% owning some other kind of tablet”, and I suspect if you look at international statistics tablet ownership may be even lower (Apple products sell best in US). Microsoft are giving people who don’t own an iPad or Android tablet, and don’t plan to buy one, what they want. Some people just want the tablet, laptop, e-reader, and drawing pad all in one. Eventually iPad may be an all in one super device, that supports every necessary application, with a simplified touch interface, but this is a long way off – if ever for more complex applications. For now Microsoft’s approach is the only way forward, that guarantees both backwards compatibility, and a new modern interface.
Engadget is live blogging about Steven Sinofsky’s Windows 8 presentation, at the All Things Digital conference. Video showing the full Windows 8 Demo from All Things Conference below
Ina Fried is highly negative towards the part of the demo where they exit tile mode, and go back to a more normal looking Windows mode. I think it’s great Microsoft provide the option of interaction style. Clearly there will be hundreds millions of users who still want to be productive with there normal applications. Some people just seem to think extremely simple interfaces will work in all situations, and for all types of people. Traditional operating systems are no longer considered sexy by the general public, but that doesn’t mean they are unrefined or not useful. Eventually I think simple mobile interfaces and touch technology will meet somewhere in the middle, with traditional operating systems, and this is tangible step towards such a goal. Apple’s first step is bringing Launchpad from their mobile platform (iOS) to their desktop platform (OSX) in the upcoming Lion release. Future iterations of OSX will no doubt further fuse elements of their mobile platform. On the other hand their mobile platform will slowly mature with new features, until it starts to feel a little more like a desktop operating system. But all of this will take time…and again Windows 8 seems to be a great first step, in fusing mobile and desktop computing
Awesome commercial by the Mill for Black Beetle, with additional behind the scenes included.
A revealing CgSociety Forum discussing Cinema 4D vs Maya.
French developer Motion Boutique has created a physics engine for After Effects
Review of Maya 2012 by Animation World Network
Incredible 3D short by Polynoid shown below. The short was created using Softimage, including innovative use of the ICE module – making of here.
Braden Jennings