Computer Graphics World

September / October 2015

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4 cgw s e p t e m b e r . o c t o b e r 2 0 1 5 S P O T L I G H T HP UPDATES ENTRY-LEVEL WORKSTATION LINE HP has announced the HP Z240 Tower and Z240 SFF Workstations with next-generation Intel processors and HP Z Turbo Drive options – at the price of a desktop PC. The HP Z240 offers more perfor- mance, greater storage capacity, more I/O, and greater flexibility of the previous generations while retaining the same form factor. The Z240 features up to 64 GB DDR4 ECC memory and provides expandability options. The Z240 Workstations sport a number of innovations, includ- ing an integrated M.2 slot (for expansion cards and connectors on both the SFF and tower), which frees up a PCIe slot. The legacy PCI slot has been removed from the motherboard, and a plug-in card is available for those who still use the legacy slot, allowing for other features, like the M.2 slot. With pricing starting at $879 (with current entry-level pro ces- sors), both the HP Z240 SFF and HP Z240 are expected to be available in November. MAXON DELIVERS CINEMA 4D R17 Maxon has rolled out Cinema 4D Release 17 (R17), the newest version of its 3D soware solution for motion graphics, visual effects, visualization, and rendering. According to the company, Cinema 4D R17 delivers new features to increase production pipeline perfor- mance, including the new Take System render layer system; Render Tokens to organize rendering tasks and files, with project-file-based names, named object buffers, and folders for each pass; a new Color Chooser; and updated import and export functions. R17 also features sculpting functions, expanded motion-tracking features, and completely reworked spline tools that enhance the modeling, sculpting, and animation design workflow. AUTODESK ROLLS OUT GAME ENGINE Autodesk is in the game more so than ever, following the release of its new Stingray game engine. The game engine resulted from the Autodesk acquisition of Bitsquid last year. Built on the data-driven architecture of the Bitsquid en- gine, Stingray is a comprehensive new platform for making 3D games. The engine supports a host of industry-standard game development workflows and includes connectivity to Autodesk 3D animation soware that simplifies game development across a wide range of platforms. Stingray makes it easy and intuitive for artists with varying skill sets and programming expertise to create the next generation of 3D blockbuster games, entertainment, and even architecture. Stingray feature highlights include: a seamless art- to-engine workflow, a modern data-driven architecture, advanced visuals and rendering, a proven tool set, tools for versatile game logic creation, multi-platform development capabilities, and more. The Stingray engine can also be used in design en- vironments and is an informative next step to further understand design data before anything is physically built. The engine's real-time digital environment, on a powerful, data-driven architecture, is programmed to look and feel like the physical world. Connected to Autodesk 3ds Max, architecture, engi- neering, and construction customers can import Autodesk Revit data into 3ds Max, add content to the 3ds Max scene, and then place that scene in the Stingray engine to explore, animate, and interact in the designed space. Autodesk Stingray runs on Windows and is available via Autodesk Subscription for $30 per month. Maya LT Desktop Subscription customers can access the engine as part of Maya LT. ©Nicolas Delille, Modern Age Studio

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