More than a photo: Gaussian Splats in V-Ray 7 are AMAZING!Unlock the full potential of your architectural visualizations with our latest tutorial: "More than a Photo: Gaussian Splats in V-Ray 7 are AMAZING!" Discover how to seamlessly integrate 3D models into real-world environments using Gaussian splats, a cutting-edge feature in V-Ray 7.https://youtu.be/pLicLUmqRcUIn this video, you'll learn:- How to source and prepare high-quality Gaussian splat files for your projects.- Techniques to accurately adjust object scales, ensuring precise integration into your scenes.- Step-by-step guidance on configuring settings within 3ds Max to achieve photorealistic renders.- Tips for enhancing your scenes with additional elements like vehicles and environmental details.Whether you're aiming to add realism to your renders or explore new methods in architectural visualization, this tutorial provides the insights you need.Don't miss out! Subscribe to our channel and hit the notification bell to stay updated with the latest in archviz techniques. If you find this video helpful, give it a thumbs up and share your thoughts in the comments below. #Vray7 #GaussianSplats #Archviz #3dsMax #ArchitecturalVisualization #CGArchitect

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Nintendos famous game designer Shigeru Miyamoto showed off the Donkey Kong Country area at Super Nintendo World.The unveiling is a major addition to the theme park within a theme park that opened at Universal Studios Japan in March 2021.Nintendo has opened or is opening its theme parks in Hollywood, Osaka, Orlando (2025) and Singapore (TBD). The aim is to widen its funnel for consumers and get more people familiar with Nintendos intellectual property than gamers alone.The entrance to Donkey Kong Country in Super Nintendo World in Japan.The new area is part of the Super Mario World section of the theme park in Japan. As you move from one area to the Donkey Kong Country, Miyamoto pointed out that you move from blocks to rocks as you go through a tunnel. With a jungle theme, Miyamoto showed off the Donkey Kong Tree House and the Golden Temple. On the temple, theres a face of a monkey with steam spewing out of its mouth.He played large conga drums that were connected to lights. Three people can play at a time. The drums light up when you hit them. If you hit the right sequence with conga sticks for long enough, a Rambi character appears above the drums. You can play conga drums at Donkey Kong Country.There are some secret locations and reward hunts. Around the park are letter blocks spelling out the Donkey Kong name, and you can scan it using a new Donkey Kong power-up band, which looks like a big watch. You can see the items you earn in the Universal Studios app.You can get food at the Jungle Beat Shakes shop, where you can get banana-flavored DK Crush Sunday and a DK hot dog.Miyamoto showed the Donkey Kong Tree House and all of its bananas up close, and a mascot Donkey Kong character walked up to him. You can take pictures with the mascot throughout the area.Theres a Funky Kong fly-n-buy plane where you can shop for Donkey Kong merchandise. And the flagship attraction the land is a Golden Temple ride, where you ride in a mine cart across the jungle. Inside, its a golden color with some images from Nintendo lore on the walls. Cranky Kong ands Squawks talk to those waiting in line, urging them to chase the Tiki Take Tribe away and protect the golden banana. The ride is a kind of gentle roller coaster, as far as I can tell. Donkey Kong made his debut 40 years ago and it was the first game Miyamoto created. The Golden Temple ride at Donkey Kong Country.Nintendo hasnt said how much money it has made from its mini-theme parks, but it called them out in its earnings call as a part of its overall business strategy. The opening date will be December 11, 2024, in Japans Super Nintendo World. It will also open at in Universal Epic Universe in Orlando, Florida, with both the Mario and Donkey Kong areas.GB DailyStay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox dailyBy subscribing, you agree to VentureBeat's Terms of Service.Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

Join our daily and weekly newsletters for the latest updates and exclusive content on industry-leading AI coverage. Learn MoreGoogle DeepMind has unexpectedly released the source code and model weights of AlphaFold 3 for academic use, marking a significant advance that could accelerate scientific discovery and drug development. The surprise announcement comes just weeks after the systems creators, Demis Hassabis and John Jumper, were awarded the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on protein structure prediction.AlphaFold 3 represents a quantum leap beyond its predecessors. While AlphaFold 2 could predict protein structures, version 3 can model the complex interactions between proteins, DNA, RNA, and small molecules the fundamental processes of life. This matters because understanding these molecular interactions drives modern drug discovery and disease treatment. Traditional methods of studying these interactions often require months of laboratory work and millions in research funding with no guarantee of success.The systems ability to predict how proteins interact with DNA, RNA, and small molecules transforms it from a specialized tool into a comprehensive solution for studying molecular biology. This broader capability opens new paths for understanding cellular processes, from gene regulation to drug metabolism, at a scale previously out of reach.Silicon Valley meets science: The complex path to open-source AIThe timing of the release highlights an important tension in modern scientific research. When AlphaFold 3 debuted in May, DeepMinds decision to withhold the code while offering limited access through a web interface drew criticism from researchers. The controversy exposed a key challenge in AI research: how to balance open science with commercial interests, particularly as companies like DeepMinds sister organization Isomorphic Labs work to develop new drugs using these advances.The open-source release offers a middle path. While the code is freely available under a Creative Commons license, access to the crucial model weights requires Googles explicit permission for academic use. This approach attempts to satisfy both scientific and commercial needs though some researchers argue it should go further.Breaking the code: How DeepMinds AI rewrites molecular scienceThe technical advances in AlphaFold 3 set it apart. The systems diffusion-based approach, which works directly with atomic coordinates, represents a fundamental shift in molecular modeling. Unlike previous versions that needed special handling for different molecule types, AlphaFold 3s framework aligns with the basic physics of molecular interactions. This makes the system both more efficient and more reliable when studying new types of molecular interactions.Notably, AlphaFold 3s accuracy in predicting protein-ligand interactions exceeds traditional physics-based methods, even without structural input information. This marks an important shift in computational biology: AI methods now outperform our best physics-based models in understanding how molecules interact.Beyond the lab: AlphaFold 3s promise and pitfalls in medicineThe impact on drug discovery and development will be substantial. While commercial restrictions currently limit pharmaceutical applications, the academic research enabled by this release will advance our understanding of disease mechanisms and drug interactions. The systems improved accuracy in predicting antibody-antigen interactions could accelerate therapeutic antibody development, an increasingly important area in pharmaceutical research.Of course, challenges remain. The system sometimes produces incorrect structures in disordered regions and can only predict static structures rather than molecular motion. These limitations show that while AI tools like AlphaFold 3 advance the field, they work best alongside traditional experimental methods.The release of AlphaFold 3 represents an important step forward in AI-powered science. Its impact will extend beyond drug discovery and molecular biology. As researchers apply this tool to various challenges from designing enzymes to developing resilient crops well see new applications in computational biology.The true test of AlphaFold 3 lies ahead in its practical impact on scientific discovery and human health. As researchers worldwide begin using this powerful tool, we may see faster progress in understanding and treating disease than ever before.VB DailyStay in the know! Get the latest news in your inbox dailyBy subscribing, you agree to VentureBeat's Terms of Service.Thanks for subscribing. Check out more VB newsletters here.An error occured.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and Half-Life actor Tony Todd dies aged 69"It was truly awe-inspiring getting the opportunity to know and work with him," says MachineGamesImage credit: Insomniac Games News by Vikki Blake Contributor Published on Nov. 11, 2024 Prolific actor Tony Todd has died aged 69.Todd - whose most recent work, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, isn't even out yet - was one of the industry's most distinctive voices, known best for Marvel Spider-Man 2's Venom and Half-Life's Vortigaunts.He also voiced Bloober Team's Layer of Fears 2's narrator, as well as Dota 2's Dragon Knight, Night Stalker, and Viper, Black Ops 2's Admiral Tommy Briggs, and Doctor Rogers in Back 4 Blood.In tribute, Insomniac Games said it was "heartbroken by the passing of [its] friend, Tony Todd", adding, "he brought so much joy to our studio during the production of Marvel's Spider-Man 2 and to many fans around the world with his inimitable voice and presence."Bloober Team posted on Twitter/X that it "mourn[s] the loss of Tony Todd, the voice that drew us into the shadows of Layers of Fear 2." "Rest now, Tony - you are forever entwined with the darkness we braved to face," the horror studio added.MachineGames said: "We had the great privilege of working with Tony Todd and will miss him dearly. Sending our condolences to his family, friends, and many fans around the world.""The tragic news of Tony Todds passing has struck all of us at MachineGames with sadness," said MachineGames' creative director, Axel Torvenius. "Although we only had the privilege of working with Tony for a short while, the relationship we built with him felt like meeting an old friend we didnt know we had."Tonys kindness, warmth, professionalism, and the vast experience of his career inspired us, and filled us with respect and love for him. It was truly awe-inspiring getting the opportunity to know and work with him."We at MachineGames would like to send our deepest condolences and love to Tony Todds closest family and friends. Every heart at MachineGames will cherish having known him."

How Nintendo's past will shore up Switch 2's future | MicrocastLatest episode available to download now, also discusses Private Division sale, Concord's failings, and more News by James Batchelor Editor-in-chief Published on Nov. 11, 2024 The latest GamesIndustry.biz Microcast is now available to download, bringing you a quick dive into the biggest news from the past week.Our main topic this week is Nintendo's long-awaited (but very much expected) confirmation that Switch 2 will be backwards compatible with both its predecessor's software library and its online service. We discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this crossover, as well as the importance of backwards compatibility when launching a new console in today's industry.And financials season continues, bringing with it a host of related stories and discussions. This week, we touch on Take-Two's decision to sell Private Division, Sony leadership's thoughts on why Concord failed, the independence of Amplitude Studios and more.You can listen via the player below, download the audio file directly here, or subscribe to our podcast feed, available via Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, CastBox, Player FM, TuneIn and other widely-used podcast platforms.The Microcast can also be found on the GamesIndustry.biz YouTube channel, or via this playlist.Episode edited by Alix Attenborough.To see this content please enable targeting cookies.

A pair of California-based players are suing Ubisoft for permanently putting The Crew in the garage.Ubisoft's 2014 racing game was shut down this past March due to "server infrastructure and licensing restraints." In their filed suit, plaintiffs Matt Cassell and Alan Liu (who bought the game in 2020 and 2018, respectively) claim they were were two of thousands of players "[left] with a skeleton of what you thought you paidfor."This is the second time this year Ubisoft has been sued by its players. In early October, the Assassin's Creed maker was accused of illegally sharing user data with Meta via account linking.Liu and Cassell's lawsuit condemned Ubisoft for letting players think they were buying The Crew to own and not "renting a limited license" to access the title. It also accused the developer of "duping" players with the idea of the game being playable offline, either through physical discs or its digital version. Had the pair (or any player) known the studio would shut The Crew down whenever it wanted, they say they "would have paid substantially less for the Product or not have purchased it at all.""[Ubisoft] intended consumers to relyon their representations and omissions in making their purchasing decisions.Through their conduct, [Ubisoft] have violated California state consumer protection laws," the suit reads. The duo are seeking monetary relief and damages for themselves and other players affected by the shut down.Do not go gentle into that offlineOver the past two years, countless online games have been shut down. Some have been around for years, others only a few weeks, but the issue has become so common as more and more titles have been taken offline in larger numbers. This past September, California law requires retailers to say digital items (like games or music) are merely licensed rather than actually bought, and that most online games specifically must come with a warning that they could be shut down at any moment.As this relates to Ubisoft specifically, the original Crew's shutdown was explicitly said to be the inspiration for the California law. However, this suit is further complicated by the studio already acknowledging the negative reaction to terminating the first Crew game by working to implement individual offline modes for 2018's The Crew 2 and 2023's The Crew Motorsport.Meanwhile, The Crew players have decided to just make the first game themselves. Back in June, TheGamer covered the player-made The Crew Unlimited, a recreation of the original title that will have offline functionality.

Justin Carter, Contributing EditorNovember 11, 20242 Min ReadImage via Roblox.At a GlanceRoblox Corp.'s new child safety measures begin on November 18, and address longstanding concerns about the creation platform.Roblox Corp. has finally detailed its new safety measures meant to protect its predominantly young playerbase.These new policies are intended to address concerns (and previous high-profile stories) about Roblox's lack of proper protection for its child and teen players, which has resulted in at least two lawsuits. Roblox Corp. often denied or dismissed these reports at the time of their publication, and would insist keeping its players safe was a top priority amongst its staff.The biggest change concerns visibility for user-made creations. For those aimed at players age 13 and younger, creators will be required by December 3 to complete a questionnaire for each individual experience. All information on the page (like the description and title) will have to be "appropriate for all users," and any creation without a finished form will be "unplayable, unsearcable, and undiscoverable" by 13 and under players, but still accessible with a direct link.In its blog, the company said this will "ensure parents and users have more clarity into the types of content available on Roblox and will help them make more informed choices about what they want to play."Roblox is ready to play safely with its playerbaseRoblox Corp.'s blog also confirmed that as of next Monday, November 18, social hangouts and free-form 2D creations (which lets players replicate their written or drawn 2D creations without going through the moderation process) will only be available to players over 13 years old to "address user behavior that can potentially pose a risk to our youngest users."In late October, Bloomberg reported Roblox Corp. was aiming to enact new child protection methods, such as 13 and younger players requiring parent permission to access Roblox's in-game social features. During its recent earnings call, the company reaffirmed it would "invest in technology, policies, and partnerships to pursue the highest standards of trust and safety on our platform."Going forward, the developer said it "envisions the questionnaire becoming more closely integrated into the publishing process."More information on Roblox's new safety measures can be read here.Read more about:RobloxCultureAbout the AuthorJustin CarterContributing Editor, GameDeveloper.comA Kansas City, MO native, Justin Carter has written for numerous sites including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his writing can be found at io9 over on Gizmodo. Don't ask him about how much gum he's had, because the answer will be more than he's willing to admit.See more from Justin CarterDaily news, dev blogs, and stories from Game Developer straight to your inboxStay UpdatedYou May Also Like

Google has launched an experimental new AI tool called Learn About, which is different from the chatbots were used to, like Gemini and ChatGPT. Its built on the LearnLM AI model that Google introduced this spring, saying its grounded in educational research and tailored to how people learn. The answers it provides have more visual and interactive elements with educational formatting.We tested Learn About and Google Gemini with a simple prompt: How big is the universe? Both answered that the observable universe is about 93 billion light-years in diameter.However, while Gemini opted to show a Wikipedia-provided diagram of the universe and a two-paragraph summary with links to sources, Learn About emphasized an image from the educational site Physics Forums and added related content that was similarly focused more on learning than simply offering facts and definitions.Learn Abouts answer to How big is the universe? Screenshot: Jake Kastrenakes / The VergeGeminis answer to How big is the universe? Screenshot: Jake Kastrenakes / The VergeLearn Abouts response also created textbook-style boxes that give you additional context like why it matters and ones that help you Build your vocab with word definitions. In the sidebar, additional topics appear to continue exploring using the tool.We also asked Learn About Whats the best kind of glue to put on a pizza? (Googles AI search overviews have struggled with this one in the past), and it managed to get that one right, even if the common misconception sticker makes us wonder how many times this question has been asked.Learn About tries to explain why you shouldnt put glue on pizza. Screenshot: Richard Lawler / The Verge