Update: The Switch patch is now available.Update :Read the full article on nintendolife.com

The Scores of Salvation.If you're looking to capture the magic of those halcyon days of sitting in front of the CRT with a classic RPG, then Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, which launches tomorrow 14th November 2024 on Switch and other systems, might be just the tonic you need.Reviews for the HD-2D remake of the NES's Dragon Warrior III have dropped today, and they're very positive across the board. It manages to recreate the feel of the original game while adding some beautiful visuals, music, and a handful of quality-of-life features to the experience.Read the full article on nintendolife.com

Soaring private vehicle ownership and declining use of public and non-motorized transport have created mounting traffic congestion in India, the worlds most populous country, which also struggles with relatively narrower roads and inadequate parking facilities in cities. New Delhi recognizes these challenges and has been exploring new ways to address them quickly.Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at an event in September, said that air taxis will soon be a reality in India, indicating the governments interest in supporting the new transportation mode. The countrys aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, also recently framed rules for vertiports to set the ground for air taxis. The ePlane Company is riding this wave.The startup, founded by IIT Madras aerospace engineering professor Satya Chakravarthy in 2019, is building its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, the e200x, several months after developing unmanned drones for cargo and camera applications. Chakravarthy has a strong pedigree: He is also a co-founder and advisor at Indian space tech startups, including Agnikul and GalaxyEye, and at an Indian hyperloop-focused startup, TuTr Hyperloop. Chakravarthy told TechCrunch that ePlane secured IPs in developing the intra-city commute and cargo-focused aircraft with reasonably slow fly speed and a compact wingspan of eight meters, unlike typical air taxis with 12 to 16-meter wingspans. That will enable it to land in tighter spaces and make multiple short trips up to 60 trips a day on a single charge, he says. Commuters would reduce travel time by as much as 85%, at a cost of less than two times the fare they usually pay on an Uber ride, he claims.Image Credits:ePlane CompanyMost eVTOL vehicles currently are multi-copters similar to commercial drones, including air taxis carrying spokes and vertical rotors. Chakravarthy said that while this configuration is easier to develop and implement in the market, but does not cover longer distances with a single battery charge. ePlane chose a lift-plus-cruise configuration where the vehicle carries a winged architecture just like a typical plane, but with vertical rotors similar to a drone.This configuration has been proven to actually be very reliable because we have redundancies in terms of the vertical rotors carrying the weight of the aircraft, while wings taken with their share of balancing the weight progressively so that we dont have a loss of lift during the transition from a vertical takeoff and hover to forward flight, he said.The startup has also developed technology called synergistic lift, which uses vertical rotors even in forward flight to make wings compact enough.Chakravarthy told TechCrunch that ePlane manufactures aircraft components at its IIT Madras facility, including airframe parts and designing seats and propellers. The startup outsources cells but assembles batteries for the aircraft at its facility to manage the aircrafts center of gravity.The startup aims to commercialize its electric air taxi in the middle to second half of 2026 after securing the required certifications from the Indian and global authorities and prototyping the aircraft in the first half of 2025, Chakravarthy told TechCrunch.Ahead of testing the vehicle, ePlane has raised a $14 million Series B round co-led by Speciale Invest and Singapores Antares Ventures. The all-equity round also included participation from Micelio Mobility, Naval Ravikant, Java Capital, Samarthya Investment Advisors, Redstart (from Naukri), and Anicut. The round has valued the startup at $46 million post-money over 2x its previous $21 million valuation.The fresh capital will help ePlane, which has a workforce of over 100 people, secure global regulatory certifications and boost its commercialization efforts.Indias success would help ePlane enter other markets, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Europe.We are working with a conviction that going forward, whats good for India will be good for the world, Chakravarthy said.

U.K. consumer rights group Which? is filing a legal claim against Apple under competition law on behalf of some 40 million users of iCloud, its cloud storage service.The collective proceeding lawsuit, which is seeking 3 billion in compensation damages (around $3.8 billion at current exchange rates), alleges that Apple has broken competition rules by giving its own cloud storage service preferential treatment and effectively locking people into paying for iCloud at rip-off prices.iOS has a monopoly and is in control of Apples operating systems and it is incumbent on Apple not to use that dominance to gain an unfair advantage in related markets, like the cloud storage market. But that is exactly what has happened, Which wrote in a press release announcing filing the claim with the U.K.s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).The lawsuit accuses Apple of encouraging users of its devices to sign up to iCloud for photo storage and other data storage needs, while simultaneously making it difficult for consumers to use alternative storage providers including by not allowing them to store or back-up all of their phones data with a third-party provider.iOS users then have to pay for the service once photos, notes, messages and other data go over the free 5GB limit, Which noted.The suit also accuses Apple of overcharging U.K. consumers for iCloud subscriptions owing to the lack of competition. Apple raised the price of iCloud for UK consumers by between 20% and 29% across its storage tiers in 2023, it wrote, saying its seeking damages for all affected Apple customers and estimating that individual consumers could be owed anaverage of 70 (around $90), depending on how long theyve been paying Apple for iCloud services.A similar lawsuit arguing Apple unlawfully monopolized the market for cloud storage was filed in the U.S. back in March, and remains pending after the company failed to get it tossed. U.K.-based consumers opted inThe U.K. claim is being being brought on an opt-out basis for U.K.-based consumers who are eligible to be included. Consumers who live outside the U.K. and believe they are eligible to be included must actively opt-in to join the action. Which spokesman Tommy Handley told us eligible Apple customers include anyone who has obtained iCloud services, including non-paying users, over the nine-year timeframe since the Consumer Rights Act came into force on October 1st, 2015.Handley also confirmed that the 3 billion compensation figure accounts for potential opt-outs, duplicates and mortality. Which is a non-profit but the litigation is being funded by Litigation Capital Management (LCM), a major global litigation funder, which it says has committed to seeing the action through to the end.At the same time, Which is urging Apple to resolve the claim without the need for litigation by offering consumers their money back and opening up iOS to allow users a real choice for cloud services.Commenting in a statement, Whichs chief executive Anabel Houltsaid: By bringing this claim,Which? is showingbig corporationslike Apple that they cannot rip off UK consumers without facing repercussions. Taking this legal action means we can help consumers to get the redress that they are owed, deter similar behaviour in the future and create a better, more competitive market.Assuming Apple doesnt seek to settle out of court, the next stage for the litigation will hinge on whether the CAT grants permission for Which to act as a class representative for consumers and allows the claim to proceed on a collective basis.There has been an uptick in class action-style competition suits against Big Tech in recent years following a wave of antitrust enforcements on both sides of the Atlantic thats still playing out in terms of full outcomes and business impact.In the U.K. Apple has also been targeted in a class-action style antitrust suit brought on behalf of developers last year, in relation to App Store fees. Also last year, a separate U.K. suit targeted Apple and Amazon alleging price collusion.

Animaj has launched Sketch-to-Motion, an AI tool which turns rough sketches into fully-rendered 3D animations with one click.Built on Animajs advanced AI models, the tool operates in a fully editable 3D environment, enabling seamless creative adjustments at any stage of the process. The system is built around two main types of models: sketch-to-pose and 3D motion in-betweening.Sketch-to-pose models use ResNet50 architecture and are trained on hundreds of thousands of pairs of sketches and their corresponding 3D poses for each character. These models can accurately predict the rig controller values of a character from any input sketch.Motion in-betweening models focus on predicting the intermediate poses between the key poses of the characters. Key poses are typically spaced a few frames apart. These models leverage Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) architecture to ensure the movement remains consistent over time."Sketch-to-Motion changes everything about how we create animations, said Sixte de Vauplane, CEO and Co-founder of Animaj. Its not just faster; its smarter. Artists now have the freedom to iterate endlessly and see their ideas come to life instantly. This tool isnt replacing creative artists its empowering them." See it in action - watch Sketch-To-Motion: Redefining Animation:Tailored for high-end projects like the upcoming Pocoyo Season 6 a hit children's series with over 40 billion views on YouTube this innovation, according to Animaj, highlights AI's powerful potential to streamline top-tier productions with demanding quality standards.Its worth noting that Animaj is not licensing this technology but is instead keeping it exclusive to accelerate the growth of IPs they acquire, create, or co-create, ensuring that Sketch-to-Motion drives the creation and expansion of world-class franchises.Animaj is also currently developing an entire set of AI tools designed to transform artists into all-in-one creators who can orchestrate every aspect of their work, from camera positioning and lighting to facial expressions and nuanced character movements.Source: Animaj Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologistL'Wrenbrings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.

Explore the visual effects of Brothers, where the work crafted by JAMM on Samuel the orangutan blends seamlessly into the film. The teams attention to detail brings a new level of realism to this character!WATCH IT ON Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2024The post Brothers: VFX Breakdown by JAMM appeared first on The Art of VFX.

Breakdown & ShowreelsPachinko Season 2: VFX Breakdown by Outpost VFXBy Vincent Frei - 13/11/2024 Dive into the seamless VFX world of Pachinko Season 2! Outpost VFX worked their magic behind the scenes, creating invisible visual effects that breathe life into this epic saga!WANT TO KNOW MORE?Outpost VFX: Dedicated page about Pachinko : Season 2 on Outpost VFX website.WATCH IT ON Vincent Frei The Art of VFX 2024

November 13, 2024PWHL Update in NHL 25 Continues EA SPORTS Commitment to Grow and Champion Women's Sports Through Its Games REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced a multi-year partnership with the Professional Womens Hockey League (PWHL), which will bring the players and teams into EA SPORTS NHL 25 . The partnership advances EA SPORTS commitment to grow and authentically represent womens sports within its games, promoting and championing the next generation of athletes. In addition to the PWHL integration, EA SPORTS will provide new ways to play NHL 25, starting with NHL Arcade launching this Friday and 4 Nations Face-Off content coming early next year in time to celebrate the heavily anticipated mid-season, international tournament hosted by the NHL and NHLPA and featuring NHL stars from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the USA. EA SPORTS NHL 25 REVEALS MAJOR HOLIDAY UPDATE FEATURING PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S HOCKEY LEAGUE, NEW NHL ARCADE SERIES, AND 4 NATIONS FACE-OFF (Graphic: Business Wire) We are thrilled to bring the PWHL into NHL 25 as part of a massive holiday update giving players all-new ways to play, starting in a couple of days with the frenetic energy of NHL Arcade through to the launch of 4 Nations Face-Off in the New Year, said Bill Dollar, EA SPORTS NHL Executive Producer. EA SPORTS continues to drive inclusivity and authenticity through its games, and in partnership with the PWHL, we will amplify the excitement of the womens game for all fans. Professional Womens Hockey League Comes to NHL 25 This December Launching December 5, the PWHL in NHL 25 will feature all six teams - the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montral Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres in Play Now, Online Versus, Shootout and Season Modes. In addition, PWHL uniforms will be available in World of Chel, with players*, logos, and uniforms available in Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT). To fully immerse players in the authentic PWHL experience, the update will include The Walter Cup and advanced body skeletons through SAPIEN technology integration. Our partnership with EA SPORTS opens new doors to elevate womens hockey across all levels, said Amy Scheer, Senior Vice President of Business Operations, PWHL. Through this alliance, well develop in-game and out-of-game experiences that strengthen the bond between our teams, players, and fans, bringing the PWHL closer to the global hockey community. EA SPORTS is proud to support the PWHL, which has pioneered the growth of womens hockey in North America, said Andrea Hopelain, GM & SVP, Publishing, EA SPORTS. We look forward to working together to help elevate and grow womens hockey to new and existing fans worldwide, starting by bringing PWHL teams and athletes to EA SPORTS NHL 25. The integration of the PWHL in NHL 25 reflects EA SPORTS ongoing commitment to authentically representing and growing women's sports in-game by capturing the excitement of game day and showcasing the emergence of the next generation of elite athletes. Having initially showcased the womens game in NHL 22 through the International Ice Hockey Federation agreement, Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse starred as a cover athlete the following year to celebrate their inclusion into Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT). The addition of PWHL teams and players complements recent women's leagues and features introduced in EA SPORTS FC, UFC , and PGA TOUR over the past few years. Alongside the in-game PWHL integration, NHL 25 features a breadth of new content coming for the holiday season, giving players new ways to experience the fast-paced world of hockey: NHL ArcadeThe NHL Arcade event series will begin on November 15 within World of Chel, offering players a unique and fun arcade-style 3-on-3 experience with the return of Big Heads and power-up features that can be collected on the ice and used against opponents. Power-ups include Supershot, Freeze, Super Speed, Small and Big Goalies, and more. Played in the NHL Arcade Arena, a bespoke rink with no glass, rules, or stoppages, NHL Arcade will include multiple events throughout the year to make the experience fresh for players. Stay tuned to EA SPORTS NHL social channels for more information on NHL Arcade following its release on November 15. 4 Nations Face-Off New content for NHL 25 will continue into 2025 with the integration of 4 Nations Face-Off, a round-robin tournament hosted by the NHL and NHLPA featuring four international teams packed with superstars. 4 Nations Face-Off content will feature NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the USA and will be included in Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT), Play Now, Online Versus, Shootout and a bespoke Tournament mode. The nations uniforms will also be available in World of Chel as part of the major tournament update. New Content and NHL 25 Offers This Holiday Season Players who play NHL 25 between November 15 and January 2* will receive 6 NHL Arcade Vanity Items in World of Chel and an 84 Road to 4 Nations Face-Off Player Choice Pack redeemable immediately. With the Road to 4 Nations Face-Off Player Choice pack, players can represent their nation by choosing one of four available items from the country they choose to play. In addition, players will receive a PWHL 83 OVR Team Building Choice pack, redeemable on December 5, along with the PWHL integration, which contains a choice of 1 of 6 PWHL players. November 15 - Arcade Series, Free Content Drops, Redeem Road To 4 Nations Face-Off Player Choice Pack in HUTDecember 5 - PWHL In-Game Update and PWHL Choice Pack RedemptionNew Year - 4 Nations Face-Off Developed by EA Vancouver, EA SPORTS NHL is rated E10+ and is now available globally on PlayStation5 and Xbox Series X|S. For more information on EA SPORTS NHL, visit https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-25. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all our Trailers and Videos. Join the EA SPORTS NHL community on TikTok and Instagram. You can also follow us on X at @easportsnhl to stay updated on the latest news. *As final PWHL rosters are confirmed, NHL 25 will continue to add to the real-life player likenesses in-game as part of a multi-year effort to authentically represent the league. PRESS ASSETS ARE AVAILABLE ATEAPressPortal.comAbout Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. In fiscal year 2024, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Apex Legends, The Sims, EA SPORTS Madden NFL, EA SPORTS College Football, Need for Speed, Dragon Age, Titanfall, Plants vs. Zombies and EA SPORTS F1. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.About the Professional Womens Hockey League (PWHL):The Professional Womens Hockey League (PWHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America comprised of six teams in Boston, Minnesota, Montral, New York, Ottawa, and Toronto, each with rosters featuring the best womens hockey players in the world. Launched on Jan. 1, 2024, the PWHL has broken multiple attendance records and holds the worldwide all-time record for a womens hockey game. In 2024, the PWHL was recognized by Sports Business Journal as the Sports Breakthrough of the Year and received the top position in the first-ever Canadian edition of the Harris Poll, which ranks companies reputations. Visit thepwhl.com to purchase tickets and merchandise, and subscribe to the PWHL e-newsletter to receive the latest league updates. Follow the league on all social media platforms @thepwhlofficial.About the NHLThe National Hockey League (NHL), founded in 1917, consists of 32 Member Clubs. Each team roster reflects the Leagues international makeup with players from more than 20 countries represented, all vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports the Stanley Cup. Every year, the NHL entertains more than 670 million fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio; more than 191 million followers - league, team and player accounts combined - across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube; and more than 100 million fans online at NHL.com. The League broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including ESPN, WBD Sports and NHL Network in the U.S.; Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada; Viaplay in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and the UK; MTV3 in Finland; Nova in Czech Republic and Slovakia; Sky Sports and ProSieben in Germany; MySports in Switzerland; and CCTV5+ in China; and reaches fans worldwide with games available to stream in every country. Fans are engaged across the Leagues digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio; and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and featuring unprecedented access to player and team statistics as well as every regular-season and playoff game box score dating back to the Leagues inception, powered by SAP. NHL Productions develops compelling original programming featuring unprecedented access to players, coaches and League and team personnel for distribution across the NHLs social and digital platforms.The NHL is committed to building healthy and vibrant communities using the sport of hockey to celebrate fans of every race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. The NHLs Hockey Is F for Everyone initiative reinforces that the official policy of the sport is one of inclusion on the ice, in locker rooms, boardrooms and stands. The NHL is expanding access and opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities to play hockey, fostering more inclusive environments and growing the game through a greater diversity of participants. To date, the NHL has invested more than $100 million in youth hockey and grassroots programs, with a commitment to invest an additional $5 million for diversity and inclusion programs over the next year.NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. NHL 2024. All Rights Reserved.About the National Hockey League Players Association The National Hockey League Players Association, established in 1967, is a labour organization whose members are the players in the National Hockey League. The NHLPA works on behalf of the players in varied disciplines such as labour relations, product licensing, marketing, international hockey and community relations, all in furtherance of its efforts to promote its members and the game of hockey. In 1999, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund was launched as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 24 years, more than 80,000 deserving children in 34 countries have benefited from the players' donations of hockey equipment. NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $25 million to grassroots hockey programs, making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com. NHLPA, National Hockey League Players Association and the NHLPA logo are registered trademarks of the NHLPA and are used under license. NHLPA. All Rights Reserved.*Requires NHL 25 (sold separately), all game updates, internet connection, & an EA account. This promotional offer is valid from November 15, 2024, to January 2, 2025. Redeem offer by logging into the HUT Store and World of Chel in NHL 25. Limit one per player. Offer has no cash value and may not be substituted, exchanged, or sold for cash, goods, or services. May not be combined with other offers or prepaid card redeemable for the applicable content unless expressly authorized by EA. Customer is responsible for applicable sales tax. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law.** Offers may vary or change. See retailer site for details. Ray Almeda Global PR Lead ralmeda@ea.com 650-628-7015 Shaun White Integrated Comms Director shaun.white@ea.com +44 7917 428316 Source: Electronic Arts Inc.Multimedia Files:

Agatha All Along, helmed by Jac Schaeffer, continues Marvel Studios venture into episodic television, this time delving deeper into the mystique of Agatha Harkness, a fan-favourite character portrayed by Kathryn Hahn. This highly anticipated Disney+ miniseries, serving as a direct spin-off from WandaVision (2021), is Marvels eleventh television series within the MCU and expands the story of magic and intrigue that WandaVision introduced.Filming took place in early 2023 at Trilith Studios in Atlanta and on location in Los Angeles, marking a return for many of the original cast and crew from WandaVision. The production drew on its predecessors visual style but expanded with a rich, nuanced aesthetic that emphasises the eerie allure of Agathas character. By May 2024, Marvel announced the official title, Agatha All Along, a nod to the beloved song from WandaVision that highlighted Agathas mischievous involvement in the original series. The cast features an ensemble, including Joe Locke, Debra Jo Rupp, Aubrey Plaza, Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Okwui Okpokwasili, and Patti LuPone, all of whom bring fresh energy to Agathas world. Schaeffers dual role as showrunner and lead director allows for a cohesive vision that builds on the MCUs expanding exploration of side characters. After Loki, Agatha All Along has been one of the more successful spin-offs, with the audience number actually growing during the season as the story progressed. Agatha All Along stands out for its dedication to character-driven narratives, enhanced by its impressive technical VFX work and the unique blend of visuals.Agatha All Along picks up three years after the dramatic events of WandaVision, with Agatha Harkness breaking free from the hex that imprisoned her in Westview, New Jersey. Devoid of her formidable powers, Agatha finds an unlikely ally in a rebellious goth teen who seeks to conquer the legendary Witches Road, a series of mystical trials said to challenge even the most powerful sorcerers. This new miniseries is a mix of dark fantasy and supernatural adventure. It reintroduces Agatha as she grapples with the challenge of surviving without her magic. Together with her young protg, Agatha begins to build a new coven, uniting a diverse group of young witches, each with distinct backgrounds and latent abilities. Their quest to overcome the Witches Roads formidable obstacles becomes not only a journey of survival but one of rediscovering ancient magic, which, in turn, requires some old-school VFX.When approaching the visual effects in Agatha All Along, the team at Digital Domain once again highlighted their long history of VFX, adapting to the unique, old-school requirements set forth by production. Under the creative guidance of VFX Supervisor Michael Melchiorre and Production VFX Supervisor Kelly Port, the series visuals present a compelling marriage between nostalgia and cutting-edge VFX. Whats remarkable is the productions call for a 2D compositing approach that evokes the style of classic films. The decision to use traditional compositing not only serves to ground the effects but also gives the entire series a unique texturea rare departure in a modern era dominated by fully rendered 3D environments. Each beam of magic, carefully crafted with tesla coil footage and practical elements in Nuke, gives the witches their distinctive looks while adding a sense of raw, visceral energy. For the broom chase, Digital Domain took inspiration from the high-speed speeder-bike scenes in Return of the Jedi. Working from extensive previs by Matt McClurgs team, the artists skillfully blended real set captures with digital extensions to maintain the illusion of depth and motion. The compositors meticulous worklayering up to ten plates per shotensured each broom-riding witch interacted correctly with the environment. The ambitious sequence, demonstrating technical finesse and a dedication to immersive storytelling. In the death and ghost sequences, Digital Domain took on some of the series most challenging moments. From Agathas decaying body to her rebirth as a spectral entity, these scenes required a balance of CG and 2D compositing that maintained Kathryn Hahns performance nuances while delivering a haunting aesthetic. Drawing from 80s inspirations like Ghostbusters, compositors carefully retimed elements of Hahns costume and hair, slowing them to achieve the ethereal look mandated by the production.As Agatha All Along unfolds, the visuals reveal not only Digital Domains adaptability but a nod to the history of visual effects, an homage to both their own legacy and classic cinema. By tackling the limitations of a stripped-down toolkit with ingenuity, Digital Domain enriched the story with a fresh yet nostalgically layered visuals. Agatha All Along stands out for its blend of good storytelling and layered character development. Each trial on the Witches Road reveals more about Agatha and her evolving bond with her young ally, adding new depth to her character and expanding the lore of the MCU. Fans of WandaVision will find much to love here, as Agathas story unfolds with complex VFX and a touch of wicked humor.

Supernova, a carve-out of Spanish 3D printer manufacturer BCN3D, has launched its new Pulse Production Platform for high-viscosity resins. The company has also unveiled Viscogels, a proprietary portfolio of photopolymer materials offering superior mechanical properties to competing resins.The new platform features the Pulse One Viscous Lithography Manufacturing (VLM) 3D printer, Pulse Postprocessing Cell, and Pulse Control Center software. This end-to-end manufacturing suite is compatible with the companys Viscogels lineup, which features twelve different materials spanning four photopolymer families (rigid composites, ductile materials, rubber, and silicone).Supernova claims its new products will reduce tooling costs, improve customization capabilities, and enhance 3D printing productivity for batch production of end-use parts. Additionally, Viscogels reportedly reduce emissions of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOC) during 3D printing, addressing a growing challenge in the resin 3D printing market.During the online launch event, Supernovas CEO Roger Antunez outlined the companys efforts to counter the growing market share of emergent Chinese 3D printer manufacturers. According to CONTEXTs latest 3D printing market figures, professional users are increasingly adopting low-cost, Chinese-made 3D printers from the likes of Creality and Bambu Lab. The latter registered 336% YoY shipment growth in Q2 2024.Antunez shared his concerns that most Western additive manufacturing companies have cut back on R&D investment, while real breakthroughs often come from China. He added that Western companies are being wiped out by these Chinese new players which offer better technology and extremely low prices.To combat this, Supernova is bolstering its R&D initiatives and developing viscous materials that match the properties of conventional injection molding. Antunez believes this materials first approach will accelerate the adoption of its VLM additive manufacturing technology, unlocking industrial-grade parts at low costs.We are on a mission: to make impossible plastic molding runs possible, added Antunez. We are breaking through barriers to enable customers to produce industrial-grade components with advanced properties, while remaining cost-efficient regardless of production volume.Viscogels and the Pulse Production Platform will begin shipping in Fall 2025. Supernova will showcase its new products next week at Formnext 2024 in hall 11.0, booth D62J.Supernovas new Pulse Production Platform and Viscogels. Image via Supernova.Viscogels: a new high-viscosity resin portfolio Supernova has classified its Viscogels into four material families.The Rigid Composites family is comparable to glass-filled PA6, ABS and Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). These materials are designed to provide strength, stiffness and dimensional stability.The Ductile family resembles polypropylene, PVC and PA11. These formulations reportedly offer high-impact resistance and elongation before breaking.The Rubber Viscogels family seeks to meet more flexible needs. They feature high tear strength and elasticity, matching the performance of EPDM, soft TPUs and TPEs.Finally, the Silicone family mirrors silicone rubbers. They offer resistance to temperatures ranging from minus 60 to over 200.Viscogel materials are highly viscous, with formulations starting at 20,000 cP and some reaching over 1 million cP. Conventional resin 3D printers, on the other hand, generally process photopolymer materials below 1000 cP.The high viscosity of Viscogels is achieved by formulating the materials with at least 80% oligomers, 4 times more than typical 3D printing resins. This reportedly allows the 3D printable materials to rival the tensile strength, impact resistance, and temperature resistance of molded plastics such asPA6, Polypropylene (PP), EPDM, and liquid silicone rubber.Thanks to their high viscosity, Viscogels can incorporate higher loadings of solid additives like ceramics and metals without compromising processability. They are also compatible with a wider variety of additive shapes, further enhancing the strength and durability of 3D printed parts.According to Robert Young, Supernovas Director of Materials, water absorption and chemical resistance are the biggest challenges that prevent the adoption of photopolymer additive manufacturing.Low-viscosity resins create a porous structure, allowing liquids and chemicals to be absorbed into the material, which damages the properties of 3D printed parts. The high oligomer content of Viscogels combats this, creating a denser polymer matrix which is less porous. For instance, Supernovas new materials exhibit a water absorption of less than 0.5%.Viscogels also significantly reduce emissions of VOCs, which are harmful to humans. The potential health effects of these chemicals range from headaches and nausea to kidney damage and cancer.In photopolymer 3D printing, VOC emissions are mainly caused by monomers within the resin material. Young explained that some monomers can become trapped in the polymer matrix during curing. These uncured monomers migrate to the surface of the 3D printed part and release into the air.Viscogels possess a lower monomer content compared to traditional low-viscosity photopolymers. This reportedly ensures that more monomers fully cure within the material, significantly reducing VOC emissions. Young added that this allows Viscogels to meet strict industry requirements, ensuring safer, cleaner and more sustainable end parts.Supernova Viscogels portfolio. Image via Supernova.Supernovas new end-to-end production platformDue to their extremely high viscosity, Viscogels can only be processed using Supernovas VLM technology. To 3D print these materials, Supernova has developed its Pulse Production Platform, incorporating a new 3D printer, post-processing unit, and software.The Pulse One VLM 3D printer features an XY resolution of 46m, a build volume of build volume of 350 x 200 x 300 mm, and a Z resolution range of 50 200m. It can reportedly achieve a throughput of 5 kg/hour, supporting batch production applications.The Pulse One is unique within the resin 3D printing space due to its dual-material 3D printing capabilities. It can simultaneously combine two materials in a single layer for multi-material parts, or 3D print a secondary support material. VLM is currently developing a fully water-soluble support material to automate the support removal process.Supernovas Pulse One 3D printer. Photo via Supernova.Supernovas Pulse Postprocessing Cell is an automated post-processing unit which washes and cures parts 3D printed on the Pulse One. It can reportedly process up to 24 builds per day and employs thermal and UV curing to achieve optimal mechanical properties. The cell boasts automated quality control at each step, ensuring all 3D printed batches are processed correctly. Additionally, RFID tracking ensures traceability throughout the workflow.This traceability and quality control, along with build preparation and slicing, is managed by the Pulse Control Center software. This platform reportedly ensures part repeatability by tracking the production process. Its algorithm can detect defects during the 3D printing process and automatically make corrections to maintain high production standards.Supernovas Pulse Processing Cell. Photo via Supernova.Developments in resin 3D printingSupernovas Viscogels are the latest 3D printing resins to enter the additive manufacturing market.Last month, 3D printing materials producer polySpectra launched Cyclic Olefin Resin (COR) Zero, its new manufacturing-grade resin that can be used with affordable 3D printers. The company claims that this material brings industrial-level production capabilities into home workshops and small businesses.COR Zero reportedly offers a cost-effective alternative to injection molding for makers, designers, and engineers. It is optimized for applications like mechanical components, fluidic parts, electronic enclosures, and wearables such as glasses and podiatry inserts. The resin also seeks to tackle common challenges relating to brittleness and thermal instability. Compatible with desktop DLP and LCD 3D printers, COR materials combine toughness, heat resistance, and chemical durability. Specifically, it boasts a tensile strength of 53 MPa, a modulus of 2175 MPa, and an elongation at a break of 18%.Elsewhere, Formlabs Dental, the dental business unit of Resin 3D printer manufacturer Formlabs, recently received510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Premium Teeth Resin. This allows dental professionals in the US to 3D print dental components, such as single units of crowns, inlays, onlays, veneers, and up to seven-unit temporary bridges, with the resin.Launched in January 2024, Premium Teeth Resin is a nano-ceramic-filled biocompatible material for realistic dental parts that mimic the translucency and opalescence of natural teeth. The resin is compatible with Form 3B+, Form 3BL, and Form 4B 3D printers, and has also been cleared for use in the EU, UK, Switzerland, and Canada.Read all the news from Formnext 2024. Who are the leaders in additive manufacturing? Vote now in the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards!Want to share insights on key industry trends and the future 3D printing? Register now to be included in the 2025 3D Printing Industry Executive Survey.What does the future of 3D printing hold? What near-term 3D printing trends have been highlighted by industry experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on Twitter, like our Facebook page, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows Supernovas Pulse One 3D printer. Photo via Supernova.