Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube788kIn the opening show for the 2024 Game Awards, Bandai Namco lifted the lid on a new Pac-Man game and well it's not exactly the regular outing for the famous video game mascot.It's officially called Shadow Labyrinth and is described as a "genre-twisting alternate take" on the iconic character. Above is a first look and it will be arriving on the Switch and other platforms in 2025."Shadow Labyrinth is a 2D action platformer and a genre-twisting alternate take on the iconic PAC-MAN. As Swordsman No. 8, awoken by a floating yellow orb, PUCK, on a mysterious planet amidst relics of wars past, you are chosen to become the instrument of its will. To survive you will discover many secrets, consume your enemies, and grow from prey to the apex predator as you embrace your true purpose."What are your first impressions of this? Let us know in the comments.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube788kTo kick off the opening show at this year's Game Awards, Koei Tecmo, Dotemu and The Game Kitchen announced Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound for Switch and multiple other platforms.This is a new side-scroller based on the legendary Ninja Gaiden series with a release coming in Summer 2025. Here's some PR:From the acclaimed team behind Blasphemous, NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound successfully unites the classic lore and gameplay of the Tecmo-developed (now KOEI TECMO GAMES) NINJA GAIDEN series from the 8-bit era with the depth and intensity of the modern 3D entries. The best of both eras come together to create an epic and thrilling adventure.Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube788kWatch on YouTube Our story begins when Ryu Hayabusa journeys to America to honor his father's will. While he is away, the barrier between the human and the demon worlds suddenly shatters, unleashing a terrifying army upon the Hayabusa Village, which now faces an unprecedented threat in Ryu's absence. To stand against this new threat, Kenji Mozu, a young ninja from the Hayabusa Village, rises to the challenge!If we hear any updates, we'll let you know. Would you be interested in this upcoming release? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft has announced the newest addition to its Phi family of generative AI models.Called Phi-4, the model is improved in several areas over its predecessors, Microsoft claims in particular math problem solving. Thats partly the result of improved training data quality.Phi-4 is available in very limited access as of Thursday night: only on Microsofts recently launched Azure AI Foundry development platform, and only for research purposes under a Microsoft research license agreement. Notably, Phi-4 is the first Phi-series model to launch following the departure of Sbastien Bubeck. Bubeck, previously an AI VP at Microsoft and a key figure in the companys Phi model development, left Microsoft in October to join OpenAI.

Throw a stone and youll likely hit a deepfake. The commoditization of generative AI has led to an absolute explosion of fake content online: According to ID verification platform Sumsub, theres been a 4x increase in deepfakes worldwide from 2023 to 2024. In 2024, deepfakes accounted for 7% of all fraud, per Sumsub, ranging from impersonations and account takeovers to sophisticated social engineering campaigns.In what it hopes will be a meaningful contribution to the fight against deepfakes, Meta is releasing a tool to apply imperceptible watermarks to AI-generated video clips. Announced on Thursday, the tool, called Meta Video Seal, is available in open source and designed to be integrated into existing software. The tool joins Metas other watermarking tools, Watermark Anything (re-released today under a permissive license) and Audio Seal.We developed Video Seal to provide a more effective video watermarking solution, particularly for detecting AI-generated videos and protecting originality, Pierre Fernandez, AI research scientist at Meta, told TechCrunch in an interview. Video Seal isnt the first technology of its kind. DeepMinds SynthID can watermark videos, and Microsoft has its own video watermarking methodologies.But Fernandez asserts that many existing approaches fall short. While other watermarking tools exist, they dont offer sufficient robustness to video compression, which is very prevalent when sharing content through social platforms; werent efficient enough to run at scale; werent open or reproducible; or were derived from image watermarking, which is suboptimal for videos, Fernandez said.In addition to a watermark, Video Seal can add a hidden message to videos that can later be uncovered to determine their origins. Meta claims that Video Seal is resilient against common edits like blurring and cropping, as well as popular compression algorithms.Fernandez admits that Video Seal has certain limitations, mainly the trade-off between how perceptible the tools watermarks are and their overall resilience to manipulation. Heavy compression and significant edits may alter the watermarks or render them unrecoverable, he added.Of course, the bigger problem facing Video Seal is that devs and industry wont have much reason to adopt it, particularly those already using proprietary solutions. In a bid to address that, Meta is launching a public leaderboard, Meta Omni Seal Bench, dedicated to comparing the performance of various watermarking methods, and organizing a workshop on watermarking this year at ICLR, a major AI conference.We hope that more and more AI researchers and developers will integrate some form of watermarking into their work, Fernandez said. We want to collaborate with the industry and the academic community to progress faster in the field.

Recent turmoil in the halls of entertainment studios and platform providersinvolved in creating and distributing entertainment content, from cinemas to small screens and everything in between, means 2025, like 2024, will see companies within Media & Entertainment (M&E) aggressively lookingforways to stay competitive, cut costs, and deliver experiences that meet the needs and expectations of increasingly sophisticated audiences and consumers.In discussion with Rob Hoffman, Senior Worldwide Manager for Media & Entertainment Vertical, Lenovo, at this past Octobers VIEW Conference in Turin, as well as at early Decembers SIGGRAPH Asia conference in Tokyo, his take on the future growth of entertainment content creation is quite optimistic.There is an insatiable appetite for fresh, new entertainment experiences spanning film, television, and OTT content, as well as game development, live and interactive experiences - sporting events, art installations, etc. - and more, he notes. With consumer demand continuing to grow, artists and studios are carrying the burden to deliver a larger quantity of higher fidelity entertainment experiences. Working alongside partners such as AMD, growth in our business can be tied to the infrastructure requirements, such as greater compute capabilities, to deliver the larger quantity of higher fidelity content.According to Hoffman, part of his role, and the companys, is not just to supply equipment and related services, but to support clients with their critical production pipelines and workflow system integration they rely on to stay competitive and deliver the best, highest quality content. We work closely with our client studios and integrate them into the development process - from a clean sheet design and technology integration to prerelease testing and deployment within their production pipelines, he says. In addition, ISV partners are also part of this program, and we collaborate with them directly on prerelease testing, qualifications and performance tuning. As for products, we prioritize partnering with the best solution providers to effortlessly tackle even the most complex visual workflows, he continues. ThinkStation P8 enables power-users to create revolutionary products, better, smarter and faster than ever before with the professional power of AMD Ryzen Threadripper PRO 7000 WX-Series processors. Partnering with solution providers dedicated to smarter innovation allows everyone to make the needs of our power-users a top priority.No current discussion of M&E can avoid running head first into the growing and often contentious use of AI; some describe AI as the defining tech of our era, while others are not so charitable. And while its easy to see how technology companies - already some of the largest businesses in the world - are quite bullish on AI, more and more, companies within M&E are calling for and embracing Ethical AI that respects, and adheres, to well-defined ethical guidelines regarding fundamental values, including such things as individual rights, privacy, non-discrimination, and non-manipulation.Hoffman notes that its of growing importance that companies commit to Ethical AI and support efforts to increase compliance. There have been a lot of discussions and concern about AI replacing artists and the IP in which models are trained on. The industry as a whole, including artists, studios and those that create the tools and hardware used within production, has been working to understand the impacts of AI and push for policies on its ethical use. I envision AI as being an assistant to the artist and freeing the artist from the more technical and mundane tasks of production so they can focus more on the art itself. AIs core advantage lies in providing seamless and intuitive user experiences. This means your device becomes more intuitive over time, anticipating artist needs and adapting to their style of working.Hegoes on to explain that Lenovo is exploring all aspects of AI and how it relates to the technology found within the companys workstations, as well as how those workstations are being deployed where AI is being leveraged. We are working with those within the industry to better understand what artist and studio requirements will be, along with how software solutions will be integrating AI and the requirements of it on the hardware its running on so we can account for these requirements and bring solutions to market to address them.Remarking on the increased reliance on, and technological support for, cloud computing, including pay-as-you-go rendering, Hoffman says, The impacts [on Lenovo] are minimal as, for years, studios have had dedicated render farms and utilized workstations as supplemental compute when they were sitting idle. How studios are leveraging cloud is evolving, as there is a reverse cloud migration under way with many studios to reduce costs and have more control over their hardware infrastructure and IP.Additionally, he concludes, creative studios often deal with sensitive content and proprietary intellectual property. By keeping data on-premises, they maintain greater control over security protocols and reduce the risks associated with data breaches or unauthorized access in cloud environments. Dan Sarto is Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network.

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Airtech Advanced Materials Group, a leader in high-performance materials for additive manufacturing, has qualified its Dahltram Resins for use with KraussMaffei Technologies GmbHs powerPrint Large-Format Additive Manufacturing platforms. This partnership represents a significant advancement in large-scale 3D printing for industrial applications, enabling more precise and reliable production processes.KraussMaffei Technologies, renowned for its expertise in injection molding and extrusion, has been at the forefront of large-format additive manufacturing. The companys Additive division specializes in extrusion-based 3D printing technology, with the powerPrint system being a key component. This gantry-based platform is designed for industrial-scale production, offering high precision and consistency in part manufacturing. Recently, KraussMaffei has expanded its offerings to include industrial robot-based systems and standalone extrusion solutions, further solidifying its position in the additive manufacturing sector.KraussMaffei powerPrint system interior setup for large-scale additive manufacturing. Photo via Airtech Advanced Materials Group.We are excited to collaborate with KraussMaffei to bring our Dahltram Resins to their powerPrint platform globally, said Gregory Haye, Director of Additive Manufacturing at Airtech Advanced Materials Group. Their high-throughput extruder combined with a controlled, heated environment will enable users to achieve highly accurate and uniform prints with both low and high temperature resins, unmatched by other systems on the market.Dahltram Resins are known for their exceptional performance and reliability in various 3D printing applications. Extensive testing and validation have confirmed their compatibility with the powerPrint system, ensuring that manufacturers can achieve high-quality results. Airtechs resin range offers significant production flexibility and holds multiple end-use material approvals, making it suitable for diverse industrial applications. Mechanical and thermal testing of printed specimens guarantees that end-users receive the quality expected from Dahltram Resins.With Airtech, we have found a valuable partner who truly understands how their materials are utilized by end users, stated Rolf Mack, Vice President Additive Manufacturing at KraussMaffei. Their comprehensive approach ensures a thoroughly tested material solution for our powerPrint system, providing excellent print and end-part quality along with deep insights into material applications. This partnership elevates the solutions we offer to our customers, setting a new standard in additive manufacturing.Airtechs Logo. Image via Airtech Advanced Materials Group.Advancements in Resin 3D Printing TechnologyConcepts 3D Systems Inc., a resin 3D printing specialist, has introduced the Athena II Smart mSLA Resin 3D Printer. This device employs a 16K LCD display with a 1419-micron resolution and a print volume of 212118235 mm. A system of sensors continuously monitors and adjusts parameters in real time, aiming to maintain high accuracy in fields such as dental prosthetics, jewelry design, and engineering prototypes. Safety measures include integrated air filtration systems, while connectivity options support remote monitoring and efficient workflow management.Tangible Engineering, a German company focused on advanced 3D printing solutions, has unveiled the Solidator 8K Resin 3D Printer. Equipped with a 43-micron XY resolution and a 330185400 mm build volume, this system supports a range of 25 materials designed for various industrial uses. Applications include automotive and railway components fabricated from flame-retardant resins, electronics manufacturing aided by ESD materials, and jewelry production facilitated by materials suitable for precision casting. A software suite integrated with the system is intended to improve workflow efficiency and dimensional accuracy. Examples of functional connectors fabricated using the Solidator 8K Resin 3D Printer. Photo via Tangible Engineering.Your voice matters in the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards. Vote Now!What will the future of 3D printing look like?Which recent trends are driving the 3D printing industry, as highlighted by experts?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to stay updated with the latest news and insights.Stay connected with the latest in 3D printing by following us on Twitter and Facebook, and dont forget to subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry YouTube channel for more exclusive content.Featured image shows Airtechs Logo. Image via Airtech Advanced Materials Group.

German aerospace start-up POLARIS Spaceplanes has completed successful roll and flight tests of its aerospike-powered MIRA II demonstrator. The five-meter-long prototype features POLARIS 3D printed AS-1 linear aerospike rocket engine. MIRA II serves as a stepping stone to the companys full-sized AURORA spaceplane, which is set to begin flight operations in 2028.MIRA II was developed after the original MIRA demonstrator crashed during its first flight attempt in May 2024. The new system has since completed a three-second engine burn on the runway, before successfully conducting an in-flight test over the Baltic Sea.The unmanned demonstrator took off from Peenemnde Airport using its four turbine-powered jet engines. Upon reaching the ignition point, MIRA II completed a three-second burn of its 1 kN LOX/kerosene AS-1 aerospike engine, achieving 4 m/s acceleration and 900 newtons of thrust.This represented the first-ever in-flight test of a linear aerospike engine, marking a significant milestone for the Bremen-based startup.A digital rendering of POLARIS Spaceplanes future aerospike-powered vehicle. Image via POLARIS Spaceplanes.3D printing powers POLARIS aerospike spaceplanesUnlike conventional rocket engines with bell-shaped nozzles, Aerospike engines use a wedge-like spike to shape exhaust gases. This innovative design eliminates the need for a fixed nozzle, reducing weight, enhancing efficiency, and enabling continuous thrust adjustments at varying altitudes.These novel engines generate extreme in-flight temperatures, requiring large numbers of complex and intricate cooling ducts. This complexity has led aerospike developers, like POLARIS Spaceplanes, to leverage additive manufacturing in their design and production.Last year, the company received two 3D printed AS-1 aerospike engines from German additive manufacturing firm AM Global. While these initial engines were used for ground-based testing, AM Global also 3D printed two lighter flight-test engines for the MIRA demonstrators.During the three-second in-flight burn, the MIRA IIs engine operated at a reduced chamber pressure to achieve fuel-rich combustion. This reportedly allowed POLARIS engineers to collect performance data while exposing the engine components to minimal stress. The MIRA IIs onboard camera identified a small leak in the LOX tank bay which caused an access hatch to be lost during the three-second engine burn. Despite this, the company reported that the demonstrator touched down safely to conclude a successful test flight.Looking ahead, POLARIS will further test and validate the in-flight operational capabilities of the 3D printed aerospike engine through an intensive flight test program.POLARIS will also work to activate the demonstrators twin, MIRA III, to create redundancy and improve testing flexibility. As testing progresses, the company will gradually increase engine chamber pressure to optimize combustion efficiency and thrust.Learnings from additional MIRA testing will inform the companys next spaceplane demonstrator, NOVA. This test aircraft will reportedly measure between seven and eight meters in length and serve as the final step before the full-sized AURORA vehicle.POLARIS Spaceplanes MIRA II demonstrator. Photo via POLARIS Spaceplanes.3D printing aerospike enginesAerospike engines have been thought to offer notable advantages over conventional rocket engines since the 1950s. In more recent years, developments in metal additive manufatcring technology have unlocked the design freedom needed to more efficiently fabricate these advanced propulsion systems.In 2017, Monash University, Amaero (an offshoot of Monash), Next Aero and Woodside Energy collaborated to manufacture and test Project X, a 3D printed aerospike engine. This engine was designed and manufactured in just four months.Hasteloy X, a high-strength nickel-based superalloy, was additively manufactured using selective laser melting (SLM) on an EOS M280 3D metal printer. According to project leader Graham Bell, 3D printing allowed the team to achieve unique design features such as the nozzle geometry and embedded cooling network. Additive manufacturing allowed the team to create and 3D print complex designs which could be tested, tweaked and re-printed in days instead of the months required for conventional production methods.Two years later, the Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS and the Institute of Aerospace Engineering (ILR) at TU Dresden collaborated to advance aerospike engine design using 3D printing. The team produced a 3D printed aerospike engine with 500 newtons of thrust. However, during testing, it encountered issues with the cooling system and fuel injection.In 2022, engineering design software specialist Hyperganic manufactured what was said to be the worlds largest 3D-printed aerospike engine. The Munich-based firm generated hundreds of viable designs, one of which was 3D printed on an EOS M 400-4 system in Inconel 718 with zero support structures. An AI algorithm was then used to automatically reengineer the part to be 3D printed using CuCrZr on a larger AMCM M 4K 3D printer.3D printed Aerospike Engine by AMCM and Hyperganic. Photo by Michael Petch.All the news from Formnext 2024.Who are the leaders in additive manufacturing? Vote now in the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards!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 a digital rendering of POLARIS Spaceplanes future aerospike-powered vehicle. Image via POLARIS Spaceplanes.