Graphics

Google Owns Small Firm in North Carolina; Could Expand in Region

Authored by dmw on January 4, 2007 - 1:13pm.

Chapel Hill, N.C. - Search engine giant Google has quietly owned a small software development firm in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, called Skia in since 2005, Local Tech Wire reported on Thursday. The company employs just five people and apparently focuses on graphics software engineering.

U.K. Rules Activision TV Ads With Pre-Rendered Graphics "Misleading"

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 22, 2006 - 5:25am.

London - The U.K. Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has ruled that TV ads for Activision video games misled consumers, because game graphics contained in the ads were pre-rendered and of higher quality than graphics found in the actual games, GamesIndustry.biz reported. The ASA ordered Activision to change ads for "Call of Duty 2" and "CoD2: Big Red One," in a finding that could have wider implications for the industry standard practice. The restriction is similar to guidelines enacted for U.S. toy commercials, which may no longer use stop-motion techniques to create the illusion that dolls or action figures are moving on their own.

Study: Excessive Graphics Keep Viewers from Understanding News

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on May 2, 2005 - 3:25am.

Manhattan, Kan. -- Graphics such as scrolling news make it more difficult for TV viewers to understand what's being said by news anchors, according to a new study by research firm Newslab in collaboration with a pair of Kansas State University journalism and mass communications professors.

tags: News | Graphics | Study |

Game Development Software Firm Intrinsic Graphics Shuts Down

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 14, 2003 - 2:09am.

Mountain View, Calif. -- Intrinsic Graphics, a developer of software that streamlines video game development, has shut down and is looking to sell its assets, CNET News.com reported on Monday. The Mountain View, Calif.-based company, founded in 1999, had backers including video game giant Sony; customers of its software included game developers Sega and Activision. The company's 32 employees were laid off on Friday. Intrinsic CEO Paul Thomas told News.com that the company has been approached by several potential buyers, and hopes that the successful bidder will maintain its product line and customers.

tags: Software | Game | Graphics | Intrinsic Graphics |

Graphics Chipmaker Nvidia, Game Developer Electronic Arts Form Alliance

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 10, 2003 - 2:28am.

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Graphics chipmaker Nvidia on Thursday announced an alliance with independent video game developer Electronic Arts. The two companies will jointly produce 3D content for top-selling EA games and franchises, and implement Nvidia-specific features and special effects in several upcoming EA titles such as "Madden NFL Football 2004." As part of the agreement, PCs powered by Nvidia's graphics processors will be the preferred platform for EA's PC game developers. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Nvidia will also be given the rights to bundle certain EA titles for PC with Nvidia products and those of its partners.

tags: Games | NVIDIA | Electronic Arts | Graphics |

Graphics Chipmaker Nvidia, Microsoft Settle Dispute Over Xbox Chip Prices

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 6, 2003 - 3:55am.

Santa Clara, Calif. -- Graphics chipmaker Nvidia announced on Thursday that it has settled all of its pricing disputes with Microsoft over the chipsets it has been supplying for the company's Xbox video game console. The companies had been in arbitration related to the pricing of Nvidia's Xbox GPU (graphics) and MCP (audio and networking) chipsets. Santa Clara, Calif.-based Nvidia and Microsoft said they will collaborate on future cost reductions for the Xbox. "This is a win for both companies, and we couldn't be more delighted with the results," said Nvidia president and CEO Jen-Hsun Huang.

tags: NVIDIA | Xbox | Microsoft | Graphics |