The Debate is on as 10 Quirky Candidates Take Center Stage in the Animal Kingdom's Presidential Race
Today Gamecock announced the entire roster of candidates in Wideload Games upcoming politically charged party title “Hail to the Chimp.” The “Hail to the Chimp” ballot now boasts ten candidates, each with their own personality, platforms and style. Just like any political race, mud is being slung, names are being named and the candidates are clawing up the ladder to reach that golden seat.
“Hail to the Chimp” is a fast-paced party game that delivers exciting gameplay, lush interactive environments, and a comic look at politics. It is a bare-knuckled fight to win the crown of President of the animals.
“The story of ’Hail to the Chimp’ is delivered through a metaphor of the election process,” said Wideload founder Alex Seropian. “The ten candidates in the game have their own back stories, and there are rivalries between the candidates and opportunities to team up and make alliances.”
Seropian continued, “It's all there - the flawed electoral system, the political back-stabbing, the self-possessed newscasters and pundits, fundraising with the fat cats and even the inane political ads. There will also be lots of subtle, and not so subtle, political humor.”
“Hail to the Chimp” features a wide variety of arenas as well as myriad goal oriented match types. The title is scheduled for release in Spring 2008 for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and for the PlayStation®3 Computer Entertainment System.
Below is a brief introduction to the candidates and what their goals are in this political campaign.
Name: Ptolemy
Species: Hippo
Hails from: Egypt
Bio: Ptolemy lives in a world where the 1970’s never stopped. With a unique style and charisma by the truckload, this happenin’ Hippo wants to return Hippos (more directly, himself) to the top of the Animal Kingdom.
Name: Santo
Species: Armadillo
Hails from: New Mexico, US
Bio: Born in the deserts of New Mexico, Santo was a painter before he joined the campaign. He thinks politicians and artists have a lot in common - prima donnas and shysters, the lot of them - and he’s here to keep it real.
Name: Crackers
Species: Monkey
Hails from: Congo
Bio: Crackers was the right-hand monkey to the King Lion before he was ousted from the throne. Rumor has it that Crackers’ whole campaign is a ruse designed to restore his old boss to the throne, ensuring a cushy lifestyle for his favorite monkey.
Name: Toshiro
Species: Octopus
Hails from: Japan
Bio: A samurai octopus, Toshiro’s logic is simple – most of the world is water and therefore ocean-based animals are the dominant life form. A highly trained warrior and scholar, Toshiro’s campaign is as elegant as it is ruthless.
Name: Bean
Species: Sloth
Hails from: Seattle, WA (by way of Bogota, Columbia)
Bio: Bean is your atypical sloth - super caffeinated, uber-motivated and ready to work the kingdom into shape. A coffee addict, she once lived in Bogota but found herself on a coffee shipment to Seattle where she is now an aerobics instructor.
Name: Moxie
Species: Musk Ox
Hails from: Liverpool, England
Bio: Moxie is a self-educated Musk Ox who is sick of the patriarchal nature of politics. Why can’t there be a Queendom? Her personal charisma, self-motivation and erudition make her a formidable candidate.
Name: Hedwig
Species: Polar Bear
Hails from: Uppsala, Sweden
Bio: A singing superstar in the disco world, Hedwig is used to the public eye. She’s convinced that the animal kingdom would best be served by someone with a celebrity’s understanding of looking good, manipulating the press, and product endorsement.
Name: Murgatroyd
Species: Jellyfish
Hails from: Unknown
Bio: Not much is known about Murgatroyd as her garbled pronouncements are completely indecipherable. This is a solid campaign strategy, as many animals assume her views are similar to their own. Mysterious, perplexing and lovable, Murgatroyd could be the underdog of this race.
Name: Daisy
Species: Platypus
Hails from: Sydney, Australia
Bio: An incredibly popular children’s TV show host, Daisy is the most adorable platypus ever born. With her cute looks and a tomboyish personality, she is loved by young animals of every species the world over. Capturing the presidency is the only way she can possibly get any bigger.
Name: Floyd
Species: Walrus
Hails from: Manhattan
Bio: Floyd moved to NY to become a dock foreman. But after a blow to the head, he began having some funny ideas about the world. He now sees himself as a guru and soothsayer meant to lead the animal kingdom. After all, he’s got a direct line to the cosmic plane.
The debate rages on at www.chimplove.com.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Ninja Battles Are Perfected As NAMCO BANDAI Announces NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja 3
Iconic Animation Hero and Friends Come out Fighting with Major Innovative Features
The world-renowned ninja has become better, faster and stronger as NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that NARUTO™: Ultimate Ninja® 3 will be available in March 2008 exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Based on the popular animated sensation NARUTO™, from VIZ Media which is currently airing on Cartoon Network, this action fighter perfects everything we have come to expect from the franchise with new innovative features, enhancements and customization options. Battle through 20 unique stages using more than 40 of the most loved and feared characters from the animation phenomenon. Unleash the hidden chakra from within and experience the best yet from the series.
“NARUTO is an international sensation and Ultimate Ninja 3 is the perfect complement to the VIZ Media franchise,” said Makoto Iwai, Executive Vice President and COO, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “CyberConnect2 has built upon the series and crafted a title that reaches Hokage level of fun.”
NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja 3 makes monumental leaps in the franchise with a host of “firsts” for the series. Players can now live through and be a part of all the major events that defined Story Arc 1 in Heroes History mode. Also, ninja-in-training can customize their characters with the Ultimate Jutsu which gives them that extra bit of edge during battle and allows them to earn points towards upgrading their strength, defense, chakra, agility and other special abilities. Turn playable characters into more powerful ninja of unprecedented size or summon giant creatures as allies with the new Summoning mode. In addition, NARUTO fans throughout North America can experience the game in both English and original Japanese voice over.
In keeping with the tradition of the series, an exclusive and original story will have players exploring the massive 3D rendered Hidden Leaf Village, participating in battle royale matches and completing more than 55 missions. The unparalleled experience doesn’t stop there as tons of unlockable content will be available to offer loads of replay value including movies, music and cards.
For more information on NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja 3 please visit: www.namcobandaigames.com or www.naruto.com
The world-renowned ninja has become better, faster and stronger as NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that NARUTO™: Ultimate Ninja® 3 will be available in March 2008 exclusively for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Based on the popular animated sensation NARUTO™, from VIZ Media which is currently airing on Cartoon Network, this action fighter perfects everything we have come to expect from the franchise with new innovative features, enhancements and customization options. Battle through 20 unique stages using more than 40 of the most loved and feared characters from the animation phenomenon. Unleash the hidden chakra from within and experience the best yet from the series.
“NARUTO is an international sensation and Ultimate Ninja 3 is the perfect complement to the VIZ Media franchise,” said Makoto Iwai, Executive Vice President and COO, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “CyberConnect2 has built upon the series and crafted a title that reaches Hokage level of fun.”
NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja 3 makes monumental leaps in the franchise with a host of “firsts” for the series. Players can now live through and be a part of all the major events that defined Story Arc 1 in Heroes History mode. Also, ninja-in-training can customize their characters with the Ultimate Jutsu which gives them that extra bit of edge during battle and allows them to earn points towards upgrading their strength, defense, chakra, agility and other special abilities. Turn playable characters into more powerful ninja of unprecedented size or summon giant creatures as allies with the new Summoning mode. In addition, NARUTO fans throughout North America can experience the game in both English and original Japanese voice over.
In keeping with the tradition of the series, an exclusive and original story will have players exploring the massive 3D rendered Hidden Leaf Village, participating in battle royale matches and completing more than 55 missions. The unparalleled experience doesn’t stop there as tons of unlockable content will be available to offer loads of replay value including movies, music and cards.
For more information on NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja 3 please visit: www.namcobandaigames.com or www.naruto.com
Miss Video Game Finals A Huge Success
The first day of the Miss Video Game 2007 competition wrapped up in grand style yesterday with two challenges at Festival Arcadia. The five finalists battled it out, with Lauren Berggren taking the early lead in the quest for the global crown of Miss Video Game.
The first challenge of the day took place at the Flashback Zone where the finalists went head-to-head in the classic racing game – Mario Kart 64. After a round-robin qualifying round, the finalists took part in a play-off format to determine the winner of the challenge.
Lauren (L337Lauren) Berggren raced her way to the top with a victory over Tiffany (liPStiCK) Greene. Third place went to Héléne (LadyLara) Bronnec while Adelle (Lanen) Moore took fourth spot. Rounding off the challenge was Yvonna (Coochie Dimes) Lynn.
After a mid-afternoon break - where the ladies interacted with festival goers by signing autographs, taking pictures, and engaging in the odd game with patrons at the Titan Strike booth - the girls made their way to the Vidéotron booth.
Finalists competed in CounterStrike Source on PCs where the girls challenged each other in a series of Player vs. Player (1v1) matches. Once again, Lauren showcased her superior marksmanship by shooting her way to a victory over Héléne.
With the double victory, the Mandeville, Louisiana native holds a three-point lead in the final standings going in to the second day of competition.
The five finalists will compete in two more challenges on Day 2 of Festival Arcadia - Guitar Hero (1:00pm on the Amp1 Energy Guitar Hero stage) and Brain Age II (4:15pm at the Nintendo Booth). Meet and greet sessions will continue today at 3:00pm and 6:30pm at the Titan Strike booth.
Final Standings as of 7pm ET, November 9:
Name - Challenge 1 Points - Challenge 2 Points - Total Points
Lauren - 5 - 5 - 10
Héléne - 4 - 3 - 7
Tiffany - 3 - 4 - 7
Adelle - 2 - 1 - 3
Yvonne - 1 - 2 - 3
Etch A Sketch mobile game
Mobile media company Player X has partnered with online games developer FreezeTag to co-launch the latest version of classic family toy Etch A Sketch across online and mobile games.
Under the terms of the deal, Player X has an exclusive worldwide licence to publish the mobile game version of the game across its distribution network of more than 150 global carriers and a potential audience of 2.5 billion people.
Addressing the industry need for convergence across casual games, the mobile game of Etch A Sketch will be available in December and the online game will be released a month later. The game combines creative drawing action with more than 100 levels of engrossing arcade-style arcade games and will appeal to both lovers of the family game as well as traditional casual gamers.
Building on the classic theme of the Etch A Sketch drawing toy, the mobile game also features interactive games starring Etch A Sketch-themed characters called “Knobbies” – all played inside the classic red frame.
“Etch A Sketch® is an ideal example of how a traditional toy can cross over into casual online and mobile games. By launching the mobile game at the same time as the online version, we are ensuring the audience has an opportunity to play wherever they happen to be,” said Tony Pearce, Player X CEO.
“With Etch A Sketch’s extraordinary brand recognition, we are confident that kids and adults alike will enjoy these new Etch A Sketch games and the new Knobby characters,” said Craig Holland, CEO of Freeze Tag.
Earlier this year, the company was selected as a Finalist for the prestigious 2007 Red Herring Top 100 Awards, was short-listed as Best Content Provider at the 2007 Meffys and won an award at the prestigious 2007 ME Awards, as well as being officially recognised as the 4th fastest-growing, VC-backed company in the UK.
Under the terms of the deal, Player X has an exclusive worldwide licence to publish the mobile game version of the game across its distribution network of more than 150 global carriers and a potential audience of 2.5 billion people.
Addressing the industry need for convergence across casual games, the mobile game of Etch A Sketch will be available in December and the online game will be released a month later. The game combines creative drawing action with more than 100 levels of engrossing arcade-style arcade games and will appeal to both lovers of the family game as well as traditional casual gamers.
Building on the classic theme of the Etch A Sketch drawing toy, the mobile game also features interactive games starring Etch A Sketch-themed characters called “Knobbies” – all played inside the classic red frame.
“Etch A Sketch® is an ideal example of how a traditional toy can cross over into casual online and mobile games. By launching the mobile game at the same time as the online version, we are ensuring the audience has an opportunity to play wherever they happen to be,” said Tony Pearce, Player X CEO.
“With Etch A Sketch’s extraordinary brand recognition, we are confident that kids and adults alike will enjoy these new Etch A Sketch games and the new Knobby characters,” said Craig Holland, CEO of Freeze Tag.
Earlier this year, the company was selected as a Finalist for the prestigious 2007 Red Herring Top 100 Awards, was short-listed as Best Content Provider at the 2007 Meffys and won an award at the prestigious 2007 ME Awards, as well as being officially recognised as the 4th fastest-growing, VC-backed company in the UK.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Super Mario Galaxy Creates Reason To Blow Dust Off Wii
Now, while I’ve certainly had my fun bashing the PS3, I’ve had even MORE fun bashing the Nintendo Wii, which has consistently made me wonder why I got so damn excited about Wii Sports in the first place. You and I both know that the system hasn’t had a good game since Twilight Princess (ed note: Paper Mario, FTW), and the company has teased gamers for awhile now with their next big first party titles that wouldn’t be coming out for months. (And first party games are honestly all the system has to offer—and please don’t send me any lists of third party games that are already out but suck. I know those games already and they blow).
But now, one of the most highly anticipated games of the year is coming out tomorrow, and gosh dernit, I’m actually super psyched to do some Wii-mote twirling again.
Super Mario Galaxy, that globe trotting adventure that sees Mario jettisoning to distant planets all in the quest to recover those precious, precious stars, looks like a real gem of a game that harkens back to Super Mario Bros. 3 if anything. Its huge quest, outfit changing ensemble, and all around colorful gameplay already makes me crave the thrill of what it was like to be a kid again with nothing to do on a Friday night but play a Mario game and eat Tombstone pizza on the floor.
Super Mario Sunshine, which was good, but basically just Mario 64 with a water gun). The whole shift in gravity affects Mario’s very own sense of jumping, and if you know Mario, then you’ll know how much the art of the jump has played a part in the series since, jeez, Donkey Kong! (And if you’ll recall, Mario was actually aptly called, Jumpman back then).
Also of awesomeness is how immense the game is claimed to be. Sure, you have to collect 120 stars again (What else is new?), but unlike Mario’s past 3D adventures, Luigi is actually in this game, too. That’s right, beat Bowser with Mario and prepare for an all new quest of “Your Princess is in another castle,” with the slimmer, trimmer brother.
Honestly, I haven’t been this excited about a game since Eternal Darkness, and I was REALLY excited about that game (and it delivered on all fronts).
Pick it up tomorrow if you can. I hear some retailers are actually pushing it back the to 14th.
Proof That Guitar Hero III For Wii Is Mono Only?
Earlier today, we reported that there may be some serious issues with Guitar Hero III for the Nintendo Wii. Many gamers are reporting that the audio is mono only. Some gamers out there may not even know the difference between mono and stereo. Some may not even be able to tell the difference based on what kind of sound system they have hooked up.
What is monophonic sound? Commonly called mono sound, mono, or non-stereo sound, this early sound system used a single channel of audio for sound output. In monophonic sound systems, the signal sent to the sound system encodes one single stream of sound and it usually uses just one speaker. Monophonic sound is the most basic format of sound output. Definition via Webopedia.
A Gaming Today reader dropped in a link to an image that may in fact prove that there’s something to this recent rumor concerning GH3 for the Wii. Thanks for the link Willy. The image was posted to the GP Forums and is described by the poster as “…recorded the audio from the wii console using audio audition and the line in jack on my computer, with the console set to stereo the first recording is the wii menu and then I load up guitar hero, the guitar hero image shows a section of the games menu and the first track slow ride. Visually you can see the stereo of the wii menu and the dual mono output of guitarhero. Unfortunately I don’t have a copy of the xbox of ps3 version to record from to show the difference of the game sounding correctly”. Actual image after the break.
Wii is best bet for Christmas
Holiday season is prime time for buying consoles, and according to the Gadget Hound at Yahoo, Wii is a better deal for the season than the cheapest Xbox 360 or PS3.
Here's what they had to say about Nintendo Wii, which retails for US $249.99:
It's the hottest console out there, and while its graphics aren't cutting-edge—I'd say it's somewhere between the PS2 and the Xbox 360— the Wii, with its motion-sensing Wiimote, is a hit with the casual-gaming set. Unlike the other consoles in this roundup, no discounts are in the offing; however, the bundled Wii Sports is so much fun that many Wii'ers are content with that title alone...A terrific bargain, provided you can actually snag one.
Full disclosure: Nintendo's system actually came in number two overall behind the PS2, but was first among the next-gen gang. As for the other two in the next-gen race, Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade ($280) came in next, and the 40GB PlayStation 3 ($399) came in last.
Here's what they had to say about Nintendo Wii, which retails for US $249.99:
It's the hottest console out there, and while its graphics aren't cutting-edge—I'd say it's somewhere between the PS2 and the Xbox 360— the Wii, with its motion-sensing Wiimote, is a hit with the casual-gaming set. Unlike the other consoles in this roundup, no discounts are in the offing; however, the bundled Wii Sports is so much fun that many Wii'ers are content with that title alone...A terrific bargain, provided you can actually snag one.
Full disclosure: Nintendo's system actually came in number two overall behind the PS2, but was first among the next-gen gang. As for the other two in the next-gen race, Microsoft Xbox 360 Arcade ($280) came in next, and the 40GB PlayStation 3 ($399) came in last.
Using Video-game Technology To Find Oil & Gas
What do video games and seismic explorations have in common? Both require very demanding computer applications that call for the ability to process massive quantities of data rapidly. Using computer technology originally co-designed by IBM for video-game consoles, University of Houston seismic researchers are employing this extremely fast technology to more effectively target oil reserves.
BM is supporting the UH Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program (M-OSRP) and its petroleum industry sponsors with a Cell Broadband Engineâ„¢ (Cell/B.E.) system that represents a new generation of powerful supercomputers with substantial parallelism built in at the core level. Such highly parallel computing technology is characterized by multiple processors executing and analyzing different types of data at once.
Originally designed for use in consumer-based computer entertainment products such as the Sony PlayStation3, the Cell/B.E. processor is not limited to game systems and delivers supercomputing performance on a single chip through the architecture of the Cell Synergistic Processor Unit (SPU) for data-intensive processing like that found in cryptography, media, matrix operations and certain scientific applications.
Current Cell/B.E. processors have up to nine individual core units per chip and future plans envisage having 34 core units. This design has a great advantage in running programs that require the same algorithm -- a repetitive, problem-solving computational procedure -- to be run independently on a common data set.
In seismic exploration, algorithms are used to process seismic data to remove coherent noise and to locate and produce hydrocarbons. Seismic methods are successful when the assumptions behind processing algorithms are satisfied, and they fail when those assumptions are violated. The latter breakdown of seismic efficacy is the source of challenges faced by seismic exploration and production.
There are several types or categories of assumptions made by seismic algorithms, such as collecting enough surface data to make reliable subsurface inferences and having computers with adequate speed and memory to allow realistic turnaround time. Additionally, there are innate algorithmic assumptions or limitations whose violation cannot be addressed by collecting more data or inventing and purchasing faster computers. There are many cases when collecting more complete data and having faster computers with greater memory will match the challenge, but there are other cases when the issue is innate algorithmic failure and a different response is required.
Many significant and challenging exploration targets, such as sub-salt and sub-basalt exploration and production, represent intrinsic algorithmic breakdown and failure. A fundamental new seismic concept and capability is required to address such an innate algorithmic failure, and that new algorithm often has a concomitant requirement for increased computing power. An effective and comprehensive response needs to begin by first recognizing and then responding to each of these different types of challenges. IBM's Cell/B.E. processor has the potential to significantly contribute to several different aspects and initiatives within that campaign.
One of the algorithms developed within M-OSRP to suppress a form of coherent noise called internal multiples places a high bar on seismic data collection and a very high bar on computing speed and memory. To allow the petroleum industry to use this very effective methodology for 3-D data will require a new computing vision and capability.
IBM researchers working in cooperation with M-OSRP have recoded this M-OSRP algorithm for the Cell/B.E. processor at UH and are running comparisons with industry-standard computer architectures and other novel architectures including Cell/B.E. The IBM research team is managed and directed by Tom McClure, leader of IBM's Worldwide Petroleum Industry and Deep Computing Visualization Team; Michael Perrone, IBM Master Inventor and manager of the Cell/B.E. Applications Group; and Earl Dodd, Deep Computing strategist. On the UH side, Cullen Distinguished Professor of Physics Arthur Weglein is the director of M-OSRP.
IBM and M-OSRP have a special relationship involving cooperative, collaborative and sponsor support, and while IBM sells this machine, it does not lease it. The Cell/B.E. is on loan to UH's M-OSRP as part of a very exclusive program with academic and research institutions.
"The IBM team's astute technical vision, impressive capability and business acumen not only recognize the breadth and depth of the E&P challenge, but also that partnering and collaborating with M-OSRP and its petroleum industry sponsors provides a reasonable chance of contributing toward an effective and comprehensive response," Weglein said. "The key responsibility of our group is to educate and mentor graduate students to become the next generation of scientific research leaders while addressing innate seismic algorithmic assumption violation and failure. Our research purpose is to provide new, high-impact seismic capability, methods and algorithms -- the 'what to compute.' However, many of our algorithms are extremely computer intensive and their new level of effectiveness requires a matching new computing vision and capability."
The two issues of "what to compute" and "how to compute" must be simultaneously progressed for M-OSRP's new seismic concepts and capabilities to be relevant. That fact, Weglein said, is behind the collaboration and cooperation between IBM and M-OSRP and its petroleum-industry sponsors.
A broader and central objective in making this IBM technology available to M-OSRP is to see how the Cell/B.E. supercomputer functions in a real-time atmosphere and how to design the optimal machine for seismic activities. The M-OSRP sponsors have a High-Performance Computing Committee that manages and guides that activity in cooperation with IBM and M-OSRP.
"We are very fortunate to have the trust and confidence of our industry sponsors to pursue high-impact, fundamental, game-changing research designed to make the currently inaccessible target accessible and the accessible better defined," Weglein said. "Our partnership with IBM contributes to an effective and comprehensive response to the pressing challenges faced by the petroleum industry in locating and producing hydrocarbons. Located in Houston, the center of the petroleum universe, UH is the ideal place for this partnership to flourish. The success of this initiative has important implications for both our nation's and the world's energy and security interests."
BM is supporting the UH Mission-Oriented Seismic Research Program (M-OSRP) and its petroleum industry sponsors with a Cell Broadband Engineâ„¢ (Cell/B.E.) system that represents a new generation of powerful supercomputers with substantial parallelism built in at the core level. Such highly parallel computing technology is characterized by multiple processors executing and analyzing different types of data at once.
Originally designed for use in consumer-based computer entertainment products such as the Sony PlayStation3, the Cell/B.E. processor is not limited to game systems and delivers supercomputing performance on a single chip through the architecture of the Cell Synergistic Processor Unit (SPU) for data-intensive processing like that found in cryptography, media, matrix operations and certain scientific applications.
Current Cell/B.E. processors have up to nine individual core units per chip and future plans envisage having 34 core units. This design has a great advantage in running programs that require the same algorithm -- a repetitive, problem-solving computational procedure -- to be run independently on a common data set.
In seismic exploration, algorithms are used to process seismic data to remove coherent noise and to locate and produce hydrocarbons. Seismic methods are successful when the assumptions behind processing algorithms are satisfied, and they fail when those assumptions are violated. The latter breakdown of seismic efficacy is the source of challenges faced by seismic exploration and production.
There are several types or categories of assumptions made by seismic algorithms, such as collecting enough surface data to make reliable subsurface inferences and having computers with adequate speed and memory to allow realistic turnaround time. Additionally, there are innate algorithmic assumptions or limitations whose violation cannot be addressed by collecting more data or inventing and purchasing faster computers. There are many cases when collecting more complete data and having faster computers with greater memory will match the challenge, but there are other cases when the issue is innate algorithmic failure and a different response is required.
Many significant and challenging exploration targets, such as sub-salt and sub-basalt exploration and production, represent intrinsic algorithmic breakdown and failure. A fundamental new seismic concept and capability is required to address such an innate algorithmic failure, and that new algorithm often has a concomitant requirement for increased computing power. An effective and comprehensive response needs to begin by first recognizing and then responding to each of these different types of challenges. IBM's Cell/B.E. processor has the potential to significantly contribute to several different aspects and initiatives within that campaign.
One of the algorithms developed within M-OSRP to suppress a form of coherent noise called internal multiples places a high bar on seismic data collection and a very high bar on computing speed and memory. To allow the petroleum industry to use this very effective methodology for 3-D data will require a new computing vision and capability.
IBM researchers working in cooperation with M-OSRP have recoded this M-OSRP algorithm for the Cell/B.E. processor at UH and are running comparisons with industry-standard computer architectures and other novel architectures including Cell/B.E. The IBM research team is managed and directed by Tom McClure, leader of IBM's Worldwide Petroleum Industry and Deep Computing Visualization Team; Michael Perrone, IBM Master Inventor and manager of the Cell/B.E. Applications Group; and Earl Dodd, Deep Computing strategist. On the UH side, Cullen Distinguished Professor of Physics Arthur Weglein is the director of M-OSRP.
IBM and M-OSRP have a special relationship involving cooperative, collaborative and sponsor support, and while IBM sells this machine, it does not lease it. The Cell/B.E. is on loan to UH's M-OSRP as part of a very exclusive program with academic and research institutions.
"The IBM team's astute technical vision, impressive capability and business acumen not only recognize the breadth and depth of the E&P challenge, but also that partnering and collaborating with M-OSRP and its petroleum industry sponsors provides a reasonable chance of contributing toward an effective and comprehensive response," Weglein said. "The key responsibility of our group is to educate and mentor graduate students to become the next generation of scientific research leaders while addressing innate seismic algorithmic assumption violation and failure. Our research purpose is to provide new, high-impact seismic capability, methods and algorithms -- the 'what to compute.' However, many of our algorithms are extremely computer intensive and their new level of effectiveness requires a matching new computing vision and capability."
The two issues of "what to compute" and "how to compute" must be simultaneously progressed for M-OSRP's new seismic concepts and capabilities to be relevant. That fact, Weglein said, is behind the collaboration and cooperation between IBM and M-OSRP and its petroleum-industry sponsors.
A broader and central objective in making this IBM technology available to M-OSRP is to see how the Cell/B.E. supercomputer functions in a real-time atmosphere and how to design the optimal machine for seismic activities. The M-OSRP sponsors have a High-Performance Computing Committee that manages and guides that activity in cooperation with IBM and M-OSRP.
"We are very fortunate to have the trust and confidence of our industry sponsors to pursue high-impact, fundamental, game-changing research designed to make the currently inaccessible target accessible and the accessible better defined," Weglein said. "Our partnership with IBM contributes to an effective and comprehensive response to the pressing challenges faced by the petroleum industry in locating and producing hydrocarbons. Located in Houston, the center of the petroleum universe, UH is the ideal place for this partnership to flourish. The success of this initiative has important implications for both our nation's and the world's energy and security interests."
Computer games company zaps into global market
GATESHEAD games company Eutechnyx is one North-East export success story which has created its own niche at home and abroad.
Eutechnyx, which employs 75 in Gateshead and has offices in China which employ a further 35, is a world leader in creating driving games for consoles including Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox and Nintendo GameCube.
The computer games it creates sell in their millions and the growing company has worldwide sales of over £3.5m.
It is run by three Jobling brothers – Paul, the marketing director, Brian, the managing director, and Darren, the business development director.
Paul said: “It’s difficult to break into overseas markets but once you have made that initial step, it becomes much easier.
“In recent years, we have been very successful overseas. The United Kingdom Trade and Industry Office are really very good.
Their people understand the challenges we face and provide expert advice and assistance. They have helped us enormously.”
One of Eutechnyx’s recent successes is the game of the hit MTV show Pimp my Ride, which involved spending time with the host, rapper Xzibit, in Los Angeles.
The £100m 'geek'
A SELF-confessed 'geek' who spent his teenage years playing computer games in his bedroom has sold his company - for around £100m.
Jon Burton invented his own video games but he struggled to sell them to software companies. But since setting up his own business in 1989 he has sold more than 42 million copies.
The Cheshire-based firm Traveller's Tales became one of the world's biggest independent game developers creating titles based on Star Wars, Toy Story, The Muppets, Finding Nemo and Sonic the Hedgehog for industry giants such as Sony, Sega and Pixar.
It was renamed TT Games after merging with publisher Giant Interactive Entertainment in 2005. The company on Toft Road, Knutsford, is best known for its success with Lego Star War.
Jon, 38, admitted `geeking' away most of his free time writing games. He has now agreed to sell the business to Warner Brothers for about £100m over five years. He owns 80 per cent of the company with the rest of the shares held by his management team. Jon said: "After 18 years in the video games industry, the opportunity to become a meaningful part of the world's leading entertainment company is the fulfilment of a dream."
He developed an interest in computers in the early 1980s. Initially, his games were rejected but he then got a job with a games developer before setting up on his own.
His company has a total staff of 200 across the country and has offices in Ireland and Serbia following two acquisitions.
TT Games said the deal `promised an exciting future' for the firm and its staff. Titles in the Lego pipeline include Batman and Indiana Jones.
Warner Brothers, part of the world's largest media company Time Warner, bought the business to expand into the computer games industry. It is its first purchase of a British computer games company.
Barry Meyer, chairman and chief executive of Warner Brothers, said: "TT Games is very successful and respected in the game development and publishing world. They are a great fit for us and the right next step for Warner Brothers."
Just last month it unveiled a partnership to launch an entertainment `hub' in Abu Dhabi, with plans to create £237m fund for video games development.
Warner Brothers Home Entertainment president Kevin Tsujihara said: "The expertise that TT Games brings is a great match with our brands as well as an opportunity to effectively leverage our existing global infrastructure."
Source: Manchester Evening News
Jon Burton invented his own video games but he struggled to sell them to software companies. But since setting up his own business in 1989 he has sold more than 42 million copies.
The Cheshire-based firm Traveller's Tales became one of the world's biggest independent game developers creating titles based on Star Wars, Toy Story, The Muppets, Finding Nemo and Sonic the Hedgehog for industry giants such as Sony, Sega and Pixar.
It was renamed TT Games after merging with publisher Giant Interactive Entertainment in 2005. The company on Toft Road, Knutsford, is best known for its success with Lego Star War.
Jon, 38, admitted `geeking' away most of his free time writing games. He has now agreed to sell the business to Warner Brothers for about £100m over five years. He owns 80 per cent of the company with the rest of the shares held by his management team. Jon said: "After 18 years in the video games industry, the opportunity to become a meaningful part of the world's leading entertainment company is the fulfilment of a dream."
He developed an interest in computers in the early 1980s. Initially, his games were rejected but he then got a job with a games developer before setting up on his own.
His company has a total staff of 200 across the country and has offices in Ireland and Serbia following two acquisitions.
TT Games said the deal `promised an exciting future' for the firm and its staff. Titles in the Lego pipeline include Batman and Indiana Jones.
Warner Brothers, part of the world's largest media company Time Warner, bought the business to expand into the computer games industry. It is its first purchase of a British computer games company.
Barry Meyer, chairman and chief executive of Warner Brothers, said: "TT Games is very successful and respected in the game development and publishing world. They are a great fit for us and the right next step for Warner Brothers."
Just last month it unveiled a partnership to launch an entertainment `hub' in Abu Dhabi, with plans to create £237m fund for video games development.
Warner Brothers Home Entertainment president Kevin Tsujihara said: "The expertise that TT Games brings is a great match with our brands as well as an opportunity to effectively leverage our existing global infrastructure."
Source: Manchester Evening News
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