DMP in the world of computer games

A new version of the most realistic hockey simulation game "NHL 2005", has just been released. Some of the NHL "World Cup 2004" matches took place in SAZKA ARENA at the end of summer. That's why you can also find the Czech arena environment on this new version despite the fact that, at the time of finalising the 3D graphics for this game, the SAZKA ARENA had not been finished, especially not in the interiors!! From other arenas the game producers of EA Sports only needed an up-to-date set of photographs of the exteriors and interiors with sufficient details for real-time texturing as those arenas were built into previous versions of the NHL games. However, with SAZKA ARENA it was absolutely impossible to obtain these photographs during February and March, because work on the building was not finalised. "As the arena was in the process of being built at the time when we needed all the 3D elements of the arena model, textures of surfaces, visualizations of the predicted look of the environment, esp. interiors and various details of the layout of the arena in order to achieve the most realistic feeling when playing our game, we were very impressed with the commitment of the DMP team. They were very professional and extremely diligent and were able to provide us with very good information and ultimately a signed agreement between SAZKA ARENA and NHL and they kept us updated every step along the way." said Jennifer Tait, Business Affairs Manager from Electronic Arts on using the expert services of Digital Media Production based on their interactive 3D arena model, which was built for simulation and operational management of the Prague multifunctional arena. A sample of some of the visualizations, which were used as a base for creation of the game can be found here. These can be compared with how the SAZKA ARENA finally looked. Another unusual game project currently in progress is a 3D game introducing products and training education on electro technologies of SIEMENS Inc. More information on this will be provided in the next "DMP Newsletter".

Hot news on the latest High Definition DVD discs

After the European premiere of the High Definition DVD of the second part of the Lara Croft movie, at this year's CeBIT, Concorde Home Entertainment introduces a complete collection of HD movies (LaraCroft 1, Lara Croft 2, Bullet-proof Monk, Die Stunde des J gers/Hunted, Wir waren Helden/We Were Soldiers, The Italian Job, Underworld and Time Line). The turn-key HD postproduction and authoring is managed by Digital Media Production. Digitization and film editing in High Definition resolution is done in co-operation with the well-known studios of UPP, using technologies of Discreet Logic Lustre and HD Flame, AVID Nitris HD, etc. More information on the technology behind HD production can be found at www.wmvhd.de in the section "How to produce HD content on DVD". Unlike the first WMV High Definition DVD disk, this complete HD collection will contain two audio tracks (incl. original language). If, in the near future, any technology company will introduce within the new hybrid "classical" set-top players to the market, (such as KISS Technology, based on the chip-set by Sigma Designs), there will be a good chance that all the WMV HD DVD disks could be programmed in such a way as to be playable in living rooms that are not equipped with a PC. In all of the disks, Digital Rights Management copy-protection system (based on technology of Microsoft, Inc.), is built-in. New information on WMV High Definition DVD releases will be published in October on: www.wmvhd.de.

Picture 13x wider than High Definition DVD!?

13,280 pixels wide display area, equal to 13 plasma High Definition TV screens side by side. Such a gigantic multimedia display (the whole circle counts for unbelievable 320 meters!) was installed by BARCO in the Prague SAZKA ARENA as the only one of its kind in Europe. The content and graphics design was created by studios Digital Media Production and UPP, under the production co-ordination of the multimedia complex supervisor Kabel Plus Sport, Inc. Graphics content was created not only for the "Opening Ceremony", but also for the World Ice Hockey Championship 2004 and a series of events, concerts and national hockey extra-league. Both fascia display and 4x6m LED cube (Jumbo Throne) were used for broadcasting and displaying animated entertainment shows. Both the giant displays showed (apart from jury signals), sport information graphics and titles, celebration graphics and also animations to create an entertaining atmosphere (songs) and even interacted with public in the arena. Since WIHC 2004 an increasing number of companies have shown interest in using this new animated advertisement space, based on fascia display as the widest ever TV screen. The professional co-operation of the creative teams has produced a state-of-the-art graphics interactive concept, which is used by other Czech arenas. Interest for these services has been shown from arenas in other countries hosting similar events in the coming years. You can see the samples of the work here.