Massive streamlines Crowd–Generation Capabilities with Ready–To–Run Agents™ at Siggraph 2004

Speeds Creation of Arena Spectators, Background Characters and Digital Armies with Breakthrough Functionality for its Academy Award–Winning 3D Animation System

Thursday 5 August 2004

Massive, developer of the premiere 3D animation system for artificial intelligence–driven, crowd–related visual effects, announced it is streamlining the generation of arena spectators, crowds moving en masse and large–scale digital armies with breakthrough Ready–to–Run Agents™. These pre–built agents can be easily dropped into shots to create 3D character–based crowd scenarios allowing animators to significantly speed up their workflow. The initial agents, debuting August 10–12 in Los Angeles during SIGGRAPH 2004 at New Zealand's booth #1521, are the first in a series of agent "sets" which will make up the growing Massive Ready–to–Run Agent Library™.

Each Ready–to–Run Agent is immediately available to the artist as a pre–built asset comprising all of the facets routinely found in a Massive agent – from skeletons, geometry and rigid body dynamics, to textures, shaders and choreography controls. Each agent features high–quality motion capture actions provided by industry leader Giant Studios.

"Massive was designed to speed the work of creative people, even in the face of enormous–scale challenges," said Massive Founder and Product Manager Stephen Regelous. "With Ready–to–Run Agents, Massive artists at large effects studios or small start–ups will be able to almost instantly begin focusing on the artistic design, composition and special needs of the shot by shortcutting the agent pre–production period."

Supervisors, animators and technical directors on films from The Lord of The Rings to I, Robot know Massive to be a proven tool to run realistic 3D characters that act responsively to things going on around them. "Massive played a key role for us in making visual effects history on The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I am looking to Massive again to help us produce a truly original experience for filmgoers as we proceed with visual effects production," says Dean Wright, Visual Effects Producer for The Lord of the Rings and VFX Supervisor on Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

The initial sets in the Ready–to–Run Agent Library™ being announced by Massive at SIGGRAPH include:

Massive Spectator Set

The initial agent available in this set is Stadium Agent™, which provides all of the actions and reactions that go along with filling an arena with a cast of thousands – from cheering and clapping throngs to people going for popcorn.

Crowds on the Move™ – Massive's Set of Locomotion Agents

Locomotion Agent™ kicks off this set with a motion library specific to digital extras that run, walk and stand en masse.

Massive Ambient Action Set

Low–key background activities such as milling about and engaging in casual conversation will be provided by this action set, whose first agent release has been affectionately named Ambient Agent™.

Massive Combat Collection Set

Pre–built Massive agents in this set will battle it out with actions and responses appropriate for fight scenes of all varieties, including medieval sword fighting. The first agent in this series, due to ship later this year is the Medieval Swordsman.

Introduction of the Ready–to–Run Agents™ feature set at SIGGRAPH continues the path of innovation at Massive that began in the early 1990s, when Stephen Regelous evolved his basic concept for a system to generate animation with AI–driven autonomous agents, and refined it working for director Peter Jackson on The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. In 2004, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King garnered 11 Oscar Awards, including Best Visual Effects, received by Massive user Weta Digital. That same year, Massive received its own recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences with a Scientific and Engineering Award for Regelous' achievement and insight in the development of Massive Software.

Massive customer The Mill in London recently received the highest honor awarded for a television commercial, the "Cannes Lions Grand Prix," for its first project using Massive software. The Cannes judges praised the "magnitude of execution" on the PlayStation Mountain spot, and further honored The Mill for its second Massive project, The Other Game for Nike which garnered a Bronze award. The use of Massive on these commercials will be demonstrated at Massive's booth during SIGGRAPH.

Ready–to–Run Agents™, Ready–to–Run Agents Library™, Stadium Agent™, Crowds on the Move™, Locomotion Agent™ and Ambient Agent™ are trademarks of Massive, Ltd. Academy Award, Academy Awards and Oscar are trade or service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.