Gamecaster�, Inc. and Epic Games, Inc. today announced that Gamecaster?s GCS3� virtual camera hardware for video game, film and television production is now available to all licensees of Epic?s Unreal Engine 3 (UE3) and users of the Unreal Development Kit (UDK), the free edition of UE3 that gives users access to the award-winning integrated suite of game development tools. Gamecaster is the newest member of Epic?s unrivaled Unreal Engine 3 Integrated Partners Program (IPP).
The Gamecaster GCS3 virtual camera hardware enables game developers working within Unreal Matinee, UE3’s director-class, in-game cinematics and cut scene production software, to layout scenes the same way they would shoot live action – by panning, tilting, trucking and zooming Unreal Matinee’s virtual camera in real time with real-life camera hardware. What’s more, Unreal Matinee automatically keyframes the GCS3’s movements, reducing the amount of time spent “camera keyframing” during the game development process.
?GCS3 integration with Unreal Matinee makes it easier for game developers and cinematographers to achieve immediate, fantastic results in virtual filmmaking,” said Dr. Michael Capps, president of Epic Games. “With GCS3, developers can open the Unreal Editor, record live camera movement within a cinematic scene, and play back results instantly. It’s that simple and it can save a huge amount of time on tasks that usually require manual keyframing.”
The Gamecaster GCS3 virtual camera hardware has a stylized form factor, an HD LCD viewfinder, internal motion sensors and two proprietary thumbstick controls. The GCS3 can be mounted to a tripod or a shoulder mount for handheld operation, allowing game developers and digital filmmakers to be a part of the action as it happens.
?The ability to conduct real-time virtual cinematography within Unreal Matinee, and make shots feel alive and believable, is an instant benefit to game developers,? said David MacIntosh, president of Gamecaster. “We’re looking forward to watching the stunning in-game cinematics and cut scenes that UE3 licensees and UDK users will create with this powerful new feature.?
“GCS3 puts added creative control in our hands by enabling us to produce authentic feeling handheld camera shots for cinematics more easily and quickly than with traditional keyframing,” said Greg Mitchell, Epic’s cinematics director. “The hardware design is particularly intuitive to people who, like me, have a history behind the camera. GCS3 feels like a motion picture camera in my hands and can be used with support equipment available in the production business.”
Capps added, ?Our partners program ensures that our licensees have access to integration code for industry-leading tools and middleware maintained in step with Unreal Engine 3 as it advances. Unreal Engine 3 licensees benefit from having the best tools and 3D applications work seamlessly with the engine out of the box.?
For more information on Gamecaster, please visit http://www.gamecaster.com. To purchase the GCS3 virtual camera hardware, please e-mail GCS3@gamecaster.com.
About Unreal Engine 3
The award-winning Unreal Engine is known for cutting-edge graphics and its best-of-breed toolset. Unreal Engine 3 maintains those features in addition to multi-core processor support, Xbox 360� and Playstation�3 optimizations, massive world support, and a highly mature tool pipeline. Unreal Engine 3’s consistently evolving toolset is designed to accelerate developers’ productivity for PC and console games, visualization applications, training simulations, and linear animated content. Additional information on Unreal Engine can be obtained through the Unreal Technology website at http://www.unrealtechnology.com.
About Epic Games
Epic Games, Inc., based in Cary, N.C. and established in 1991, develops cutting-edge games and cross-platform game engine technology. The company has created multiple million-selling, award-winning titles in its ?Unreal? series, including ?Unreal Tournament 3? for PC, PlayStation�3 and Xbox 360�. Epic?s “Gears of War” series has sold over 12 million copies and won over 30 Game of the Year awards. Epic’s Unreal Engine 3 is the four-time winner of Game Developer magazine?s Best Engine Front Line Award and Hall of Fame inductee. Unreal Engine 3 has also been recognized as the number one game engine by Develop magazine. Additional information about Epic can be obtained through the Epic Games website at http://www.epicgames.com.
About Gamecaster
Gamecaster, Inc., headquartered in San Diego, California, is a designer, manufacturer and supplier of virtual camera control technology for the film, television and video game industries, and a producer of video game tournaments and related television programs for broadcast worldwide in multiple media. For more information about the company, please visit: http://www.gamecaster.com.
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