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December,
2003 - We've completed work on our most recent project
and we're awaiting word to announce involvement publicly. The
work that we did was for a very technically demanding wearable
system. The system itself was very impressive, and the wearables
that we provided had to have variations so that players could
mix and match anything they wanted in any combination across
all the types of outfits / armor. As for polygon limits, around
1500-2500 polys would be viewable in any given iteration, although
in the delivered files, there were well over 10,000 polys used
for all iterations. More
specifics on the numbers of the project... We modeled, textured,
and rigged 33 3D Studio Max characters that have the ability
to swap portions of their armor with other portions. It was
demanding, technical work, but we are really proud of the
results. When we can talk about it publicly, we will - and
we will post images here as well. (UPDATE 8/20/04)
These wearables were for Ultima
X: Odyssey, from Origin
Systems / Electronic Arts |
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November
15, 2003 - We sponsored the Austin Gaming Initiative's "How to Break into the Games Industry" event. See http://www.austingame.com/breakin/index.html for more information. We gave the keynote speech for the event,
entitled "Industry Overview: A broad view of the industry
narrowing down to a focus on platforms, development needs,
qualifications and skill sets." We spoke (with a panel
of industry veterans) from 9:00am - 9:45am. It was a great
time, and we met many potential industry entrants.
We're
continuing work on our current project... more info when we're
completed next month! |
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October
25th - As a donor to a silent auction at a local
Dress
for Success, we continue our community outreach efforts.
There was a Grand Opening of their most recent location at
701 Tillery, Suite A-5, Austin, TX 78702. The fundraiser /
Grand Opening was a great success and lasted well into the
night. The mission of Dress for Success is so fantastic, you
should check out their website to learn more.
We've
gone undercover to work on a three month project for use in
a VERY high profile original game slated to be released in
2004. When we get the word that we can say what it is to the
public, we'll be sure to add the info here! (UPDATE
8/20/04) See December, 2003 entry! |
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October
21, 2003 - Critical Mass Interactive's artwork for
Mahjong in Ultima
Online goes live! It is a beautiful table set with inlaid
pearls. Players can view the game rules and a version of the
table and pieces here.
This is but a small example of how we can help your teams with
smaller parts of your production, while you focus on the bigger
issues! |
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October
20, 2003 - Critical Mass has teamed up with Wireless
Developer to do artwork and game design for cell phones.
Our first game (Air Attack II, with an intro screen by none
other than Greg
Hildebrandt!) was unveiled in Las
Vegas at an exclusive Wireless Developer pre-CTIA
show. We are very excited about showing just a little of what
we can do in that market! |
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Mid-October,
2003 - Critical Mass is MOVING!! We have secured a
lease at Anderson Mill and 183 and will be moving into it shortly.
As more details become available, we will provide them! |
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October
6-7, 2003 - We visited Full
Sail Real World Education studios in Orlando, Florida (Home
of a certain little mouse).
We have been advisors on their Computer Animation track, and
they kindly added us to their Advisory Board for their Game
Design and Development track. Their studios, students, and their
staff were fantastic! We would highly recommend taking a tour
of their studio if you get the chance. The students there are
learning on the best hardware and software in the business,
and from what we saw, were all getting great instruction. We've
been asked to return there in February to speak to the classes
directly. |
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September
22, 2003 - Austin Business Journal did an article on
us! Check out the whole text right here.
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September
11-12, 2003 - As advisors
(as well as sponsors)
to the very successful Austin
Game Conference, we helped with the general planning of
the conference. At our exhibitor booth at the show, we saw many
of our old friends and made many new ones as well. As we are
building games on many platforms, we offered help and advice
to as many people as we had time for at the show. We will be
back for next year's show as it is already in the planning stages!! |
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August
21-23, 2003 - Critical Mass Interactive proudly attended
the University of Texas at Austin's Second Annual Artificial
Intelligence in Games Workshop. We were on site helping
all day and moderated a few of the panels for the conference. |
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August
19th, 2003 - Critical Mass is
pleased to announce the completion of their involvement with
Inevitable
Entertainment's game, The Hobbit. Contract work included
"fast-turnaround" of grammar and spelling checks within
multiple in-game text files for inclusion within the game. For
more information on The Hobbit, please visit: http://www.inevitable.com/hobbit.htm
or http://www.lotr.com/frame_hobbit.jsp |
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July
26th, 2003 - Critical Mass and Incan
Monkey God Studios donated video game hint books and brand
new PC games to the first Austin
Gaming Expo! They were given away as door
prizes and visitors seemed to really appreciate them. The
Expo was a great success and it was wonderful to be involved
with it. We're looking forward to the next one! |
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July
3rd, 2003 - Happy 4th of July everyone!! This
should be a very special day as the world strives for peace
and we appreciate all the freedoms we have here in the United
States. As for work, Critical Mass is looking forward to a full
month's schedule with a few new projects heading into the garage.
Also, we are going to take a full day to be at the Austin
Gaming Expo on July 26th. Maybe we'll see you out there!
More as the month develops!!! |
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June,
2003 - Phew! This has been a month of hard work
for our crew. As we have been cranking on our current projects,
lots of smaller (and just as important) projects have come
in and we've been busy getting them finished for our clients.
We've also gotten the opportunity to meet with a number of
Austin game companies to explain in person how our services
can help their teams. If you would like to schedule an appointment
to see how we can help your group, please contact Billy Cain
or call (512) 219-1600. By the way, you don't have to be 'local;'
we work with clients all over the world. Just drop an email
and ask us how we may be able to help.
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May,
2003 - Well, E3
has come and gone and although Grant and Matt were working
on some projects they couldn't get away from, Billy made it
out there to show off what we had been working on since GDC.
It was great to run into a lot of old friends out in LA, and
the show was wonderful. It has been years since I (Billy)
got a chance to really 'walk the floor,' and everything looked
fantastic! The games this year were looking beautiful and
to top it off, most that I got to get my hands on also played
well, too. This should be a very tough year for gamers to
figure out what to buy!!
Critical Mass Interactive had a very good show and met with
some great publishers, striking up new partnerships and deals
for our clients. We are very excited with what is going on
'behind the scenes' and can't wait to announce what we have
cooking!
See you at next year's E3!
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April
17, 2003 - Nickelodeon's KIDS' CHOICE AWARDS 2003!!!
"SpongeBob
SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman for PlayStation®2
Wins 'Favorite Video Game' Award at the 2003 Nickelodeon Kids'
Choice Awards!!!" See cover story on our Home Page. We
are also packing for our E3
trip!! See you there! |
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March
19, 2003 - We would like to thank everyone who
met with us at the Game
Developers Conference! We also want to say 'hello!' again
to all of our friends that we ran into at the show who we hadn't
seen in so long, as well as to say 'hi!' to the new friends
we made! Our schedule was so packed as we went from the Conference
to the Fairmont Hotel, moving from one meeting with one publisher
to another. It was absolutely draining and so much fun!! Back
at the hotel in the evenings, Grant took Billy to school on
NBA Live 2003 for PlayStation2. Billy did win one game, though!
:) Please
drop us a line to just catch up! We are always interested in
hearing from you! |
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February,
2003 - as of 2-24-03: We are booking demonstration
reservations for the Game
Developers Conference with many high-profile, interested
publishers. Our schedule is filling up quickly with the excitement!
Come be part of it! |
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February,
2003 - Critical Mass Interactive, Inc. is formed
to maximize the growing development potential of the consortium,
based upon the established skills, experience and accomplishments
of its strategic partners, to bring about an explosion of high
quality product to our clients and their audience. Onward to
the Game Developers
Conference from March 4th through 8th, in San Jose, California! |
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January
30, 2003 - Partnering with several other seasoned
companies (some noted on the Clients
page) our team has begun supporting the creation of a consortium
of like-minded groups. Each group’s skills complement
one another, ultimately leading to several projects and franchises
that we are poised to push into high gear. |
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December
31, 2002 - We successfully complete SpongeBob
SquarePants: Revenge of the Flying Dutchman and Jimmy
Neutron: Boy Genius on both the PlayStation®2 and Nintendo
GameCube™ for THQ,
Inc. The collective team enjoys the holidays and revs up
for new adventures in the coming year. |
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Looking for news from 2007? Click here! |
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Looking
for news from 2006? Click here! |
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Looking
for news from 2005? Click here! |
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Looking
for news from 2004? Click here! |
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PRESS RELEASES!! |
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Critical
Mass Interactive Smartens up Development with Alienbrain® |
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Critical
Mass Interactive Partners with periMind to Create Air Attack
Sequel |
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IDW
Publishing To Collect Sword Of Dracula - It’s Dracula
As You’ve Never Seen Him |
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Critical
Mass Interactive Contributes Art for 'Ultima Online: Samurai
Empire' Massively Multiplayer Online RPG Expansion
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Critical
Mass Interactive Completes `USAF: Air Dominance' Military Action
Flight Simulator |
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Critical
Mass Interactive has acquired the interactive game rights to
SWORD OF DRACULA |
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Full
Sail Welcomes Game Developer Billy Cain |
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Critical
Mass Completes Wearables for Electronic Arts' Ultima X: Odyssey |
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"SpongeBob
SquarePants Revenge of the Flying Dutchman'' for PlayStation®2
Wins ``Favorite Video Game'' Award at the 2003 Nickelodeon Kids'
Choice Awards |
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Most
Popular All-Ages Program On Nickelodeon Arrives On PlayStation®2
For First Time |
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NEWS UPDATES!! |
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December,
2003 |
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November
15, 2003 |
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October
25, 2003 |
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October
21, 2003 |
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October
20, 2003 |
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Mid-October,
2003 |
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October
6-7 , 2003 |
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September
22, 2003 |
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September
11-12, 2003 |
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August
21-23, 2003 |
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August
19th, 2003 |
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July
26th, 2003 |
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July
3rd, 2003 |
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June,
2003 |
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May,
2003 |
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April
17, 2003 |
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March
19, 2003 |
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February,
2003 |
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January
30, 2003 |
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December
31, 2002 |
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"CMI
analyzed our situation, presented a solution plan and executed
it on budget. I highly recommend their services."
- David Shockley of International Biophysics Corporation |
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