Unity Technologies raises $180 million in funding at the valuation of $1.5 billion

Unity engine over the last few years has seen a sizeable amount of growth, with the gaming industry reaching new heights and new experiences being developed in the entertainment industry using the engine. Seems like Unity engine was also used in the creation of the current mega successful game Pokemon Go.

The company recently announced that it had raised $181 million from investors led by DFJ Growth. Others in the round include the China Investment Corporation, FreeS Fund, Thrive Capital, the technology entrepreneur Max Levchin including the existing investors Sequoia Capital and WestSummit Capital. According to New York Times report, investors valued the company, which is based in San Francisco, at about $1.5 billion after the latest fundraising round.

“We continue to focus on helping developers in every way we can,” said Unity Technologies, CEO, John Riccitiello. “We do this by focusing on our three core principles; democratising development, solving hard problems and enabling developer success.”

With augmented reality and virtual reality, the new playing grounds for game developers, the engine maker is leaving no stone unturned to ready its arsenal to take on its competition heads on.

Laracroft Relic Run

Laracroft Relic Run game developed using Unity 3D

Currently the numbers are with Unity and the Unity’s game engine – Unity 3D which is especially common among mobile games, that are growing far more quickly than traditional console games. The company issued new statistics which reveal that more than 5.5 million developers have registered themselves on the Unity platform. Unity estimates that its engine is used in more than 31 per cent of the 1,000 top grossing mobile games. The game engine that comes closer to Unity is Epic Games’ Unreal Engine which has 2 million registered users; a huge difference considering how many games are spawned from each registered user.

Unity also claimed that 90 per cent of the content created on Samsung and Facebook’s Oculus virtual reality platform Gear VR is being developed using Unity engine and has a huge variety of its titles on PC, Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and others.

Unity does have a lead when it comes to game development but it certainly does not have a monopoly. China’s biggest internet company Tencent Holdings has a large stake in Epic’s Unreal Engine and is looking to lure in more developers to take a stronghold of the multibillion dollar industry. Jeff Bezos’s Amazon too released a game engine called ‘Lumberyard’ with code licensed from Crytek. With Amazon’s cloud computing might, its gaming platform ‘Amazon Underground’ and its games streaming service ‘Twitch’ the company is looking to provide the perfect package to encourage developers to use their services to promote their games.

“Unity’s platform has revolutionised the game industry by allowing any size studio from Indie to Triple-A to create beautiful and compelling games and experiences and monetise them with their advertising and analytics services,” said DFJ Growth, partner, Barry Schuler. “Now Unity is poised to accelerate the advance of AR/VR with their unique ‘write once/ publish many’ engine which allows studios to easily support all hardware platforms without having to attempt to choose a winner.”

The post Unity Technologies raises $180 million in funding at the valuation of $1.5 billion appeared first on AnimationXpress.

MAAC

maac-logo-03-7-13-bMAAC is the high-end 3D animation & VFX education brand of Aptech. Through its wide network of centres, MAAC has prepared thousands of students for careers in animation, VFX, filmmaking, gaming, web, graphics design, and media & entertainment. The Academy provides quality education through career-oriented courses, leading to top-notch job placements.

MAAC conducts periodic faculty training programs to ensure high standards of teaching in the classroom. All MAAC instructorsgets an opportunity to get trained by industry professionals who help sharpen their creative & technical skills along with continuous up-gradation to industry standard software’s.

Positions Open

Maya Academy of Advanced Cinematics (MAAC)is looking for Production, Post Production, Multimedia and Photography Instructors for various locations across India. The candidates should be self-motivated creative professionals who has the passion of mentoring students and actively takes part in various Student Development Programs.

Post-Production/VFX Instructor 

Experience – Minimum 1-2 years in training or in Studios.

Software Proficiency -Nuke, Mocha, Fusion, PF Track FCP, Photoshop, Premier, After Effects.

Locations –Pan India.

Production Instructor

Experience – Minimum 1- 2 years in training or in Studios.

Software Proficiency – 3ds Max, Maya, Zbrush, Mudbox,Photoshop, Real Flow

Locations – All India

Multimedia Instructor

Experience – Minimum 1-2 years in Teaching or any Graphic or Web Design company.

Software Proficiency – Photoshop, Illustrator,Corel Draw, InDesign, Dreamweaver, Flash, Html, CSS,JavaScript, PHP, WordPress

Locations – Pan India

Photography Instructor

Experience –Minimum 2 years of Professional Photography experience and having good communication skills. The candidate should have a good relevant portfolio.

Software Proficiency – Photoshop / Lightroom

Locations – Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru

Interested candidates can send their CV’s and portfolios at careers@maacmail.com

The post MAAC appeared first on AnimationXpress.

Compare The Market with Macaulay Culkin

Comparethemarket.com is promoting its Orange Wednesday replacement, Meerkat Movies, with Aleksandr and Sergei’s Family Road Trip, a new TV advert starring film star Macaulay Culkin. Meerkat CEO Aleksandr and IT director Sergei hit the road in a camper van, picking up 35 year old Macaulay Culkin on the way to the fairground. Together they ride on roller coasters, bounce on a bouncy castle and eat ice cream, before taking in a movie at the cinema. Culkin follows in the footsteps of Nicole Kidman and Arnold Schwarzenegger, who have both appeared in the brand’s previous campaigns for Meerkat Movies. Meerkat Movies is a scheme for customers of comparethemarket.com, offering 2 for 1 cinema tickets every Tuesday or Wednesday for a whole year when those who buy a qualifying product.

Compare The Market with Macaulay Culkin

Credits

Aleksandr and Sergei’s Family Road Trip was developed at VCCP by executive creative director Darren Bailes, creative director Matt Lloyd, creative team Javier Romartinez and Stephen Miser, executive producer Andy Leahy, agency producer Becky Grove, planner Caroline Yates, senior account manager Sam Daniels and account director Jen Gledhill.

Filming was shot by director Dave Scanlon via Passion Pictures with director of photography Olivier Cariou, producers Anna Cunnington and Patrick Duguid, editor Gus Herdman and VFX supervisor Neil Riley.

Colourist was Simone Grattarola at Time Based Arts. Post-production was by Brian Carbin at Rushes. Sound was designed by Ben Leeves at Grand Central.

MEC is handling the media.

Furious 7 Behind the Scenes Part 2


Furious 7 (often stylized as Furious Seven and alternatively known as Fast Seven or Fast & Furious 7) [7] is a 2015 American action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham. Furious 7 follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Walker) and the rest of their team, who have returned to the United States to live normal lives after securing amnesty for their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), until Deckard Shaw (Statham), a rogue special forces assassin seeking to avenge his comatose younger brother, puts them in danger once again.[8]

With the previous three installments set between 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Furious 7 is the first installment in the franchise to take place after Tokyo Drift. The film also marks the final film appearance of Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013, with filming only half-completed.[9] Following Walker’s death, filming was delayed for script rewrites, and his brothers, Caleb and Cody, were used among others as stand-ins to complete his remaining scenes.[10]

Plans for a seventh installment were first announced in February 2012 when Johnson stated that production on the film would begin after the completion of Fast & Furious 6. In April 2013, Wan, predominantly known for horror films, was announced to direct the film in place of Justin Lin, who left the franchise after directing the previous four installments. Casting began in the same month with the re-signing of Diesel and Walker, and an initial release date was set. Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2013, resumed in April 2014 and ended in July 2014, with other filming locations including Los Angeles, Colorado, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.

Furious 7 premiered in Los Angeles on April 1, 2015, and was first released in Australia on April 2, 2015, and then in the United States on April 3, 2015. The film was also released in 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX internationally. Upon release, the film became a critical and commercial success, with praise being aimed at the film’s action sequences and its tribute to Walker. The film grossed $397.6 million worldwide in its first five days of release, which is the third-highest-grossing opening of all time. The film has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise after just twelve days, the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time. A sequel is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2017.

Furious 7 Behind the Scenes Part 1


Furious 7 (often stylized as Furious Seven and alternatively known as Fast Seven or Fast & Furious 7) [7] is a 2015 American action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham. Furious 7 follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Walker) and the rest of their team, who have returned to the United States to live normal lives after securing amnesty for their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), until Deckard Shaw (Statham), a rogue special forces assassin seeking to avenge his comatose younger brother, puts them in danger once again.[8]

With the previous three installments set between 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Furious 7 is the first installment in the franchise to take place after Tokyo Drift. The film also marks the final film appearance of Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013, with filming only half-completed.[9] Following Walker’s death, filming was delayed for script rewrites, and his brothers, Caleb and Cody, were used among others as stand-ins to complete his remaining scenes.[10]

Plans for a seventh installment were first announced in February 2012 when Johnson stated that production on the film would begin after the completion of Fast & Furious 6. In April 2013, Wan, predominantly known for horror films, was announced to direct the film in place of Justin Lin, who left the franchise after directing the previous four installments. Casting began in the same month with the re-signing of Diesel and Walker, and an initial release date was set. Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2013, resumed in April 2014 and ended in July 2014, with other filming locations including Los Angeles, Colorado, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.

Furious 7 premiered in Los Angeles on April 1, 2015, and was first released in Australia on April 2, 2015, and then in the United States on April 3, 2015. The film was also released in 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX internationally. Upon release, the film became a critical and commercial success, with praise being aimed at the film’s action sequences and its tribute to Walker. The film grossed $397.6 million worldwide in its first five days of release, which is the third-highest-grossing opening of all time. The film has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise after just twelve days, the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time. A sequel is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2017.

Furious 7 Behind the Scenes Part 3


Furious 7 (often stylized as Furious Seven and alternatively known as Fast Seven or Fast & Furious 7) [7] is a 2015 American action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham. Furious 7 follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Walker) and the rest of their team, who have returned to the United States to live normal lives after securing amnesty for their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), until Deckard Shaw (Statham), a rogue special forces assassin seeking to avenge his comatose younger brother, puts them in danger once again.[8]

With the previous three installments set between 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Furious 7 is the first installment in the franchise to take place after Tokyo Drift. The film also marks the final film appearance of Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013, with filming only half-completed.[9] Following Walker’s death, filming was delayed for script rewrites, and his brothers, Caleb and Cody, were used among others as stand-ins to complete his remaining scenes.[10]

Plans for a seventh installment were first announced in February 2012 when Johnson stated that production on the film would begin after the completion of Fast & Furious 6. In April 2013, Wan, predominantly known for horror films, was announced to direct the film in place of Justin Lin, who left the franchise after directing the previous four installments. Casting began in the same month with the re-signing of Diesel and Walker, and an initial release date was set. Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2013, resumed in April 2014 and ended in July 2014, with other filming locations including Los Angeles, Colorado, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.

Furious 7 premiered in Los Angeles on April 1, 2015, and was first released in Australia on April 2, 2015, and then in the United States on April 3, 2015. The film was also released in 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX internationally. Upon release, the film became a critical and commercial success, with praise being aimed at the film’s action sequences and its tribute to Walker. The film grossed $397.6 million worldwide in its first five days of release, which is the third-highest-grossing opening of all time. The film has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise after just twelve days, the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time. A sequel is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2017.

Furious 7 Behind the Scenes Part 4


Furious 7 (often stylized as Furious Seven and alternatively known as Fast Seven or Fast & Furious 7) [7] is a 2015 American action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham. Furious 7 follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Walker) and the rest of their team, who have returned to the United States to live normal lives after securing amnesty for their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), until Deckard Shaw (Statham), a rogue special forces assassin seeking to avenge his comatose younger brother, puts them in danger once again.[8]

With the previous three installments set between 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Furious 7 is the first installment in the franchise to take place after Tokyo Drift. The film also marks the final film appearance of Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013, with filming only half-completed.[9] Following Walker’s death, filming was delayed for script rewrites, and his brothers, Caleb and Cody, were used among others as stand-ins to complete his remaining scenes.[10]

Plans for a seventh installment were first announced in February 2012 when Johnson stated that production on the film would begin after the completion of Fast & Furious 6. In April 2013, Wan, predominantly known for horror films, was announced to direct the film in place of Justin Lin, who left the franchise after directing the previous four installments. Casting began in the same month with the re-signing of Diesel and Walker, and an initial release date was set. Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2013, resumed in April 2014 and ended in July 2014, with other filming locations including Los Angeles, Colorado, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.

Furious 7 premiered in Los Angeles on April 1, 2015, and was first released in Australia on April 2, 2015, and then in the United States on April 3, 2015. The film was also released in 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX internationally. Upon release, the film became a critical and commercial success, with praise being aimed at the film’s action sequences and its tribute to Walker. The film grossed $397.6 million worldwide in its first five days of release, which is the third-highest-grossing opening of all time. The film has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise after just twelve days, the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time. A sequel is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2017.

Furious 7 Behind the Scenes Part 5


Furious 7 (often stylized as Furious Seven and alternatively known as Fast Seven or Fast & Furious 7) [7] is a 2015 American action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham. Furious 7 follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Walker) and the rest of their team, who have returned to the United States to live normal lives after securing amnesty for their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), until Deckard Shaw (Statham), a rogue special forces assassin seeking to avenge his comatose younger brother, puts them in danger once again.[8]

With the previous three installments set between 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Furious 7 is the first installment in the franchise to take place after Tokyo Drift. The film also marks the final film appearance of Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013, with filming only half-completed.[9] Following Walker’s death, filming was delayed for script rewrites, and his brothers, Caleb and Cody, were used among others as stand-ins to complete his remaining scenes.[10]

Plans for a seventh installment were first announced in February 2012 when Johnson stated that production on the film would begin after the completion of Fast & Furious 6. In April 2013, Wan, predominantly known for horror films, was announced to direct the film in place of Justin Lin, who left the franchise after directing the previous four installments. Casting began in the same month with the re-signing of Diesel and Walker, and an initial release date was set. Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2013, resumed in April 2014 and ended in July 2014, with other filming locations including Los Angeles, Colorado, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.

Furious 7 premiered in Los Angeles on April 1, 2015, and was first released in Australia on April 2, 2015, and then in the United States on April 3, 2015. The film was also released in 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX internationally. Upon release, the film became a critical and commercial success, with praise being aimed at the film’s action sequences and its tribute to Walker. The film grossed $397.6 million worldwide in its first five days of release, which is the third-highest-grossing opening of all time. The film has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise after just twelve days, the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time. A sequel is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2017.

Furious 7 Behind the Scenes Part 7


Furious 7 (often stylized as Furious Seven and alternatively known as Fast Seven or Fast & Furious 7) [7] is a 2015 American action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham. Furious 7 follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Walker) and the rest of their team, who have returned to the United States to live normal lives after securing amnesty for their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), until Deckard Shaw (Statham), a rogue special forces assassin seeking to avenge his comatose younger brother, puts them in danger once again.[8]

With the previous three installments set between 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Furious 7 is the first installment in the franchise to take place after Tokyo Drift. The film also marks the final film appearance of Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013, with filming only half-completed.[9] Following Walker’s death, filming was delayed for script rewrites, and his brothers, Caleb and Cody, were used among others as stand-ins to complete his remaining scenes.[10]

Plans for a seventh installment were first announced in February 2012 when Johnson stated that production on the film would begin after the completion of Fast & Furious 6. In April 2013, Wan, predominantly known for horror films, was announced to direct the film in place of Justin Lin, who left the franchise after directing the previous four installments. Casting began in the same month with the re-signing of Diesel and Walker, and an initial release date was set. Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2013, resumed in April 2014 and ended in July 2014, with other filming locations including Los Angeles, Colorado, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.

Furious 7 premiered in Los Angeles on April 1, 2015, and was first released in Australia on April 2, 2015, and then in the United States on April 3, 2015. The film was also released in 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX internationally. Upon release, the film became a critical and commercial success, with praise being aimed at the film’s action sequences and its tribute to Walker. The film grossed $397.6 million worldwide in its first five days of release, which is the third-highest-grossing opening of all time. The film has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise after just twelve days, the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time. A sequel is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2017.

Furious 7 Behind the Scenes Part 8


Furious 7 (often stylized as Furious Seven and alternatively known as Fast Seven or Fast & Furious 7) [7] is a 2015 American action film directed by James Wan and written by Chris Morgan. It is the seventh installment in the Fast and the Furious franchise. The film stars Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson, Chris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, Kurt Russell, and Jason Statham. Furious 7 follows Dominic Toretto (Diesel), Brian O’Conner (Walker) and the rest of their team, who have returned to the United States to live normal lives after securing amnesty for their past crimes in Fast & Furious 6 (2013), until Deckard Shaw (Statham), a rogue special forces assassin seeking to avenge his comatose younger brother, puts them in danger once again.[8]

With the previous three installments set between 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003) and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Furious 7 is the first installment in the franchise to take place after Tokyo Drift. The film also marks the final film appearance of Walker, who died in a single-vehicle accident on November 30, 2013, with filming only half-completed.[9] Following Walker’s death, filming was delayed for script rewrites, and his brothers, Caleb and Cody, were used among others as stand-ins to complete his remaining scenes.[10]

Plans for a seventh installment were first announced in February 2012 when Johnson stated that production on the film would begin after the completion of Fast & Furious 6. In April 2013, Wan, predominantly known for horror films, was announced to direct the film in place of Justin Lin, who left the franchise after directing the previous four installments. Casting began in the same month with the re-signing of Diesel and Walker, and an initial release date was set. Principal photography began in Atlanta, Georgia, in September 2013, resumed in April 2014 and ended in July 2014, with other filming locations including Los Angeles, Colorado, Abu Dhabi and Tokyo.

Furious 7 premiered in Los Angeles on April 1, 2015, and was first released in Australia on April 2, 2015, and then in the United States on April 3, 2015. The film was also released in 3D, IMAX 3D, and 4DX internationally. Upon release, the film became a critical and commercial success, with praise being aimed at the film’s action sequences and its tribute to Walker. The film grossed $397.6 million worldwide in its first five days of release, which is the third-highest-grossing opening of all time. The film has grossed over $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the franchise after just twelve days, the second-highest-grossing film of 2015 and the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time. A sequel is scheduled to be released on April 14, 2017.