The GPU Technology Conference (GTC) advances GPU computing in computer graphics, games, mobile, and the cloud. For the vfx and production, this tech is has become an incredibly important part of the process and today we cover new announcements from the NVIDIA keynote.

A look at the innovative use of effects in some recent spots by Digital Domain, Important Looking Pirates, Poetica, Framestore, Alt.vfx and Realise Studio. Includes an EXCLUSIVE breakdown from DD for their Dead Space 3 game promo.

Houdini 12.5 is now available, the impressive new tools include an Ocean FX Wave tool, and a Cloud FX generator – part of a DreamWorks Animation & Side Effects Software collaboration!

Here’s how to RSVP to VFX Town Hall meetings happening in LA, the Bay Area, Austin and Vancouver on March 14th, plus details of the planned live broadcast.

Luxology announced a new version of their 3D package today, which contains new features, optimizations, a new Linux version, as well as an increase in price.

EA’s SimCity server troubles have highlighted the problem of being online, all the time.

fxguide talks to VES Chair Jeff Okun about the VES open letter ‘Call to Action’, which contemplates a worldwide VFX congress of effects practitioners, and, seemingly conversely, for artists to lobby the Californian government for increased tax incentives in that U.S. state.

Visual Effects Society Chair Jeff Okun has responded to issues arising after yesterday’s VFX protest near the Oscars.

Ted’s appearance with Mark Wahlberg almost stole the show at the Academy Awards. Here’s how Tippett Studio pulled it off.

Life of Pi won the Oscar today at the Academy Awards. However, the presentation of the VFX award was not without some controversy.

Tornadoes, spinning tables, Autumn environments and more from Method Studios in this look at their work for Beautiful Creatures.

How The Sequence group used some ingenious facial and body mo-cap for its work on Halo 4’s ‘Terminals’ and an in-game ‘Librarian’ cinematic.

Sony’s PS4 announcement today left several questions remaining, but some of the game and game engine demos left no doubt as to the incredible computing power and graphics the new console will be capable of.

With Crysis 3 to be released for the PlayStation 3, PC and Xbox 360 platforms on February 19th, we compare the current CryEngine 3 with what is coming from market juggernaut Unreal and their Unreal Engine 4.

Shotgun Software announces new pricing model for its flagship review, approval and asset management and pipeline tools.

There are reports from Deadline that R&H will file for bankruptcy protection, with Variety adding that “several buyers reported interested”, but it is not over yet for R&H and nor should it be.

The 16th annual D.I.C.E. Awards have been handed out in Las Vegas, with indie game Journey one of the major winners.

Behind the scenes of Mikros’ shape-shifting robot for a Total lubricants spot. Includes a befores and afters breakdown video.

Two of the commercials up for nomination tonight at the VES Awards are by Framestore. We take a look at Pepsi’s ‘Crowd Surfing’, featuring some unique crowd animation, and the Nissan Altima ‘Wouldn’t it be cool?’ spot which deconstructs a car.

We talk to Digital Domain visual effects supervisor Aladino Debert about ‘Biomorph’, a promo spot for Nike’s Flyknit tech that is nominated for a VES Award for both Outstanding Visual Effects in a Commercial and Outstanding FX and Simulation Animation in a Commercial or Broadcast Program.

Industry website The Wrap is reporting that visual effects studio Rhythm & Hues is to receive an ’emergency $20 million capital infusion from three major Hollywood studios in order to keep its doors open through April’, citing three sources with knowledge of the situation.

Prime Focus London’s Commercials division is to be placed into administration, according to a ‘Company Update’ regulatory story posted on the London Stock Exchange’s website, and on Prime Focus London PLC’s corporate site.

We don’t normally publish press releases at fxguide, but the new version of Silhouette V5 deserves a callout. New features like Imagineer-licensed planar tracking, IK rotoscoping, and new shape-baed morphing make this a major release. Click through for full details…