Image Metrics/Centroid deal
Buddying up to provide motion capture and character animation services.
COLOGNE, Germany [Game Developers Conference (GDC) Europe] - Aug. 16, 2010 - Image Metrics, Inc. (OTC BB: IMGX), a leading provider of facial animation technology for the entertainment industry, today announced a partnership with Centroid, the United Kingdom's leading motion capture and character animation services company, to provide an integrated animation solution to the film, television and video games industries.
The first member of Image Metrics' new Preferred Partner Program, Centroid will integrate Image Metrics' facial animation technology into its performance capture services used for video game and film production worldwide. Image Metrics will offer Centroid operational support for capture, asset management, animation data analysis, animation production and optional art direction. Together, the companies will work to continue to innovate capture techniques, workflow and asset management as well as real-time pre-visualization, to create a complete performance capture solution for customers. The Image Metrics Preferred Partner Program is designed to create a set of complementary solutions to make the entire capture and animation process easier for clients.
"Image Metrics selected Centroid as the first participant in our Preferred Partner Program because of their impressive body of work in games, television and movies," said Image Metrics EVP Brian Waddle. "Whether customers shoot at Centroid's state-of-the-art Pinewood Studio in the U.K. or one of their mobile capture studios that can be deployed worldwide, Centroid's facilities combine impressive toolsets and expert staff. The entire Centroid team characterizes the same kind of passion for animation and client service as we do at Image Metrics, making this partnership a great fit for both companies."
With a team of thirty industry professionals, a comprehensive list of facilities and services from production pre-visualization to finished post-production animation along with a strict secure data environment, Centroid delivers motion capture and 3D pipeline solutions throughout Europe. Centroid's recent projects include motion capture for award winning commercials such as Evian's "Skating Babies" and the infamous Orangina series, video games such as All Points Bulletin, Brink, Guitar Hero 5 and DJ Hero, as well as film franchises such as "Iron Man 2," "2012," "Wolfman," "Prince of Persia" and "Robin Hood."
"Through our new partnership, Image Metrics will become the default facial animation solution at Centroid," said Phil Stilgoe, Centroid Operations Director. "As Image Metrics offers the most realistic, effective and efficient facial animation solution available today, we're excited to work together with them to offer an integrated UK-based performance capture solution for clients around the world."
About Image Metrics, Inc.
Image Metrics provides facial animation software and services to the interactive entertainment and film industries. Developed by a team of computer vision Ph.D.s, Image Metrics' proprietary software utilizes video of an actor's performance to drive the animation of a facial performance without markers or makeup. This patented process achieves unparalleled levels of realism and fidelity faster and more efficiently than alternative methods. Image Metrics' clients include Activision-Blizzard, Rockstar, Microsoft, 2K, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Sega, Sony, Bethesda, DNeg, Motion Theory and Moving Picture Company. Image Metrics is based in Manchester, UK and Santa Monica, CA. Learn more at www.image-metrics.com.
About Centroid
Centroid is Europe's premier motion capture and live previsualisation service provider offering all aspects of performance and animal capture; full virtual studio with cyber goggles; portable Motion Capture rig for location shoots; recordable pre visualisation for cinematics; on line data tracking service; a comprehensive library of moves available for purchase and support for all 3D formats. Centroid is proud to have worked with many leading names within the Film, TV and Video Games sectors, with clients including Double Negative, The Mill, Framestore, EA, SCEE, Zoe Mode, CCP and Realtime Worlds. For more information, please visit www.centroid3d.com.
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Media Contacts:
Bender/Helper Impact
Shannon McPhee
shannon_mcphee@bhimpact.com
Jessie Comstock
jessie_comstock@bhimpact.com
(310) 473-4147
Investor Contacts:
James Leahy, David Collins
Jaffoni & Collins
(212) 835-8500
imgx@jcir.com