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[snapty00]

This appears to be a few days old, but I didn't remember seeing it until now. And even if it's old, I can't say I give a shit.

Paris, 2004 Dec. 23rd - Actimagine video compression technology allows Nintendo and its licensees to release video titles that can be played on Nintendo’s world-renowned portable gaming devices. Full length movies will soon be available on cartridges for these consoles and this innovation turns the Nintendo consoles into the world's most affordable portable video player.

The main benefits of Actimagine technologies are superior image quality,
faster frame rates and high quality stereo sound all utilized in a high
compression factor that reduces memory requirements.

In June 2004, Nintendo Co., Ltd. released its first Game Boy Advance Video
titles using Actimagine technology, offering the first four of eight Pokémon?
episodes lasting 22 minutes each.

More recently, Actimagine has upgraded its technology, allowing a 90 minute movie to be stored on a 32MB cartridge, producing impressive audio and video quality on Nintendo portable consoles.

Andr' Pagnac, CEO of Actimagine explains “The adaptation of our video
compression technology for Nintendo portable consoles has been a very
challenging project. We are happy and honoured that Nintendo selected our technologies."

Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt, supplied with the new Nintendo DS
console that launched in the U.S. on November 21, demonstrates the
performance of Actimagine's technology, playing video on the two screens of the Nintendo DS simultaneously.

Actimagine’s overall objective is to embed its display software technologies in a variety of consumer electronics and telecom products. Andr?Pagnac adds"[…] The convergence of computer science and consumer electronics becomes a market reality. Beside a more exciting user experience, cost, quality and power consumption are the three key drivers of Actimagine technology and business strategy. Software is becoming a significant component for any Consumer Electronics or telecom manufacturer. We bring our expertise and patented core technologies to them."

 

[Agent Icebeezy]

Another device or application aimed at stopping the PSP from being so technologically advanced in front of the consumers eyes? In any case, this might do well providing the right people use this. 90 minutes on 32MB? Imagine what they could do for audio alone

 

[Spiritreaver]

We need software studio dancing bananas. I could go for a Square one right about now.

 

[Particle Physicist]

Another device or application aimed at stopping the PSP from being so technologically advanced in front of the consumers eyes? In any case, this might do well providing the right people use this. 90 minutes on 32MB? Imagine what they could do for audio alone

this isnt a device though.. so now the DS plays movies out of the box as well.. but will it actually be used ? i doubt it.

 

[Deleted member 284]

Nintendo needs to hurry up and start pushing the tech out the door if this is to be an additional consumer application. I would like to see SD Reader card come out ASAP with the chance to put real video on it.

 

[GaimeGuy]

90 minutes on just 32 MB? With the carts already at 128 MB, that's a lot of video. :O

 

[aoi tsuki]

this isnt a device though.. so now the DS plays movies out of the box as well.. but will it actually be used ? i doubt it.

It was used in the rather artifact-ridden Metroid Hunters demo. i could see them using this to push a new line DS Video line with improved video and audio compared to the GBA line.

 

[Particle Physicist]

It was used in the rather artifact-ridden Metroid Hunters demo. i could see them using this to push a new line DS Video line with improved video and audio compared to the GBA line.

i meant, used for full length movie releases. im sure theyll incorporate this into games.. and possibly those 1/2 hour cartoons or whatnot.

 

[snapty00]

I hope they soon go with DS-specific full-length videos. They can take advantage of the extra resolution, the touch screen to manipulate the play of the video, the power of the CPUs for better decompression routines, and the far better sound output of the DS.

The GBA Video line is pretty shitty.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Interesting to me from a purely compression standpoint. 90 minutes in 32 megabytes? I'm not clear from the article, but is there any extra in-cart hardware or is this software-only? I recently got a GBA Movie Player, but with it if you wanted something 90 minutes long of a full 240x160 you'd probably need a 256 MB Compact Flash card.

90 minutes in 32 megabytes... I have to question the quality. I mean, even with recent computer codecs that would really be a stretch for anything watchable. I see low quality TV episodes online at 352x192, ~45 minutes, ~80 MB. Leaving the sound bitrate the same but adjusting for time and video resolution, I think something of approximately similar quality with the same format would take more like 125 MB than 32. Of course, cartoons can compress better than live action stuff, but that's still a huge difference.

 

[Lhadatt]

Joshua: It depends on how the codec functions. You're thinking in Divx terms, but that's based on MPEG-4 -- a codec designed for mid-range quality with high compression. This Actimagine codec is a different beast, since it's designed for very lossy low-quality compression. They're not taking the same considerations that MPEG-4 does, so they can get away with less storage space.

 

[aoi tsuki]

A few notables from their site (http://www.actimagine.com/index.php):

Video capabilities on low CPU devices : 240x160 at 30 fps on ARM7 17MHz

play 24fps video with quality sound on low CPU from video game consoles to mobile phones

Actimagine has created a new innovative audio software codec that allows to create, to enhance or to add digital audio functions. FastAudio is designed to play high quality digital sound on low CPU's. It allows to create cheaper digital audio players by reducing the CPU need of power and to enhance the sound quality and functions on existing devices, including mobile phones.

* Quality and compression ratio comparable to MP3.
* Decompression more than 4 times faster than MP3 (files can be played on a 12 MHz processor).
* FastAudio is not under the MPEG license.

GenuineAct for memory cards
GenuineAct is a patented security system to protect content when delivered on memory cards.
From strong cryptography algorithms and innovative method from Actimagine, GenuineAct allows to protect the content providers rights.

It is now possible to securely deliver all sort of contents on various memory cards : SD Card™, Sony MemoryStick™, SmartMedia™ ..

You can also download the trial version of their encoding software and try it out:
http://www.mobiclip.com/IMG/msi/MobiclipProEdition.msi

Here's the link to the home edition, which creates content for cell phones:
http://www.mobiclip.com/IMG/msi/MobiclipHomeEdition.msi

 

[nightez]

Whats the video quality like in MP Hunters?

 

[soundwave05]

The image quality on Metroid Prime Hunters is alright. Definitely a bit choppy, but not too terrible.

90 mins on 32MB though, that sounds a little far fetched even at GBA resolution.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

Joshua: It depends on how the codec functions. You're thinking in Divx terms, but that's based on MPEG-4 -- a codec designed for mid-range quality with high compression. This Actimagine codec is a different beast, since it's designed for very lossy low-quality compression. They're not taking the same considerations that MPEG-4 does, so they can get away with less storage space.

Or in other words: it'll look shitty. Come to think of it, I think I've seen some of those same TV episodes in a 20 MB (possibly Real) form, too, which would be much closer to what this Actimagine codec purports.