Thinkbox Software has released Krakatoa C4D, the first version of its high-volume particle renderer and management tookit for Maxon's Cinema 4D, running on OS X and Windows. More on Thinkbox's website.

Germany-based Laubwerk announced the release of their fourth collection of realistic 3D trees. The new package contains 10 Mediterranean and other subtropical tree species. As with previous releases, each tree model comes in 3 shapes, at 3 ages and 4 seasons per shape making a total of 360 trees. Plant Kits require the free Laubwerk Player, compatible with 3DS Max and Cinema 4d, that also allows users to control level of detail. Models include V-Ray and Mental Ray compatible materials. More on Laubwerk.

Autodesk has officially released 3DS Max 2015. The software is available for download to subscription members on Autodesk's Subscription Center. A free trial version is available.

Supinfocom Arles and MuCEM (the Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations) are collaborating on the production of shorts based on historical research of Mediterranean cultures. 3DS Max is being used by Supinfcom students to produce videos for the exhibitions. Filmnosis has an article on the subject with links to the videos and an analysis of one of them.

In a recent Facebook post Shakuro, the development team behind CGHUB, announced the official closure of the popular networking site for artists working in the entertainment, concept art, animation, games & illustrations industries. Apologizing to users, Shakuro explained the reason for closure "is personal and will remain private." Find out more on Facebook, users wishing to reclaim artwork formerly hosted on CGHUB may be able to do so using Internet Archive Wayback Machine.

Dutch artist Klaas Nienhuis has recently finished an interesting project that uses browser-based 3D to allow people to choose and highly customize shoes, and order them online. More on Klaas Nienhuis' site.

UK artist Wayne Robson has posted two reels on the work he's done as CG supervisor for Ruairí Robinson's The Last Days on Mars (along with a salute to the CG artists that worked at Screen Scene on that film). More on Wayne Robson's website. (Note: mature content)

Researchers at the University of Warwick have devised a method for real-time encoding and remote display of HDR video. This means that full HDR video content can now be encoded and delivered directly to interactive online and cloud-based games, to remote displays including mobile devices, streamed from a consumer camera, etc. More on the University of Warwick's site.