Sony and Microsoft have formed the HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG) and are inviting TV manufacturers, game developers, and others to participate in an effort to improve the HDR gaming experience. The proposed initiatives also change how a game console and TV interoperate. High Dynamic Range (HDR) is already one of the most significant developments in gaming in recent years but Sony and Microsoft, fierce rivals in the gaming console space with their PlayStation and Xbox consoles, believe it can look even better. The two companies will work together to ensure “a better HDR gaming experience” by forming the HDR Gaming Interest Group (HGIG). They are inviting TV manufacturers, game developers, and other players in the field to voluntarily participate. ”HDR Gaming Interest Group, with participation of leading companies from the entertainment, game and TV industries, analyzed issues behind the negative reactions from consumers about HDR games and recommend the guidelines for HDR game production,” Microsoft and Sony wrote. “In sum, the core element of the recommendation is to produce an HDR game that parameterizes its tone mapper when given information about an HDR display's tone mapper. This will compensate for the variance in how displays handle HDR.” More can be found on OUR FORUM.

Microsoft is inviting AI researchers with ideas but no resources to submit their ideas to their  Microsoft AI Idea Challenge Contest for a chance to win prizes and collaborate with other developers. The Microsoft AI Idea Challenge is directed at developers, students, professionals and data scientists seeking innovative, breakthrough artificial intelligence (AI) solutions. The contest also provides a platform for developers, students and data scientists community to freely share AI models and applications, so they are reusable and easily accessible. The Microsoft AI Idea Challenge is looking for AI solutions across all use cases. The top three ideas will each receive prizes plus an opportunity to present the idea with Microsoft on AI Lab. Ideas will be judged on originality, feasibility and complexity to implement. The first prize is a 15 inch Surface Book, the second a DJI Drone Mavic Pro Bundle and the 3rd and Xbox One. The Microsoft AI Challenge is accepting submissions between August 13th– October 12th, 2018. Individuals or teams are required to submit a working AI model, test dataset, any demo app and a demo video (max. three minutes long) to qualify for the competition. Preference will be given for solutions developed on Microsoft AI Platform and services. Learn more at OUR FORUM.