Back in industry news, we're seeing the new generation of game tools entering the limelight as Game Developer magazine's 10th honorary Front Line Awards draws to a conclusion. Budding game devs take note: 2007's Front Line Awards winner line up headlines the tools used by the industry's biggest studios to create the next gaming generation's current titles. Get the full list of winners at the full story.

The Develop Conference & Expo happens on the 24th to the 26th of July and developers are gearing up from all over the world to take part in one of the region's biggest developer gatherings to take place on an annual basis.

Headlining the shindig are top-brass companies Sony, Philips, Autodesk, and Nokia, who will be the prime movers and shakers in the event. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe will once again be the Platinum sponsor of the event while Philips and Autodesk are at Gold and Silver respectively. Nokia is the mobile sponsor of the gathering.

The event seeks to bring together the development community with European gaming market interests in a three-day conference where interests and demonstrations are exhibited for industry insiders, game media and the public. Top-caliber speakers from within the industry are invited to share their views and knowledge of the business.

Animazoo, artemdigital, Audiokinetic, Autodesk, Beyerdynamic, CRI Middleware, Develop Magazine, Emergent Game Technologies, gamesindustry.biz, Hansoft, IGDA, Instinct Technology, Mobile Entertainment, Nokia, Perforce Software, Philips amBX, Sony Computer Entertainment, Southampton Solent University, Tech Excel, Testronic Labs and Tiga will participate in this year's event to be held in Brighton.

Autodesk Inc. has just announced that they've licensed HumanIK middleware for EA to use in developing next-gen games. For those who haven't been reading up on the developments behind game creation (read: devving hullabaloo), Autodesk HumanIK is a developments library that allows game characters to interact realistically with digitally-rendered environments.

Still not getting any of this? Okay, let us put it this way. Notice how interactive the characters and environments are in Def Jam: Icon and NBA Street Homecourt? Yenno, like how the environments actually play a huge role in defining your gameplay? Well. All that's thanks to Autodesk's HumanIK.

Along with Autodesk Maya 3D software and Autodesk MotionBuilder character animation software, the HumanIK middleware was successful in achieving this element-integration in the said games, and also in FIFA Soccer 07. For parties interested in more of AutoDesk's products, you should know that they're also featuring their latest software, AutoDesk Maya 8.5, at their booth in the ongoing Game Developers Conference.

Game developers Harmonix, Rare Ltd, and A2M say that relied heavily on Autodesk Inc's 3D software was used to develop Guitar Hero II, Viva Piñata, and Happy Feet.

Autodesk knows this and is quick to spread a press release saying that implies that their 3D software toolkit allows for games to break down stereotypes and gender barriers. Don't believe us? Here's the title of the press release over at games press:

"Autodesk's 3D Software Shapes Innovative Interactive Games Gamer Profile Changing as New Titles Break Down Stereotypes and Gender Barriers"

While it is true that 3ds Max and Maya are powerful tools that developers can use, we think that the developers deserve the credit for the "barrier breaking." However, to be fair to Autodesk, the body of the press release doesn't outright claim credit, it just mentions their involvement in passing.

The title that we quoted is still pretentious though. We guess it's like saying that you're friends with the technical crew of some famous rock band or something. Whatever.

Do you have a good grip on reality or do you see a blurred line dividing reality and make-believe? Well, if you have some idle time in your hands, maybe you can take this challenge. The challenge - created by Autodesk - is pretty simple: all you have to do is take a good, hard look at the images then choose if it's a real photo or if it's created by computer graphics (CG).

To take on the challenge, click on the 'Read' link and see for yourself if you have a great grasp on what's real and what's not. Plus, if you get a perfect score, you'll have a chance to play in a bonus round. For now, here are some of the photos that you'll have to distinguish. Tell us all about your test scores!