Facial tech from GDC.

[hool10]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEIxWcEIzpA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1momcmkboI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd9DkzhfF2k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAMQDWjO6Ac
From GDC '08: http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/19/gdc08-exclusive-mova-brings-lifelike-motion-capture-to-unreal-e/
Let me just add my own opinion. I do like and don't like this technology. On one hand the games are getting scarily realistic. On the other hand, if this technology was put into GTA 5, could you kill somebody that looked this way? It's just too real. No humans were involved, just a computer. *Hehe so, about those pay for an hour strip job on the internet now...

 

[Dekstar]

No, humans were involved since they used cameras aimed at people to create super high poly images with photo-realistic textures.

 

[theotherguy]

The teeth look a bit off.

And yes humans were involved. It's like motion capture for faces.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Wow. That last one is mighty fine indeed. I think it would indeed make a few of us think (at least for a split-second) before pulling that shoulder trigger....

 

[Iced_Eagle]

That's pretty nice.

The way to complete that tech will be to have it not have any motion capture at all and have the computer generate it on the fly (input the emotion it should have, various parameters and also what it should say).

 

[A True Canadian]

I'm not sure why, but to me the closer and closer we get to more lifelike characters, the more cartoony they seem. Every small imperfection sticks out more than something with a little less definition. Maybe it's because the actions are very exaggerated, but it's still a little weird.

Perhaps it's because this is an extreme closeup. From a distance, I'm sure it would be nearly impossible to tell the difference.

And yes, that guy looks like Vin Diesel.

 

[smwScott]

I think this is great for pretty much any game. In a game like GTA it would really only show up in the cut scenes anyway.

Your point about it making you think twice before killing someone is a good one, however I think that's a good thing for games. I would like to see more games move away from the mentality that they're in now ... where you move from room to room filling identical people with lead and having them drop like ragdolls with no emotion or remorse whatsoever. It's ridiculous.

If a game set about it intelligently ... maybe giving you alternatives to a mass murdering spree or maybe just make you realize that your character is actually ending people's lives, then this tech could be amazing. I remember feeling a little sorry for the guards in MGS2 when you would hold them up and they'd tremble and beg for their lives. Imagine scenes like that with this tech ... or seeing "Mindless Thug #27" screaming in agony after you've shot him down.

For serious, good games this could definitely be some interesting tech. For everything else it at least makes the cut scenes prettier and more engrossing.

 

[morgs]

I just wanna punch that bald guy...

 

[Tagaziel]

I'm not sure why, but to me the closer and closer we get to more lifelike characters, the more cartoony they seem. Every small imperfection sticks out more than something with a little less definition. Maybe it's because the actions are very exaggerated, but it's still a little weird.

Perhaps it's because this is an extreme closeup. From a distance, I'm sure it would be nearly impossible to tell the difference.

And yes, that guy looks like Vin Diesel.

It's called uncanny valley.

 

[thefiznut]

They've already implemented the technology in Gears of War 2.

Spoiler

Jacked from a poster on Joystiq. It made me laugh.

 

[PjB]

This has been used in films for ages, hasn't it? However, seeing it in games would be amazing! Half-Life 2 has obviously done something very similar for a long time, but hand-animated, as far as I know... having a live-action recorded facial animation in a game would be excellent, especially if they looked this good.

But, I agree... it is a little creepy...

 

[Stormy]

They've already implemented the technology in Gears of War 2.

Spoiler

Jacked from a poster on Joystiq. It made me laugh.

I lol'ed

 

[Asuka]

Insane! and yes ill blow someones head off SOF style with those GFX anyday! ITS STILL JUST A GAME!

 

[hool10]

Better quality version: http://www.mova.com/movies/Contour-in-Unreal-720p.wmv

 

[soulslicer]

Very Cool, definitely beats Valve's Facial Tech which is probably the best for now in games. In fact, the bald guy reminds me of heavy in every way..

 

[clarky003]

Valves facial tech was all manually done as far as I know, this is scene capture tech it's blatantly going to look better.

But on the market right now I think Cryteks facial animation is slightly above the par that valve have set.