Remedy Aiming Higher Than L.A. Noire's Technology - News
by VGChartz Staff , posted on 11 April 2011 / 3,211 Views
You know of L.A. Noire’s much talked about technology for facial animations? The same one David Cage dismissed as not being good enough? Turns out he’s not the only one who thinks that way.
Remedy, the developers of Max Payne and Alan Wake, gave EDGE Magazine an exclusive look at their new work-in-progress animation technology that the studio is using to create its new project.
Lead animator John Root explains that traditional motion capture offers a reliable way to create human movements and expressions, although the need for “retargeting” (the process by which animators adjust raw captured data for final display) leaves the method open to inaccuracies and human error.
The new technology, which is created by Root, uses motion capture as its starting point for generating scans of actors accurate to ½ mm including 64 facial poses from which every human expression can be derived…At least according to Root.
With a highly accurate model of an actor in place, animators can then use the sliders to adjust expressions based on captured positions, enabling them control and edit human faces in real time. This is a big contrast to relying on bespoke performances for every cutscene and action or manually animating the same expression.
The result gives animations a great deal of subtlety even at this early stage of the tech’s development. Root has even bigger plans. He intends to implement color mapping, a system which will simulate blood flow beneath the skin. Doing this will let them adjust skin color as brows are furrowed or if lips are pursed.
To this end, Remedy wasn’t prepared to disclose which project this game will be utilized for, but they are confident that they can come closer than any other developer to date – yes, that also includes L.A. Noire developer Team Bondi.
Remedy CEO Matthias Myllyrinne had this to say regarding Rockstar’s upcoming crime-thriller, “LA Noire has set a bar for facial animation,” raising one hand, then placing his other significantly higher, he adds: “But [Rockstar’s game] is here, we’re aiming to be here.”
Incidentally, Rockstar is developing Max Payne 3. I think it would be safe to say that Remedy will also have a few choice words regarding that former franchise of theirs once it hits shelves.
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At least he doesn't sound as bitchy as Cage. I honestly don't know why developers even bother saying things like this. It doesn't make people want their games more. It's just like political attack ads. I know it's not nearly that bad, but a little grace in the industry would make us all seem a lot less like the whiny losers many of us actually are.
alan wake 2 is going to kick some ass
"Incidentally, Rockstar is developing Max Payne 3. I think it would be safe to say that Remedy will also have a few choice words regarding that former franchise of theirs once it hits shelves."
Any way you guys can leave out the flame bait? Was a great article until then.
ya might wanna aim higher in story-telling and plot next time as well
I love this recent focus on animation, specifically the facial kind. It is such a crucial part of a game if you want it to be immersive, emotional and plot driven.
Uncanny valley, step into oblivion!
Remedy is an amazing developer, one of the most underrated out there, but the problem is, everyone in this industry is starting to talk too damn much, it's borderline ridiculous.
DICE is saying that BF3 is better than CoD, Remedy has a better technology than Team Bondi, David Cage knows better than anyone.......WHO THE FUCK CARES?
Do the game, release it, and then we talk...before that....shut the fuck up
Remedy is starting to share many ressemblance with Molineaux.
The only problem I have with L.A. Noire is that the rest of the character doesn't match with the head, which just seems really creepy and weird to me. Watch the trailers, you'll see what I'm talking about. The faces look great, but the stiff, non moving clothes don't match. You see this guys face contort realistically with every word, yet nothing else moves below the neck.
Go for it bros. But do me a favor and don't make a game entirely based on your artistic expression, and actually make a game I'd want to play.
so if theyr going to do better then rockstar, we can assume the game being announced this year, and releasing in 6 years.
