Physics & Dynamics

3D Animation

REALISM

There has been a tendency, especially within big Triple A rated games, to make 3D Animation more realistic. With advancements in physics engines coupled with Motion Capture are now the go to tool in the industry for making realistic & believable human behaviour in games. However, it was a long process to get to the stage we are at now, now being the “Next-Gen” stage. There are still some problems or “Limitations” that still occur with the use of Motion Capture systems.

Problems with Body Motion Capture

For the most part Motion Capture has the ability to capture actual movement, through use of body actors and body suits, very well. However, there are just a few disadvantages that come with that. Whilst having realistic motion is always a bonus, its now made it even harder to use in games, as games at their very nature are not meant to be real.

http://www.cs.jhu.edu/~cohen/RendTech99/Lectures/Computer_Animation.color.pdf

The article above states that it is tricky to combine & adapt to certain situations. Such as environmental factors, questions about how does realistic action fit within computer generated worlds need to be raised. Major games that use this are games such as GTA 5, WATCH DOGS & ASSASINS CREED. What these all have in common is that the realistic motion works because of the very realistic environments, be it modern day or historic are all man made, thus fitting and working well with Motion capture. However, what if the world the game was set in was not contemporary or even Earth. How would they transfer over then?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motion_capture

According to the wikipedia entry above, movements that do not follow the natural law of physics cannot be captured in Motion capture technology. This provides problems for when a captured sequence needs to have added to It, an un-natural movement. From my own personal experience I have seen what appears to be a clear switch between natural & un-natural movement, this it illustrated by the link posted below. The clip features an ability you can perform in the game Assassins Creed : Revelations, a movement called a hook and run, where you can use Enzio's hidden blade to hook over an opponent to escape. Watch the jarring action between the natural running motion, captured with Motion Capture, and the un-natural Hook and run, which was created using animation you can clearly see a difference. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6if2cPMfs7U (motion at 1.44 of video)

More interactive means less interactive

http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/motion-capture-is-the-death-of-half-life-3-alleges-voice-actor-john-patrick-lowrie-1173697http://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/motion-capture-is-the-death-of-half-life-3-alleges-voice-actor-john-patrick-lowrie-1173697

The magazine article above raises some other issues with Motion The magazine article above raises some other issues with Motion Capture technology in relation to the the game Half Life 3. The Half Life Capture technology in relation to the the game Half Life 3. The Half Life series is meant to give players the freedom of controlling the direction of series is meant to give players the freedom of controlling the direction of the plot and storyline. Whilst you will all meet at the same ending, the plot and storyline. Whilst you will all meet at the same ending, decisions taken by players may affect the progression of the story of the decisions taken by players may affect the progression of the story of the game. That makes us part of the problem in that making the gameplay game. That makes us part of the problem in that making the gameplay based on motion captured actors, instead of using animation to create based on motion captured actors, instead of using animation to create the different possibilities in which the player can control a character, the different possibilities in which the player can control a character, motion capture means you are simply limited to that was captured in motion capture means you are simply limited to that was captured in Motion Capture process. This makes for an extremely ambitious game.Motion Capture process. This makes for an extremely ambitious game.

Problems with Facial Motion Capture

Despite the challenges listed in the previous section,body motion capture has made far more significant strides than facial motion capture.The resolution and detail required to create accurate expressions & facial features are far greater than those needed for body motion capture.

http://www.develop-online.net/tools-and-tech/motion-capture-moving-with-the-times/0117523

In the article above it states, “The real challenge according to Mick Morris, MD of mo-cap service provider AudioMotion, however, is a matter staring the industry in the face. The human face is, of course, the most expressive part of our body, and at the very centre of almost any performance. Captured incorrectly, it can let an entire game down, and it is still tough for mo-cap solutions to grasp the essence of.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0l7LzC_h8I&feature=kp

As you will see in the youtube link above, the character animators for the big Triple A game 'The Last of Us',developed by Naughty Dog studios, use the facial expressions, performed by the body actors, as a guide but not as the piece they edit. They create the facial features from scratch.

The animators said they get to create far greater detail by adding features and expression manually frame by frame.

So like with anything, it has its drawbacks. However, Motion Capture is by far the way forward for animation in video games.