Character Animation - Motion Capture

[Blane]

Firstly, I apologise that I'm posting for a position that is not advertised but I would just like to offer my services in another field that could potentially improve this game and help it's animation department.

I'm part of a small team of Parkour practitioners called Team Traceur (www.teamtraceur.com) and we specialise in moving through built up environments with speed, fluidity and efficiency. I was first drawn to the Splinter Cell games back in 2002 with the first game and having practiced Parkour since 2003 I can say with confidence that the similarities between Sam and the spies' movements - and our own - is striking.

I'm offering to help with the animation of characters in terms of motion capture or by simply submitting videos on request of techniques you wish to study and implement into the game. I'm talking anything along the lines of climbing, jumping, hanging, movements on drainpipes, overhead pipes, bars, trees, silent landings, rolling, kicking off walls to reach higher levels... you name it.

I'll keep this post brief and if you want any more information then I can provide it, I'm offering voluntary help here and expect nothing in return. Being a massive fan of the Splinter Cell series having played all 4 games and read all three novels I can hopefully give something back to the series that has given me so much.

Here is a couple of samplers I made in the last year and they show just some of the movements I'm offering to the team...

http://www.parkour-videos.com/blane-tt-22-04-2006-power-is-nothing-without-control

http://www.parkour-videos.com/videos/Blane_2003-2006_Story-So-Far_Parkour.NET.wmv

Let me know if there's anything I can do to help.

Thanks.

-Blane

[MacBryce]

Well, being an open source community project, we don't have a MoCap studio but I can imagine that the animators/modellers could be interested in your input as study material. Right now we're still just assembling the team and cloning the existing game mechanics and animations. We do have the intention to improve that clone after it's done and new animations might be in order then. I'll definately contact you when that time has arrived.

Thanks for the offer, and great samplers.  :)

[Blane]

Yeah I figured motion capture was a bit far fetched but thought I'd mention it.   :D

Thanks... keep me informed and let me know if/when the animators/modellers need study material.

-Blane

[Meathead]

Yea i rekon that is really good must be fit for that. You work at the gym? lol Your flexable thats what i can say lol

[Blane]

I don't go to a gym but I do all my additional training at home. It does take a lot of physical dedication and you do have to 'live it' if you want to excel.

If you're interested in my exact training program then you can find a recent version of it at www.blane-parkour.blogspot.com.  ;)

-Blane

[goodkebab]

this would fit into the animation referance...which is of incredible value for the animators.

I can see us definately using this, or having you make specific vids of the maneuvers we need.

Challenge will be getting a recording from the Side and Front of the same movement.

[Meathead]

He has done that lol to most of his shots

[ElShotte]

2 cameras man... anyway, it's not like you will base your animations on his movements exactly as to trace them, just for reference if you have any troubles.

[Blane]

I can see us definately using this, or having you make specific vids of the maneuvers we need.

Challenge will be getting a recording from the Side and Front of the same movement.

That won't be a problem, I can film from different angles and I'm happy to create videos on demand to suit your requirements.

-Blane

[goodkebab]

the technique is called rotoscoping.

Disney used it a lot in their films...where they film the performance of the actor and the artists literally trace the images.   From their they add the charcacter on top.

They do the same in studios that cannot afford real motion capturing.  Motion capturing has its problems as well.

[MacBryce]

Like R-me's movie that he posted on his resume.

[Blane]

Rotoscoping sounds like a fantastic alternative to motion capture when working on a tight budget...

-Blane

[Persian]

 :o :o Very, very impressive. If I saw DA spies doing that...I might need to get my merc a new pair of pants.

[Vega]

Really cool, glad you stopped by!

[Blane]

Hi all, just thought I'd drop in with a link to my new video which contains some different movements that may come in useful to this project.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y22WKjwPg5g

Enjoy.

-Blane