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 (http://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/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 (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
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. :)
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
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
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 (http://www.blane-parkour.blogspot.com). ;)
-Blane
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.
He has done that lol to most of his shots
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.
QuoteI 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
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.
Like R-me's movie (http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1400396179)that he posted on his resume.
Rotoscoping sounds like a fantastic alternative to motion capture when working on a tight budget...
-Blane
:o :o Very, very impressive. If I saw DA spies doing that...I might need to get my merc a new pair of pants.
Really cool, glad you stopped by!
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
Cool :) I am a freerunning fan, but it ends at watching the movies on youtube etc XD
I've done a lot of rotoscoping in Shake while I was in college. Its the most tedius thing in the world. I'd rather eat nails and have sex with a 1000 pound women named steve.
holy shit blane.... thats pretty fluid mate :)
Thanks. You wouldn't use the name 'sc(+)pe' or something similar for gaming would you..? Your name rings a bell but I'm sure there are many scopes out there. :D
-Blane
some of his videos look like they would make interesting maps.
Quote from: Blane on April 06, 2007, 11:59:33 AM
Thanks. You wouldn't use the name 'sc(+)pe' or something similar for gaming would you..? Your name rings a bell but I'm sure there are many scopes out there. :D
-Blane
Yeah :) thats me, I used to play with aki a lot. I been around since SCPT, and i dont think I've seen another "sc(+)pe" in SC yet :)
Until we get a full time animator, I dont see why we need to have Blane start recording custom Vids for us. He already has a lot of stuff we can use for inspiration.
Once we have an animator, he can make requests of what footage he needs. Dont forget we have real time footage of all animations in CT and DA already. That is as good as it gets for current animation referance.
I see Blane being really helpful once we start adding animations not in the aformentioned games.
I personally want to see lots of these kind of cool moves in the game. Things like vertical wall climbs, wall jumps UP walls. If a freerunner can do it, I dont see why we cant have our spy do it. Things like jumping from a pipe to a ledge grab, using split jumps to between walls to go UP. This will make very interesting map designs and provide a way to keep maps open and vertical without choke points, and make it really fun for spies.
By keeping maps vertical, you can increase the size and depth of the map without making to big for the mercs or need to speed up animations so that people can get acrossed the map.
Again, all this wont be possible unless we geta full time animator. I can do it -even accurately, just not quickly.
I've seen you around and played a few PCW's against you in CS 1.6 Scope, I'll say hi next time I see you around if you still play CS. ;)
goodkebab - I'll make a quick distinction between a freerunner (and freerunning) and Parkour... it might be the difference between me being useful for this project and you wanting to find someone else.
Freerunning is a more creative form of movement emphasizing style and more acrobatic type movements and flair.
Parkour is a very direct form of movement and focuses on learning and using techniques that allow you to move efficiently and with speed. I think this is more along the lines of what you would want for this game since the spies would want to use purely efficient movements to escape from the mercs, they wouldn't waste energy or time since their lives would depend on escaping quickly.
I'm a traceur, a practitioner of Parkour and I can help you with almost anything related to efficient movements through an rural or urban environment that would be used to escape a pursuer . You may want to contact a freerunner if you wish to incorporate some less efficient movements in to the game such as acrobatics and flair.
I would strongly suggest not going down that road but the choice is of course not mine to make. The Splinter Cell games have always focused on efficiency when it came to moving through the environment and I think this game should follow the same principles.
As soon as an animator is appointed, I'm willing to help them by giving advice, filming specific movements for reference and answering any questions they might have. Perhaps I could even be of some use to level designers in suggesting obstacles and routes that the spies could use to escape?
Just let me know how I can contribute, the material I've already posted in this thread is available to be used by anyone involved in this project.
-Blane
Thanx a lot Blane,
Now I know the differance between Parkour and freerunning....previously i thought freerunning was the same thing.
Another new video with some new stuff - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iWfWRpHGGSg
Still willing to help out with anything, just say the word. Unconditional offer for when the time comes. :)
*B*
Brilliant vid - i want all of this in PS.
Cool.... I saw the exact same video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWfWRpHGGSg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eblane%2Dparkour%2Eblogspot%2Ecom%2F
a few weeks ago... lol.. what a coincedence...
I've always wanted to learn Parkour :'(
Blane, we haven't forgotten about your offer ;) It's a matter of time I think, although that's not official.
Blane, you OWN! I couldn't agree more with you. This Project needs some PK moves, and you're the right guy to show the devs how animations should be done.
BTW, I loved that leap-to-cat at 1:43 in. It's much harder to pull a cat if you do it in lower platforms/walls (yeah, I've done it myself, and banged my butt pretty hard to the ground a couple of times :P).
Thanks guys. :)
No worries if there's no use for me in the end, I won't be offended. I just wanted you all to know I'm supportive of this cause and would like to help. I hope to make up for my lack of technical computer and art knowledge, perhaps with some assistance to the animator(s).
I'll check back here often for updates or you can pm me, which I will find out about via email. :)
*B*
Actually, I think we really need you right now but you come in 4 month periods.
Just because I don't visit here regularly or post in all of the forums doesn't mean I'm 'away for 4 months' at a time. I'm simply waiting for requests and training my ass off.
QuoteUntil we get a full time animator, I dont see why we need to have Blane start recording custom Vids for us. He already has a lot of stuff we can use for inspiration.
Once we have an animator, he can make requests of what footage he needs.
If you need me right now, then what would you like me to do?
*B*
i'm sure we can put a list together for you now. just because the animator doesn't need them just yet, doesn't mean we have to delay. i'll have a chat around for ye.
Yeah, me and Lennard are having a disagreement on where the arms would be while the spy is falling. Can you find a 5 story building and jump off it?
Edit: I thought you were volunteering for motion capturing but apparently we need a studio. Can't you just buy a bunch of ping-pong balls and we'll use some program to translate your movements from videos you send us?
Hehe, at first I thought you were an idiot Overstatement, but after browsing around a bit I've noticed a similar sarcastic tone to your posts so I guess this is normal and I won't respond to its apparent harshness.. :D
I guess falling will have to be looked at and done realistically but unfortunately it's not something I'm very good at, having only done it a few times. Maybe you could spend a day attempting to try some of the things in these videos and record it... I think we'll end up with some good resource material. ;)
Bionic-Blob - Thank you, I'll check back here regularly for the list!
*B*
Quote from: Overstatement on October 05, 2007, 12:40:24 PM
Yeah, me and Lennard are having a disagreement on where the arms would be while the spy is falling. Can you find a 5 story building and jump off it?
Edit: I thought you were volunteering for motion capturing but apparently we need a studio. Can't you just buy a bunch of ping-pong balls and we'll use some program to translate your movements from videos you send us?
you'd have to have your arms upwards mid-jump, otherwise how are you going to grab onto rails/ledges?
If you guys are talking about just dropping through air, the arm position isn't static, it's based on how the air and gravity is pulling/pushing your body and where you need to position them to shift weight or create resistance in the air in order to maintain the body positioning for a landing whether it be grabbing a ledge or landing on the ground/rolling. Though you have to be falling rather quickly to get any sort of rudder effect in the air so it's mostly shifting weight.
Edit: I'm sure having them extended above the shoulder with a small amount of "flailing" to give the illusion he is stabilizing himself would work fairly well.
Well, if I jumped off of a 5 story building then it probably wouldn't be too pretty. But if a highly trained, agile spy were to, then it would look a lot more smooth and in control. I think his arms should be raised slightly around his neck ready to recover after a long fall.
What Blane is offering would be used for "Rotoscoping". That is where the he records raw footage which the animator uses as referance while animating. In 2d cell animation, they would actually trace every frame....and then draw over that to get a more cartoon feel to the drawing. In 3d, tracing is obviously limited because the animation has to look good from all angles when the video is only 2d.
Overstatement, you should exercise a level of maturity when people are offering help.
you lucky SOB. lol, the ladies must be all over ya! :D
Blane, i just wanted to say...i couldnt be more excited to have you involved.
mos definitely a valuable resource! ;)
and actually if you cut through most of Overstatement's ...overstatements. I could use the reference for a fall, when he rolls. I've seen them in vid, usually after climbing to the top of a ledge. I know that's rather a simple request for you, but i'll have more coming.
oh yeah, and it only needs to be on the ground...pls, dont try it from 5 stories up, unless Overstatement is on the ground below to break your fall....lol
I gotta give it to Overstatement...just based on his nick alone, he obviously knows himself.
gnothi seauton
lol, so you just want some different angles of me rolling on the ground from a higher level..? If so, no problem, I'll get on it.
*B*
Blane we need video when someone dies after jumping off the plane, could you be so kind ? ;)
I can see this as being an important source material for the animators of this project.
Free running/ Parkour should be an Olympic sport IMO. Blane could offer up some important insight, exclusive to PS.
Also could be the inclusio of new moves for spies that wouldn't be too over the top. (IE jumping from one wall to the oposite wall whilst doing a 180 turn to grab a ledge.
That's a pretty nice and original idea!
I just saw the animation of the spy running on Blob's avatar. Why do his arms go to his side every time he swings them? It just looks weird and no one actually runs like that.
i dont think they are going to his side, they are going infont of him, like curving slightly. like a "normal" person runs.
EDIT: just found this for fun http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVs3DYzfq_w&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVs3DYzfq_w&feature=related)
btw some of these moves would be sweet for our spy :)
Guys, I am not the admin on these forums, but we really need to reread the guidelines for this forums.
Regular members are not allowed to post in the Join Us Section like any other section. The main reason for that is to stop off-topic discussions like happened with this thread.
Has been updated in the permissions. Only the initial poster can post replies.