Flying Squirrel Entertainment

Developer's Corner => News & Announcements => Topic started by: Vincenzo on December 09, 2012, 11:08:07 pm

Title: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Vincenzo on December 09, 2012, 11:08:07 pm
Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations

It has been a great week for us all at Flying Squirrel Entertainment, we have been thoroughly enjoying all the sleepless nights. Sarcasm aside, we have something to show you lot once again.


(https://www.fsegames.eu/images/devblog4.jpg)


Have you ever wondered how all of them characters in your favourite games get brought to life? It’s all done with motion capture technology otherwise known as mocap which tracks the movement of objects and individuals in 3D and allows them to be animated.

Indie developers usually don't have access to this technology and are forced to either buy standard animations which will limit you a lot in terms of unique gameplay, or make them manually by hand. Making animations by hand takes time and usually creates sloppy results, compared to motion captured data. But luckily a few years ago Microsoft released the Xbox Kinect which made iPiSoft’s Desktop Motion Capture system a dream come true.

This provided a relatively cheap way to motion capture animations since it doesn’t require special suits and very expensive cameras to make it’s magic. But this doesn’t mean that it’s less performing than all the other traditional motion capture systems out there.

This week we have been very busy capturing all sorts of different animations. Here is a quick picture of us recording some of them which could make for a few laughs! Once we process and edit the first few animations we will show you a video of how it will look.


(https://www.fsegames.eu/images/ipisoft.jpg)


As we are still recording the coming week, feel free to suggest any special animations we might have missed and we might do them.

See you all next week!
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 09, 2012, 11:14:44 pm
Not even read it yet but...WOOO ITS FINALLY HERE!

EDIT: I WAS FIRST MILLANDER!
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Millander on December 09, 2012, 11:14:56 pm
FIRST!
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: MackCW on December 09, 2012, 11:15:04 pm
NICE!

Learn to count Mill...
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Matthew on December 09, 2012, 11:15:53 pm
Wow great ideas guys
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: PJ on December 09, 2012, 11:15:56 pm
Nope, not first :'(
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: MaHuD on December 09, 2012, 11:16:00 pm
Smart move. I hope it's good enough to be used in game. :)
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Budzinskiy on December 09, 2012, 11:16:03 pm
Oh my it would just be awesome ! I'm just wondering on who is holding the rifle ^^
About animations you might have missed,you should maybe had a swimming one.But it's just a quick suggestion so ...
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Diplex on December 09, 2012, 11:16:10 pm
Nice read.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Menelaos on December 09, 2012, 11:16:14 pm
I expect an animation that includes a dramatic death done by Vince.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Highlander on December 09, 2012, 11:16:27 pm
This looks too kewl
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 09, 2012, 11:16:38 pm
Could you have a side swing with the bayonet where you have a hand near the trigger and one along the barrel, and you swing the butt of the rifle forwards to strike at the head of the enemy, or maybe an animation for falling over for a little humor if you trip over something :P
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Refleax on December 09, 2012, 11:17:33 pm
Enjoy the developer blog!
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Millander on December 09, 2012, 11:18:57 pm
you guys must have a proper reload animation. If you dont I will be very dissapointed.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Vincenzo on December 09, 2012, 11:21:37 pm
Oh my it would just be awesome ! I'm just wondering on who is holding the rifle ^^
About animations you might have missed,you should maybe had a swimming one.But it's just a quick suggestion so ...
Olafson is pointing the musket at me as I try to make a screenshot. :(
We have made a swimming animation not sure yet how it will look after processing it, but I have a good feeling about it.



I expect an animation that includes a dramatic death done by Vince.
We have many, I came up with the Get shot/kicked in balls one, it is hilarious.



Could you have a side swing with the bayonet where you have a hand near the trigger and one along the barrel, and you swing the butt of the rifle forwards to strike at the head of the enemy, or maybe an animation for falling over for a little humor if you trip over something :P
We have some butt swing animations made, not sure if they will be ingame though, we will see.



you guys must have a proper reload animation. If you dont I will be very dissapointed.
Do not worry we have the reload process as it is in real life this time.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 09, 2012, 11:25:22 pm
Just thought of some fun little ones to add a little humor to the game, make it slightly less serious at points and I'm pretty sure they won't be too hard to make.

1) Bowing, this could be used as etiquette to signify a duel (Like up blocking in MM/NW)
2) Charge motion, kind of like having your back arm swing forwards to signify a charge
3) An animation for opening doors, so they don't look like they open magically
4) Taking hat off and scratching the head, that could be tied to an button to show you are going afk or something

Just some fun little ones that may or may not be worth using :P
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Vincenzo on December 09, 2012, 11:28:04 pm
Just thought of some fun little ones to add a little humor to the game, make it slightly less serious at points and I'm pretty sure they won't be too hard to make.

1) Bowing, this could be used as etiquette to signify a duel (Like up blocking in MM/NW)
2) Charge motion, kind of like having your back arm swing forwards to signify a charge
3) An animation for opening doors, so they don't look like they open magically
4) Taking hat off and scratching the head, that could be tied to an button to show you are going afk or something

Just some fun little ones that may or may not be worth using :P

1. Hmm I don't think japanese people were in the American Civil war, but we have some difirent duel animations, both cowboy stile as british officer style.
2. Got it.
3. Ofcource we made one.
4. Yep, we have that one already made, though probably will be included as a auto-anim whilst idling.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Millander on December 09, 2012, 11:32:26 pm
for the swimming animations you could just plank
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Xeroth on December 09, 2012, 11:34:40 pm
Do a hat tip salute to an officer, make it look super sexy.

Xeroth is so sexy.

Thanks.

for the swimming animations you could just plank

+1
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Hugh MacKay on December 09, 2012, 11:35:53 pm
Sounds awesome!

Guess we can expect these to be much better than M&B?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Vincenzo on December 09, 2012, 11:36:06 pm
Do a hat tip salute to an officer, make it look super sexy.
Yes we did do all kinds of saluting/presenting/stand in attention animations.


Sounds awesome!

Guess we can expect these to be much better than M&B?
I do hope so, much more natural animations is what we are aiming for.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Xeroth on December 09, 2012, 11:39:02 pm
Spoiler
Do a hat tip salute to an officer, make it look super sexy.
Yes we did do all kinds of saluting/presenting/stand in attention animations.


Sounds awesome!

Guess we can expect these to be much better than M&B?
I do hope so, much more natural animations is what we are aiming for.
[close]

Good, and your signature is a slideshow of cats, HOW U DO DAT!?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Cyco_Tatertot on December 09, 2012, 11:46:00 pm
Spoiler
Do a hat tip salute to an officer, make it look super sexy.
Yes we did do all kinds of saluting/presenting/stand in attention animations.


Sounds awesome!

Guess we can expect these to be much better than M&B?
I do hope so, much more natural animations is what we are aiming for.
[close]

Good, and your signature is a slideshow of cats, HOW U DO DAT!?

Cuz he has more swag than you. OBVIOUSLY
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Gokiller on December 09, 2012, 11:46:43 pm
Really lovely read. Very nicely done so far! Can't  wait for next blog. :)
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Davout on December 09, 2012, 11:47:30 pm
Are you using a proper firing stance? And are you recording a real musket firing to capture the effects on the body?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Mannelig on December 09, 2012, 11:52:51 pm
hope u have fun, doing some practice.  ;D
i only have some standard suggestions u probably alredy have:

-proper marshing: just that the rifle is hold fixed
Spoiler
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F3%2F36%2FUS_Army_Archangel_1918.jpg&hash=034e35307514753028a45c81ee9daf2e65f9ce25)
[close]
-sneaking: maybe just for light infantry
-sitting/resting, jubilate, waving someone to you,
 or charge gesticulate
Spoiler
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fclccharter.org%2Fnicolas1%2Fcivil%2520war%2Fred%2520bage%2520of%2520courage%2Fchamberlains-charge-mort-kunstler.jpg&hash=ce51dbf13dea7e2b41dd941878833084b07bd7fd)
[close]
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Fortune on December 09, 2012, 11:58:02 pm
That isn't the setup I saw in Duisburg! :O
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Megaberna on December 10, 2012, 01:00:14 am
This is great work right here!

Will we have new animations for almost every movement right? Like running, dying, crouching etc?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Vincenzo on December 10, 2012, 01:59:22 am
Are you using a proper firing stance? And are you recording a real musket firing to capture the effects on the body?
We use period drill manuals for such things., the one in the screenshot is actually very incorrect, but we quickly fooled around to make a screenshot.
We can hardly fire live ammunition in our home but were good reenactors.


hope u have fun, doing some practice.  ;D
i only have some standard suggestions u probably alredy have:

-proper marshing: just that the rifle is hold fixed
Spoiler
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fupload.wikimedia.org%2Fwikipedia%2Fcommons%2F3%2F36%2FUS_Army_Archangel_1918.jpg&hash=034e35307514753028a45c81ee9daf2e65f9ce25)
[close]
-sneaking: maybe just for light infantry
-sitting/resting, jubilate, waving someone to you,
 or charge gesticulate
Spoiler
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fclccharter.org%2Fnicolas1%2Fcivil%2520war%2Fred%2520bage%2520of%2520courage%2Fchamberlains-charge-mort-kunstler.jpg&hash=ce51dbf13dea7e2b41dd941878833084b07bd7fd)
[close]
- We have different marching animations added.
- Indeed we have movement whilst crouching.
- We have all kinds of resting sitting positions, even campfire stuff :), Charging and other waves have been made.


This is great work right here!

Will we have new animations for almost every movement right? Like running, dying, crouching etc?
All new from scratch.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: PrideofNi on December 10, 2012, 02:17:39 am
"Vince getting kicked in the balls" and upload that shiz to youtube. I'd wait through 50 adverts to see that.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Megaberna on December 10, 2012, 02:25:55 am
Make a new kick animation!

That would be epic!
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Pinball Wizard on December 10, 2012, 03:38:55 am
Looks nice. Can't wait.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: McEwan on December 10, 2012, 03:43:35 am
Forgive me if this has been asked in another location. Will there be a "prone" feature? I feel it would make the game more immersive, as that offers more options and was actually done in the war. You don't have to make a moving animation for it, and I understand if you think it unbalances the game.

Perhaps have it as a server option?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Rejenorst on December 10, 2012, 04:39:29 am
I remember a few scenes in Gods & Generals where they did that at Fredericksberg battle iirc.

Found this page with pics in regards to sharpshooter regiments and reloading while prone:
http://hankinslawrenceimages.wordpress.com/tag/civil-war/


Not sure if going prone during a line battle was done often though.

Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Menelaos on December 10, 2012, 05:00:39 am
Cavalry and artillery animations. My question is how would you do that.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Japan on December 10, 2012, 06:40:15 am
Is the hand to hand combat look good?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Rejenorst on December 10, 2012, 06:45:47 am
Cavalry and artillery animations. My question is how would you do that.

They won't be able to get motion capture for horses I believe. There will probably be 3-4 sets only that they need to do: 1) Idle 2) trot 3) gallop 4) swim. Those can be done by hand I suppose.
The death anims will probably be done via ragdolls.

Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 10, 2012, 08:37:51 am
Vince could you fire live ammunition if you fired out of the window? ;)
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Tali on December 10, 2012, 10:01:47 am
Using Kinect for MoCap is indeed a great idea, I was curios when you announced early on that you planned to use MoCap, And I must say, I'm happy you'll manage to pull it off.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Aksei on December 10, 2012, 11:12:54 am
when arty hit the ground next to a player .... some kind of wince maybe
i think you already made some usual arty animations^^
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Wolfy on December 10, 2012, 02:29:51 pm
Make a new kick animation!

That would be epic!
Round house!
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: TheZach_Attack on December 10, 2012, 02:39:26 pm
Make a new kick animation!

That would be epic!
Round house!
Or a Ninjaish move were you kick their feet out and fall, kind of like getting hit by a horse.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 10, 2012, 03:02:54 pm
How about a move where you hold someone down and cigarette burn their nipple (That was a joke btw)
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: HappyBanana on December 10, 2012, 03:43:05 pm
maybe a silly question but do you guys all life in one house? or do you guys just use a small studio or something? I am just curious :3

+ AWSOME!. much <3 for you guys :D
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Cop on December 10, 2012, 03:43:33 pm
How about a move where you hold someone down and cigarette burn their nipple (That was a joke btw)
Oh, you.


Looks good gentlemen!

Can't wait to see more.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 10, 2012, 04:03:41 pm
How about a move where you hold someone down and cigarette burn their nipple (That was a joke btw)
Oh, you.


Looks good gentlemen!

Can't wait to see more.

Oh stop it ;)
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Vincenzo on December 10, 2012, 06:24:13 pm
Make a new kick animation!

That would be epic!
We have made several, not sure how they will be implemented though, We do not want the warband kick system but a much better one.


Forgive me if this has been asked in another location. Will there be a "prone" feature? I feel it would make the game more immersive, as that offers more options and was actually done in the war. You don't have to make a moving animation for it, and I understand if you think it unbalances the game.

Perhaps have it as a server option?
We recorded prone animations, so far we do not wish to have prone movement or reloading for balancing reasons.


Cavalry and artillery animations. My question is how would you do that.
Beeing creative with props and other items.


Is the hand to hand combat look good?
I attempted some pretty nice fighting animations, I think they will do fine.


maybe a silly question but do you guys all life in one house? or do you guys just use a small studio or something? I am just curious :3

+ AWSOME!. much <3 for you guys :D
We all live in our own places, but we met up in Germany for this animation recording.


Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Rejenorst on December 11, 2012, 01:31:01 am
Met up at camp Olaf :D
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 11, 2012, 08:33:44 am
You should hold a BCoFcon.... Like minecon.... ;)
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Wolfy on December 11, 2012, 09:33:28 am
You should hold a BCoFcon.... Like minecon.... ;)
+1 Do it! ;D
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: MaHuD on December 11, 2012, 10:39:38 am
You should hold a BCoFcon.... Like minecon.... ;)
Just donate enough to get the highest tier.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 11, 2012, 02:23:09 pm
You should hold a BCoFcon.... Like minecon.... ;)
Just donate enough to get the highest tier.

Unfortunately I don't have one million euro :(
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Betaknight on December 11, 2012, 11:19:19 pm
Any chance of some good charging cav animation with also a saluting animation? or could you like remove your hat and wave with it? or like in a idle position you could put your gun down on the ground and hold from the top like some pics do:
Spoiler
(https://www.fsegames.eu/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_qTDAEasFLtU%2FRsYDpFzMGvI%2FAAAAAAAAD3c%2F61H7YdO0KDY%2Fs400%2FA%252Bprivate%252BMarine%252Bof%252BCol.%252BFourgeoud%2527s%252BCorps..jpg&hash=d409eac8374e79abc398c73ddf04355767aa9d70)
[close]
or a charging animation with the bayonet ( must be a good one cause i love me some charging)?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Wolfy on December 11, 2012, 11:28:30 pm
Spoiler
Make a new kick animation!

That would be epic!
We have made several, not sure how they will be implemented though, We do not want the warband kick system but a much better one.


Forgive me if this has been asked in another location. Will there be a "prone" feature? I feel it would make the game more immersive, as that offers more options and was actually done in the war. You don't have to make a moving animation for it, and I understand if you think it unbalances the game.

Perhaps have it as a server option?
We recorded prone animations, so far we do not wish to have prone movement or reloading for balancing reasons.


Cavalry and artillery animations. My question is how would you do that.
Beeing creative with props and other items.


Is the hand to hand combat look good?
I attempted some pretty nice fighting animations, I think they will do fine.


maybe a silly question but do you guys all life in one house? or do you guys just use a small studio or something? I am just curious :3

+ AWSOME!. much <3 for you guys :D
We all live in our own places, but we met up in Germany for this animation recording.
[close]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RarrjkoYVoQ&feature=player_detailpage Vince  :-*
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: The Bowman on December 12, 2012, 05:05:09 pm
Runing and realoading animations are essential. Also, I'd like to see some hand to hand combat animations.
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on December 12, 2012, 05:09:26 pm
If you read what was up there previously, it has all been covered
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Maroon on December 12, 2012, 06:14:53 pm
How about a animation similair to this suggestion (http://forums.taleworlds.com/index.php/topic,229215.0.html)? It would greatly iprove the efficiency of cavalry charges, and be extremely epic :D
Also, it had already be implemented in WFaS, through a sword named 'Koncerz', and it's bloody awesome!
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Wasabi21 on May 01, 2013, 02:34:59 pm
Maybe another cool animations would be coughing at too much smoke and  closing the ears with hands when firing with artellery....
(I just read all "News & announcements" and I am very impressed by your work and will soon hit the donate button  ;D )
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Betaknight on May 04, 2013, 06:25:13 am
I like ghe artillery having to close ears and eyes. That aould make it look realistic :D
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Jacob on May 04, 2013, 09:02:25 am
I like ghe artillery having to close ears and eyes. That aould make it look realistic :D

That'd look cool, but wouldnt it get annoying if you were locked in the animation while firing cannister at a charging line, making it impossible to run or something?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Hugh MacKay on May 04, 2013, 01:42:08 pm
Should just be possible to cancel it just as you interrupt a reload-animation
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Wasabi21 on May 04, 2013, 02:10:25 pm
Maybe make it so that, you have to press a button to close your ears or you won't hear anything after a shot than a tinitus for some seconds. That would firstly look awesome and secondly give the artellerists more "action"...
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Betaknight on May 04, 2013, 04:45:34 pm
Ooh! Like when in any fps game, when you throw a grenade and it explodes close to you (still not deadly) you will hear tis hugh pitch sound. Thats what it should he like wih cannons
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Wasabi21 on May 04, 2013, 05:34:26 pm
Quote
Ooh! Like when in any fps game, when you throw a grenade and it explodes close to you (still not deadly) you will hear tis hugh pitch sound. Thats what it should he like wih cannons
Yeah i ment exactly this :) and if you press the  "close-ear-button" the cannonier starts his "close-ear-with-hands-animation" and you won't get this pitch sound, .... that would be soow awesome
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Suede on May 08, 2013, 05:30:46 pm
Btw
What about horse-related animation(riding, mounted fighting, bumping etc)?I suppose you can't make it in this way, so where will you get it?
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Betaknight on May 08, 2013, 05:36:35 pm
Why not? Just get a backless bank. And preten you is on horse. Simple
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Rejenorst on May 08, 2013, 06:07:43 pm
Btw
What about horse-related animation(riding, mounted fighting, bumping etc)?I suppose you can't make it in this way, so where will you get it?

There's a few options they could look at:

1) Ask a recording studio that specializes in horse motion capture:
http://www.horselocomotion.com/
2) Purchase from pre-existing libraries:
http://www.horselocomotion.com/freestyle/horse_motion_capture_mocap_data/horse_motion_capture_mocap_data_freestyle.html
http://www.horselocomotion.com/treadmill/horse_motion_capture_mocap_data/horse_motion_capture_mocap_data.html
http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/Motion-Capture/horse
http://www.kinetic-impulse.com/mocap_data/
3) Hire a 3rd party to just make the animations or make them yourself (ie: not motion capture).
Title: Re: Developer Blog 4 - Motion Capture Animations
Post by: Betaknight on May 08, 2013, 11:39:06 pm
Me gusta. I like the one where the horse stands up on 2 legs.