Image Metrics is creating facial animation for key characters appearing in cinematic sequences for Codemasters’ upcoming video game Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising. Slated for release across major gaming platforms in 2009, the title is the much-anticipated sequel to the military conflict simulator released in 2001.
Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising will simulate an immense conflict between advanced forces and will allow players to choose between a broad range of military disciplines, vehicles and equipment. Codemasters is using Image Metrics’ facial animation solutions in the cut scenes in order to enhance the range of human emotions expressed in the chaos of war.
‘Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising will take players closer to war then they’ve ever come before,’ says Brant Nicholas, senior producer for Codemasters Studios. ‘To achieve that end, we turned to Image Metrics’ facial animation solutions because of their unique ability to perfectly capture the range of emotions that soldiers experience in combat.’
For the game, Image Metrics will develop 57 shots, totaling 262 seconds of animation, in about one month. The rapid delivery will rely on Image Metrics’ automated, performance-driven facial animation solution. Without markers or makeup, the solution captures an actor’s entire facial performance, analyzes it pixel-by-pixel, and then transfers it onto the computer generated character model.
Developed over the past seven years, Image Metric’s facial animation system has been adopted by such industry-leading studios as Digital Domain, Activision, EA, Rhythm and Hues, Rockstar Games and Sony Imageworks. The company is located in Santa Monica, Calif., with R&D headquarters in Manchester, U.K.
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