A shout to my friends at Faceware Technologies and Image Metrics for their contribution to the Facial Performance capture for the soldier characters in Crysis 3.

Check out this video interview, you can see the head mounted cams being used, which are products made by Faceware Technologies (http://www.facewaretech.com), powered by Image Metrics.  Clearly the whole process is a challenge for the Actors to adapt to but seeing the results, the effort is well worth it, just as Avatar proved in terms of facial performance capture.

Film and TV actor David Kennedy who currently plays the character Michael ‘Psycho’ Sykes in Crysis 3 speaks to Matt Cuttle about acting in the ‘volume’ — the space in which the motion capture is recorded.

Unique to acting in a first-person game is that the actor playing the main character Prophet acts as the camera as he interacts with fellow actors. The actors perform around markers and scaffold poles and use storyboards and mock-ups for reference and speak to the director to help them understand the environment.

David quotes Crysis 3 director Steven Bender when he says that actors will still be integral to movies and video games as they raise the bar when performances are captured for animation in films such as Avatar.

This particular session was recorded at Teddington Studios.

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Suit Up: The Crysis 3 Multiplayer Open Beta begins January 29, 2013 for PC, Xbox360 and PS3!

The Crysis 3 Multiplayer Beta will give you just a taste of the full multiplayer experience by offering a preview of the Hunter Mode and Crash Site game modes. Become the Hunter and choose your load-out, tactics, and Nanosuit upgrades carefully — or else you may become the hunted! Crysis 3 Multiplayer supports up to 16 players on PC and 12 on consoles. Crysis 3 is available February 19, 2013 on X360, PlayStation 3, and PC.

http://www.crysis.com/uk/crysis-3/beta

I created this 900 frame concept animation render using 3DS Max 2013. I rendered the different scenes using the VRAY renderer. Average render time per frame was about 1 minute and 30 seconds. I used Global Illumination with a spherical map that I created in Vue xStream, to provide the bulk of the lighting. I also added one single VRAY light for the sun direction.

Here are some wire frame renders of the scene, including one with a convoy.

I hope to render the final animation sequence and see how long VRAY takes to complete the 900 frames.

This is the Spherical sky I created in Vue, that served as the ambient light source and sky dome. If you need to download a copy of the sky texture, do let me know in the comments.

Man, the wait is finally over.  We finally get a chance to sink our teeth into this much anticipated FPS. The Crysis 3 Beta is now available to play on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and PC. Power up your Nanosuit and test your hunting skills across the Museum and Airport maps in a lush and eerily familiar New York City. Survive the attack or stalk your enemies in the brand new “Hunter Mode” or battle for dominance in the “Volatile Crash Site mode”

To play the Beta: Visit the Crysis Website (Link) ~ DOWNLOAD BETA

Check out this awesome Trailer: The game play looks amazing.

The graphics from the Crytek Engine which powers Crysis, are simply stunning. So if you have a souped up machine, get ready for some insane special effects.

I experienced first hand what it feels like when a mountain gorilla bears down on you. I almost passed out as this black back got up and started walking directly towards me, there was no where to quickly turn in the thick undergrowth and I almost fell backwards, as he brushed by me. I still remember my knees feeling weak and could hardly hold the camera steady afterwords. I shot the video during my visit to Bwindi Impenetrable forest in Uganda.

 
It was taken on my trekking trip to gather reference footage for the Galiwango 3D Animated Mountain Gorilla Conservation Film (http://www.galiwango.com) ~ A special thanks to Steven (UWA Driver), who drove me all the way to Bwindi and joined me on the trek, and our main tracker, Sgt. Major Benjamin B. Thanks to UWA for sponsoring the unforgettable experience.

This is a photo of my Mountain Gorilla tracking Certificate (Nshongi Group): http://www.galiwango.com/2010/02/25/my-mountain-gorilla-tracking-certificate/

You can see more photos from my Mountain Gorilla Trekking trip here: http://www.galiwango.com/2010/02/08/solomon-jagwes-gorilla-tracking-in-bwindi/

Here is to Wishing you all Dear Friends, a Merry Christmas!!! If you should happen to hear that Tune, “Santa Baby…” Tuck this on to the end, “Santa Baby, a Cordless Mouse for Christmas Too!!” ~ Feel free to Share with your family and friends ~ I Wish you you all a Blessed and Prosperous 2013. Dare to dream Big!

Here is the Wireframe of the Scene in 3DS Max. I used the 2013 Version, with Mental Ray for rendering.

One of my favorite Art Topics while attending Boarding school back in Uganda, at Kings College Budo and Makerere College School, was “Imaginative Composition”, I loved the challenge each subject presented ~ this sketch is a throw back to those days.

Below is a sketch I drew to flesh out the idea. I look forward to the day we don’t ever have to deal with cables.