Character Transformation
polycounter lvl 12
All right, i have a question here.
How is a character transformation done inside game. I am talkin about organic characters in this case. Like a human transforms into a demon with wings and muscles and split mouth and such stuff. Now if I have to even show it as a cut scene, how is this transformation animation done??
Does any1 have the info regarding this one??
How is a character transformation done inside game. I am talkin about organic characters in this case. Like a human transforms into a demon with wings and muscles and split mouth and such stuff. Now if I have to even show it as a cut scene, how is this transformation animation done??
Does any1 have the info regarding this one??
Replies
Do you have an example of what you want to achieve? Like a video clip? Image?
More details please.
Hmm ye... The ones in the resident evil series like in the link below
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thats the thingy i am lookin for..
Here is another example..
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You are asking a very vague question still. Each of these transformations is different conceptually.
As mentioned before, most of these animations are clever camera cuts with model swaps. Each model is animated to deform and morph slightly. So they start with an original character, the final character and make a few unique models to be swapped in between the transition.
It all depends on how you storyboard the transformation. It involves a well thought out concept of the transformation, followed by a story board that describes each scene swap as far as angle,lighting, animation etc. It is all an illusion of a seamless transformation. There are very few cases that a full animation is made without any camera cuts. A very massive transformation is quite tricky to do in realtime and ingame so games mostly resort of full motion video.
Imagine you are assigned the task of doing one. As som1 mentioned that there are many ways of achieving this and you say that it is very tricky, there must be 1 probable way (even though it might take a really long time) to accomplish it right. All i want to know is one way to do it completely. I posted the videos because som1 asked me what exactly i was lookin after... But i do believe i have shown the picture of what here is looking to be accomplished..
But I don't think camera cuts are avoidable. At some point you'll need a model-swap.
So what you are asking is a comprehensive explanation and a step by step solution to your unique technical problem ?
Like it's been said, it depends on what kind of models you want to transform. What is your concept specifically? You are asking a vague question and asking for an exact perfect solution to be spelled out for you. There is rarely one.
Do you have an idea in mind? A concept?
The best real time example that comes to mind is the mutated lambent in Gears of War 3 but even then. Their realtime transformations are minor and reserved strictly to extending of their extra tentacles which is likely a mixture of animations of the stretching/extending, model swap and particle effects to hide the seams and transitions.
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Also write out the word "someone", shortening it to "som1" makes you sound unintelligent and discourages people from providing advice.
Even if you're not able to show the actual character a simple Reg Dude into Bat Dude would be helpfull.
Mashru Mishu used I think a blend of vertex animation and an animated normal map to turn this guy:
into this guy:
(his chub gallery has wire's and stuff.) This example rely's on having both models share the same topology/UV layout. He had a pretty good wip thread for it but I lost the link long ago.
Even if you were asking a very simple question like "how do I uv something properly". There is no perfect answer, you have to provide concrete examples.
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http://www.polycount.com/forum/showpost.php?p=1034143&postcount=50
And another
http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/TessellationDX11.html
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Taking a look at the rat example, my guess would be:
Bulging skin- morph targets
Mouth and eyes peeling- morph targets
Elongating teeth- scaling separate meshes
Split tail- model a closed tail, cut seams, pose in the open position, model the interiors
Limbs extending- probably bone scaling
Final result- entirely different model
And all of those closeups are most likely entirely different models built specifically to show the transformations in detail.
Sorry .. my bad :poly006: ...
For the most part, that's just pushing two models through each other and lots of particles.
The skin rips off with very well done alphas and texture blending. I'm almost certain that's the same face geometry you're seeing at the end, just with a great morph target.
[ame]www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwgsqm3E5F4[/ame]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZh-hv_jfLY#t=12s
Simple effect, but it does the job well enough.