NBA Developer Insights: NBA 2K10 Art Direction

[Jamin23]

2K Sports have just posted another NBA Developer Insights, this one featuring NBA 2K10 art direction.

"I want to first get into what makes our graphics more innovative than ever: Image Metrics. Before this year, we only used a maximum of 3 different blend shapes per head, which would limit the type of emotion you see on the players’ faces. The end result had the players looking more robotic than human when running around or even in doing simple actions such as blinking. Now, with the help of Image Metrics the facial animation goes beyond what we’ve ever been able to capture before. An actor is actually recorded with a camera connected to their face to capture how facial muscles work and better document a facial animation. Now, simple animations such as blinks are not so much just moving the eyelids, but rather the cheekbones, muscles, and so much more. We took it a step further and sent Image Metrics the actual NBA footage of the players with signature expressions and signature intros, so that way we actually have the facial animation to match the body animation. We are not limiting this to the players either. Coaches, assistant coaches, and others will have better facial models and animations to bring the most realistic looking characters to any sports game you’ve ever seen."

[thereginator28]

Re: Insight coming tonight

Oh snap! It's up already. That was quick.

http://community.2ksports.com/community/insights/

Those pics look nice.

[Jamin23]

Re: Insight coming tonight

WOW!!

Arenas/Uniforms
This was a major point of emphasis. The arenas, for the most part, all needed to be re-tooled to be more accurate. The biggest overarching difference you’ll notice is the improved stadium lighting and pre-game stadium introductions. The pre-game stadium look just has a greater realistic feel, with team colors, spotlights, team PA’s, etc.

[akiracy]

Re: Insight coming tonight

reposting from the other thread

if you are interested in image-metrics, check these out

<embed src="http://www.image-metrics.com/sites/all/modules/custom/video/player.swf?config=null" scale="noscale" bgcolor="111111" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="320" height="204">

<object width="560" height="340">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bLiX5d3rC6o&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></object>

[Starrtech]

Re: Insight coming tonight

sounds great and diggin the facial animations.

on the downside, looks like there is still no home/away accessory options =/

[stewaat]

Re: Insight coming tonight

I'm pumped...

2K is kinda like the tortoise...

[Jamin23]

Re: Insight coming tonight

I'm pumped...

2K is kinda like the tortoise...

They slowly release info. One piece at a time, and than they wow you.

[antoine79]

Re: Insight coming tonight

2k are trying to put the doubters to shame, and I'm praying they do just that.

[Smirkin Dirk]

Re: Insight coming tonight

Why didnt he mention dynamic attendance?

Isnt that supposed to be in the game?

[RayDog253]

Re: Insight coming tonight

Was it just me, or did it seem like this was like a rebuttal to Live? Or maybe it's just cause they mentioned the holiday uni's. Anyways, everything sounds good. Great Read....

1 more thing. I can't beleive they got new cheerleader and mascot animations, this is going to be the best game ever!!!

IMHO I really don't think that needed to be mentioned with everything else.

[cool2fool]

Re: NBA Developer Insights: NBA 2K10 Art Direction

All I can dream of is they get Lebron Jame's NBA logo to be on the centered of the headband!!!I know it sound crazy but I use the replay mode alot when Lebron does crazy play and the nba logo turns me off because it looks off, way off! Please PLEASE 2k!!!!

[RubenDouglas]

Re: NBA Developer Insights: NBA 2K10 Art Direction

facial animations seem like a whole lot of work for so little payoff. unless im in replay mode, i will never notice... if the gameplay and CPU AI isnt up to snuff, none of this matters. so i feel they might have covered that unless they like wasting money

[The 24th Letter]

Re: NBA Developer Insights: NBA 2K10 Art Direction

I mean, its the art directer....talking about the artistic aspect of the game man lol

[NumberOneRB]

Re: Insight coming tonight

Loving what I read there it all sounded quite impressive. Good to see team-specific stadium intros are making it back into NBA games again. I'm actually getting more interested in the execution of the Image-Metrics facial models, it appears I may have underestimated just how extensive/detailed it might be. I still wish they did a better job with the fit of the uniforms; they still appear to be a little too loose/bloated and don't drape along the player models as accurately as I'd like.

[NumberOneRB]

Re: NBA Developer Insights: NBA 2K10 Art Direction

facial animations seem like a whole lot of work for so little payoff. unless im in replay mode, i will never notice... if the gameplay and CPU AI isnt up to snuff, none of this matters. so i feel they might have covered that unless they like wasting money

Actually I think it will pay off quite a bit considering all the camera close-ups they can use on the players after big plays, penalties, and other time stoppages. It can really bring out the true emotion of the NBA.