Sony aims to make strides in improving the motion capture process used in video game development through the use of an adjustable robot designed to aid motion capture actors. Although motion capture is a technology that has been used for decades in the making of movies and video games alike, it's not without its flaws, and Sony aims to introduce a new technology in order to improve the process.
In the realm of video game development, motion capture involves the use of specialized cameras and sensors to capture the movement of a human actor or actress in a real-world performance space. This movement data is then applied to the skeletal rig of a virtual character so that they move in the same way as the actor, largely removing the need for virtual characters' movements to be manually animated.
Sony has revealed plans to develop a moving, adjustable robot intended to aid human actors in this process. With the ability to adjust its shape and move around the performance area, the robot will be able to provide a reference to motion capture actors and an asset for them to interact with. This will be useful in a wide range of different situations that commonly arise in motion capture productions, and will allow actors to more easily perform actions like opening doors and petting animals among other things.
A good example of this is how the robot will be used to address one of the most glaring challenges involved with motion capture productions - correctly coordinating precise movements between virtual characters. Since motion capture actors typically perform alone, performing precise actions such as handshakes with other virtual characters can sometimes prove challenging, and if the actor carries out the action such that it doesn't correctly line up when rendered in the game, developers have to carefully edit the interaction to make it look more natural in the virtual space. Sony intends for the robot to be capable of mounting props such as model hands so that actors have an easier time coordinating their movements precisely.
Though motion capture is used in many high-budget games, there continues to be a debate on whether it should be used instead of pure, traditional animation. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages, so the option used often depends on the content that it's to be applied to.
For example, a lot of people argue that 3D animations using overly-cartoonish characters featuring unusual proportions should be fully animated. Others contest that motion capture allows much more personality to be expressed by virtual characters which can't be brought out through traditional animation, a popular example of this being Gollum from The Lord of the Rings series of films. Regardless, Sony seems confident that its new robot will be a huge help in negating many of the downsides seen in motion capture acting.