Facial expressions and body language in NPC co

Kaerigan

My question is pretty simple: has ArenaNet said anything about whether they're planning on improving the facial expressions and body languages of characters during conversations with NPCs? I might've missed something but in the videos I've watched the characters seem very stiff and hardly move at all, and when they do it doesn't look very natural. Their facial expressions seem to hardly change at all.

It isn't a game-breaking feature for me but it'd be great and feel more immersive, I think.

See this for an example of what I mean.

someforumguy

They just finished designing a race, so I doubt they are near release at the moment. Also, the gameplay demos are there to demonstrate gameplay. So it is difficult to determine if the lack of npc emotions is final or simply something on the long list of things still 'under construction' . I expect that all the polish is an ongoing process untill release and that they will mainly focus on demonstrating important features in their showcases.

So, I think its still too early to worry about that. But if you are afraid that Anet doesnt care about this, voice your concerns about this on any of the major fansites for GW2 and itll be read by their community team. 

Fir3line

Originally posted by someforumguy

They just finished designing a race, so I doubt they are near release at the moment. Also, the gameplay demos are there to demonstrate gameplay. So it is difficult to determine if the lack of npc emotions is final or simply something on the long list of things still 'under construction' . I expect that all the polish is an ongoing process untill release and that they will mainly focus on demonstrating important features in their showcases.

So, I think its still too early to worry about that. But if you are afraid that Anet doesnt care about this, voice your concerns about this on any of the major fansites for GW2 and itll be read by their community team. 

there is a video where he mentions it, I can't hear it because I screwed the sound on my work laptop

 

Do me the favor of watching this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1kN4Bccx2M

 

Somewhere after minute 13, dont need to watch it all, I do believe he says somethng about the cutscenes cant really remember what

mazut

Originally posted by Kaerigan

My question is pretty simple: has ArenaNet said anything about whether they're planning on improving the facial expressions and body languages of characters during conversations with NPCs? I might've missed something but in the videos I've watched the characters seem very stiff and hardly move at all, and when they do it doesn't look very natural. Their facial expressions seem to hardly change at all.

It isn't a game-breaking feature for me but it'd be great and feel more immersive, I think.

See this for an example of what I mean.

This is the least important thing. The background suport the overall expression and I like it a lot more then in most other games.

Kaerigan

Originally posted by Fir3line

Originally posted by someforumguy

They just finished designing a race, so I doubt they are near release at the moment. Also, the gameplay demos are there to demonstrate gameplay. So it is difficult to determine if the lack of npc emotions is final or simply something on the long list of things still 'under construction' . I expect that all the polish is an ongoing process untill release and that they will mainly focus on demonstrating important features in their showcases.

So, I think its still too early to worry about that. But if you are afraid that Anet doesnt care about this, voice your concerns about this on any of the major fansites for GW2 and itll be read by their community team. 

there is a video where he mentions it, I can't hear it because I screwed the sound on my work laptop

 

Do me the favor of watching this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1kN4Bccx2M

 

Somewhere after minute 13, dont need to watch it all, I do believe he says somethng about the cutscenes cant really remember what

I watched that just now but all he says is that cutscenes will be a mix of 3D models and 2D artwork.

Fir3line

Originally posted by Kaerigan

Originally posted by Fir3line

Originally posted by someforumguy

They just finished designing a race, so I doubt they are near release at the moment. Also, the gameplay demos are there to demonstrate gameplay. So it is difficult to determine if the lack of npc emotions is final or simply something on the long list of things still 'under construction' . I expect that all the polish is an ongoing process untill release and that they will mainly focus on demonstrating important features in their showcases.

So, I think its still too early to worry about that. But if you are afraid that Anet doesnt care about this, voice your concerns about this on any of the major fansites for GW2 and itll be read by their community team. 

there is a video where he mentions it, I can't hear it because I screwed the sound on my work laptop

 

Do me the favor of watching this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1kN4Bccx2M

 

Somewhere after minute 13, dont need to watch it all, I do believe he says somethng about the cutscenes cant really remember what

I watched that just now but all he says is that cutscenes will be a mix of 3D models and 2D artwork.

no idea then, voice your opinion somewhere, sure someone will pick it up, gw2 guru, devs hang around there

Pigozz

Yeah they mentioned somewhere (comiccon prolly, Im not going through all those vids but it is mentioned somewhere for sure) that they're gonna improve it a lot (Im guessing in that Rythlock's dungeon introduction way)

Methos12

Body language is alright. It's just people talking not sure what you expect, but their faces are lifeless. Even in combat when you hear battle-cries and stuff they maintain their poker faces. Hope it'll be added because it does tend to be somewhat jarring.

cali59

I'd go even further than you're saying about the facial expressions and body language and also say that I don't think the voices really work either.  The thing is though that I'm not sure it's even feasible to make it work.

I believe that in order to have this kind of stuff not be stilted, you need to have the actors together in a room playing off one another.  That can work for a single player game where you have a small cast of characters and a linear storyline, but with the complexity of an MMO it quickly becomes unrealistic.  You need to have 10 actors doing voices for the 5 races/2 sexes minimum, tons of additional characters and a branching storyline.

I'm not even sure if those facial expressions and body language is even what the actors did when they were recording the voice, or whether it's just what the animator thinks they were probably like.  Either way, it's gotta be so difficult to pull off.  I can't even imagine yelling, "For Glory!" into a microphone and having it be anywhere near believable, much less trying to come up with an associated hand gesture that wouldn't look ridiculous too.

Having voice dialog I think is a good idea and a step above what we have previously been getting in an MMO, but even with ArenaNet's commitment to quality I'm not sure this can possibly work all that well.  That's ok though, they're not going to hit everything out of the park.  I'll be interested to see if they go in a different direction to deliver stories for their expansion content.

ichihaifu

I dont think such thing as facial expressions will become a pressing matter in MMORPG's in the next 10 years atleast.

When we wear goggles, see and move in 3D real-time environment is the time when such things start to matter. I mean have you ever even once looked at your characters face in hope of seeing an expression when standing idle AFTER the character creation and when you have played for a week?

Trivial thing I say.

 

Body language, however, is one that I think will be used a lot in this game. Because its both possible and the norm of MMO's.

Tyrxz

Originally posted by Fir3line

Originally posted by someforumguy

*snip*

there is a video where he mentions it, I can't hear it because I screwed the sound on my work laptop

 

Do me the favor of watching this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1kN4Bccx2M

 

Somewhere after minute 13, dont need to watch it all, I do believe he says somethng about the cutscenes cant really remember what

All he says is that cutscenes are one of the ways the tell their story in GW2 and like with the manifesto they use a mix between 2D and 3D elements. It starts right after 13:55

 

Hopefully they'll do something about when they have time, but It wouldn't really change the perception of Guild Wars 2 for me.

 

Edit: Typos...

MumboJumbo

Aren't those your actual avatar/pc and the npc in 3d in the cutscenes with the 2d artwork backdrop + actors VO work?

I think it might be tricky to get more expressions but the point is it's your actual char in 3d in the cutscene, I think is the nice thing. I do agree the facial expressions are nearly as impressive as eg SWTORs which look wonderful for comparison, but not sure how important a component it is given the above is good enough quality imo. I do agree they "could" be more complex and emotive which would be very nice oc.

Overall happy enough but facial expressions add a lot, t'is true. Someone will have to send ArenaNet a question on that?

AKASlaphappy

Originally posted by Kaerigan

My question is pretty simple: has ArenaNet said anything about whether they're planning on improving the facial expressions and body languages of characters during conversations with NPCs? I might've missed something but in the videos I've watched the characters seem very stiff and hardly move at all, and when they do it doesn't look very natural. Their facial expressions seem to hardly change at all.

It isn't a game-breaking feature for me but it'd be great and feel more immersive, I think.

See this for an example of what I mean.

They have said the cinematic are a work in progress, and if you compare the last one they released to the one you linked from GDC there is a huge difference. I am sure ANet will keep working on them until launch like they do with everything else in the game.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRUvqgz53c0&feature=player_embedded

mafia514

Guys remembre these are demos.The game  have to go tru pre alpha,alpha,beta,open beta than release ( the game will get improved and polished each step).

InFlamestwo

LA Noire! those are good facial expressions:)

Vaultar

That was also one of the things I was a bit disappointed on and posted my concern in 'things-you-want-to-see-improved-in-guild wars 2" type thread.

Here is what Colin Johanson had to say about it

(listen from 13:32min mark).

Tyrxz

Originally posted by Vaultar

That was also one of the things I was a bit disappointed on and posted my concern in 'things-you-want-to-see-improved-in-guild wars 2" type thread.

Here is what Colin Johanson had to say about it

(listen from 13:32min mark).

Here is the sentence we've been looking for! Thanks for posting this

Xzen

Originally posted by Tyrxz

Originally posted by Vaultar

That was also one of the things I was a bit disappointed on and posted my concern in 'things-you-want-to-see-improved-in-guild wars 2" type thread.

Here is what Colin Johanson had to say about it

(listen from 13:32min mark).

Here is the sentence we've been looking for! Thanks for posting this

If they actually do what they say. These devs got their heads on straight. It's nice to see this from a dev for once.

EvilGeek

The Ascalonian Catacombs cutscene shows a massive move forward, the early ones did seem stunted. Great to hear Colin Johanson in that video telling us they listened and are improving them. At the risk of sounding a fan boy - Anet rocks.

Kaerigan

Originally posted by Vaultar

That was also one of the things I was a bit disappointed on and posted my concern in 'things-you-want-to-see-improved-in-guild wars 2" type thread.

Here is what Colin Johanson had to say about it

(listen from 13:32min mark).

Thank you for this. Thread is now obsolete.

Meowhead

A look at the new Sylvari videos shows that the facial animations are already improved.  So either they're already incorporating better expressions, or every other race will look wooden and blank while the Sylvari strut their emotional stuff.

claytos

Originally posted by Meowhead

A look at the new Sylvari videos shows that the facial animations are already improved.  So either they're already incorporating better expressions, or every other race will look wooden and blank while the Sylvari strut their emotional stuff.

god! i hope they won't let down the other races. Human really need an upgrade for their facial expressions.