Topic: Sega Developing New Voice Animation System

[WindyMan]

More realistic mouth movements and facial animations in real time, says Sega.

Sega is currently developing a technology for future use in games that will allow for more realistic mouth movements with character voices.  Magical VEngine will focus on constructing these movements by comparing the sounds of vowels and consonants against each other, and then applying the results to more natural facial movements, all in real-time.

The technology also promises to analyze speech of voice actors, and then to automatically apply the proper facial animations.  For example, if someone speaks in an angry tone, the character in which the VEngine is being used on would convey an angry emotion on the fly.

It might be a while until games use this tool, as it is still under development.  However, the Magical VEngine will be demonstrated at the Tokyo Institute of Technology toward the end of the month, so we might learn more about this interesting idea Sega has, at that time.

[nickmitch]

Did Sega really HAVE to out the word "magical" in its name? It sounds cool I just hope people take it seriously.  

[Bill Aurion]

Bill sees this being used in Shenmue III  ...

[odifiend]

Sonic & Crew there is hope for you yet!

[Djunknown]

Quote
Bill sees this being used in Shenmue III

You took the words right out of my mouth....

Now if they can bring it sometime this decade...  

[Uncle Rich AiAi]

Dammit.  Bill beat me to it!

And yes.  This SCREAMS SHENMOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I want a sequel to my favourite game ever!  

[Gibdo Master]

God, imagine games using this with really crappy voice actors.  

[KDR_11k]

I say they shouldn't use it for voice actors but voicecomm in online games. There's little need for a dynamic system when you have static source material.

[thecubedcanuck]

If SEGA is behind it, it will no doubt be junk. IMO SEGA cant do anything right.

[nemo_83]

this is technology that the console manufacturers should be primarily worried about with online on the rise and innovations in high demand and short supply things like this facial animation stuff could help bring the world together.  

My original idea for things like this were inspired by my wants to talk through Mario and have a camera built into the console that traced my facial expressions onto his face.  This is great if Sega really does go forward with this.  I just hope they don't get turned off from this kind of R and D due to it being an innevitable financial failure.  Of course failed addons have never slowed Sega and Nintendo down; and one day they will get it all right by just planning ahead and packing these features into the system rather than trying to sell them after the fact.

[kirby_killer_dedede]

Yeah, I think SEGA kinda needs one of these *cough cough* SONIC ADVENTURE *cough cough*.  But that's some pretty kewl technology we're talkin' bout here.

[Infernal Monkey]

But it just wouldn't be a Sonic Adventure without Tails muttering "Awww" and having his face flopping all over the place in a hilarious spasm kinda way.