We knew virtual camera systems are starting gain traction, particularly in the world of cinema and within James Cameron's little set of toys, but it's pretty wild to see one in action. NaturalPoint is showing off its OptiTrack
motion capture system at GDC, a budget-friendly multi-camera setup (if $6k is your idea of budget-friendly), but it also has a prototype of sorts of its upcoming virtual camera system. The camera's orientation and movement is actually tracked in the same way a motion capture suit is, and if you're in the same tracking space as a motion capture actor you can do "real" camera work with a live 3D rendered preview of the action. The shoulder-mounted camera has controls for virtual tracking and dolly moves, along with zoom, and has zero problem delivering that shaky handheld look that's all the rage in visual effects these days. There's no word on much this will retail for, but despite the fact that we have absolutely zero use for it we totally want one. Check out a video of it in action after the break.
posted March 11th 2010 6:48PM
Have you any idea how many quad-cores it took to film avatar!?
@Bowsa
Only one, and it runs on unobtanium.
Finally, I'll be able to make that movie I've been wanting to!
District 9 was waaaaayyy better than Avatar in my opinion.
@Joseph9307 +1
What do you mean you have zero use for it? You could film the engadget show with it!
now strap a paintball gun on that camera mount and let's go "audition" a couple of extras
What I don't get it why is Cameron and co touting this tech like they pioneered it, I seem to remember seeing some footage of Peter Jackson using a similar system in Return of the King for the big battle near the end.. how many years ago was that movie now ?
I found more about NaturalPoint's their mocap systems here. Cool stuff.
http://www.motioncapture.com/
Will this be in the Next Wii?
How much do think this is going to be i hope it less than 1000 bucks so i can afford it.....
I made same thing 3 years ago, using Motion Analysis optical motion capture system. My software can candle multiple actors with props, compute actors skeletons and re-target animation on different model... and all in real-time.
@yooyo3d
yes, and the lab at Motion Analysis had this demoing at NAB back in 2003... So yeah, its been around a while...
@fusionrx If it was a Motion Analysis system then it probably cost 10x as much as this one, too.
I was the guy they interviewed in that video using the virtual camera, and yes there have been some technologies like this in the past. The difference with this system is that Optitrack is designing it as a product. Also, as mocapz stated, Optitrack provides very low cost solutions compared to their competitors.
that virtual camera does look low cost, compared to this one I've seen at tradeshows:
http://gamecaster.com/news/-The-New-Art-of-Virtual-Moviemaking-
is that the same dude in the video?
@TAU
OptiTrack looks like RadioShack compared to that other camera. LOL!