Torben-Sko
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Demonstrated: Controlling facial expressions in-game with camera
There are two things we can say about Torben Sko. First: He's probably never had a problem getting 'torbensko' usernames. We'd like to applaud his forward-thinking parents who clearly saw the benefit of a unique name in the distant, internet-enabled future. Second: Sko's technology demos (remember this head-tracking demo?) have helped us conceptualize what a Natal-enabled future will be like, more so than jury-rigged versions of Burnout Paradise or Katamari Damacy. In his latest video (found after the break), Sko demonstrates how to control the facial expressions of a virtual character using nothing but a plain ol' web cam (oh, and the same FaceAPI software he used for his first demo). Much like Hideo Kojima's visions of a Natal-enabled future, Sko's never involve replacing the controller (or keyboard and mouse) but rather supplementing it with, in this case, your face. No word on support for particularly ugly faces, but we suspect Microsoft's got its best and most beautiful people on it.
A peek (and head tilt) into the future: head-tracking in FPS games
Move over Johnny Lee. Now that you've gone corporate, there's a new student researcher in town ready to take up your mantle. What mantle is that, you ask? The "show us cool tech that can be used in video games via YouTube" mantle, of course. Introducing Torben Sko, a PhD candidate at Australian National University. He's currently "studying the idea of augmenting traditional forms of computer game interaction using unconventional, but commercially viable approaches." Translation: head- and face-tracking in video games using a traditional webcam. The video after the break shows off several very impressive demonstrations of this technology using none other than Half-Life 2's Source engine: 1) VR Desktop is a "replication of the [technique] made popular by Johnny Lee"; 2) Zoom in by moving your head closer to the screen; 3) Peering allows you to look around the corners by tilting your head; 4) Camera rotation/spinning allows you to look around, "more like a Handycam"; 5) Ironsighting "allows the player to aim down the barrel of their weapon by tilting their head to the side." If you're anything like us, you're already imagining this functionality in games using both the Xbox Project Natal camera and the PlayStation Eye. Afraid that new camera-based interfaces herald the death of traditional gameplay? ("I don't want to play Halo Reach by jumping up and down!") Fear not! This video is whispering in your ear, Core Gamer, and saying, "Don't be afraid. Everything is going to be alright." [Via PushingPlay]
