Remedy looking to improve Alan's face

By Tom Bramwell Published 7 May, 2010

Wake DLC likely to boast tech tweaks.

Remedy has said that it has adopted some improved facial animation techniques for the upcoming Alan Wake downloadable content.

"While I think it'll always be possible to get 'fugly' single frames out of any game, we definitely learned a lot doing Alan Wake, and will try to improve the way we do things to get best possible looking facials," Remedy's Markus Maki wrote on the official forum.

"In fact, we're using some of the improvements in the DLC production already.

"It's not alone a matter of the method how or where the facial capture is done, it's about the run-time animation techniques available, skeleton setup and so on. It's a complex problem trying to dodge the Uncanny Valley."

Although Alan Wake has received mostly positive write-ups, the technology behind Remedy's psychological action-adventure can seem a bit long in the tooth next to heavyweights like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

Look out for Digital Foundry's extensive analysis of the Alan Wake technology tomorrow.

In the meantime, check out our Alan Wake review if you haven't already.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (51) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • kangarootoo #1 2 years ago

    "and will try to improve the way we do things to get best possible looking facials"

    Heeheehee.


    Sorry everyone.

  • kangarootoo #2 2 years ago

    "It's not alone a matter of the method how or where the facial capture is done"

    Oh come on, its like a red rag to a bull.


    It would appear that today is childish friday in my brain.

  • davisorle #3 2 years ago

    Good to hear. Always welcome improvements along with the DLC. Its all good ^^ And yeah got generally good reviews, EG's was the worst and second place was Gamesomethign something. Dont remember and lazy to check. Just got home from work :p

    I'll be waiting for release in the meantime :)

  • kangarootoo #4 2 years ago

    "It's a complex problem trying to dodge the Uncanny Valley"

    Its not a particularly new problem though is it...

  • thewool #5 2 years ago

    still not the revolutionary game it was built up to be, and everyone wanted it to be....

  • muscleblade #6 2 years ago

    "still not the revolutionary game it was built up to be, and everyone wanted it to be...."

    Exept for all non 360 gamers that wnated it to be crap. Its not crap though, but not as amazing review wise that many believed it would be. GTAIV got great scores all over and its the highest rated game this gen, i didnt like it all that much tbh. I like Alan Wake better actually (got the game early). Reviews arent everything.

  • markymark22 #7 2 years ago

    DLC is good but am i the only one who thinks that games weren released back in the ps2/xbox days without being properly finished. Seems to be just a way for developers to meet release dates and fix the bugs later.

  • peteb #8 2 years ago

    @SPAM

    Working on the rest of the game, probably :-P

  • Eraser #9 2 years ago

    They got a releasedate pinned to this? I mean, I wouldn't bother replaying an entire game just for improved facial animations. If the DLC is out soon, I might wait with buying the game until the DLC is out.

  • Cadence #10 2 years ago

    Damn, you beat me to the facial joke kangarootoo.

  • reelbigkris #11 2 years ago

    So... The game is not finished yet? It does seem wierd that they've openly admitted that they are not satisfied with the facial features, only to anounce a DLC to improve it. I would have assumed facial features and character animation would have been an early part of the production.

    The ultimate joke would be that you would have to pay for the facial features content.. only to realise later that it's an unlock key for somethign that's allready on the disc :p (not that funny really, i guess)

  • the_dudefather #12 2 years ago

    I shall take his face (hand swooshing) off!

  • Nephirion #13 2 years ago

    I predict a downloadble balaclava

  • stampax #14 2 years ago

    My fear with dlc was that games would be released not really finished, and then improved later. A real shame this has come true in some cases. Getting game updates is nice, but it's so frustrating when you want to play a game and have to wait for updates to d/l.

  • metalangel #15 2 years ago

    AAAAAND what did Ellie think of his face?

  • sfp_noodle #16 2 years ago

    ^^

    She probably thought it looked like a bear wanking. 7/10 then

  • metalangel #17 2 years ago

    A bear wrestling a snake, you mean :p

  • MaFlippinHeadHurts #18 2 years ago

    They'd have nailed the facial features first time around if they hadn't have rushed this game..........

  • bodypopper #19 2 years ago

    Valve got it right with Half Life 2. And that came out in 2004.
    It's not like Remedy haven't had time to get it right.
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/10 @ 11:42

  • Cjail #20 2 years ago

    It is ironic because they are actually saying that they made a poor work; if I were a Remedy developer I wouldn't be so proud about that (probably I would hide myself under a rock...in the Mariana Trench!).
    Edited by 3 at 07/05/10 @ 11:56

  • ParanoidZombie #21 2 years ago

    There's a basic rule in art/craftsmanship: if you invest a lot of time creating something, you have trouble letting it go and you're never satisfied with the final "product", no matter how good it turns out to be. Never saw that in a videogame before, but it's a common occurence in other mediums.

  • StooMonster #22 2 years ago

    So, will this fix it for the entire game or simply for the DLC content?

  • LetsGo #23 2 years ago

    So people need to pay for a graphical update on a five year developed game?? Nice ;(

  • danjfor #24 2 years ago

    Is he doing a photoshoot for Vision Express, then?

  • kangarootoo #25 2 years ago

    @LetsGo

    Who said anything about paying?

  • ronuds #26 2 years ago

    How is this any different from the loads of games this gen that have made graphical tweaks and improvements over time? There have been many, going all the way back to Oblivion.

    People love to hate, simply for the sake of hating... you're going to give yourselves heart attacks by the age of 35. I won't laugh when it happens, but I will say "I told you so." :p

    +1 to kangarootoo! :D

  • monkeywithnoeyes #27 2 years ago

    excellent. It's already been highly praised for it's awesome visuals.. tweaking those even better can only be a treat

    @Kelly's_h, You're a sensitive little creature arent you. How's it been your biggest disappointment? you've not played it yet. The games been getting great reviews
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/10 @ 12:45

  • LetsGo #28 2 years ago

    AFAIK you cannot release free DLC. I think its why valve have not been updating TF2? Note that they didnt say patch, say said DLC.

  • kangarootoo #29 2 years ago

    @LetsGo

    Ahh, I see what you mean. Fair point. They might have just used the wrong term.

    Though wasn't the recently announced RDR co-op DLC noted as being free? Maybe things have changed in MS policy.

  • JonFE #30 2 years ago

    Money shot FTW!

    /sorry

  • jag10 #31 2 years ago

    erm this should of been done for the main game. holding back the game just for DLC is stupid.

  • dingo75 #32 2 years ago

    That's called a "patch" Remedy!

  • Cjail #33 2 years ago

    @rounds
    If what you saywas true we would have had: Uncharted 2 with upgraded cut-scenes, Mass Effect 1 & 2 DLCs with new graphic, and far more games like Bionic Commando Rearmed!
    It is true that in the past there were "improvements" thanks to DLCs (correction of screen tearing, animation bugs, etc..) but Remedy is saying that, since they have more time, they can come out with a better product.
    With more time every game developer can do that!
    The danger is that with this "improvements" mentality we could have new editions of any game, software, console, program, etc..., just few weeks from their release!
    Edited by 4 at 07/05/10 @ 14:50

  • Stu #34 2 years ago

    9 months of polishing and improved facial animations end up as DLC?

  • tachometer #35 2 years ago

    The new DLC chapter is going to be called "Wake at the Crack of Dawn"

  • Darren #36 2 years ago

    Oh just release the damn game on the PC already, that'll fix the vast majority of the game's technical issues! :p

    /thinks it ironic that Microsoft thought the Xbox 360 was the only platform that would do the game/concept justice

  • jefranklin18 #37 2 years ago

    I do not want to appear a fanboy (I am open about only owning a PS3 and no intention of getting an Xbox as I scarcely have time to play the PS3), but have to ask the question: is this DLC paid for? There is nothing in the article to say whether or not it is, but if it is it could be setting a nasty precedent: release a game and make "fixes".

  • frostcircus #38 2 years ago

    justinsharp is on the right track, I feel

  • iWolf #39 2 years ago

    Bring this out on the PC please : |

  • iWolf #40 2 years ago

    Bring this out on the PC please : |

  • ParanoidZombie #41 2 years ago

    @jefranklin18: the first DLC will be free for those who purchased a new copy.

    http://ww w.eurogamer.net/articles/free-a...

  • kangarootoo #42 2 years ago

    I am deeply touched that a joke about porn has earned me probably the highest positive karma of any post I've ever made :)

  • metalangel #43 2 years ago

    @tachometer: does Alan give Dawn a good looking facial after he's been at her crack? Suppose it's one way to take his mind off Alice (who mewls like a kitten with a broken leg don't you know) and all those wanking bears.

  • dr_faulk #44 2 years ago

    All this article has done was remind me how mind-blowingly awesome Uncharted 2 is, and how it puts games like Alan Wake and its subsequent scoring into perspective.

  • dingo75 #45 2 years ago

    @kangarootoo:

    Funniest thing I read today and made a dull work day better.
    You truely deserved my +1 for that. :)

    Well played mate

  • ronuds #46 2 years ago

    Since when is it not allowed to have free DLC? Certainly wouldn't be the first time.

    And why the hell is this so often compared to Uncharted 2 - because they're two games that are supposed to look good? Otherwise, I see no other similarities other than the fact it was mentioned in the EG review.

  • DoctorFouad #47 2 years ago

    "Although Alan Wake has received mostly positive write-ups, the technology behind Remedy's psychological action-adventure can seem a bit long in the tooth next to heavyweights like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves."

    here we go....

    waiting for the tech analysis of alan wake, especially their shadowing and lighting technology...
    Edited by 1 at 07/05/10 @ 17:26

  • abot #48 2 years ago

    Let this be a lesson to devs who take too long to work on their games. You will end up with a game that is behind the times.

    Rather sad that they have to work on facial animation and technical improvements after 5 years of development.

    Edited by 1 at 07/05/10 @ 23:29

  • malmer #49 2 years ago

    Uncharted 2 might have been great looking and fun to play, but it is still just bubble gum and popcorn. There really wasn't anything in there, story wise, that was anything more meaty, such as Bioshock, and (I suspect) Alan Wake. Not saying I didn't enjoy it, but it was never really memorable. So looking forward to the 14th...

  • Farzlepot #50 2 years ago

    I'm not sure where Uncharted 2 keeps coming from in the never-ending 'Wake Whine-athon'. Comparing these two, to me at least, seems akin to comparing Viva Pinata with Halo 3.

  • TRUTH #51 2 years ago

    Uncharted 2 is great looking game, but it's easier to process graphics to this standard due to what the liner/fixed/non open/scripted world, then to process graphics to AC2 world while still looking like UC2,. AC2 which world is a lot more open and complex, much more populated, has a open sandbox approach, much bigger world etc etc...Though AC2 (PS3) does not have the detail as in UC 2; it is a bigger and more complex game in all areas. This reason it may not look as detailed!...This also where AW is also chucking around some very complex effects, shadows, lighting, physics as mentioned in other reviews.

    The point it is the more complex the camera, particle effects, physics, openness, interaction, sandbox, textures, AI, characters onscreen etc...the game will start to look less attractive, the less it has the better the game starts to look. UC 2 is gorgeous - but I still say games like GTA IV , AC 2, and also Red Dead Redemption (looking particularly gorgeous and complex) are doing more beneath the bonnet of the console rather then eye candy as in UC2.
    Edited by 2 at 09/05/10 @ 17:10