The uncanny valley
- Thread starter Vault101
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I don't have that much problem with the way they look, but I'm bothered by how realistic-looking characters interact with their environment.
Like, when they pick up something their hand just kinda makes this motion towards it, or when they fall down they go partly through ground. The same goes for environment, you see a patch of tall grass, but when you walk to it you discover it's a wall.
It doesn't bother me when the style and characters don't look so realistic, but with almost human-looking models it just sticks out to me.
Like, when they pick up something their hand just kinda makes this motion towards it, or when they fall down they go partly through ground. The same goes for environment, you see a patch of tall grass, but when you walk to it you discover it's a wall.
It doesn't bother me when the style and characters don't look so realistic, but with almost human-looking models it just sticks out to me.
Bethesda sucks at creating natural NPCs. If you want to see similar environments/aesthetics with drastically superior NPC-environment interaction, look at Metro 2033 and Risen. In both games, characters appear very natural because they act appropriately within the context of their surroundings. No one is standing completely still doing absolutely nothing in the middle of a room waiting for the player to give his/her life meaning.
Generally I don't tend to notice it quite as much, there's only a couple of recent examples that I can think of. Bethesda's NPCs, but that's already been mentioned. It still freaks the fuck out of me on Oblivion where NPCs just stare at you while they're talking to you. Also Miranda from Mass Effect 2. She's meant to be based off an australian actor, who also does the voice acting for her, however it just hasn't translated well into the game. That face. It just, bugs me to no end. It just looks wrong.
I've gotten used to it. Even the Bethesda faces don't bother me anymore.
I consider it someting that comes with the territory.
I consider it someting that comes with the territory.
'Stop you have violated the law, now pay the court a fine or serve your sentence... your stolen goods are now forfeit.'
Yeah that game had some creepy moments...
Yeah that game had some creepy moments...
"Ahh, Grey Warden, I carry important news for you! An old Warden stronghold is under siege and 'tis imperative that you investigate at once!"
"You will? Excellent, excellent. Ahh...sire, it appears that thy account does not contain the necessary information to undertake this perilous adventure. Allow me to direct you to the marketplace where you can obtain such precious knowledge."
"OK...so your MasterCard's expiration date is when?"
"You will? Excellent, excellent. Ahh...sire, it appears that thy account does not contain the necessary information to undertake this perilous adventure. Allow me to direct you to the marketplace where you can obtain such precious knowledge."
"OK...so your MasterCard's expiration date is when?"
Personally, I find make-up ads more disturbing than video games, but yeah...go for the cartoony route, you haven't got it wrong on purpose, you meant to do that.
Thank god they're doing away with the lock on during dialog completely in Skyrim.Unknower said:
This. Bethesda's engine for people is just odd. They look fine from a distance, if a bit stiff. I mostly blame the animators here more than the modellers and artists though. When you actually talk to them, uncanny valley screams horribly. The soulless eyes! It seriously creeps me out a bit. Especially if any shadow is cast over their face, they eyes blacken with a small white speck in them. As I said though, I mostly blame the animators as screenshots that capture this are actually hard to come by. I do think that texture artist have a hand in helping these horrible NPCs creep me out though. Sometimes things that shouldn't be shiny, are.Sacman said:
Cannot un-see! Damn. I can never play it again...Penguinness said:Yup.FieryTrainwreck said:
Dare from Halo ODST had the manliest chin, that bothered me:
Personally, I'm only really bothered in certain cases. For example, the graphics in ME2 were great, all except for mouths. I dunno why, but that bothered me.
If i do notice anything, it tends to be in the facial expressions on the character, particularly the eyes. The voice acting can be great, but if the face doesn't sync up, then you're entering the territory of the Uncanny Valley.