We are currently looking into using motion cature data for our character animations since it looks so much better. We have however no experience in using mocap data before. And we are wondering what option would be best. Would it be cheaper to buy or rent mocap equipment and record the animations yourself rather than buying animation data directly? What kind of price range are we talking here? What do you think the quality decrease would be if we would record the data ourselves? We need motions for action game where the characters swing melee weapons, no real ninja moves are needed. We are programmers not actors tough, but hey we watch action movies. ;-) The question is if the quality decrease would be noticable. I know that when recording dialogs amatures really don't stand a chance compared to real actors, im thinking this case may be similiar. Purchasing the equipment would probebly be best tough, since we can use it for next title also if this one is a sucsess. And if we are to buy it, and we can't record the animations ourself, then we need to hire an actor aswell, which is another expense. But it all depends on the price tag. So if anyone have any info on diffrent kinds of equipment and their price, or where you could rent one (in europe/sweden). Any general info on what you should thing about when starting to use mocap would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!

We recently used Centroid motion capture for all the in game animation for Legion Arena (www.slitherine.com). The price included the actor/stuntman, the suits, the cameras, the technicians for the day, insurance - basically everything.

It also included post production work to get the data into a format it could be used. There are all sorts of touch ups required on raw motion capture data that can take a long time to fix, so beware of doing it yourself. They even made it fit our skeletons.

I have no idea how much hiring the equipment is, but we found paying someone else to do it well worth while. It was an investment but it saved a load of animation time for the artist and also looked a lot better.

Iain McNeil
Director
Slitherine Software

www.slitherine.com

For our medical work we use Ascension(pops) motion capture equipment. I believe for 4 capture points the equipment costs about £3-4k.

Can't comment on cost, but for quality you don't want to do it yourself IMO. I'd recommend a cheap alternative is to find someone you know who does martial arts. Through them pay the leader of their school, or someone similarly skilled, a low rate for a hour or two's work.

Quote: Original post by peter_b
Would it be cheaper to buy or rent mocap equipment and record the animations yourself rather than buying animation data directly? What kind of price range are we talking here?

Renting the equipment isn't as good as having a mocap studio done the job. You need to know how programs and technical side works. Mocap studios have the place ready for capture and usually they have a wide range of actors to do the job. And they clean the data for the same price. Raw mocap data isn't suitable for animation as it is, usually there are some small things to repair and for that you would also need programs (like motionbuilder). So I wouldn't recommend renting the equipment.

About prices, I don't know how much it costs to rent a mocap system, but I know how much it costs to do it in a studio. I am in Laplandstudio in Finland and here one day costs 2950 euro, 5 days 12000 euro. For that money you get the actor or actors (we have several different actors with different skills), two technicians to assist you and to do the technical side, and data cleaning. If you are interested you can take a look at www.laplandstudio.com.