Autonomous Digital Actors: The Illusion of Life Revisited

Procedural - the latest games industry buzzword. Mainly applied to content generation like artwork and sound, there are many other applications that are being explored as well, such as animation. This demo was very interesting, especially from a technical standpoint, as CTO Ken Perlin went through the various stages of the technology's design. The ultimate goal is a character that you can "direct" much as you would a real actor.

Game Data

The future of computer games and animated films is not in spaceships or dragons or laser death rays, but rather in the mysteries of the human heart. Actor Machine is pioneering the field of ADA (Autonomous Digital Actors) by developing technologies that allow the creation and directing of emotive digital actors that can be used in linear animation (film/pre-visualization), games, virtual worlds, simulations or live (real time) performances. We will show some of the work towards breathing life into interactive characters. These techniques may point the way to a new era where cinema intersects with interactive narrative and on-line community. These techniques/technologies will also be available for use with linear animation using our Maya/Max plug-in (available May '08)

Company: Actor Machine, LLC
Release Dates:
- May 2008 for Movement Maya/Max Plug-in
- Summer/Fall 2008 for Gesture Maya/Max Plug-in
- Winter 2008 For Full Scripting Application and Core Engine
Platform(s): All
Total Development Time: 10 years of thought, 4 years seriously
Fun Fact: In 1968 alone, 8 tons of paper were wasted by the US Post office on perforations for Postage Stamps.

Video Coverage

The Princess Bride Game