Capcom showed in the “Resident Evil” seriesHyper-realistic character creation technologyOnce again sparked heated discussion among the player community. Recently, fans have displayed five classic female characters, including Ada Wong, Ashley, Jill, Claire, and the new character Grace Ashcroft from “Evil Dead: Requiem”, alongside their real-life facial scan models. The similarity is so high that netizens say “can’t tell the difference between games and reality.”
Comparison of five classic female characters and their face models
The comparison picture that sparked heated discussion this time covers the most representative female characters in the “Castle of Evil” series:
| game character | Appearance works | role positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Ada Wong | RE2/RE4 remake, etc. | Mysterious agent, popular character in the series |
| Ashley Graham | RE4 Remastered Edition | The daughter of the President of the United States, the core character of RE4 |
| Jill Valentine | RE3 Remastered Edition | Member of S.T.A.R.S., series veteran character |
| Claire Redfield | RE2 Remastered Edition | Sister of Chris, popular heroine |
| Grace Ashcroft | RE9: Requiem | New characters, new series unveiled |
These comparison pictures show how Capcom accurately transformed the facial features, expression details and even temperament of real actors into virtual characters in the game. Players were surprised to find that the facial contours, facial features proportions and even subtle skin textures of the game characters were surprisingly similar to the real face models.
The combination of RE Engine and photogrammetry technology
Capcom has begun to introduce advanced facial capture and reconstruction technology on a large scale since “Castle of Evil 7”. The combination of these technologies has created today’s stunning visual effects:
Photogrammetry
This is a technology that shoots live actors from multiple angles and then uses professional software to reconstruct precise 3D facial structures. Photogrammetry can capture facial details that are difficult to detect with the naked eye, including skin pores, fine lines, scars and other subtle features.
3D facial scanning technology
Capcom uses high-precision 3D scanning equipment to accurately transplant the facial structure, skin texture and even subtle expressions of real actors into virtual characters. This technology ensures that characters remain realistic in both static and dynamic expressions.
RE Engine game engine
Capcom’s self-developed RE Engine provides powerful graphics performance and supports high-precision character rendering, advanced light and shadow effects, and material performance. It is the technical foundation of this engine that allows the data obtained from photogrammetry to be perfectly presented in the game.
Technology evolution timeline
Capcom’s facial capture technology continues to evolve and improve:
The first large-scale introduction of photogrammetry and facial scanning technology, laying the foundation for RE Engine’s realistic style
With the advancement of technology, the facial expressions of Claire and other characters have been greatly improved, arousing players’ amazement.
Continuous optimization of facial animation and expression capture makes Jill’s character more vivid
Further improving the technical level, Ada Wang and Ashley’s facial performance reaches new heights
Using the latest technology, the new character Grace Ashcroft will demonstrate Capcom’s current highest level.
Player and industry reactions
This wave of face model comparison pictures has sparked heated discussions on social platforms such as Reddit and Facebook. Players’ reactions are mainly concentrated in the following aspects:
- Praise for technological evolution: Many netizens said they “can’t tell the difference between games and reality” and expressed their admiration for Capcom’s technical strength.
- Definitely Capcom’s skill: Players believe that Capcom is “way ahead” of other game developers in creating hyper-realistic characters.
- Comparison with major European and American manufacturers: Some players compare the technical routes of Capcom with those of major European and American manufacturers, and believe that this ultimate reproduction of “people” makes it difficult for “Resident Evil” to be surpassed in terms of creating a terrifying atmosphere and embodying emotions.
The YouTube channel “Residence of Evil” has also produced several related videos that provide in-depth analysis of Capcom’s character modeling technology.
The design concept of separating face models and voice actors
Capcom adopted the design strategy of “separating face models and voice actors” in character production. Taking Ashley as an example, the face of the game character is based on a scan of a real person, but the dubbing is done by a professional voice actor. The advantages of this approach are:
- Visually obtain the most realistic and recognizable facial features
- In terms of voice performance, you can choose professional dubbing that best suits the character’s temperament.
- Different language versions can be dubbed locally without affecting the appearance of the characters.
point of view
The key to why Capcom’s facial capture technology stands out in the industry lies in its ultimate pursuit of “realism” and “aesthetics.” Unlike some European and American manufacturers who prefer DEI politically correct character designs, Capcom has chosen a realistic route based on scans of real handsome men and beauties. This choice is in perfect line with the current aesthetic values of normal players. With the rise of applications such as virtual idols and digital clones, Capcom’s technology accumulation may find new value in fields other than games.
Source: KOCPC Chinese