Blizzard Cinematic Department.

So I found out that Blizzard has its own CGI department.

Some of the guys there have worked on Hollywood movies before moving to Blizzard.

No wonder Blizzard CGs are comparable to the visual effects used in big budget films.

1) Note that Blizzard prefers key-framed animation than motion capture.

2) Yes, all the cinematics in Sc2,WoW,Wc3 are mostly done without motion capture.

3) Motion Capture is faster but according to PIXAR and some Blizzard CG guys, it's not allowing the animators to really show their talents.

4) The animators at Blizzard are so good that their animations are better than most motion-captured sequences.

5) Visually, their cinematics are the best in the industry (games). Yes FF XIII CGs can't compete with Lich King CG(2008) in terms of graphics. Let alone the Upcoming Cataclysm CG. Just compare the texture, details, polygons of FF XIII CG to any recent Blizzard CG.

6) Deathwing will be as big as a city in the CG. (David Loung-Blizzard VFX compositor/one of)

Yes Blizzards cinematics are amazing! I mean look at what they did 10 years ago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxFyFJfHiBk

The Diablo and Warcraft cinematics were incredible back then, and although some other developers make good cinematics nowadays, I don't think they compare to Blizzards. It's not just about how pretty it looks, it's the sounds and atmosphere aswell.

Yes Blizzards cinematics are amazing! I mean look at what they did 10 years ago http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxFyFJfHiBk

The Diablo and Warcraft cinematics were incredible back then, and although some other developers make good cinematics nowadays, I don't think they compare to Blizzards. It's not just about how pretty it looks, it's the sounds and atmosphere aswell.

spittis

it's funny because they've always had exceptional cgi in their games but the actual ingame engines weren't that great. more or less because their games have that cartoony style and they seem more interested in making graphics for games that run on the majority of systems.

the sys. req. for blizz games are always pretty low.

The Blizzard cinematic department is one of the finest in the world, along with Blur Studios, DIGIC, Robot (Capcom) and the one from Square-Enix (the old Square Pictures studio).

Definitively is much better than the CG department from Namco or Team Ninja, but I think that Blizzard top their summit at the Wrath Of The Lich King intro; I was far more amazed by the Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer from Square -Enix than by any Starcraft II cinematic. Blur and DIGIC are also amazing (DoW and Mark Of Chaos). So are amazing? Yes. In the top 5? Yes. The best of the best? Not for me, currently.

I must also add that the Diablo III cinematic was weak: good technical level, but in terms of music and atmosphere failed to give chills.

it's funny because they've always had exceptional cgi in their games but the actual ingame engines weren't that great. more or less because their games have that cartoony style and they seem more interested in making graphics for games that run on the majority of systems.

the sys. req. for blizz games are always pretty low.

Deano

Well you can't argue with their stratergy. They sell millions of copies of their games, while Crysis didn't sell that much, because many people couldn't run it...

[QUOTE="Deano"]

it's funny because they've always had exceptional cgi in their games but the actual ingame engines weren't that great. more or less because their games have that cartoony style and they seem more interested in making graphics for games that run on the majority of systems.

the sys. req. for blizz games are always pretty low.

Urworstnhtmare

Well you can't argue with their stratergy. They sell millions of copies of their games, while Crysis didn't sell that much, because many people couldn't run it...

I'm sure quite a few folks could run Crysis, but not at high settings. This causes them to say they can't run it even though they haven't tried low or medium. :|

But it's an entusiast/benchmark game, you can't really compare it to a program designed for low-end computers in mind.

5) Visually, their cinematics are the best in the industry (games). Yes FF XIII CGs can't compete with Lich King CG(2008) in terms of graphics. Let alone the Upcoming Cataclysm CG. Just compare the texture, details, polygons of FF XIII CG to any recent Blizzard CG.

Ravenchrome

I'd completely agree with you five years ago. In the last couple of years there have been some really good trailers, the equal of any blizzard trailer, released by several developers that deserve credit where it's due. Here's some just in the last year alone that are the equal to anything seen in SCII or WoW.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

Napoleon Total War

Assassins Creed II

Dragon Age II

You know, also, I think it's mostly that they don't have a lot of competition. Most games now seem to use in game graphics for their trailers as the visual fidelity for most games has reached a point to where it's not necessary to product high budget and time consuming CGI trailers. Red Orchestra 2 is an excellent example of a great trailer made using in game graphics. I could name 15 more like RO2 that have been released in the last 3 months alone.

Don't get me wrong I love Blizzards CGI, but I think the other devs have really picked up some slack in the last few years and have mades some really amazing, and totally awesome, trailers.

The Blizzard cinematic department is one of the finest in the world, along with Blur Studios, DIGIC, Robot (Capcom) and the one from Square-Enix (the old Square Pictures studio).

Definitively is much better than the CG department from Namco or Team Ninja, but I think that Blizzard top their summit at the Wrath Of The Lich King intro; I was far more amazed by the Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer from Square -Enix than by any Starcraft II cinematic. Blur and DIGIC are also amazing (DoW and Mark Of Chaos). So are amazing? Yes. In the top 5? Yes. The best of the best? Not for me, currently.

I must also add that the Diablo III cinematic was weak: good technical level, but in terms of music and atmosphere failed to give chills.

Ondoval

[QUOTE="Ondoval"]

The Blizzard cinematic department is one of the finest in the world, along with Blur Studios, DIGIC, Robot (Capcom) and the one from Square-Enix (the old Square Pictures studio).

Definitively is much better than the CG department from Namco or Team Ninja, but I think that Blizzard top their summit at the Wrath Of The Lich King intro; I was far more amazed by the Deus Ex: Human Revolution trailer from Square -Enix than by any Starcraft II cinematic. Blur and DIGIC are also amazing (DoW and Mark Of Chaos). So are amazing? Yes. In the top 5? Yes. The best of the best? Not for me, currently.

I must also add that the Diablo III cinematic was weak: good technical level, but in terms of music and atmosphere failed to give chills.

therancors

Visual Works is Japanese, Wikipedia doesn't have more info, but I suspect that is related to the internal SE CGI departments in some way. The people design and the weapons and mechas are distinctively similar to the kind of stuff from oriental developers.

Are you sure they don't use motion-capture? Cuz that cinematic at the end of WC3:TFT seemed pretty advanced for it's time.

Are you sure they don't use motion-capture? Cuz that cinematic at the end of WC3:TFT seemed pretty advanced for it's time.

coreybg

[QUOTE="Ravenchrome"]

5) Visually, their cinematics are the best in the industry (games). Yes FF XIII CGs can't compete with Lich King CG(2008) in terms of graphics. Let alone the Upcoming Cataclysm CG. Just compare the texture, details, polygons of FF XIII CG to any recent Blizzard CG.

soliderPp

I'd completely agree with you five years ago. In the last couple of years there have been some really good trailers, the equal of any blizzard trailer, released by several developers that deserve credit where it's due. Here's some just in the last year alone that are the equal to anything seen in SCII or WoW.

Star Wars: The Old Republic

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II

Napoleon Total War

Assassins Creed II

Dragon Age II

You know, also, I think it's mostly that they don't have a lot of competition. Most games now seem to use in game graphics for their trailers as the visual fidelity for most games has reached a point to where it's not necessary to product high budget and time consuming CGI trailers. Red Orchestra 2 is an excellent example of a great trailer made using in game graphics. I could name 15 more like RO2 that have been released in the last 3 months alone.

Don't get me wrong I love Blizzards CGI, but I think the other devs have really picked up some slack in the last few years and have mades some really amazing, and totally awesome, trailers.

2) I mean graphics wise, they are not as good. I mean Graphics, subtlety in animations, attention to details is not as great if you look closely.

So I found out that Blizzard has its own CGI department.

Some of the guys there have worked on Hollywood movies before moving to Blizzard.

No wonder Blizzard CGs are comparable to the visual effects used in big budget films.

1) Note that Blizzard prefers key-framed animation than motion capture.

2) Yes, all the cinematics in Sc2,WoW,Wc3 are mostly done without motion capture.

3) Motion Capture is faster but according to PIXAR and some Blizzard CG guys, it's not allowing the animators to really show their talents.

4) The animators at Blizzard are so good that their animations are better than most motion-captured sequences.

5) Visually, their cinematics are the best in the industry (games). Yes FF XIII CGs can't compete with Lich King CG(2008) in terms of graphics. Let alone the Upcoming Cataclysm CG. Just compare the texture, details, polygons of FF XIII CG to any recent Blizzard CG.

6) Deathwing will be as big as a city in the CG. (David Loung-Blizzard VFX compositor/one of)

Ravenchrome

[QUOTE="Ravenchrome"]

So I found out that Blizzard has its own CGI department.

Some of the guys there have worked on Hollywood movies before moving to Blizzard.

No wonder Blizzard CGs are comparable to the visual effects used in big budget films.

1) Note that Blizzard prefers key-framed animation than motion capture.

2) Yes, all the cinematics in Sc2,WoW,Wc3 are mostly done without motion capture.

3) Motion Capture is faster but according to PIXAR and some Blizzard CG guys, it's not allowing the animators to really show their talents.

4) The animators at Blizzard are so good that their animations are better than most motion-captured sequences.

5) Visually, their cinematics are the best in the industry (games). Yes FF XIII CGs can't compete with Lich King CG(2008) in terms of graphics. Let alone the Upcoming Cataclysm CG. Just compare the texture, details, polygons of FF XIII CG to any recent Blizzard CG.

6) Deathwing will be as big as a city in the CG. (David Loung-Blizzard VFX compositor/one of)

FelipeInside

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="Ravenchrome"]

So I found out that Blizzard has its own CGI department.

Some of the guys there have worked on Hollywood movies before moving to Blizzard.

No wonder Blizzard CGs are comparable to the visual effects used in big budget films.

1) Note that Blizzard prefers key-framed animation than motion capture.

2) Yes, all the cinematics in Sc2,WoW,Wc3 are mostly done without motion capture.

3) Motion Capture is faster but according to PIXAR and some Blizzard CG guys, it's not allowing the animators to really show their talents.

4) The animators at Blizzard are so good that their animations are better than most motion-captured sequences.

5) Visually, their cinematics are the best in the industry (games). Yes FF XIII CGs can't compete with Lich King CG(2008) in terms of graphics. Let alone the Upcoming Cataclysm CG. Just compare the texture, details, polygons of FF XIII CG to any recent Blizzard CG.

6) Deathwing will be as big as a city in the CG. (David Loung-Blizzard VFX compositor/one of)

Ravenchrome

[QUOTE="Ravenchrome"]

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"] With all the money from WoW they must have bought/built a CG Department. I remember an interview years ago with a Blizzard developer and he stated that all CGI Movies were made by an EXTERNAL company...FelipeInside

All of their cinematics were done internally since the good ol Warcraft 1&2 days.

Starcraft 2 cinematics

[QUOTE="FelipeInside"][QUOTE="Ravenchrome"] No. They have had an internal CG department since Starcraft. I think he refers to the WoW movie in production.

LordAinav

All of their cinematics were done internally since the good ol Warcraft 1&2 days.

Starcraft 2 cinematics