Faceware provided the awesome VR facial animations for Resident Evil 7 and Paranormal Activity VR, they also had dinosaurs and a tiny MR. T at their GDC booth.

Faceware is the leading facial animation solution provider for clients such as Double Negative, Digital Domain, Blur Studios, Activision-Blizzard, Rockstar Games, Microsoft, 2K Sports, Electronic Arts, Ubisoft, Sega, Sony, Bethesda, Motion Theory and Moving Picture Company. Faceware’s product consists of the Faceware GoPro and Pro HD Headcam and Tripod Capture Systems; Faceware Analyzer, which allows clients to analyze and process their own performance videos; Faceware Retargeter, an Autodesk plugin which allows users to create facial motion capture data at a much faster rate than traditional methods; and Faceware Live, the real-time facial capture and animation solution

They also had a GDC booth filled with a tiny Mr T and Dinosaurs. Seriously It felt like I just walked into an acid trip. Check out my interview with the Faceware team at GDC and seriously check out the Faceware demo reel, this team is perhaps one of the most valuable resources in gaming today and very under the everyday gamer radar.

They are responsible for some of the best faces in gaming today including the "how the hell did they pull this off on this hardware" hit for PSVR, Resident Evil 7.

The team also recently worked on the facial animations for the upcoming Paranormal Activity VR game. 

"We were truly lucky to have Faceware as a partner on Paranormal Activity:The Lost Soul, especially as it was our first experience using the technology,” said Bradan Dotson, Production Manager on the new Paranormal Activity VR game. “The team came in and supported us throughout the mo-cap process, guiding us through exceptionally quick and seamless setup process. From that point on Faceware was always available to answer any questions we had – they were a wealth of knowledge.

Our FAV #PAVRGAME reaction video EVER!!! pic.twitter.com/KPAF3pMa4E

— PAVRGAME (@pavrgame) December 31, 2016

Faceware’s solutions have been used across a wide variety of digital entertainment products, from NBA 2K titles to the latest in the Call of Duty franchise, each time ensuring that the digital faces we see on screen feel completely convincing.
 

CatsAndVR.com

Resident Evil® 7 biohazard is out now for Playstation VR

Resident Evil® 7 biohazard is now available both digitally and at retail across North America and Europe. This latest entry in the renowned Resident Evil® series, which has sold over 71 million units worldwide to date, is available on PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system (the full game is also available to play via the included optional PlayStation®VR Mode), Xbox One and Windows PC (Steam and Windows Store). The Resident Evil series which first coined the “survival horror” term some twenty years ago, innovates the genre yet again as Resident Evil 7 biohazard delivers an incredibly realistic horror experience updated with modern gameplay systems.

Resident Evil 7 biohazard introduces players to Ethan Winters, who has been led to Dulvey, Louisiana in search of his missing wife. There he comes upon a sinister and supposedly abandoned plantation. Upon entering the property it becomes clear that there are secrets to unveil and all is not as it seems. Ethan soon encounters the mysterious Baker family, who have been missing from the area for some time. Will Ethan ever be reunited with his wife? Players will unfold all the secrets behind the mysterious plot as they embark on this truly terrifying and unpredictable survival horror experience.

Resident Evil 7 biohazard features the signature explorative and atmospheric gameplay from the critically acclaimed series that fans across the world have loved for years. The innovative and immersive horror gameplay delivers a disturbingly realistic experience that challenges players to face untold fears, up close and personal, thanks to the dramatic shift to first person view. Powered by Capcom’s original RE Engine and working in tandem with industry leading audio and visual technologies, Resident Evil 7 biohazard promises to define the next era in horror entertainment.

Capcom will continue to support the release of Resident Evil 7 biohazard after launch with optional downloadable content. Available shortly after launch, Banned Footage Vol. 1 and Banned Footage Vol. 2 will each deliver two further scenarios and an extra bonus mode for players to dive even deeper into the terrifying game world. Following those, an additional story episode, Not a Hero, will be released for free to all players in spring 2017 and will introduce players to a new separate storyline away from the mysterious drama they’ve already unveiled with Ethan Winters. The Banned Footage Vol. 1 and Banned Footage Vol. 2 content, along with an additional downloadable story episode are available via the Season Pass and deluxe editions of the game. These downloadable contents will also be available for purchase separately with more details to be shared soon.

Capcom picks up with Resident Evil 7(in VR!) where Konami dropped the ball with Silent Hills.

Seems like it was just yesterday we were treated to the potential hellish wonder that would have been the Silent Hill collaboration between Hideo Kojima and Guillermo Del Toro. Then Konami decided to pull a Freddy Kruger and pull the plug, in turn also distancing itself from prolific game visionary Hideo Kojima. While Kojima has bounced back and taken his talents to Sony Beach, Konami really did not have much to offer at E3.

Resident Evil 7 in VR made me realize that Capcom noticed that Konami dropped the ball big time with Silent Hill. During the Playstation E3 the shock and awe of the audience was reminiscent of when fans first realized that P.T. was a trailer for Silent Hills. Capcom's own Resident Evil franchise has lost some of its's horror luster and has not really taken a major step to reclaim the survival horror throne it once held with a grip of fear. Capcom took notice of the fan response to thing such as Amnesia, Outlast, and P.T. and has redesigned Resident Evil in that light. 

Fear comes home again when Resident Evil 7 biohazard releases on PlayStation 4 (fully compatible with PlayStation VR Mode) on January 24, 2017. 

The Playstation VR demo begins in an old farmhouse with the goal of ESCAPE! This in away is very similar to the set up to P.T, the Kojima/Del Toro Silent Film trailer. The uneasiness continues with the elements of the environment.  A pot of spoiling stew, a raven stuffed into a microwave, rotting dolls and, mysteriously, unpleasant mannequins are just a few of the effective horror tropes used to create tension. 

The trope to be used in the demo is the old VHS is scary house one. Where you pop the tape in and realize how fucked you really are based on what has happened before.

Welcome to the fantastic world of survival horror now in VR! I have been hearing a lot of people coming away from E3 saying they are super excited for RE:7 but would never play it entirely in VR. Mission accomplished Capcom, you have once again brought the fear of the unknown back into survival horror gaming. 

Resident Evil 7 hits PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One on Jan. 24, 2017. It will be available for PS VR, no word on any ports to Oculus or Project Scorpio yet. 

CatsAndVR.com

Partnering with companies like Capcom, Konami, and VRstudios, Hub Zone looks to be an amazing Video Game destination.

With the recently revealed details of Resident Evil: Bio Terror, CatsAndVR.com is very excited about Hub Zero. In the ever-evolving entertainment industry, Hub Zero introduces a new dimension of electronic gaming by inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a vibrant virtual environment and delve into a world of their favorite gaming characters and 'Live the Game'. Several rides will be powered by artificial intelligence and feature real-time engines to provide an unmatched interactive and non-predictive gaming experience. Hub Zero has made some great strategic partnerships with companies including Konami, Capcom, and VRstudios.

Not much is available about Resident Evil-Bio Terror but check out VRstudios for a great example of some total immersive zombie action. VRstudios out of Seattle, WA recently announced an exclusive partnership with Hub Zero.

“VRstudios is excited to be selected by Meraas for Hub Zero, a
monumental milestone for the VR industry and our company’s first installation in
the Middle East,” said Charles Herrick, chief executive officer and company founder.
“When many VR companies are only talking about the possibilities of VR, we are
delivering to enterprise customers around the world. It is rewarding to see how our
distinct capabilities are recognized and valued by world-class companies, such as
Meraas.”

Jean Marc Bled, general manager, Leisure & Entertainment at Meraas, said, “We are
proud to partner with such a revolutionary VR leader to provide the best interactive
and immersive VR experiences to our visitors of all ages for a fun-filled day out
where they can relive some of their most thrilling fantasies.”

Some of the additional photos that we have seen from the Middle East Film & Comic Con have left us excited about what additional experiences may be coming to Hub Zero.

Hopefully CatsAndVR.com can get an invite to Dubai to check out Hub Zero. 

Cats And VR