Thursday, March 6th, 2014 Posted by Jim Thacker

Faceware launches Indie Facial Mocap Package


Faceware’s GDC 2014 demo reel. The company has launched a new bundle deal cutting $700 off the price of the Lite versions of its facial mocap software and its GoPro head-mounted camera, to coincide with the show.

Faceware Technologies has launched the Indie Facial Mocap Package: a bundle deal on the new Lite versions of its Analyzer and Retargeter facial-capture software, and its GoPro head-mounted camera kit.

The kit costs $2,995: a saving of $700 over buying the components individually, according to Faceware. (The website doesn’t list a price for the GoPro, so we don’t know if that’s based on a specific hardware configuration).

The Pro edition of Analyzer has also been updated to improve its batch capabilities; and there is now a new HD option for Faceware’s professional head-mounted camera system. Full details below.

PRESS RELEASE (Excerpts)
Faceware Technologies, the leading innovator and most experienced provider of markerless 3D facial motion capture solutions, today announced that it has launched a new package in its Facial Mocap Professional Product Line targeted at independent and mobile game developers and artists. Called the “Indie Facial Mocap Package”, it includes the lite versions of Faceware’s software, Analyzer™ and Retargeter™, and a GoPro® Headcam facial performance capture kit. In addition, Faceware has also updated its Pro Facial Mocap Package with enhancements to Faceware Analyzer 2.0™ Pro and a new HD Headcam Pro system. The entire suite of new products will be on display in Faceware’s booth at GDC 2014: Booth 735.

Faceware is best known for its professional tools, which have been used in Academy Award-winning movies such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and top-grossing video games such as Grand Theft Auto III-V, Red Dead Redemption, Killzone:Shadow Fall, NBA 2K10-2K14, Sleeping Dogs, Crysis 2 and 3, and Halo: Reach. With the launch of the Indie Faceware Mocap Package, Faceware is bringing its powerful tools to a rapidly growing segment of the video game market: developers of mobile and indie games.

The Faceware Indie Facial Mocap Package is geared towards budget-conscious development teams that still demand a superior level of realism in their characters as well as animation teams seeking their own internal performance capture solution. It includes all the technology users need for facial performance capture and animation: a lightweight and performance-enabling GoPro Headcam Kit, which includes a GoPro® Hero3+ Black camera mounted in front of an actors’ face with Faceware’s industry-leading design.

The facial performance capture kit also includes a one-size-fits-all helmet and a variety of camera-mounting options; a license of Analyzer 2.0 Lite, which allows users to automatically extract facial movements from any video source; and a license of Retargeter 4.0 Lite, which allows users to automatically apply/solve video performances quickly onto their digital characters. The entire Faceware Indie Facial Mocap Package can be purchased for $2,995, which is a $700 savings over the separate purchase of all tools in the package.

Upgrades to professional products
Faceware has also launched upgrades to two products in its Professional Product Line: the ProHD Headcam and Faceware Analyzer Pro.

The HD Headcam Pro system upgrades the current Professional Headcam system with a new option for an HD camera head with 1080p30 or 720p60 HD-SDI output and simultaneous 480i 29.97fps SD composite output. Other enhancements include polished fiberglass helmets, slimmer belt systems, and an optional zero-frame delay HD wireless system.

Faceware Analyzer Pro now includes the features of batch/script capability and export landmark positions, which gives users the ability to export the X,Y positions of the landmark (Marker) positions and is great for quality control, shader integration, and/or facial research and study.

Visit Faceware Technologies online