Ubisoft Plays To Win With Motion Capture From Vicon

Author: OMG

Oxford, 9 February 2006 - Vicon, a leading developer of motion capture systems and part of the OMG group, today announced the sale of a 24-camera system to leading international game producer Ubisoft.

The Vicon MX40 system will be installed in the Montreal studio of Ubisoft, publisher and distributor of best-selling games franchises such as Myst, Prince of Persia, Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell, Rainbow Six, Ghost Recon, and more.

Using Vicon MX40 keeps the studio's animation quality consistent and removes the pressures of building and fine-tuning each and every movement by hand. "Next-gen games can handle more animation and more diversity in style of animation, so motion capture has practically become a production requirement for all games being produced for these consoles," commented Claude Comeau, Motion Capture Technical Director, Ubisoft. "We selected Vicon MX40 as our motion capture solution because the quality of the data is excellent. We got vastly superior results out of Vicon when compared with other systems and the accurate, intuitive labeling is a huge time saver."

Ubisoft's motion capture pipeline takes Vicon iQ-generated performance data directly into Alias Motion Builder, then employs proprietary scripts to get motion files into either 3ds Max for game-play animation or Softimage XSI for cinematics. The type of capture produced at the studio includes straight performance, combat and action moves along with multiple character interactions.

Ubisoft is also looking toward the future with extensive R&D into complete performance capture comprising full hands, face and body, and is currently evaluating different facial mapping solutions to make facial capture more practical for gaming applications. The company's new VICON system is already being put to use on forthcoming titles Far Cry Instincts Next Chapter and Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Critical Hour.

About Ubisoft

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through its strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 21 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge videogame titles to consumers. Ubisoft generated revenue of 538 million for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, an increase of 8 percent over the previous fiscal year at constant exchange rates. To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com.

About OMG

OMG plc (LSE: OMG) is the global leader in the three-dimensional capture and analysis of movement, providing tools and services for life science, entertainment and engineering applications. Based in Oxford UK, California USA and Colorado USA, OMG has customers in over 35 countries and is listed on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange. The group trades through a number of operating subsidiaries in the name of Vicon, 2d3 and House of Moves in the UK and USA, and through a network of distributors in other major countries.

Vicon provides professionals with the latest tools to capture accurately three-dimensional human motion for research, medicine, sport, engineering, game development, broadcast and film. 2d3 produces innovative visual geometry software deriving 3D data from moving images. House of Moves is the world's most experienced motion capture service studio, producing high quality motion capture data for entertainment production companies.

For more information about OMG, or its subsidiaries, visit www.omg3d.com, www.viconpeak.com, www.2d3.com, or www.moves.com

Vicon and Vicon iQ are trademarks of OMG plc. Academy Award is a trade or servicemark of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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