Cygames Opens Osaka Motion Capture Studio to External Developers and Animation Companies

Cygames has announced that its Osaka motion-capture studio is now available for use by external game developers and animation production companies. The service officially began on November 2 and represents an expansion of the publisher's technology operations beyond its own productions. The facility features a capture area measuring approximately ten metres by fourteen metres with a height of six metres.

It is equipped with 168 optical cameras designed to record detailed human movement for three-dimensional animation. Additional facilities include projection-mapping technology intended to improve production efficiency and arrangements for supplying professional performers. Cygames previously used the studio for several internal projects and is now making the technology available to other companies requiring sophisticated character animation.

Motion capture plays an increasingly important role in mobile game development as smartphones become capable of displaying more elaborate three-dimensional characters and cinematic sequences. However, high-quality capture facilities can be expensive to establish and maintain, making external studio services attractive to developers that do not require permanent access. The announcement also reflects the growing overlap between game production, animation and other entertainment industries.

Cygames has not published a universal price list for every possible production requirement, so interested developers will need to contact the studio for project-specific arrangements. Apparently producing convincing character animation has become considerably easier, provided somebody is willing to wear a motion-capture suit covered in tiny markers.