MOCAP Suite 4 - 23rd February 2009

This MOCAP session was booked as it was hoped that the character would be rigged, and the a level would be created. Since Jack found out that Motionbuilder must require a skin modifier for rigging to work, then he has had to learn a whole new technique, and this has taken longer than necessary. The group has now realised rigging could have taken place with a default character in the previous months, as it is now holding the group's work up.
Simon had finished creating the first level, and showed the group, which turned out to look good, now that the dimensions of the MOCAP room had been defined. A ROM test was supposed to take place to see if a character model (a default one) would work inside the level, but since the Datastation would not connect to Tarsus (the program running on the 2nd monitor), the group could not test any data. This cost the group a valuable session in the MOCAP room, and another session is to be booked for friday, with an assistant, to make sure the group were following the right directions.
Alex has also been working on a rope-bridge level, and this should be completed by friday.
Frances has said that the Flash animations she works on can be exported to AVI, which should be able to be imported into Motionbuilder.
Greg had a short talk with Andy Bain about what to do next, and he has said to work on the mine cart level, as it would be good to see it working in action. It could easily be done by 'faking'. The audience could control the mine cart by shouting "LEFT!". At this point, someone in the MOCAP room using Motionbuilder, could trigger a camera animation along a set route. This looks like it is in real time, but instead it is just an already created animation of the level.
Tasks for this week are:
Simon - Finish creating the first level, and start working on a new level (the mine cart level - this can be bigger than the other levels, as we need it to last for a while.) Think of ideas what to appear on the track of the mine cart level. Also to send the level he has created to everyone via email, so the group can work on it on friday in the MOCAP room.
Alex - Finish the ropebridge level, screen-shot it, and upload to the Google Group, so the whole group can see. By everyone seeing a finished level, this will show progress, and hopefully improve motivation in the group.
Jack - Finish rigging the character, and ask Alex Counsell if any help needed.
Helen - Try to find a hosting website where the website can be seen by everyone. Any showing of progress will motivate the group.
Frances - Continue on animations within Flash.
Greg - Continue production process and book MOCAP session for friday.

The group can finish this project if they put their minds to it. Andy Bain mentioned even if the mine cart level worked, it would be good enough to show as the performance.