It might not sound like a particularly newsworthy announcement, but Image Metrics has done some pretty amazing work recently in terms of facial motion capture and CGI expressions. And, when we look at the quality of animation most every contemporary game can now boast, they are indeed often let down by the virtual pupeteering of facial movements.

Codemasters apparently agrees, as its bringing Image Metrics into the development of Operation Flashpoin 2: Dragon Rising to really help show the horrors of war on the faces of the games characters. Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising will simulate an intense conflict between advanced forces in which players can choose between a broad range of military disciplines, vehicles and equipment. Codemasters is using Image Metrics’ facial animation solutions in the cut scenes in order to enhance the range of human emotions expressed in the chaos of war.

"Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising will take players closer to war then they’ve ever come before," said Brant Nicholas, Senior Producerat Codemasters Studios. "To achieve that end, we turned to Image Metrics’ facial animation solutions because of their unique ability to perfectly capture the range of emotions that soldiers experience in combat."

"With Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising, Codemasters has set out to capture the gritty reality and human drama of warfare," said Mike Starkenburg, Image Metrics’ chief operating officer. "We’re honored that Codemasters has chosen our facial animation technology to help achieve that realism and to further immerse players in the gameplay experience."

Image Metrics will develop 57 shots for Operation Flashpoint 2: Dragon Rising. Without markers or makeup, the solution captures an actor’s entire facial performance, analyzes it pixel-by-pixel, and then transfers it onto the computer generated  character model. If you’ve any doubts about ust how impressive this lacklustre-sounding technology really is, check out the Image Metrics animation below (yes, it’s an animation 100%).