Where I go when I’m out of stuff to look at on the internet.

Go watch this right now - Don’t read the text around the video on the linked-to page either. Don’t worry, it’s nothing nasty (at least I don’t think it is… I haven’t heard the audio yet). There’s no jumping out at the end and it’s not a rickroll, I promise.

Okay, watched the video? Here’s another sample, which shows it more clearly.

So, has Emily lept across the uncanny valley? I’m not the best one to judge - I knew it was fake before I actually saw it. Personally, it seemed like the left-hand side of her mouth was sort of… pulled out or something. I wonder too if the actress isn’t hamming it up a bit - her head seemed to be moving around a lot and was a bit unnatural that way (but was maybe trying to show the “face trackability”.

I found the second sample I linked to to be downright creepy when they got to some of the end faces. It was OK when it was just talking - but when showing emotions, I could see where it was TRYING to get to, but it just plain didn’t look right. The face looked waxy and it didn’t “crinkle” the way a proper face should.

I think, though, that there’s generally a realization in the video game industry that we’re starting to get to “uncanny valley” territory. Witness TF2 and that new free EA wargame that’s coming out - they’re doing a stylized version of people that is, while very impressive, not very similar to human beings at all.

Hmmm… thoughts are a bit jumbled… doing this at work while I should be working… I’m sure when I get some comments and some time I can respond somewhat rationally.

My coworkers are discussing the best ways to get plastered at work.

“Vodka in a water bottle?”

“Well, they do make lemon flavoured vodka…”

“Gin is clear too”

“What about some Baileys in the coffee?”

A few days ago, I saw a motor home. Towing an SUV.

That’s just so awesome. I’ve never seen a better way to waste gas.

Here you go - a list of comic characters known for their… uh… quality storylines?

I might just have to read number 7, the… uh… nanotechnology and social implications therein are fascinating. Yeah… that’s it…

I feel so dirty… I did one of those stupid-ass headline things that newspapers think are clever :(

Looks to me like a deal will indeed happen though. Found this in a news story:

New York-based Take-Two has repeatedly rejected EA’s offer as too low. Take-Two’s management said it would present EA with its three-year product release schedule, financial projections and other nonpublic information meant to support that claim.

So, they’re basically giving EA an inside look at the future of the company. If a deal wasn’t going to happen, this would really hurt them competitively.

Looks like the deal will occur, now they’re just haggling over price.