EA SPORTS FC 24
Official Gameplay Trailer
And Opening Cinematic
Welcome to a new era for The World’s Game.
Role
Cinematic Artist
Project type
Cinematic Trailer and Opening Cinematic
Date
Summer - Fall 2023
Responsibility
Animation Ingesting and Applying, Timeline Works, Dirt Map, Tech Support
A Cinematic Trailer Project
My role as a cinematic artist is to deliver high-quality shots with my team. In our pipeline, I serve as a generalist, taking on responsibilities across various disciplines such as lighting, animation, and more. This multifaceted position allows me to both create content and provide assistance throughout the pipeline process.
See the Process
Process and Responsibility
I was responsible for four main tasks: creating background character facial animations, detailing dirt maps, ingesting animations, and assisting with ID kit checks. This work contributed to both the Official Gameplay Trailer and the In-game Opening Cinematic.
1
Animation Ingestion
From .fbx to Frostbite
The right ones at the right moments
4
Right outfits, teams and everything for the right match
Tech Support on IDs
2
Animation Applying and Blending in Timeline
3
Dirt Maps
Details that intensify the match
Dirt Maps
Details that intensify the match
Here, we observe dirt maps in action. On the left, the image reveals grass stains on Enzo's socks. The middle image displays dirt on their elbows, while the right image shows the gatekeeper's knee and socks stained by grass. Dirt maps significantly enhance realism in an intense soccer game, reflecting the numerous collisions between players and the field. The objective is to adjust the texture parameters, ensuring they appear with suitable intensity on the correct body parts. This attention to detail contributes to a more immersive and authentic gaming experience.
Facial Anim
The right ones at the right moments
Here is an example of background facial animation. I utilize pre-made animation assets, which I assign within the engine. I also design the timing and blending to craft facial animations for background characters in the timeline. The main character's face, highlighted in red, features a custom facial animation created in Maya by my colleague. Meanwhile, Marcom Cinematics strives to achieve the highest possible visual fidelity. Even those characters in the background, which the audience might overlook unless they pause the video, are crafted with precision and attention to detail, ensuring that every shot is realistic and impactful.
Ingesting and IDs
Tech support tasks
The tasks involve animation ingestion, which is the process of importing .fbx animations into the Frostbite Engine and preparing assets for cinematic artists. Additionally, ID checks are designated for FC, ensuring the accurate representation of soccer players' appearances, outfits, and teams, as well as the associated advertisements and elements related to a specific match.
Take-Aways
Accomplishments and Skills Acquired
Working with my team, we successfully delivered the EA Sports FC24 Gameplay Trailer, which garnered tens of millions of views globally and served as the reveal footage for the EA FC24 Official Reveal Event. This trailer will continue to be showcased worldwide as promotional material in the coming months. On a personal note, I completed my assigned tasks and met the visual targets. This was my first opportunity to contribute to a project of such magnitude, and it has been an incredibly motivating and exciting experience.
The knowledge and experience I have gained are substantial. It was my first time collaborating with a top-notch team at one of the largest video game companies on a AAA title. With each passing day, I became more familiar and comfortable working with real-time game engines. The team encouraged me to engage in a variety of tasks, allowing me to learn extensively, from technical tasks to creative lighting, and from motion capture to in-engine animation tasks. Moreover, the team has been exceptional, significantly aiding in the enhancement of my communication and teamwork skills. I had the chance to work with nearly every team member to some extent, which fostered a close and cohesive environment. This experience allowed me to integrate seamlessly into an industry-standard pipeline and learn from each of my peers.