“Team Fortress 2: “Meet The Engineer”” by Valve Corporation
Conference:
- SIGGRAPH 2008 More animation videos from SIGGRAPH 2008:
SIGGRAPH Video Review:
Track:
- 08
Title:
- Team Fortress 2: “Meet The Engineer”
Length:
- 1:26
Company / Institution / Agency:
- Valve Corporation
Description:
“Meet The Engineer” introduces us to an amiable, soft-spoken good ol’ boy from tiny Bee Cave,Texas who loves barbeque, guns, and higher education. Natural curiosity, 10 years as a roughneck in the west Texas oil fields, and 11 hard-science PhDs have trained him to design, build, and repair a variety of deadly contraptions. Strumming his guitar near what appears to be a pleasant campfire,the Engineer discusses his practical approach to his role in the Team Fortress 2 universe, and his love of guns. Big guns.
“Meet The Engineer” is the third in an eventual series of nine vignettes, each introducing one of the game’s character classes. The pieces also showcase Team Fortress’ unique art direction and sense of humor. The Engineer was a particular animation challenge because his goggles cover his eyes and eyebrows, which are keystones in relaying emotion. This was overcome with thoughtful attention to body language and facial expressions around only his lower face. Staging, lighting,cameras, and sound design, along with nuanced body and facial animation, were all meticulously planned to redefine expectations of what a game trailer could deliver.
