Performative Avatars - Week 3

I first use Maya to change the size of my body. Since I was wearing a high heel, I also used the rotation tool to make my leg stand flat on the surface (not all parts of the high heels are being scanned). I also used the four showing screens to make my leg stand on the surface of the canvas.

Wrap3

After changing the size and orientation, I changed to working with the obj file model in Wrap3. I imported the texture of my original model, the obj of the raw model, and imported the base model as well. Then I started to do the rigid alignment to set few crucial points in the upper body. After that, I started to do the morph alignment points for the whole body, with 35+ points. During the first time working on the model, after morphing, the part of the mouse came out. On the second time, I used the method of selecting specific Polygroups during select isolate polygons node phrase. This time, it gives a good result of the body. After exporting, I get my new version of the body as well as its texture.

Rigid Alignment

Morph Alignment

Mixamo

Then I imported the obj file into Mixamo. It begins with setting the auto-rigger of the body, including the chin, wrists, elbows, kneels, etc, so the body is able to be animated starting from this point. The body imported doesn’t have any texture. It’s really fun watching the body move in different actions.Sometimes the figure may do the action without a sense of the space. There is also a part of my clothes between my hands and the body are covered by the body so their movements may seem a little bit weird when the body opens up its hands.

Discussion Questions

The readings, videos, and podcasts discuss a lot of issues regarding the gender depiction, gender role, and portrait of the loved ones in the games. They brought up the idea of objectifying gender, the experience of living and playing as different genders (inequality), etc.

1. Should all the games provide the player the tool of self-protection?

If the tool is provided, will the gaming world become too idealized?

2. Are people willing to have their body to be depicted as the characters in the game?