In the midst of the final closed beta for Where Winds Meet, developer Everstone Studio, along with publisher NetEase Games have released a new behind the scenes video for the open-world action RPG. The video focuses on the motion capture that went into the animations of the game, giving us a look at the process as it took place at the game’s motion capture studio in Beijing.
The video, which you can check out below, also clues us in on some of the musical scenes from the game, as well as where the dances acted out by the motion capture artists came from.
“This is a dance from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, which came after the Tang Dynasty,” notes Associate Professor at Beijing Dance Academy and Lotus Award-winning dance director, as well as the Ceremony Segment Director for the Beijing Winter Olympics, Tian Tian. “We based the visual design of this dance of Dunhuang flying deities. It should feel both elegant in form and fluid in motion, especially in midair.”
“While choreographing, I tend to use less conventional movements. My hope is to create a unique movement quality that sets it apart.”
Tian also goes into details about how choreographing dance sequences for motion capture offers its own set of challenges, owing in large part to the skill and precision required of the dancers wearing the mocap suits.
“Motion capture requires even more precise control from performers,” Tian explains. “The accuracy of each movement is held to a higher standard. One of the most critical elements in mocap dance is timing – you must complete one move, allow for a beat or cushion, then transition to the next. That moment of pause is essential.”
Alongside Tian’s explanation of her process for the dance sequence, the trailer also gives us a look at how the dance plays out in the scene in Where Winds Meet, interspersed with cuts to the mocap studio where the actors are also playing out the same dance sequences.
As the closed beta for Where Winds Meet was going on, a video featuring 10 minutes of gameplay also made its way online, giving us a good look at the upcoming action RPG’s combat, as well as traversal, all of which have been heavily influenced by Wuxia. We also got to see quite a few side activities that players can partake in, ranging from side quests to full-fledged minigames where players could take on a Sumo wrestler in their own sport.
Interestingly, the video also gave us hints about some of the monetisation systems that might be in place for Where Winds Meet. Through the game’s interface, buttons for the in-game shop, as well as its battle pass could be spotted. Along with this, there were buttons for the game’s social aspects, including friends lists, options for playing in co-op, and even the option to join guilds and teams.
Where Winds Meet’s closed beta is slated to end on July 31. When it’s out, the game will be coming to PC, iOS, Android, and PS5, with the PS5 getting six-months of exclusivity.
