BodyPaint 3D On The Run With 'The Outsider'

Frontier's revolution in games lets you truly decide what happens next.

You're a CIA agent who shot the president. You're on the run. You're public enemy number One.

Only, you didn't do it. What next?

How you proceed is entirely up to you in Frontier's upcoming revolutionary game, 'The Outsider.'

One of the most eagerly awaited titles for the next generation of games consoles, 'The Outsider', "gives the player genuine freedom to change story outcomes in a way that has not been seen before - each player will get a truly unique experience," claims Frontier.

Founded by David Braben, the legendary co-author of 'Elite,' Frontier scored a U.S. Christmas number one games chart hit with 'Rollercoaster Tycoon' in 2004.

To help create the gorgeous graphics in 'The Outsider,' Frontier used BodyPaint 3D - now included with every CINEMA 4D R10 - for texturing painting.

"BodyPaint 3D gives us pinpoint accuracy for placing and creating textures and saves us hours of work on complex models," said Sam Denney, lead artist at Frontier.



"Painting onto the geometry in real-time allows for greater creativity and gives better results. The results are right there in front of you. We've also found that, because the artist is working on the model, adding details like dirt in corners or wear and tear on edges is much faster and easier."

"We also use BodyPaint 3D to create seamless, tiling textures. Painting on the texture whilst it is tiling over a surface has allowed us to better assess and, where necessary, quickly eliminate repetition."

"We have also made good use of the brush library. An artist can create a brush to paint rust, for example, and one stroke or the brush will paint the diffuse, specular and the bump onto the model in one go."

Denney added that another attractive aspect of BodyPaint 3D, that especially suits large games and film studios, is that new employees can learn how to use the tool quickly. "You can be up to speed within two days of opening the box," said Denney.

Played out against the backdrop of a crowded city based on present-day Washington DC, 'The Outsider' also takes in the surrounding area, including the CIA headquarters and Andrews Air Force Base. The player has a mouth-watering arsenal of technology and combat equipment available.

There are many ways to proceed: To seek violent revenge against the people that framed you; to join forces with them; or to clear your name.

Another factor that gives 'The Outsider' an edge is its raising of contemporary issues. These range from I.D. cards to eventually becoming a police state. "It's very interesting to show this is what it'll be like if you go a bit further", said Braben.

Despite these worrying undertones the future of gaming is bright, according to Braben: "The new games consoles like Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 offer a massive opportunity for the future of gaming. A golden age of games is now just around the corner, and I believe 'The Outsider' is the first of these," said Braben.

The Outsider game web page is at www.frontier.co.uk/outsider.


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