Rockstar is currently developing “a dark and violent detective thriller” video game set in the 1940s called L.A. Noire.  In addition to using motion-capture suits, the developers are utilizing a new kind of facial capture technology called MotionScan.  The suits capture character movements, and the MotionScan data “provides an unprecedented level of realism, detail, and emotion” to their facial expressions and reactions.  The game actors sit in a room surrounded by many cameras; they are dressed up for the part and speak their lines aloud as the cameras captured their facial movements from every angle imaginable.  All of this gets converted digitally and the result is a high resolution 3D model of the actor’s head.  Said result is impressively realistic and promises to make it easier to discern when an in-game character is lying; a major theme of the game is to detect when people are lying.  L.A. Noire is due out for Xbox 360 and PS3 next year.  For now, take a look at how the MotionScan tech creates the 3D models in the video above; this will certainly change the way games are made in the foreseeable future.

Did you catch Fringe‘s John Noble make an appearance in the clip?  Get a closer look at the man and his 3D composite after the break.

[Via Joystiq]