What's so bad about biped??

#1

Hi guys,

I have used biped quite a bit as a fast and effective way to rig characters for freelance game clients, and have always found it good to work with animation wise. The first game studio I worked at used biped as a control rig with a separate export rig for the game engine, and the lead animator there was a talented guy that I very much respect. I have however spoken to people at places like Rare and THQ who have said things like biped is limited and I shouldn’t use it. The only problem I have had with it is in a character with an extra leg joint, which completely flipped out. but for just average bipedal characters, which 99% of my work is, it is fine. I guess I could say it’s bad because it has made me not learn to rig as thoroughly without it, but it serves its purpose well.

TL;DR What is your opinion of biped?

#2

Hello!
Biped is not bad. It is just not the best solution for every rig need you could ever have, but what you say is true and wise: yes, it has (very!) good features. People dislike biped because it lacks of some well desired features for animators, like the impossibility to work with animation curves, the impossibility to do stretch/squash (I love to do that) and the fact that it only serves for simple two-leged characters. But, on the other hand, biped workflow is fast!!
I prefer not to use it, unless I am in a rush, like, for example, when I am freelancing with a very close deadline. Why? Because, as you said, it prevents you from training your rigging skill on custom rigging, with which excellence can be achieved (high time cost, though). As you can see, you told yourself some of the answers.
I recommend you to take a look to the Rigging forum. There are a couple of topics about that. If you go there and type “biped” in the search box, you will be able to find a very good thread about Biped vs bones. (I did it recently).
Good look rigging!

#3

yea biped means losing control you cant block out animations at all the curves are jus insane xyz keys are linked an lot of hidden tools like how to key pivots an other stuff the like ive been using it an gettin stuff to bend right is not an easy task you get what you get an that it. but for dead line an low poly game stuff is ok. plays well with mocap. those are my 2 cents

#4

I’m not sure what you mean about the curves in biped, can’t you just set the joint to euler rather than quaternion and then use the curve editor?

#5

no it uses TBC

#6

Out of curiosity, have you used CAT? It seems like Autodesk wants to deprecate Biped and move towards CAT over the long term.

#7

Character Studio has hardly been touched in terms of new features since it was integrated in Max 4 or 5. It’s woefully outdated and outmoded.

#8

Wrong. You can switch to euler. But it`s not very relieable.

#9

I would strongly recommend CAT or MotionBuilder. Personally I use MB and I`m never looking back at Biped :wink:

#10

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