The uncanny valley is that strange place in digital graphics where a human looks so almost real that the figure is actually more upsetting to the viewer than if they were playing, say, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 with two white sticks and a ball. For anyone who may have missed 30 Rock last week, here's the uncanny valley better articulated with the kind of references we can all understand (porn and Star Wars).
As for those who would like to continue the episode's debate as to whether or not porn and videogames could one day fuse into a quite literal nerdgasm, hit the comments and wear gloves.
"The Uncanny Valley": Why Porn Video Games Suck [NSFW Fleshbot NSFW]






The uncanny valley is that strange place in digital graphics where a human looks so almost real that the figure is actually more upsetting to the viewer than if they were playing, say, Rainbow Six Vegas 2 with two white sticks and a ball. For anyone who may have missed 30 Rock last week, here's the uncanny valley better articulated with the kind of references we can all understand (porn and Star Wars).



Comments
I love that show but that episode was kinda whack, not least of which because there are already plenty of porn video games out there. Tina Fey needs to learn how to turn "Safesearch" off when she does her Google research.
Haha, I knew this would get on here sooner or later!
@badasscat: Yeah, but porn games are still way, way less popular than porn movies - most likely because cg porn is still too creepy for mainstream audiences. The show's point stands.
@badasscat:
Yes, but do those games reward you gold and points?
spot on ....spot on indeed
What show is that? My cable was cut off. I have been seperated from the great mind-drain. Although I Still netflix my Scrubs.
@Dukeman330: The show's point was specifically that a porn video game "can't be done", and I put the quotes there for a reason. It wasn't that it's been done badly. I couldn't get past that. Spoil the premise, spoil the bit.
@Ghede: Never mind. Just checked the tags. Duh.
I wanted to send this to you guys, but the only way I could figure out how to get it off my PVR was to record it off-screen with my digital camera. Which I did, and the sound quality was horrible at best.
In any case, I thought this was hillarious, along with the rest of the episode.
I'm BUSINESS DRUNK.
Isn't everyone already whacking off to video games?
At least that's how I interpret a lot of the comments.
"Im scared, get me out of there!"
Hehe. I really don't like the characters in 30 rock (I think that may be the point?) but this bit is funny. Its amusing to hear a graphics concept explained for the mainstream like that.
@Ghede:
"30 Rock"
@Cruithne: Yeah, they are, but not to actual porn videogames, just Psychonauts and Shadow of the Colossus.
I'm not convinced the Japanese have actually failed at this ... they've just chosen not to cross the valley and embrace the unnatural. It seems to have worked for them -- and, oddly enough, a surprising number of women seem to like non-tentacle hentai.
However, it is the best, most concise explanation of the phenomenon that I've ever heard.
WTF? I'm lost
@jayntampa:
They kept it at the 3-CPO level of porn.
I've always thought that the Uncanny Valley could be used to a developer's advantage. Especially with a horror game.
My brother laughs his ass off at that show every day and I never understood why. That was hilarious.
What's the weirdest non porn thing you've ever whacked off to?
I once glazed a knuckle over a copy of Cosmopolitan but I figure most guys do that during their formative years.
Ok, ok, I was twenty five, and I ended up getting thrown out of the dentist's waiting room, but that's besides the point.
Sexy Beach and Artificial Girl were fun.. But I like my Video game girls anime looking. Human looking anime girls would scare me shitless...
@ShaggE:
I'd say that Silent Hill did,
Heh, seems they based that chart directly off of the original from Mori's discussion of the concept: [www.androidscience.com]
I actually liked this episode a lot. I loved how they spoofed Amadeus.
Tine Fey = :)
Typo:
Tina* Fey
Why do people watch 30 Rock? It's just Tracy Morgan acting like an idiot alongside a bunch of tame Tina Fey jokes.
As for the actual topic, I think the world will explode if we can negate the uncanny valley. It's an impressive feat in entertainment, sure, but why have real humans when fake ones are just as friendly?
Bests lines in the clip are "tell it to me in Star Wars" and "he acts like he doesnt care, but he does"
@Guild_Navigator: Nah, the creatures are definitely disturbing, but the engine isn't advanced enough to hit the Valley. In fact, only the Heavy Rain tech demo has hit that "unnerving" look, from what I've seen. (Seriously, I got chills the first time I saw it.)
Anyone played the latest Siren demo on PS3?
The main character is almost photo realisticly perfect. It's spooky, but not in an uncanny valley way, rather the fact that they've overcome the uncanny valley effect.
@Snake726: Sorry, 30 Rock is brilliant. Tracy Morgan acts like an idiot, but the primary focus of the show is Tina and Alec Baldwin.
Maybe you don't get all the jokes.
@Guild_Navigator: I thought he said "golden points", which made it even funnier.
@Snake726:
They could call a show 30 Minutes of Tracy Morgan acting like an Idiot and I'd watch it. The other jokes are just frosting.
truly brilliant
@Lou3000: i think people don't get the subtle satire that is weaved with the pure nonsense character that is Tracy Morgan.
@Cruithne: Zombie games benefit from this, since the enemies are at the bottom of the valley and so the living characters don't seem as creepy by comparison.
I like Tracy Morgan...
Anyhoo, I have that uncanny Valley feel from a lot of the current gen games. A few more years and a bit more refinement should resolve everything though.
loved this episode start to finish and his rant on the impossibility of a porn video game was the keystone.
the sheer fact that they not only brought in graphic representation of the theory and that it was such a hilarious and true notion was gold.
when tracey 'disproved' it by scribbling on paper for 5 hours put the icing on the cake.
@ShaggE: Nah, I think it would give the game an appearance equivalent to rubber monsters. I think it kind of works the same every way.
@ShaggE:
I was actually referring to the people, not the monsters. The people in all the silent hill games always had a creepy vibe to them. Creepy to me at any rate.
The MILF Survivor episode 2 weeks ago was hilarious. I didn't like this show much as first, seemed bland, but now it's pretty damn funny.
As for the analogy with porn and Star Wars I didn't quite get it, but the golden points is where it's at!
@whiptcracker: Tracy Morgan acting like an idiot is funny and fine. I'm just thankful he's not doing standup on the show.
"Pay attention to me! I'm incosolable!"
"I gotta do something important so my children can respect me. Like being senator...or a wizard."
"I need to clear my thoughtsicles."
"My genious has come alive. Like toys when you're back is turned."
"I see the potential for erotica in everything around me."
I bet every one of Tracy Morgan's lines in the script are written with an exclamation point at the end.
@Guild_Navigator: Hmm.. never really got that vibe, but I understand how someone could. Especially James, who seems to suffer from "dead eyes" syndrome.
@Erwin: Rubber monsters are scary as hell. All stretchy and shit... and they smell awful when set on fire. :p
Thats pretty funny.
Just because something hasn't happened yet, doesn't make it impossible. If we accept that we are in the uncanny valley now, then it looks like we are 90% of the way there to me. Just look at the chart, its science!
Tracy Morgan>>>
His older sketches and shows were funny. This was... kinda funny too. Actually I thought it was hilarious.
@ShaggE: I detect truthiness in your statement.
Heavy Rain trailer was awesome. When she starts tearing up... damn. I have very high hopes for that... and Eight Days also, if its trailer is anything to go by.
FAIL pr0n video games are hugely successful in japan!! its jsut that the art style here isnt suited for it ;D
"Tell it to me in Star Wars"
This is why I love this show.
I feel a book is in order. "Everything you'll ever need to know about the universe told to you in Star Wars" will be a best seller yet. I know it!
The funniest part of the clip is that the one guy just happens to have the uncanny valley diagram at hand.
it will be done sooner or later, there's a pattern into muscle and joint movement, making a rl robot that mimics human behaviour is plain mad because of actual hardware limitations, programming a 3D model has no limitations associated with muscle response time and control, i dont think we are going to see a parametric 3D model video game outside the valley any time soon, just thinking...
Generally true theory, but they can and they do make games that escape it - they simply use alternative graphical styles that are intentionally NOT reality so only the most sensitive people are freaked out by them. *shrug*
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