Animation Style

[Veritas]

Hello, this may be the wrong place to ask this, but I was just wondering if any of the BioShock animators come on the board (possibility...).

I'm taking many classes to become an animator, and was wondering what form of texturing you are using. I was thinking it is most likely normal mapping, because with everything going on in the environment the game wouldn't run with a high Frames/Second on bump mapping or displacement. Normal mapping would seem like what you would use for this game, just to keep poly count low, but from current screens I've seen, it looks unbelievable with the lighting. Was just curious, if anyone could answer it would be appreciated. (Please don't respond if you have no idea what you're talking about :) )

[Necros]

This (http://360.advancedmn.com/article.php?artid=7461&pg=3) interview should be useful to you. :)
And here's a part of an other preview:
One of Bioshock's most pleasant scenes took place, surprisingly, in a bathroom. The place was totally flooded, and the water effects looked incredible. To regurgitate some technical jargon, the effects at work included real-time reflections, multiple animating normal maps with distortion, as well as refraction effects. The result of these techniques made for some of the most realistic water we've seen, reflecting everything above amidst minute ripples, as well as distorting objects and tiles underneath the surface. This was also evident in a scene with a fire burning atop a stairwell, with water spilling down the steps in a stunning flicker of aqueous flame.
They are using UE3, so they are using normal mapping too. But as Ken stated, they've done many modifications to the engine, so they might use combined or different technologies as well. But I think it's a safe bet, normal maps are in. :)

[Veritas]

Thanks a lot for the find Necros, much appreciated. I was almost sure it was normal mapping, just wanted to make sure.