Developer Explains Why Starfield NPCs Look Like They’re Dead Inside
Playing Starfield and wondering why the NPCs look like they’re dead inside? One developer reckons they’ve worked out why.
Character and tech artist Delaney King took to X to post a fascinating look into the eyes of Starfield’s characters, explaining why their smiles look fake.
According to King, who has worked on the likes of Dragon Age and God of War, the character smiles have an issue with the orbicularis oculi muscle not contracting, which gives a "Duchenne smile". The effect is a smile that looks fake. Rather than look genuine, this sort of smile makes it look like you’re lying or constipated. If you watch The Boys, you’ll know this sort of smile from the superb Anthony Starr, who plays Homelander.
When you smile and this muscle doesn't contract, you get a "fake smile" or a "liars smile". pic.twitter.com/SPiZdstEc9
King references András Arató, the person in the Hide the Pain Harold meme. His orbicularis oculi doesn't contract far even with a genuine smile, resulting in smile we’ve all seen across the internet for so many years.
This smile probably bugs you for some reason you can't put your finger on as will. Allow me.
This is the zygomaticus major muscle. It contracts when you smile, pulling the corners of the mouth up towards the Zygomatic process.
But here it isn't pic.twitter.com/nu12XqTnZ8
The upshot of this is that classic creepy NPC face look, which King said can be improved via a manual tweak pass.
András Arató is famous for his smile. It appears his orbicularis oculi doesn't contract very far even with a genuine smile, resulting in that classic "dead inside" meme.
The crows feet suggest the muscle is tense, but it just doesn't seem to go as far as your average joe. pic.twitter.com/PDE2Fb4PLD
See what I mean?
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