Friday, 31 October 2008
Video F.A.Q
Here it is, the F.A.Q (Frequently Asked Questions). This is for the fans benefit, to help you I've also spilt the questions up into categories so please look through all of them to find the question you are looking for. NMCP is constantly editing this post by the way and adding new questions.
Q: Where can I watch your videos?
A: You can watch them on You Tube, Machinima, Halo Tube and others video hosting sites. There is a link to all our video hosting sites, can be found here.
Q: When is the next __________ going to be release?
A: Its out when its out, check the blog for updates on release dates & video links, or just look at the Coming Soon box on the right hand side of the page.
Q: What games do you use to film?
A: There is only a hand full of games that you can actually film with, but I've used;
Halo 2 (Xbox/ PC)
I use Halo 2 mainly for a substitute for Halo 3 because there aren't any features that you can use for Machinima apart from you can lower you gun on Xbox Live and you can drop your weapons.
Halo 3 & ODST (Xbox 360)
I use Halo 3 because there are a few features that are made with Machinima in mind, the main two are Theater Mode, and Forge.
There are a few flaws with Halo 3 as a form of Machinima, one is unlike Halo 2 you can only lower you gun on local play or system link. In local play there is only a maximum of four players. The best option is you have the money is to use system link. In system link the maximum player count is 12 or 16 (I can't remember). You will need for that method multiple Xbox 360s since the player count is only four on one unit.
There nothing stopping you from playing online but you will have to put up with problems like lag & every character having there guns ponited at each other.
The other flaw is is that you will need some sort of capture device to get what you filmed onto your PC because the Theater Mode film is something that only the Xbox 360 can read with Halo 3. As of recently if you have Bungie PRO you can download your film clips from Halo 3 & ODST from Bungie.net onto you PC.
I haven't tried this method, but it seems too much of a pain in the way that you would have to record the clip on Halo 3 for each cut or different shot you want to use & there could be up to 20 shots in a minute. This would get annoying seeing that there are only 24 or 25 slots on your Fileshare, you would be better off buying a capture device but this just is my opinion.
The Movies: Stunt & Effects expansion pack (PC)
I use The Movies because it was made for this reason, but you do have to MOD it to make your movie look unique. Just a big heads up you will get a set number of choices and you will have to put them together and then edit them to make you move, you don't have any real control over the film. So don't use this if your trying to make professional work. To make overlays visit here but you will need the Stunt & Effects Expansion Pack for most MODs and Overlays to work.
Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360/ PC)
I've only used this once but it is still another great way to make Machinima but it tricky. GTA IV has a few Machinima features, the main one is Cinematic view when you press B in a vehicle but this only lasts for about 2 seconds or until your out of view of the camera until it changes to a different shot and if you record all that it looks like you haven't put any effort int it.
I'am well aware that on the PC version there is a film editor mode that you can use then download on your PC. This would be that better option if you can run on your PC. But overall GTA IV is a tricky way to make Machinima but if you can pull it off then it will look great.
Gary's Mod (PC)
Fallout 3 (PC)
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves (PS3)
Q: What software do you use?
A: Well I use a whole range of software for my videos, but for editing Adobe Premiere Elements V4.0 and or Sony Movie Studio Platinum. Capturing voices I use Windows Sound Recorder, and I edit the voices or sound effects using Goldwave.
Up until I got my capture card I had use AoA ripper to rip the videos off my DVD recorder and onto my PC. Visual effects, overlays or image are created in Adobe Photoshop CS3 or Adobe Fireworks CS3, and to get overlays in to The Movies: Stunts & Effects Expansion Pack I uses DDS Converter 2 which converts them into a file that the game will register. I get copyright free music by either downloading them from websites but most of the time I make myself by using MAGIX Music Maker 12 Deluxe.
Q: What Hardware do you use?
A:I use a lot of different hardware to film & capture. I've listed the different media formats below & what I recommend.
Live Action
When I'm filming a college project I use a Sony PD190 MiniDV Camera, they're great quality cameras but are going to set you back a bit, I would only recommend these cameras if you're serious in filming & you can afford the HD cameras.
Panasonic DMC-FX10 camera, that I would highly recommend ether is you not going to film with it. I also use a Hama stand for low down filming and for outside filming I use a Star 42 stand. I capture voices by using a £15 Logitech headset that I got from PC world.
Animation
Machinima
I use two types of hardware to capture my Machinima. Up until I got my capture card I did use a Dolphin R Mini- DVD Recorder, which is cheaper and essayer then buying a capture card but this does have two major flaws. first you will need to finalize the disc before your PC can register it, this does mean that you can't use the disc again after you finalize it. Second you will also need to use some sort of ripper to import them onto your PC I did use AoA Ripper.
I'm currently using Pinnacle Video Transfer which has only two flaws, the first is you will need an external storage device. I did try a USB pen but some don't work and you will have to have more than 5 GB but for the best result you will need a external Hard Drive. I have a 180 GB, I think and this gives the best results.
The other flaw is that you will need three red, yellow and white splitters. The reason behind this to be able to record sound you will need to this or you will have to choose over which you want more sound through the TV or on your video. But you can do this and solve this problem, to have all of splitters to go into the TV and then the Xbox 360 RC jacks go into one side of splitters and then in the other splitters you put the video transfers RC jacks into the other RC ports.
I would highly recommend this way for anyone who want a good quality make a Machinima or if you have some old VHS tapes that you want to convert onto DVD or your PC, I got mine from PC world for £100.
