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Guides for Creating Cutscenes?

by Jerane Alleyne · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 03/29/2001 (8:14 am) · 4 replies

I was wondering if anyone know of the general method for creating 'in-game' cutscenes (NOT cinematic). Although I understand that it involves using animations created for your model, but I'm referring to things like timing, creating paths for movement and such. It doesn;t seem practical that they whole animation sequence is done in a 3D app (3DS Max, etc.), and then dumped into whichever game engine you are using. It seems more likely that the entire process is done in the game engine itself. If this is the case, are there any guides as to how tey are done regardless of the game engine you are using? I haven't really been able to find any in particular.

Also, is there any reason to believe that in-game cutscenes are smaller in size than cinematic ones (based on same size and content)? I've never been able to make a real comparison, but I'd just assume that in-game scenes are smaller.

Any help you can give would really be appreciated!

Thanks!
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Torque Owner Jeff Tunnell
#1
03/29/2001 (8:18 am)
This is a need that could be satisfied be a tool or plug-in. In Starsiege we actually put some fo those controls into the editor.

Jeff

Torque Owner Tim Gift
#2
03/29/2001 (9:17 am)
I don't know of any guides or tutorials on creating cut scenes. This definitely sounds like an oversight :) As Jeff said, for StarSiege a number of control objects and tools were added to the mission editor to build and manipulate cut-scenes. Paths for Cameras and HERCs, timing events, triggers, etc.

In game cut scenes can be quite small compared to an AVI. One thing to worry about though is what data is needed to play back a scene. For example, if you are in the desert world and you need a cut scene that involves the water world, you may have to load up all the water world art. This could include new models, textures, interior buildings and terrain. Loading new resource can be very time consuming; something to think about when designing your cut scenes.

Torque Owner Jerane Alleyne
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#3
03/29/2001 (10:12 am)
Heh, I remember the Starsiege Editor and the controls! Something like that would definitely help in the process :)

Many of the Cutscenes we;re designing for our game wouldn't depart from the world already loaded, so I don't figure it would be that big a deal, besides, it would save time to have to remodel Hi-res model and all that jazz...I know its lazy :)

I read on Machinima.com that some guys are working on some type of cutscene editor for Lithtech(which is the engine we're using anyway), but there's no telling on when that will be available, or even the cost for right now...well there's plenty of time to look into it further.

Just to ask, how easy is it to add cutscenes using the V12? Will the same type of Starsiege controls be available in the engine? Just thought I'd ask...for the future...

Thanks again!

Paul Robertson
#4
06/12/2001 (3:06 pm)
I took a look at how the cut scene for the first single player mission in Tribes2 was done and.... I actually flinched. LOL

All of it done in script by someone who, due to the lack of detialed info in the comments of the code, really knew what they were doing.... Or at least had a much better idea of what they were doing than I do at the moment. LOL

.... ....