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Cinematic Cut Scenes on a FL Server

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Post Thu Mar 17, 2005 2:07 pm

Cinematic Cut Scenes on a FL Server

First of all, I am sorry if I've posted this in the wrong forum and/or if it's been covered. I attempted to do a search, however I came up with nothing so I decided to make this post.

I've been using programs to make my own models and 'shooting' my own cinematic scenes for a few years.
My question is I'd like to know if it's possible to make my own cinematic cut scenes for FL and if so, do I need a special program (ala bink/smacker) to import the cinematic into the FL game?

My ultimate goal is to create a FL server running an add-on that not only has some new unique systems and ships, but also has some unique cinematics.

I would really appreciate and and all inforation.

Thanks in advance.
Necrotika


"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." -- Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

Post Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:09 pm

Hmm. Well... here are my thoughts.

You *could* implement a cutscene as a THN file. But THNs, in a multiplayer environment, are generally only triggered by landing events or entering a Room. And these are on the client-side, not the server-side... you cannot "push" such events or content to clients.

You cannot see THNs in normal play- they were designed for cutscenes within the game engine during SP, landing events, entering Rooms, etc... and that's all.

Sooo... so far as I can tell, it wouldn't be possible to, say... show a "news broadcast" to every player on a MP server at once. But there *are* some ways that you could get close. Unfortunately, these ways all involve your players being willing to download a new version of the mod every time you put out a broadcast.

For example, you can very easily change the startup movie to whatever you want. It's really not a problem to do so. Same deal with the music used- check out my mod (Warriors of the Sky) or any of the other big TCs (such as Free Worlds) to see what I mean. These are easy-to-implement and minor changes.

Implementing an all-new THN is *not* a minor change, and is rather tricky to implement. Moreover, animation with THNs is very crude in most respects- all IK animation, for example, is part of the file structure of CMPs, and the heavy-duty modders we have around here (I'm just a remora, nibbling off of their technical expertise) haven't figured out how to implement new animated parts just yet, unfortunately.

Check out the THNs used by the Free Worlds mod to see modded THNs at their most advanced. A character named Wasabe (who shows up here once in a blue moon) created most've these scripts, and unfortunately the process used isn't documented very well, so far as I am aware.

Post Thu Mar 17, 2005 3:29 pm

Fantastic.
Thank you for the input.
=)

I have been animating and making my own ships and such for a few years now.
I am currently creating an animated short (15 minute) sciFi film using Milkshape & 3DsMax and I really want to fly the ships in my film.
LOL

The plan was to have people goto to the webiste and download the add-on for the mod. I've done it a few times and gotten several extra miles out of the game since being able to fly a Y-Wing (that still makes me happier than I can put into words) around space.

I do understand where you're coming from.
It just seems to me that there has to be a way of adding an opening cinematic cut scene like the one in SP. The mod I'm creating is a tie in to my animated film and I want to try to keep the story from the film in the mod and make it as playable as possible.
If any of this makes sense.
LOL

- again -
Thank you for the reply.
=)

"We don't like their sound, and guitar music is on the way out." -- Decca Recording Co. rejecting the Beatles, 1962.

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 6:43 am

Well why not put your film in your mod(or maybe this is what you're asking how to?), replacing the current intro movie that gives you the story on the alliance and coalition and sleeper ships?(i think it does have to be wmv format,never encoded to that before so i don't know about licensing or codec)

Then you could take these ships and place them in your thn scene along with any appropriate planets,debris,etc

Edited by - Cold_Void on 3/18/2005 6:46:21 AM

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:16 pm

Yes, that's what I was asking.
I can't believe I didn't think of the answer - DOH!-

I have a full video editing studio setup so creating wmv files is quite easy for me.
In fact, I use them quite often - I put some of my 'dailies' on my laptop and show it to some friends. When I do that, I use the WMV format because it takes so little room.

Thank you (honestly) for pointing out the obvious answer that I was unable to see. I'm not trying to be sarcast. It's just that some of the time you can't see the forest for the trees.
=)


When my film is finished I'll share a link with anyone here who may be interested in seeing it. Also I can't wait to see people flying the ships I've designed.

This site is so d@mned cool.
Thanks for the help.

Post Fri Mar 18, 2005 2:19 pm

As for the film - it's far too long to put into the game, but I'm going to be putting a smaller edited down version in the game.

I know people don't like downloading client side stuff, but when this is finished I think there will be a few who will.

=)

Again, thanks for the assistance and thanks to the people who run this site for providing a place for such questions.

Post Mon Mar 21, 2005 10:16 am

You're welcome Necrotika,glad to help
and let's hear it for TLR,without which I dont think we would have 1/5th the knowledge base and utilities we have now.
TLR - I think I love you!

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