Custom Cinematic Questions

[SaintKerrigan]

I've never made a Blizzard-esque cinematic before, nor have I acquired the skills to do so. Thus, for those of you with that kind of experience, how much time does it typically take to do, for example, a 30-sec cinematic?

Also, if you want to simply edit a preexisting cinematic, how much work/time is involved with that?

I would be much obliged for answers!

[Pr0nogo]

Small work to lots of work, depending on your scale.

Editing a preset? Well, it depends on the scale of the preset and the scale of your edit.

I could be of more help if you'd kindly give specifics...

[IskatuMesk]

If by cinematic you mean CGI, you're in for an insane amount of work, if not years of mastering the required tools. You also need very powerful hardware.

in-game cinematics are generally easy to do, if not tedious.

[SaintKerrigan]

The situation is that I'm considering doing a custom StarCraft campaign, and one line I'm considering is how I'm going to present it.

If I were to include CGI cutscenes, I was thinking about lifting footage from other places and altering it to fit with my storyline. I.E., change a marine's suit of armor from red to blue. However, since I've never done work of that kind before, I thought I'd ask around and see what experiences other people have had.

@ IskatuMesk: Yes, I meant CGI, I already have the know-how to make in-game cutscenes.

[IskatuMesk]

Okay. Well, using other people's CGI has the effect that when people recognize said CGI they go lolwtf. Also editing it is really painful.

Breaking into CGI is one of the most difficult things you can try to do.

[Lavarinth]

Editing a color isn't so much an issue as it is to in the end not feel like it was worth it. People will know it for the original and just say "oh, different color, look at that."

I took four years to learn this stuff as my career and get a degree. This isn't something you can just pop out one day.

[Pr0nogo]

Oh god... CGI...

Uhh... Get a job at Blizzard. Sorry, drawing up a blank.

[SaintKerrigan]

Yeah, I figured it was probably way out of my talent range. Just figured I'd ask. Thanks for answering, guys!

[Pr0nogo]

No problem. Good luck!

If you'd like to start somewhere, you could use Smacker technology (the same that Blizzard used) and just sort of test it out.

[coko]

I know my friends took about 3 months to do a 2 minute sequence that took 4 days to compile/finishing and spent almost every day on it in that time...That was after 2 years of studying how to do it. But it is possible!

[Lavarinth]

I know my friends took about 3 months to do a 2 minute sequence that took 4 days to compile/finishing and spent almost every day on it in that time...That was after 2 years of studying how to do it. But it is possible!

Oh. It's possible. Isk did it without any formal classes. I took classes. But you just have to think if it's really worth it, in the end.

[coko]

I'd say, generally not. Good CGI doesn't replace good gameplay and in terms of production values, a MOD/campaign shouldn't consider them the answer.

[Whiplash!]

I'm going to college for this

[Gemini]

No problem. Good luck!

If you'd like to start somewhere, you could use Smacker technology (the same that Blizzard used) and just sort of test it out.

Smacker was simply the video codec they were using. That's like saying "Maybe if you take a look at Xvid you could make some Blizzard cinematics."

[Pr0nogo]

-.- Because I would know...