Sunday, 20 March 2011
FINAL ANIMATION
This is our final animation! Finished at last!
To see how the film was put together in its entirety check out these blogs of the other group members!
CREDITS
Memoona rehman
http://www.sweetmusic20.wordpress.com/
Horvath Elod
http://www.horvathelod.blogspot.com/
Musawir Hussain
http://www.m-hussain-27.blogspot.com/
Thursday, 17 March 2011
Costumes
The scientists needed some coats. I offered to do this on the sewing machine.
I struggled a few times and had to restart a couple of times. But in the end I simply sewed a front and back piece together then cut the front down the middle and hemmed the edges.
I struggled a few times and had to restart a couple of times. But in the end I simply sewed a front and back piece together then cut the front down the middle and hemmed the edges.
The button and pocket details were easily drawn onto the jackets once they were made.
The rest of the characters and armatures can be seen on Memoonas blog:
http://www.sweet-music.blogspot.com
Forest scene
Our original plan was to use an outdoor location for the forest scene, somewhere on the BCU grounds. However, after thinking it over, we realised that this could be more problematic as it would be difficult to capture the frames outside as well as controlling the lighting.
So instead we found a round piece of wood for a base and used a hanging basket inlay for a grass effect. We tried using a green carpet type surface, however this way looked much more believable as grass. Also, when pulled apart it created a great bushy effect. For the trees we collected twigs and branches from bushes outside, which I glued down (with copious amounts of glue using the glue gun) onto the edges of the board.
It was important to leave enough space from above and at various points around the board so that we had a choice of camera angles! One of the concerns was that the live foliage would die or grow brown quickly. We decided to film the forest scenes as early as possible. To combat it for now, the glue had sealed the ends of the twigs and I covered the leaves in a spray varnish. Most of the leaves did droop, but on camera it appeared to still have the desired effect!
So instead we found a round piece of wood for a base and used a hanging basket inlay for a grass effect. We tried using a green carpet type surface, however this way looked much more believable as grass. Also, when pulled apart it created a great bushy effect. For the trees we collected twigs and branches from bushes outside, which I glued down (with copious amounts of glue using the glue gun) onto the edges of the board.
It was important to leave enough space from above and at various points around the board so that we had a choice of camera angles! One of the concerns was that the live foliage would die or grow brown quickly. We decided to film the forest scenes as early as possible. To combat it for now, the glue had sealed the ends of the twigs and I covered the leaves in a spray varnish. Most of the leaves did droop, but on camera it appeared to still have the desired effect!
Animatic and dopesheets
This animatic is a combination of animated tests and live action tests. At this point we were a little behind but eager to see how the film would play out. Some scenes we changed or added, as visual aids to suggest what the story was about. As we had been going through the scenes we realised it was important to use the props and scenery to suggest the main storyline as there is no dialogue.
Old nuts and bolts and bits of pipe were great for the industrial effects of the lab. Blueprints, maps and pictures of yeti sightings on the walls helped to suggest the type of research the scientists were working on!
Using the reference videos, we could time the actions. This is how we worked out the timing for the scenes (in seconds). Aimed to work at 24fps, capturing every 3 frames (more or less if needed, depending upon how quick or slow the action is).
Animatic was used to determine light effects and camera angles. Some of these we had to change as we went along. For example, the scene where we first see the scientist working, we had a blue spotlight from the fromt of the set. However, when it came to filming, for this particuar scene we used the MILO motion control camera, so we needed the space in front of the set to give the camera room to move around the set.
Used the dopesheets to predict the actions and scene duration. As we didn't have any dialogue to lip sync, this aspect of the dopesheets was not needed. the only part were it could be important would be the scene with the radio and the chipping noise of the ice block.
Using the reference videos, we could time the actions. This is how we worked out the timing for the scenes (in seconds). Aimed to work at 24fps, capturing every 3 frames (more or less if needed, depending upon how quick or slow the action is).
Animatic was used to determine light effects and camera angles. Some of these we had to change as we went along. For example, the scene where we first see the scientist working, we had a blue spotlight from the fromt of the set. However, when it came to filming, for this particuar scene we used the MILO motion control camera, so we needed the space in front of the set to give the camera room to move around the set.
Used the dopesheets to predict the actions and scene duration. As we didn't have any dialogue to lip sync, this aspect of the dopesheets was not needed. the only part were it could be important would be the scene with the radio and the chipping noise of the ice block.
Wednesday, 9 March 2011
Genre in games - Silent Hill
Taking a look at genre in films made me think if games are split into different genres in the same way.
FILM
First a look at how film is categorised.
GAMES
Games are categorised usually like this
Motomu Toriyama, director of Final fantasy 13, believes the key to a successful game is one that is story driven. He also believes allowing the player shouldn't be allowed too much exploration so they can enjoy the story.
However my personal opinion was that this edition to the Final fantasy series was poor as its players have grown to expect lavish worlds that they can explore. Reviews and comments suggest many people were agreed. However, this gave Playstation the oppurtunity to experiment with the games beautiful graphics. Its true it was amazing to be able to see individual eyelashes on characters ands each blade of grass. So its a step in the right direction.
Of course final fantasy 7 has been argued to be the best game the series produced so far, even by todays standards. Most of these views are probably shared by old school gamers, however younger people are playing also. So it goes to show that players certainly appreciate beautiful graphics, but what they expect of a game is to able to explore, interact and to be challenged in the virtual world!
SILENT HILL
http://www.silenthillmemories.net/sh2/mosh2_script_en.htm
One of my first favourite games was silent hill 2. Relatively simple to play and as with other role playing or adventure games, you are given the freedom to explore (not that you can see much in the dark) and players are rewarded with deeper insight into its twisted plot.
This is an example of a horror adventure game, that is story driven. But its horror plotline and setting is scary enough, but I always felt much more vulnerable as the player of the game. Suddenly I was the target! I think this is a great example of how story devices in games can be used to really stir the player and creat some sort of impression on them. Perhaps much more personally than film as a player will often create their own path in a game. The choices they make will depend on themselves so the experience can be much more personal.
The game falls under the action adventure genre in games. But it also of the horror genre. Horror is used for film and literature. Horror is a genre that trys to scare, disgust and horrify the audience. Often it is of a macabre or supernatural nature. However this is not always the case e.g. texas chainsaw massacre (slasher) and perfect blue (phsychological anime thriller).
quote on the genre of horror. Some with a sociological explanation of the genre:
2. Genre Theory • Genre theory asks the fundamental question: are genres “out there” in the world, or are they artificially constructed after the fact? • Genres can be identified by their themes, or by their iconography. Iconography tends to take precedence. • In the case of horror, however, psychological fears are often more important than the appearance of things."
"4. The Uncanny • Although Freud’s essay on The Uncanny is almost 100 years old, there is still some mileage in it. • Freud links the uncanny with repressed childhood memories and primitive human experience. • “The return of the repressed” can be seen as a theme of many horror films."
http://www.slideshare.net/mcmrbt/horror-and-theory-presentation
Many films that proved successful would have their matching games made (the Lego series used many different movies such as batman, indiana jones, star wars etc.) However recently the success of some games has proved worthy of the big screen.
It seems viewers and gamers alike want the full experience when it comes to mixing the whole film and game experience. Another example of this is the Resident Evil series, whos stories are shared in episodes across films, animations and games!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film
FILM
First a look at how film is categorised.
- Comedy
- Western
- Fantsay
- Sci Fi
- Action
- Adventure
- Horror
- Thriller
GAMES
Games are categorised usually like this
- action adventure
- shooter
- role playing
- simulation
- strategy
- driving
Motomu Toriyama, director of Final fantasy 13, believes the key to a successful game is one that is story driven. He also believes allowing the player shouldn't be allowed too much exploration so they can enjoy the story.
However my personal opinion was that this edition to the Final fantasy series was poor as its players have grown to expect lavish worlds that they can explore. Reviews and comments suggest many people were agreed. However, this gave Playstation the oppurtunity to experiment with the games beautiful graphics. Its true it was amazing to be able to see individual eyelashes on characters ands each blade of grass. So its a step in the right direction.
Of course final fantasy 7 has been argued to be the best game the series produced so far, even by todays standards. Most of these views are probably shared by old school gamers, however younger people are playing also. So it goes to show that players certainly appreciate beautiful graphics, but what they expect of a game is to able to explore, interact and to be challenged in the virtual world!
SILENT HILL
http://www.silenthillmemories.net/sh2/mosh2_script_en.htm
One of my first favourite games was silent hill 2. Relatively simple to play and as with other role playing or adventure games, you are given the freedom to explore (not that you can see much in the dark) and players are rewarded with deeper insight into its twisted plot.
This is an example of a horror adventure game, that is story driven. But its horror plotline and setting is scary enough, but I always felt much more vulnerable as the player of the game. Suddenly I was the target! I think this is a great example of how story devices in games can be used to really stir the player and creat some sort of impression on them. Perhaps much more personally than film as a player will often create their own path in a game. The choices they make will depend on themselves so the experience can be much more personal.
The game falls under the action adventure genre in games. But it also of the horror genre. Horror is used for film and literature. Horror is a genre that trys to scare, disgust and horrify the audience. Often it is of a macabre or supernatural nature. However this is not always the case e.g. texas chainsaw massacre (slasher) and perfect blue (phsychological anime thriller).
quote on the genre of horror. Some with a sociological explanation of the genre:
2. Genre Theory • Genre theory asks the fundamental question: are genres “out there” in the world, or are they artificially constructed after the fact? • Genres can be identified by their themes, or by their iconography. Iconography tends to take precedence. • In the case of horror, however, psychological fears are often more important than the appearance of things."
"4. The Uncanny • Although Freud’s essay on The Uncanny is almost 100 years old, there is still some mileage in it. • Freud links the uncanny with repressed childhood memories and primitive human experience. • “The return of the repressed” can be seen as a theme of many horror films."
http://www.slideshare.net/mcmrbt/horror-and-theory-presentation
Many films that proved successful would have their matching games made (the Lego series used many different movies such as batman, indiana jones, star wars etc.) However recently the success of some games has proved worthy of the big screen.
It seems viewers and gamers alike want the full experience when it comes to mixing the whole film and game experience. Another example of this is the Resident Evil series, whos stories are shared in episodes across films, animations and games!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horror_film
The future of games and technology
Its interesting to see how games is becoming a huge industry, with many more outlets then simply entertainment. The nature of the game is the users interaction with the virtual world and characters. Many companies and universities are using these specially developed games to train staff and students. This practical approach they claim is a safe way to really get to grips with complicated tasks, e.g. medical students can learn on a virtual system to practise complicated procedures, such as heart surgery.
Chris crawford studies narrative and interactivity. He feels gaming is the next step in communication, the same way TV and films and then the internet have influenced the way we communicate and learn.
ESA (European Space Agency) is keen on the development of virtual worlds as they claim building new worlds, based on space exploration, can be used for training.
However one danger of this type of use is if the virtual world is inaccurate then the training could be invalid. Perhaps this raises the issue that it is important to remember that the real world will always be more unpredictable and compared to virtual worlds, that will have a certain amount of randomness built in, it is still a human construct with cycles and patterns. atleast, at the moment.
With developers of virtual worlds looking to push the bar in what they can achieve, their next step is creating a greater variety of particle forms and behaviour as well as greater A.I. Particle systems are whats used to build objects and characters in a 3D space. This system is mainly used for game design and has been developed for this reason. However it is not exclusive to this.
These 2 videos looking at the latest of what microsoft is working on. And many people have come to the same conclusion. Why not combine 3D TV with motion controllers. This is the closest step to accesible virtual reality gaming. And as gamings uses can be used for more than just entertainment, this could mean exciting new oppurtunities for companies and other institutions who would want to take advantage of this.
These links to blogs and peoples own opinion polls and pocasts:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOHnRNYj3DY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c3oqRlIJ3M
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmUQKStba10
http://123kinect.com/kinect-3d-screen-without-glasses/
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