Doing a Video, properly.

[basti]

Before you start reading: keep in mind that this can only happen once we got beta. But i want to get the idea out before it goes into the abyss that is my mind, and to get other peoples input to improve the idea itself.
the idea also appeared on reddit in a much simpler form, and that reddit discussion basically just told me that i should get my stuff out already. ;)



So, here it goes:
The idea is to show the full scale of combat. Not just a few minutes of large battle, not just a bit out outfit action, no the full scale. The actual full scale.
But what is the full scale of combat? Well, it pretty much involves this:
The sole greeny playing by itself
The guy following commander y
The guy following commander x
The guy following commander z
The Outfit member of the usual zergfit
The outfit member of a tactical outfit using Galaxis
The outfit member of a tactical outfit using Air
The outfit member of a tactical outfit using Tanks
Commander y
Commander x
Commander z
Outfit member running the ops of that gal using outfit
Outfit member running the ops of that Air using outfit
Outfit member running the opfs of that tanks using outfit

And the list goes on. And that, for all 3 empires

tl;dr: We need to capture the viewpoint of as much different people as possible. And that not of different battles, no, just one big battle, just a single big fight.
If we get enough video of this big fight, we would then be able to cut a whole bunch of videos together.
One that shows the overall situation from the eyes of the greenys.
One that shows how the outfits interact with each other.
One that shows reaction and outer reaction of the empires (Air outfit from the VS strikes, Tank using outfit from the TR decide to switch from AV toAA for their tanks, Tank using NC outfit exploits this by getting themself AV on their tanks and nuke the TR outfit. Meanwile, Gal using VS outfit hits the base, getting into a nasty firefight with the NC outfit, getting completly devestated by the TR outfit just dropping from behind)
One that shows how the commanders fight each other and together, reacting on the battlefields changes, trying to get their forces to victory.
Three that focus soley on a faction
And one that gets it all together, showing the full scale of things, how everything plays together.



Once we have a bunch of videos, and if SOE gives their approve, hit youtube with them, and get the major gaming sites link the entire series. THen people will truly start to understand what "thousands of players" really means.

And if planetside 2 doesnt become the most played game in history after that, im eating a broom or two.




Anyway, now its your call: I just put the idea out, knowing that planning in detail doesnt make sense as we dont know when beta hits, who is in, what our recording options are and if SOE even allows this.
Still, if you have input, spit it out!

And if the devs/marketing team reads this: Its up to you to allow this project. While we would try to keep things in private till we have the final videos done, ready to be approved by you guys, we cant gurantee that no leak happens. So your choice, approve or deny. Just give us an now or at least once beta hits, dont want to waste loads of peoples time if you deny this from the start. :)

[Ailos]

If there is an open beta, maybe a week before official full launch they would probably allow the videos released. If not, then shortly after launch.

[basti]

If there is an open beta, maybe a week before official full launch they would probably allow the videos released. If not, then shortly after launch.

Open beta is the drop of the NDA. Means in open beta, its easily possible to record stuff and post it.

But if we want to do something like this, we need to do during Closed beta. You need to get a whole bunch of people recording, means you need to ensure you have them on the same continent at the same time. Its very likley this wont be easily possible during Open beta, as a lot of people would try out the game, means full continents.

[CidHighwind]

This is right up my alley. I'm not very versed in the whole process of recording, but I'll do whatever is necessary to help out Basti :-)... even if you are a barney :groovy:.

[Raymac]

1. I think your TL;DR is longer than the beginning
2. ODB, you know I got your back on this. Count me in.

If we make something in closed beta (fingers crossed that I get into beta) then the people in beta can talk together and find a way to share and edit it. Then we can show it to the powers that be. Some people *cough* Ol' Dirti Basti *cough* are on a first name basis with the devs, so it should be easy to show it to them. Then they can decide if they want to release it before the NDA drops. Imagine the power of a well made (and that's the most important part) video created solely by fans to express their passion for and tell the world about this one of a kind game.

[Graywolves]

I don't know what you said and read half your post but I'm in.

[FastAndFree]

It would be nice/funny if the videos sort of tied into each other.

For example, Two of the organized outfit videos were from opposite sides of the same battle.

Or during one video, as a seemingly random player walks through the battlefield he would get a highlight and a huge arrow pointing at him "JOE13"

Then at the end of the video/in the description -But what was JOE13 doing while all this happened? Find out at <link to other video>

[Miir]

Sounds like an interesting proposal. Let me know if I can help.

[Ailos]

Open beta is the drop of the NDA. Means in open beta, its easily possible to record stuff and post it.

But if we want to do something like this, we need to do during Closed beta. You need to get a whole bunch of people recording, means you need to ensure you have them on the same continent at the same time. Its very likley this wont be easily possible during Open beta, as a lot of people would try out the game, means full continents.

I'm saying we can record it during closed beta and then have our fingers on the mouse button so that as son as the NDA is dropped or we recieve the authorization to, we can let it loose.

[FoxBait]

It would be nice/funny if the videos sort of tied into each other.

For example, Two of the organized outfit videos were from opposite sides of the same battle.

Or during one video, as a seemingly random player walks through the battlefield he would get a highlight and a huge arrow pointing at him "JOE13"

Then at the end of the video/in the description -But what was JOE13 doing while all this happened? Find out at <link to other video>

First off, this is a really cool idea. I'm imagining that each player perspective video being a chain of individual soldiers (or groups) reacting to what the next video's star is doing. In the end, it would all be a chain, happening all within the same 2-5 minutes.

My thought:

Make sure you get player voices in these videos. Nothing brings in the human element like hearing the people doing the tactical chatter behind the screen. Even if you have to edit to make it more professional (if that's what you're going for).

[SgtMAD]

I do know one thing about this PS crowd is once the game is released there will be a flood of movies.

you need to talk to guys like Str8 [SMF] from markov, he made the CrackkSmoke vids The Cracksmoke Chronicles - Planetside - Str8 - [SMF] - YouTube

there were quite a few aspiring film makers on markov, you need to line those guys up

[Quantumplation]

I thought of a good way to give the sense that it's all from the same battle.

Video clip is going along in viewpoint of person A. Person B comes into his viewpoint, the video stops for a brief second, and zooms in on that person (to give the illusion that the camera is zooming towards him), and switches to his perspective at the same moment in battle. Do that throughout the whole video, perhaps starting off with really long times between switches and then speeding up to give the sense of hundreds of soldiers all played by actual people.

[bjorntju1]

Near the end of the video, when a base is captured by a faction. The camera turns up looking at the volumetric clouds. And around 15 galaxies from another faction are coming out of the clouds. Fully manned, to retake the base. Then everyone bails out above the base for a drop. The camera follows them for a second of 2. The screen goes to black. And then it says: Do you want to see how it continues? Sign up for Planetside 2 now! (or someting like that)

[Ailos]

It would be nice/funny if the videos sort of tied into each other.

For example, Two of the organized outfit videos were from opposite sides of the same battle.

Or during one video, as a seemingly random player walks through the battlefield he would get a highlight and a huge arrow pointing at him "JOE13"

Then at the end of the video/in the description -But what was JOE13 doing while all this happened? Find out at <link to other video>

First off, this is a really cool idea. I'm imagining that each player perspective video being a chain of individual soldiers (or groups) reacting to what the next video's star is doing. In the end, it would all be a chain, happening all within the same 2-5 minutes.

My thought:

Make sure you get player voices in these videos. Nothing brings in the human element like hearing the people doing the tactical chatter behind the screen. Even if you have to edit to make it

Could more professional (if that's what you're going for).

Could go for Wiley Coyote effects. In fact, regardless of what we do, I want at least one video made to ACME standards.

[basti]

It would be nice/funny if the videos sort of tied into each other.

For example, Two of the organized outfit videos were from opposite sides of the same battle.

Or during one video, as a seemingly random player walks through the battlefield he would get a highlight and a huge arrow pointing at him "JOE13"

Then at the end of the video/in the description -But what was JOE13 doing while all this happened? Find out at <link to other video>

That pretty much is the idea, and you just showed a quite awesome way to do it.

[Bittermen]

I've got fraps and Adobe Master CS5 back at my dorm.

We could make something really cool.

I've edited this video not too long ago.
Blackstone Log 2 (Halo Reach Machinima) - YouTube

[EASyEightyEight]

I agree that we need to record a full video with multiple viewpoints all strung together into a single video, but it can't feel too scripted. Chaos is a huge part of the fun of Planetside. Showing off everything a player CAN do and the scale of combat through constantly expanding the scope of the battle would be best. It'll just overwhelm them if they see they can fight hundreds of players at once, that should be the big reveal after they see they can customize weapons, drive tanks and aircraft, etc.

It should flow well with a tune like this.

[BlazingSun]

What you would really need for something like that is some help from SOE. If the "camera man" can get shot and killed, it gets frustrating really fast. Therefore a "spectator mode" would be great, as not only would it render the just mentioned problem irrelevant, but it would also allow for camera shots from angles and positions that would normally not be possible.

So if you really want to do that, I'd suggest contacting Higby (when the time has come), as I'm sure they do have access to some kind of spectator mode.

PS: I hope the "Field of View" is adjustable this time around. In PS1 the angle was too limited in my opinion which also proved bad for filming.

[basti]

You cant script war, and thats not the idea anyway. The point is, to make such a video, we need as many viewpoints as possible.
The easiest way would be a demo record feature build in the game. That would make recording piss easy for a whole lot of people, as its just putting a command in, and then play. After that, send it to whoever, and your part is done. That would also ensure that the final recording can be done in super high quality.
Hmm, gotta ask if a record feature is planned. HHIIIGGBYYYYY? :D


Korn, a cameraman would only be useful for a overview of the battle. Usually, most of the footage should be first person, with UI. You dont want to show a scripted version of combat, you want to show the life action happening, the decisions from individual players, and how they all affect each other. You dont want to see a air raid coming and bombing down stuff, you want to see the whole process of this air raid forming, going out, and bombing stuff.

[EASyEightyEight]

That's the thing, I feel the game play video should be centrally focused on where people want to be when they're playing Planetside: directly in the fight, guns blazing. If we're assuming a typical video the length of the average song.

The raid formations would best be delivered during the bridge of a kick ass song, and it should be a montage of multiple raids forming and moving (tank columns, gal drops) with the engagement happening just as the song picks back up for that added impact when revealing the actual scale of combat as they realize this montage was showing simultaneous raid formations in the same moment of time. Selling the scale of the game needs to be done with impact. Like hearing "It's a TRAP!" and suddenly a bajillion Tie Fighters swarm the screen. As I said, go with the flow of the selected song. It has a huge impact on the presentation.

People want to play Planetside because of the engagement, not the forming up. That's something they'll imagine and do on their own easily when they start playing. After all, we did.

[LongBow]

100% behind you Basti ...

If only we had awesome community focused devs who might help run a beta event like this ... oh what a world!

[basti]

100% behind you Basti ...

If only we had awesome community focused devs who might help run a beta event like this ... oh what a world!

I approach them once we got into beta. Im pretty sure they will aid in any way possible. :)

[SKYeXile]

You cant script war, and thats not the idea anyway. The point is, to make such a video, we need as many viewpoints as possible.
The easiest way would be a demo record feature build in the game. That would make recording piss easy for a whole lot of people, as its just putting a command in, and then play. After that, send it to whoever, and your part is done. That would also ensure that the final recording can be done in super high quality.
Hmm, gotta ask if a record feature is planned. HHIIIGGBYYYYY? :D


Korn, a cameraman would only be useful for a overview of the battle. Usually, most of the footage should be first person, with UI. You dont want to show a scripted version of combat, you want to show the life action happening, the decisions from individual players, and how they all affect each other. You dont want to see a air raid coming and bombing down stuff, you want to see the whole process of this air raid forming, going out, and bombing stuff.

i find some of these record features in MMO's very clunky when looking through the first person view since its not recording your sights at a decent tickrate, just whatever rate the packets are coming through at.

but if they can sort that out it would be a wicked feature to have.

[SuperMorto]

I believe there will be video released by people long before the beta ends, the way they are for hits etc these days means folks will upload beta content, so you will have to get in fast as the game will be all over the internet the day beta is opened. I personally wont upload anything from beta until I am given the go ahead, I just mean if you guys want to do something make sure it good and make sure its big :D

If you need any help from me just ask, you know where I am :)

Your also going to need full HD on every view to make it look good, and you will need everybody recording at that or as close to it, and your going to need somebody who can edit it all, and that means they will need a massive download so they can get all the footage together.

This could work, and also you will need your own sound track, and no I dont mean my shitty music I mean get somebody who can actually produce good music to do a tune for your video, something epic. And you guys are onto a winner here. The "it should flow well with this tune" comments should stop now, you might like that tune but alot will not, if you get something produced specifically for it, it will suit the video better, and not the viewers personal taste.

Good luck! :)

[texico]

^ Final Fantasy music is the quickest way to success ;)


Anyway, aren't we under nondisclosure if we enter Beta (I actually seriously read the terms)? What I'm just saying is, make sure there's good communication and permission from the Higby and the devs before anybody starts streaming out video footage.

[Captain1nsaneo]

The videos don't necessarily have to be gameplay videos to build hype. See the TF2 meet the team videos for a perfect example. I'm thinking something like this:

Cyanide &amp; Happiness - Ted Bear - YouTube

Sure it's not a game, but the style can be imported. Host running around conts/battles with camera man.
"We've got to be very quiet because right on the other side of this rock is a Vanguard, they're nasty buggers with a giant cannon and a taste for mayhem. Normally, we'd have a hard time getting away from this thing alive. But luckily I've radioed back to base and an airstrike will be here any mo-." *explosions followed by a cut to static*

[EVILoHOMER]

No developers or cheesy voice overs in the video!

SOE are really bad at this and it just makes the game look lame and people are turned off by it including myself. I'm sorry but most people don't care about the developers, just want to see the game and it doesn't help the games image.

http://forums.gametrailers.com/thread/new-planetside-2-gameplay/1270615

Example.


I know this wasn't intended for the west but no more! You need professional voice over work like how Rock Star do it with their games and how it builds up so much hype just on them alone.

[basti]

What people want to see is the game. They dont want to see some cinematic, or some overly voice acted and directed clip, they want to see the gameplay.
Yea, everyone found those TOR clips awesome, but what did they ask for? Gameplay. What do we ask for? Gameplay. Everyone wants gameplay.

And the best way to provide this is a simple "Lets Play". Thats the basic core of what im going to attempt. I just splice it up, to the level of Planetside (the level right above awesome). Instead of one guy talking about stuff, showing just a tiny part of the game, have a dozen or more guys, all around the same area, all doing their stuff.
Its not a promotion, its simply you watching some other guy play, bearing the question to yourself: Why the fuck are i watching these guys play, why dont i play mself? WHERE THE HELL DO I GET THIS GAME?

Worked well for quite a few games. :)

[SKYeXile]

Gotta agree, gameplay is what we want to see, show us the glory of forgelight in 1080p.

[basti]

Gotta agree, gameplay is what we want to see, show us the glory of forgelight in 1080p.

Im stealing this for #auraxispoetryslam! :D

[Captain1nsaneo]

I agree with you basti that people look for gameplay first when looking to buy but I'd add the cravat that this is mainly for FPS games. In RPGs you normally don't care as much about the gameplay as opposed to the story and graphics.

I'd actually argue that gameplay is a bad way to sustain hype. Typically you have a video covering this or that bit of gameplay (infantry, tank, aircraft) and this drags out the hype material but its broken up nature means that you're repeating a lot of the stuff between videos and wasting time and it will start to wear by the 3rd video or so. If you make a Bible like gameplay video that covers all the basics, the ideas, and mechanics which serves as a concentrated info dump that can be referred to then future videos can be straight gameplay or comedy.

Basically it'd would be like a tree graph with the info dump video as the root that can always be referred to when people ask about what's going on in the cool videos that are out in the branches.

[SuperMorto]

What people want to see is the game. They dont want to see some cinematic, or some overly voice acted and directed clip, they want to see the gameplay.
Yea, everyone found those TOR clips awesome, but what did they ask for? Gameplay. What do we ask for? Gameplay. Everyone wants gameplay.

And the best way to provide this is a simple "Lets Play". Thats the basic core of what im going to attempt. I just splice it up, to the level of Planetside (the level right above awesome). Instead of one guy talking about stuff, showing just a tiny part of the game, have a dozen or more guys, all around the same area, all doing their stuff.
Its not a promotion, its simply you watching some other guy play, bearing the question to yourself: Why the fuck are i watching these guys play, why dont i play mself? WHERE THE HELL DO I GET THIS GAME?

Worked well for quite a few games. :)

Ill do a mock up of what I think you mean so people can see it, or you do a mock up but use PS1 footage, just so people know what you are attempting basti.

Good luck with it m8, this could be fantastic.

[Graywolves]

WE NEEDZ TO MAKE VIDEOZZZZ!!!!!

[basti]

Ill do a mock up of what I think you mean so people can see it, or you do a mock up but use PS1 footage, just so people know what you are attempting basti.

Good luck with it m8, this could be fantastic.

Did think about it, but the issue is that i wont find enoug footage for it, or can create said footage these days.


Lets try again: in simple words:

1 Battle, about the timespan of 5-15 minutes of said battle, shitloads of different people doing a video of their viewpoint, using this material to do several videos that are based on a theme.

Got it? ;)

[SuperMorto]

Did think about it, but the issue is that i wont find enoug footage for it, or can create said footage these days.


Lets try again: in simple words:

1 Battle, about the timespan of 5-15 minutes of said battle, shitloads of different people doing a video of their viewpoint, using this material to do several videos that are based on a theme.

Got it? ;)

Awwwww you put it into lamens terms for me im so happy :) I get in now.

and I see what you mean, if everybody makes their won video you can just take the footage from the net yea? Or whoever make the /7 videos :)

[Hmr85]

This is a Awesome Idea. I would love to help provide some footage if I end up getting a invite into the beta. :cool:

Edit: I just order all new parts for my PC to make sure I can run this game at its peak performance.

[BlazingSun]

Korn, a cameraman would only be useful for a overview of the battle. Usually, most of the footage should be first person, with UI.

I didn't say the whole video should be recorded from a spectators view, but overview shots would add to a video in my opinion. Wouldn't it be great to have the camera zoomed in on a single soldier and then zoom out to reveal, that there are another 200 around him? :p

You could also show off the different roles one could chose to play in the game. As the video jumps from one viewpoint to the next, have a text line flashing in a corner that tells you name, rank and profession of the soldier or something in this direction. "Lt. John Redcliff, 9th Tank Battalion - Tank Commander" ... "Cpl. Andrej Kovaljew, 2nd Infantry Battalion - Medic" .. etc. Just an idea.

EDIT: I hope you find some people who can run the game on high details AND record at the same time. My PC for example sure as hell won't be able to do so.

[Arrow]

But but I liked your vids korn

[Gandhi]

I was planning on making a video for open beta anyway (if my computer can handle recording in this game), so I'm in.

[Bittermen]

I was planning on making a video for open beta anyway (if my computer can handle recording in this game), so I'm in.

Same!

Also if you guys need an editor for this I'm ready.

[SKYeXile]

I was planning on making a video for open beta anyway (if my computer can handle recording in this game), so I'm in.

Yea i plan on making afew.


one showing some different rolls/classes...or maybe 6 or more will see how long the beta goes :P and how well i can play them...
general killing compilation video
1 full scene video
hopefully one showing just how large PS is.

[cellinaire]

Yeah I agree with most of you here. It seems people nowadays(well, I mean 'majority of gamers out there') just prefer looking what the actual fights and daily gameplay will look like when they get to actually play the game for themselves. =)

[SKYeXile]

Yeah I agree with most of you here. It seems people nowadays(well, I mean 'majority of gamers out there') just prefer looking what the actual fights and daily gameplay will look like when they get to actually play the game for themselves. =)

well yea, all the CGI trailers are pointless(imo) they tell you nothing about the game...other than they're wasting time and massive amounts of money(EA) on some POS game where they're trying to get sales by initial sales each time by building massive amounts of hype on a shitty product(activision)

[Bittermen]

well yea, all the CGI trailers are pointless(imo) they tell you nothing about the game...other than they're wasting time and massive amounts of money(EA) on some POS game where they're trying to get sales by initial sales each time by building massive amounts of hype on a shitty product(activision)

I like the CGI trailers, even if the game was meh, like section 8. I don't mind rewatching them on Youtube.

[Miir]

I'd love to see Blur Studio do a cinematic trailer for Planetside. That would be kick ass.

But if I had to choose between them spending money on getting a CG trailer done or putting more features in the game. I'd vote with the latter.

Just throwing this out there. Did you guys want to maybe do a test run in Planetside or maybe something newer like Battlefield 3?

What I was thinking was we pick a date/time meet up do a couple minutes of filming. Then everyone uploads to youtube and posts videos here. I'm pretty sure most people know how to get movies off youtube. Then people that want to edit them can edit.

All finished work can go here and for feedback.

It might be a good way to test the logistics of this project and bang out more ideas.

Maybe Hamma can make a sub forum for us?

[Radant-J]

You have my blessing, working on a trailer myself since earlier this year, let me know if I can help in any way!

[basti]

You have my blessing, working on a trailer myself since earlier this year, let me know if I can help in any way!

And that from the great Radant himself. Woha.


Miir, a test run may be useful, but propably hard to even find a game for it.

But i think its not really nessecary. After all, whats the difficulty? Get a bunch of people record, collect all videos one way or another, put the stuff together.

Once we know more details/get closer to beta, i propably just write down the basics that can be written down. Once we are in beta, we shall start by getting as much people as possible ready, Get the devs support, tell people what day we try to get the recording going, wait for the right battle, tell a dev to broadcast to everyone to start the recording for the big battle at location XYZ (and to really shine while recording), let the recording go for 10-30 minutes, then collect all the vids, and start the editing.

Given the amount of talented editers here, we should be able to rapidly produce a bunch of finished videos, of all kinds.
The target would still be to generate several videos that connect to each other as much as possible. That kind of stuff gets publicity, if well made. And if you have a youtube popup in one video hovering above a guy saying "What the game from HIS point of view!", then that qualifies as EXTREMLY well made. :)

[Kouza]

I forgot who mentioned it and where but, I thought the coolest preview video would go something like this:

MIND YOU.... The VS are portrayed differently in PS2... The main war is between TR and NC..... the VS are simply doing research and killing who ever gets in the way. So some input on how to include them in that mindset would be cool.

Start- A TR cloaker, sneaks into a facility Court yard slitting the neck of a gaurd atop a catwalk

2. A NC light infantry unit, fires his rifle killing a cloaked TR soldier.

3. A TR Galaxy flies over, dropping units down into the courtyard, continuing they obviously kill the light infantry unit using team tactics, and a Max unit.

4. Countering, NC bring in reavers, raining death on the landing unit in the foreground, and you see the galaxy going down in the back ground.

5. A TR AA column rolls onto a nearby hill, shooting down the aircraft.

6. an NC ARMOR column rolls out to counter the TR threat.

7. Suddenly on a nearby hill you see TR infantry coming forward with their AV (Strikers?), and starting to lay waste to the tanks.

8. As this is occurring, the camera zooms into a TR soldier off to the side, that is still with the group but clearly not in close enough proximity to be crazy, and a New Conglomerate (Maybe Vanu Soverignty) Cloaker, uncloaks.... killing this soldier ... with his knife.

End with some stupid catch phrase going "Such is the cycle of life" Or what ever logo you want.

[Captain1nsaneo]

If you're looking for a proof of concept subject, try setting up a TF2 night for this. It's free unlike BF3 and PS.

[basti]

If you're looking for a proof of concept subject, try setting up a TF2 night for this. It's free unlike BF3 and PS.

Perfect idea. May do this in a bit. :)

[Lorgarn]

I'm definitely volunteering as cannon fodder.

It's a good idea. Probably challenging to pull off, but good nonetheless. :)

[basti]

I'm definitely volunteering as cannon fodder.

It's a good idea. Probably challenging to pull off, but good nonetheless. :)

The challenge would only to get enough people that are able to record proper footage with somewhat good graphics settings, and to have all those people put their videos somewhere. ANd of course to have enough of those guys at the same battle, got gain enough footage.

In fact, we would need a rather big list of people knowing and ready.

If we can have custom chat channels, its going to be easy, if we get enough people.


Lets wait for beta. This will take off! And i will call upon all those talented video guys here! ;)

[Lorgarn]

The challenge would only to get enough people that are able to record proper footage with somewhat good graphics settings, and to have all those people put their videos somewhere. ANd of course to have enough of those guys at the same battle, got gain enough footage.

I might even be able to help with that too. Though I don't quite expect getting in early Beta anyways. Though if an OBT happens I'd definitely help out as much as I can. :)