11/09/05 - The Movies (Everything)

[Furiously]

I'm just thinking of all the Starfleet uniforms that will be available in the next few weeks.

[Fabricated]

This is going to be a sad, sad topic when the game hits shelves and ends up sucking ass.

You suckers.

[Hoax]

I want to hear the wailing and teeth gnashing to the deceived, dont you?

[stray]

It's the Sims in Hollywood. How can it possibly be that screwed up?

If a few no name companies can make dozens of fairly decent Tycoon games, then I would hope Lionhead could just make one.

[voodoolily]

If no one's getting blown for a role, then it's not real and it's not right.

I think Sauced made a good point (to me, last night) when he said it'll be like NeverWinter Nights and a lot of people will abandon it once they find out actual work is involved.

[stray]

I think Sauced made a good point (to me, last night) when he said it'll be like NeverWinter Nights and a lot of people will abandon it once they find out actual work is involved.

NWN content creation is almost "from scratch". Hell yeah that's going to fail. It isn't as work heavy as telling people to completely program and model every detail, but it isn't that far off.

This, on the other hand, is just a toy. A sim game. A train set. Of course it's not going to have infinite options.

That it doesn't have infinite options isn't going to bar me from creating something though. I can make a decent song with one guitar string if I wanted to. I can make do with something like the City of Heroes character creator tool. This game has more flexibility than both...I'll be fine.

[stray]

Anyways...If I'm sounding fanboy-ish here, sorry for that. It's not my intention.

I'll have it by tomorrow night, so we'll see if I'm really a fanboy or not.

[Samwise]

The big difference between NWN content creation and The Movies is that in The Movies, the content creation is actually part of the game.  That means that the act of creating a movie was designed to be easy enough that it's fun in and of itself.

It remains to be seen whether they achieve that, but very very few content creation tools have "fun" as a direct design goal.  Most of them barely approach "usable".

I personally think this is the direction that player-created content needs to go.  Most games that make that claim provide very minimal tools that require a lot of prior knowhow, and in many cases are dependent upon third-party tools that cost an arm and a leg.  The Half-Life engine is well known for being one of the best supported as far as modding goes, but you still need to have a good grasp of C++ and 3D modeling before you can even start to make a Half-Life mod.  You'll also want to have a copy of Visual Studio (gettng the HL SDK to build with Borland just isn't worth it) and something like 3DS Max, which together will probably run you at least a thousand dollars.

Now think about being able to just fire up a game interface and start creating your own unique content with no prior training or external tools needed.  There's simply no comparison.

[stray]

I knew IGN/Gamespy purchased Rotten Tomatoes, but this is the first time I've actually seen the two work together:

Gamespy has movies (mainly Gamespy employee created ones at the moment) for download with accompanying Tomato ratings.

Worthless link?

Probably....But I'm bored.

[edit] Hmm...The first user created movies are popping up on the community website.

le coup de grace is one of the better first attempts....Simply because he's telling a story with action. Don't get me wrong, it's crap. Many of the other clips at the moment are worse though.

I'm not sure if he had camera constraints, or that he intentionally went for a shitty 1950's Lone Ranger look.

[Yoru]

I'm still waiting for my local EB to open and my local UPS guy to arrive with his Santa-esque cart of boxed digital goodies; however, the main Movies site released a version (not sure if it's demo or full) of the Star Maker program.

It weighs in at 141MB, but their webservers appear to be choking and dying today; I'm not even getting 10Kb/sec.

Edit: I suck at the internet.

Edit 2: Sounds like it's an updated version.

[schild]

The starmaker demo was about that big.

[Shockeye]

It's worth mentioning, though, that despite the relatively modest system requirements listed by the publisher, The Movies can really test the upper limits of your machine, and the frame rate can chug on even a high-end PC when you max out all the quality settings.

Time to upgrade boys and girls.

[Sky]

For a Lionhype game? Pshaw.

For a Bugthesda game, mebbe!

[NiX]

If anyone gets their hands on this, can you post? I have 3 different ship dates for stores here in Canada. Today, tomorrow and the 12th. I'd like to know when the hell I can get this game. I may just have to resort to the intarweb at first :(

[stray]

Just installed it. Haven't played. Got it through a Gamestop.com order with overnight shipping.

[Bunk]

As far as custom content, the devs are already giving modders on the official forums advice on importing from 3dMax, that sort of thing. One of the devs posted a gun model from the game for modders to use a reference point. So yea, they are fully expecting to have a heavy community of custom made content.

[Sky]

Because my favorite game is 3dmax.    NWN flashback.

[Yoru]

Just got back from EB with my plunder in tow, so it's in stock in the greater Los Angeles area, at least.

Anyway, commencing radio silence... dive! dive!

[Margalis]

How many gamers own a legit copy of 3DMax. .01%?

[schild]

How many gamers own a legit copy of 3DMax. .01%?

I have an old legit version somewhere.

[stray]

They used to offer Gmax, much like the Maya Learning Edition, but I think they've pulled the plug on it.

[schild]

Goddamn this game is robust. I think there's a lot to be done there, but I'm having issues actually writing a script. There doesn't seem to be a script mode. Or an import sound mode. I'd read that there was. Am I retarded? Has anyone figured out how to do this? If Molyneux didn't put in this shit and fed us YET ANOTHER LINE, I swear to holy god I'll cut him. Cut him deep.

[stray]

I just got around to playing story mode...Haven't got around to everything else yet (I've made one in-game movie, that's it). It's only 1922 so far (game starts at 1920), and I'm lost in the process of designing my studio lot  .

[HaemishM]

Bad news. You have to unlock all the shit in the story mode in order to be able to use it in sandbox mode. Which means to add sound, yes, you have to play through the story side. In order to move the camera, you have to unlock it in story mode. I'm a bit disappointed in that.

However, the story mode is good. Being able to add custom content (or someone else's custom content) is even better. They will also be opening up a "Propshop" on the community site. You'll get credits for uploading movies that you can spend in the propshop.

You also do not own any of the content you create out of the Movies. Fuckers.

[Merusk]

You also do not own any of the content you create out of the Movies. Fuckers.

How the fuck does that work? 

I eagerly await the day Softdesk decides nobody owns any of the stuff they create with AutoCAD or 3dStudio.. oh wait, they can't do that.  The fuck?

[HaemishM]

You also do not own any of the content you create out of the Movies. Fuckers.

How the fuck does that work? 

I eagerly await the day Softdesk decides nobody owns any of the stuff they create with AutoCAD or 3dStudio.. oh wait, they can't do that.  The fuck?

The Word According to Lionhead

 It's under the question can I sell my movies on Ebay.

Can I sell my movies either on eBay or anywhere else?
No. The assets/content supplied with the game and which are used in each movie created using the game belong to Lionhead and commercial use of these assets/content or use for any form of financial gain is strictly prohibited. Lionhead does not permit use of the game, and any assets / content supplied with it, other than in accordance with (i) the End User Licence Agreement which you agreed to when installing the game and (ii) the TOUs.

How can Lionhead use my movie when I upload it to the website? Am I entitled to a fee or royalty if Lionhead uses my movie?
No. By uploading a movie to the website you grant Lionhead a non-exclusive licence to use your movie without charge or payment. Lionhead will generally only use your movie for promotional and marketing activities connected with the website, the game and possibly other products developed by Lionhead / Activision; for advertising purposes; for competitions; etc.

Doublefuckers.

[stray]

Does it apply to props and such made with third party tools though?

It makes perfect sense otherwise. It's their shit -- I'm just rearranging things a bit. It's "creative" rearranging, I'll say that much.....But ultimately, I'm not truly creating anything on my own.

Either way, it's a lot fun.

[Merusk]

AH.... "Because we say so."

I can understand not selling things using their art or 'scripts'.  But if you don't use their assets or scripts, and just use the tools then you should be golden.

[stray]

AH.... "Because we say so."

I can understand not selling things using their art or 'scripts'.  But if you don't use their assets or scripts, and just use the tools then you should be golden.

As it is now, you can't just use their tools alone. It doesn't work like that. Their tools are so intrinsically tied to their content (costumes, sets, props, etc..) that they may as well be considered one and the same.

Even "scripts" aren't totally one's own --- You don't "write" a script per se. You use the various built in cues, scene templates, and other options to approximate what you're trying to communicate.

[Yegolev]

Latest get-rick-quick scheme trashed.  You stay in the trailer park for now.

[Shockeye]

Latest get-rick-quick scheme trashed.  You stay in the trailer park for now.

Hey.. that'd make a good movie.

[Yegolev]

You would never know I make a living by typiing.

Dammit!

[stray]

Anyways...

I keep starting over in story mode. This part is fun in itself, and I don't mind.....But I keep screwing up. Strategic Porta Potty placement is a must.

[tazelbain]

Did you expect any less from EA?

[Merusk]

AH.... "Because we say so."

I can understand not selling things using their art or 'scripts'.  But if you don't use their assets or scripts, and just use the tools then you should be golden.

As it is now, you can't just use their tools alone. It doesn't work like that. Their tools are so intrinsically tied to their content (costumes, sets, props, etc..) that they may as well be considered one and the same.

Even "scripts" aren't totally one's own --- You don't "write" a script per se. You use the various built in cues, scene templates, and other options to approximate what you're trying to communicate.

The more I hear about it the less like a sandbox it sounds.  Still, if you're into the Sims I can see the attraction.