What is this ... Machinima?

[Ranger REG]

I just learned this from a CBS early morning show about a trend that has been going on under my nose. The idea of casting 3-D videogame [iconic] characters and produce a video of the user's flavor.

How can I get started on this?

Can I export 3D characters from any videogames (old and new)?

What tools do I need?

 

[Rackhir]

I just learned this from a CBS early morning show about a trend that has been going on under my nose. The idea of casting 3-D videogame [iconic] characters and produce a video of the user's flavor.

How can I get started on this?

Can I export 3D characters from any videogames (old and new)?

What tools do I need?

I think you have misunderstood something. According to what I understand about this and a Wikipedia article (for what that's worth)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machinima

It is about using the game engine in games like Halo, Quake or World of Warcraft to tell stories. There's no importing or exporting characters (unless the game engine supports this) and the only tools would be a video editor for the output AVI or MPEG file.

The advantage is that you have what can be a quite sophisticated engine (especially in more recent first person shooters), that can crank out 30 fps no problem on a moderate computer, but you are limited to what you can do in and to the game. Which often have limited camera controls for example.

 

[trancejeremy]

Basically, it's just making movies using computer game engines. A lot of them can import/export character models. But it requires a lot of patience, creativity and you still need to know your way around video editing software.

The game "The Movies" was supposed to be something that would really help this. But in practice, it turned out not to be so useful. (You can make movies with it easily, but it's more like splicing together stock footage. They really need to add more of a construction element, like The Sims)

 

[FunkBGR]

http://www.machinima.com/

Go there and start reading. They have the most useful information out of anywhere.

I've dabbled a bit into this, and although I haven't made anything super long / super good yet, it's definitely a lot of fun. You learn a crapton doing it, and it's a great way to make films when you have little to no budget, as much of the engine software can be had for free.

 

[takyris]

There's a big one for Neverwinter Nights that got some press around the company. Let me see... (hunts for link). Ha!

http://www.bloodspell.com/

 

[Joshua Randall]

I have nothing useful to add, other than that your subject line reminded me of this: yeaaaaars ago, when I was in college, I was sitting in the computer lab when a Korean girl came up to me very timidly and asked, "Can you show me... Internet?"

That has since become my catch phrase for anyone asking about something that will requires hours and hours of explanation.

 

[Ranger REG]

More like an opening scene of geek porn.

 

[Ranger REG]

http://www.machinima.com/

Go there and start reading. They have the most useful information out of anywhere.

I've dabbled a bit into this, and although I haven't made anything super long / super good yet, it's definitely a lot of fun. You learn a crapton doing it, and it's a great way to make films when you have little to no budget, as much of the engine software can be had for free.

Honestly, I did visit that page, but I got frakkin lost.

 

[Steve Jung]

A few examples can be found at http://www.roosterteeth.com/home.php. They have series using Halo/Halo 2, The Sims 2, and F.E.A.R.