It's been ages since the release of Allegiance and because of the loss of zone hosting and exposure, the community has dwindled to such few players that it's feeling like we're playing the same team over and over. Bottom line is, we need NEW players.
I looked at the sample videos others have made as well as the original trailers M$ produced and I must say I was less than impressed. When Allegiance was released, it did not have the horde of game titles to compete against as it does today. The original trailers are so pathetic that they made me want to uninstall the game. Anyone who sees these videos before playing Allegiance is certain to think this game is DOS based and only plays at 640x480 resolution.
After installing the game, the new player does the training mission and if he's not completely turned off by that, he heads off to find the rest of us. They join the blue team, of course, and launch from the garrison because that FAT door is in their center view. The next thing they see is a rock, some stars in the background and they begin to wonder what the hell they're supposed to do. "Boy this is fun, NOT!", and we say..."wait, you just don't understand".
Here is where I see an opportunity to squash two problems with one blow. By introducing a high quality, high resolution, fully comprehensive video trailer, the new player and mostly the potential new player, can understand in just 2 minutes something we can't explain in 2 hours.
While it's easy to pull together fly-by action, player cockpit views, base explosions and the like, to witness these things alone brings no understanding to the viewer of what the primary goal is. Allegiance isn't about eye candy, it's mind candy. The selling point can't be just "gee, I'm flying in space" but rather "WoW, I gotta get in on that action!"
I have decided to take on the challenge of putting together a high resolution trailer video that will bring to the viewer a look into a world beyond his imagination. It is not enough that the viewer sees what you and I see. He must see from a viewpoint that requires no spatial orientation. To that end, I plan to make the video primarily from external camera angles with short inserts of cockpit views and close ups.
I realize that the most meaningful information is from within the cockpit, however, it is the action as a whole that must be understood by the viewer. Moreover, by giving an external viewpoint with occasional views from inside the cockpit, the viewer can immediately see his placement in the game among the rest of the team.
Thanks to TigerEye for hosting the videos, I am able to provide you with a sample of what I'm talking about. Since I was the only camera man during filming I had to choose a single viewpoint so I chose the wide angle far off shot to demonstrate the importance of delivering the action in a way that's easy to comprehend. Watch the video as though you have never seen the game before and you can begin to understand how the video speaks for itself. Remember, these are not edited but simply a sample of what I'm talking about.
Download only one, they are both the same video just at different resolutions.
ALLEG_1024X768_157MB.wmv
5 minute download @ 530KB/Sec
ALLEG_640X480_70MB.mpg
2 minute download @ 530KB/Sec
To complete this project, I would like to ask for a volunteer squad to use as actors and a couple more camera pilots with fast computers. I'm working on the script and choreography and with 4 cameras rolling I'm hoping it will only take a couple of hours to get enough video for editing. Without going into too much detail, my plan is to get multiple camera angles of a constructor push into enemy territory, a launch and response effort, the constructor defense and build and finally, a successful bomber attack on the intruding base.
If you can help out, please let me know.
Wasp
GluteusMaximus
Tech_Support (you guys owe me one!)
voob
Trailer Trash
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DrBeginner
- Posts: 501
- Joined: Wed Jul 09, 2003 7:00 am
- Location: In my research lab
You might need to turn the sound completely off, and cut part of the bottom off so we can't see the who kills who and stuff. Those basically ruin the current video.
I loose my motivation to help out more and more each day to drama like this. Which is why I am mostly /meh on this point. I will continue to play as I always have, with the morals I have been rasied with and if this community finds they don't like myself and others like me who just enjoy playing the game with their friends on TS or squadies, then they can ban us and my Warhammer account, Girlfriend, and IRL activities will get a lot more attention and will thank them.
-TheVoid
I am DrB and I approve of this messege.
-TheVoid
I am DrB and I approve of this messege.
Already spoke to you, currently in the process of learning to use FRAPS to a better level and figuring out camera views and targeting atm.
The Video looks good btw.
Edit: Im not exactly the most competant when it comes to certain aspects of videos etc, but I noticed the Files are wmv. Is Xvid not better quality, because thats what i have been recording mine as?
The Video looks good btw.
Edit: Im not exactly the most competant when it comes to certain aspects of videos etc, but I noticed the Files are wmv. Is Xvid not better quality, because thats what i have been recording mine as?
Last edited by SP4WN on Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:56 am, edited 1 time in total.
you might want to film from the f12(? one of the last 4 f keys that gives you a camera you can orbit around your target) camera.
ok, its not free like the pod, but it lets you get closer to the ships and you don't have the pod in the way
and getting closer also works better, it would be a little hard top see what exactly is going on in it quite often for a new player
ok, its not free like the pod, but it lets you get closer to the ships and you don't have the pod in the way
and getting closer also works better, it would be a little hard top see what exactly is going on in it quite often for a new player
Last edited by madpeople on Wed Oct 10, 2007 1:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Thanks for the tips, keep em coming.
It is not my intention to use the sample video or any part of it as the trailer video. This is simply a sample to demonstrate the value of a 3rd person view of the action. This is the fly on the wall concept. The new viewer who has never seen or played allegiance must have this type of perspective as his first exposure to the action. Coming from a wide angle, the viewer first gets to see the battlefield somewhat whole and notices there are several ships flying in a formation or in a coordinated way showing that everyone has purpose and specific intent.
As the battle unravels, there will be shots from inside the cockpit flipping to external close up views of engagements between interceptors then back to the wide angle views to keep the flow of the battle and goal clear in the viewers mind.
If you remember the Star Wars scene of the attack on the death star, you can imagine where I'm going with this. During that battle you see the ships in formation and in large numbers flying toward the death star, you then see a few close ups from within the cockpits of different pilots then back to the wide angle view as the Tie Fighters start their defense effort. As the battle heats up, the camera changes become even more rapid switching from one viewpoint to another until the destruction of the death star. Even if you removed the sound from the Death Star attack scene, any viewer could still understand the plot clearly.
Sound: I am working on a batch file that will rename the sound files temporarily so as to remove the unwanted background noises for each camera man, however after experimentation, I have found that some of those dings and clunks you have become so used to, actually provide a sense of more going on than meets they eye. I do plan on removing eject sounds and crap that takes away from the experience, however, I don't want to spend 2 months putting together an entirely scripted sound track. The engine and thrust sounds of the passing ships will be necessary to keep as they very closely tie in with the action. It would be near impossible for me to create that sound track from scratch.
I do plan on clipping the eject details at the bottom of the screen and I'm hoping I can avoid footage of any of those fat red updates in center screen. I haven't figured out what cockpit views would be best used. After looking at previous videos, I notice that they look too busy with icons and clutter that only the experienced player might understand so I decided to try to keep the cockpit views simple enough that the viewer is looking more out the cockpit glass at the unfolding action instead of the HUD itself. If he wants to view the cockpit more, he can hit the pause button.
As far as which factions to use, I'm open for suggestion. I would like to use two distinctly different factions which I think would help the viewer determine the foes in battle. I'll probably use more interceptors and few scouts because the dogfighting carries the fast and furious action. Nobody wants to see a shuttle attack on the Death Star, they want to see fighters instead. Whatever factions are chosen, the filmed bases (enemy and pushed base) must be close enough to get them both in the same shot on occasion. The bases also must be the best looking ones no matter what they are. If a lt int is the best looking ship for the action, then I'm sorry, that's just what we'll have to use. I am throwing out all real to life issues in this video. This is completely staged, realistic or not, I'm going for the best video, not a realistic scenario.
I am currently working on the script and storyboard as well as stage layout and camera placements. Since this is theatrical, the pilots can help a lot with a bit of overacting. By knowing where the cameras are, the pilots can deviate slightly to give the cameraman some juicy shots. Graceful swooping turns from ships look much better on film than a quick 90 degree twist and boost. Using close fly-by action and intentional formation flying I believe this video can rival the death star attack.
The video won't be considered complete until the existing players find it worthy of distribution. If you aren't using this footage as your desktop background, then it ain't worth squat in my opinion. I don't know how many times I've tried to explain what Allegiance is and I've practically given up recruiting new players. I want something that says it all in 2 minutes flat with the next words out of the viewers mouth being "where do I download this"?
It is not my intention to use the sample video or any part of it as the trailer video. This is simply a sample to demonstrate the value of a 3rd person view of the action. This is the fly on the wall concept. The new viewer who has never seen or played allegiance must have this type of perspective as his first exposure to the action. Coming from a wide angle, the viewer first gets to see the battlefield somewhat whole and notices there are several ships flying in a formation or in a coordinated way showing that everyone has purpose and specific intent.
As the battle unravels, there will be shots from inside the cockpit flipping to external close up views of engagements between interceptors then back to the wide angle views to keep the flow of the battle and goal clear in the viewers mind.
If you remember the Star Wars scene of the attack on the death star, you can imagine where I'm going with this. During that battle you see the ships in formation and in large numbers flying toward the death star, you then see a few close ups from within the cockpits of different pilots then back to the wide angle view as the Tie Fighters start their defense effort. As the battle heats up, the camera changes become even more rapid switching from one viewpoint to another until the destruction of the death star. Even if you removed the sound from the Death Star attack scene, any viewer could still understand the plot clearly.
Sound: I am working on a batch file that will rename the sound files temporarily so as to remove the unwanted background noises for each camera man, however after experimentation, I have found that some of those dings and clunks you have become so used to, actually provide a sense of more going on than meets they eye. I do plan on removing eject sounds and crap that takes away from the experience, however, I don't want to spend 2 months putting together an entirely scripted sound track. The engine and thrust sounds of the passing ships will be necessary to keep as they very closely tie in with the action. It would be near impossible for me to create that sound track from scratch.
I do plan on clipping the eject details at the bottom of the screen and I'm hoping I can avoid footage of any of those fat red updates in center screen. I haven't figured out what cockpit views would be best used. After looking at previous videos, I notice that they look too busy with icons and clutter that only the experienced player might understand so I decided to try to keep the cockpit views simple enough that the viewer is looking more out the cockpit glass at the unfolding action instead of the HUD itself. If he wants to view the cockpit more, he can hit the pause button.
As far as which factions to use, I'm open for suggestion. I would like to use two distinctly different factions which I think would help the viewer determine the foes in battle. I'll probably use more interceptors and few scouts because the dogfighting carries the fast and furious action. Nobody wants to see a shuttle attack on the Death Star, they want to see fighters instead. Whatever factions are chosen, the filmed bases (enemy and pushed base) must be close enough to get them both in the same shot on occasion. The bases also must be the best looking ones no matter what they are. If a lt int is the best looking ship for the action, then I'm sorry, that's just what we'll have to use. I am throwing out all real to life issues in this video. This is completely staged, realistic or not, I'm going for the best video, not a realistic scenario.
I am currently working on the script and storyboard as well as stage layout and camera placements. Since this is theatrical, the pilots can help a lot with a bit of overacting. By knowing where the cameras are, the pilots can deviate slightly to give the cameraman some juicy shots. Graceful swooping turns from ships look much better on film than a quick 90 degree twist and boost. Using close fly-by action and intentional formation flying I believe this video can rival the death star attack.
The video won't be considered complete until the existing players find it worthy of distribution. If you aren't using this footage as your desktop background, then it ain't worth squat in my opinion. I don't know how many times I've tried to explain what Allegiance is and I've practically given up recruiting new players. I want something that says it all in 2 minutes flat with the next words out of the viewers mouth being "where do I download this"?
I tried to get some friends to play and they liked the game but quit after they realized how @#(!ty they get treated by veterans. And it doesn't help that commanders are allowed to boot post-number newbies for no reason and get away with it. Some people don't like the game so much that they will put up with that kind of treatment when there are lots of games with communities that aren't polarized into elite and newbie sides. I've even seen numbered newbies get kicked lately without warning. Until newbies (both numbered and post-numbered) get some rights in this community our ability to keep them interested is severely limited.Wasp wrote:QUOTE (Wasp @ Oct 9 2007, 05:45 PM) It's been ages since the release of Allegiance and because of the loss of zone hosting and exposure, the community has dwindled to such few players that it's feeling like we're playing the same team over and over. Bottom line is, we need NEW players.
Last edited by FordDeka on Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:09 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I couldn't care less about the folks who can't take the abuse from their peers. If you can't handle yourself among other players then you've no business here. Yes you'll get booted, @#(! on, treated like crap...hey, just like being with friends at a ball game, some get along with others, some don't. If you want some lovin, I suggest you pick up a game with a disney title.FordDeka wrote:QUOTE (FordDeka @ Oct 10 2007, 09:04 AM) I tried to get some friends to play and they liked the game but quit after they realized how @#(!ty they get treated by veterans. And it doesn't help that commanders are allowed to boot post-number newbies for no reason and get away with it. Some people don't like the game so much that they will put up with that kind of treatment when there are lots of games with communities that aren't polarized into elite and newbie sides. I've even seen numbered newbies get kicked lately without warning. Until newbies (both numbered and post-numbered) get some rights in this community our ability to keep them interested is severely limited.
Instead of teaching your friends how to fly, show them they've got a backbone first. The guy downloading Allegiance should be the same guy who downloaded Combat Flight Sim. This type of player wants to win their games by the skin of their teeth, against all odds, having delt with every hurtle imaginable, and moreover, they want to rub it in their opponents face after the game.
My target is to lure the aggressive pilots who can take the heat whether it's coming from the chat lobby or from an interceptor. Most kids who play online aren't looking for hugs and kisses. This game should be advertised for the strong hearted. I don't want sissies in my navy or air force and I certainly don't want sissies on my wingtips.
Please take your boot rants to another thread, this is for video trailer ideas and input. Thanks.
