In Game Cinematics

[SoheilsX]

Ok, will there be Blizzard (www.blizzard.com) quality cinematics?

I sure hope there are, i mean comeon! In game engine cine's? Thats bull, i would understand using those most of the time, but i would still love to see super high def/quality cinematics rivaling blizzard in TFT(the frozen throne).
I mean, who doesnt wanna see space marines at say 60k polys a piece :bandit:

please please please please do high quality cinematics :D

[Rikesgard]

Don't count on it. Blizzard has an entire cinematics department which works very hard for long periods of time to create the quality of cinematic it does (if you haven't checked out the WoW intro sneak peak, look again, because it will blow the WC3 cinematics out of the water). I'm not sure how large a cinematics team Relic has, but I would be surprised if they were equal to Blizzard. So I'd be expecting more in-game cutscenes than cinematics, though there'll probably be some actual cinematics also (just not Bliz quality).

[Soulblighter]

if its anything like relics other 3 games expect black and white animation between missions to move the story along (shows off some fantastic artwork) and ingame cutscenes to pull the player in during the missions.

i for one am happy with relics take on cinematics. homeworld really set everything apart and that was carried through IC and HW2. its a nice break from cgi.

[ObsceneName]

I like both of then cenimatics alot( i know im stradling the fence) the black and white adds oringality and makes osme cutscenes more dramatic while war3 classic and tft both have amazing cute scene graphics and yeah blizzard has its own theater aswell so all the staff gets to pretty much watch the cenimatics to make sure theyre correct and stuff

[GreatSamaman]

I second that Soul. I don't want another standard RTS, with the standard cinematics, and standard gameplay. That is why I LOVE Relic so much. Besides, these lads are working hard, and I would prefer they spend their busy time making the actual GAMEPLAY as good as they can, rather than give us a mediocre attempt with some fantastic cutscenes. Because what do you replay a game for? The actual coolness-factor of the game itself, or a few nice cutscenes...Keep doin what ya doin Dev Team, we're all backing you 100%.

[Shim]

Because what do you replay a game for? The actual coolness-factor of the game itself, or a few nice cutscenes...Keep doin what ya doin Dev Team, we're all backing you 100%.

The cutscenes are the only reason I finished Firewarrior :bandit:

[Pike]

Ok, will there be Blizzard (www.blizzard.com (http://www.blizzard.com/)) quality cinematics?
I personally didn't like way that the war3 cinematic were done. Don't get me wrong, they were nice, but they didn't have the same "feel" as the in-game stuff and that kinda ruined things for me. On the other hand, relic has always managed to keep a similar kind of atmosphere in both their cinematic and in-game. So I'm hoping they're going to continue with their current style.

[Triceron]

Although it may seem like high res cinematics would be the best way to bring attention and be great trailer material, it really does little for the game in my opinion. In fact, I've rarely seen cinematics that actually help keep a mood in gameplay, they're usually played before and after campaigns as teasers and rewards for a job well done.

But when I played Homeworld 2 and saw how the animatic blended right in with the campaigns, now THAT was what I'd like to see more of.

[|)ion-Be[Z]eRkR]

No 1 can match Blizzard they are the best :D

[No Surrender]

I think that the traditional Relic B&W cinimatics would fit in perfectly with the atmoshpere of the 40k universe. Just look at the art in the codexes (codeces?) they're pretty similar to what Relic does.

[Tribunal]

Square is still a few notches higher up than Blizzard as far as cinemas go....

As much as I like in between map cinematics (and the HW games were/are up there at the top as far as style and presentation go) I really hope that we find out more during the actual campaign missions themselves. For example, during a mission being besieged by orks, our hero is requesting backup from the capitol ship in orbit when the planetary defense batteries tear into their vessel, destroying it. Screaming into the com, he gets the head of the planetary IG on the line, saying that it was HIS ship etc. The IG commander calmly states that he knew EXACTLY what he was doing, and that he and his men have taken the offer presented by his new allies. He adds that if the orks don't take care of him and his men, then he would have to show them how real soldiers fight. All that in game, a little pic or two in the upper hand corner, the cat hitting the fan and the orks just don't die fast enough as you tell yourself that the heretic must die for his betrayal to the emperor!!!!

(Enter the tyranids, who eat everyone up. Rats, just spoiled the ending!!! :bandit: )

[GreatSamaman]

eRkR']No 1 can match Blizzard they are the best :D
::cough:: and you say this on a Relic forum because?

[|)ion-Be[Z]eRkR]

::cough:: and you say this on a Relic forum because?

Because i can

[Cortanus]

The cutscenes are the only reason I finished Firewarrior :bandit:

I am quite enjoying Fire Warrior, but it is a bit iffy as an interpretation of the 40k universe.

On cinematics, full motion cintematics like Warcraft 3 just make you play the game for the cinematics. In game cinematics draw you into the game more, and the B&W cinematics of Homeworld set a great mood with the game. However, full motion would be nice, but it should serve the same purpose as the B&W cintematics did, not wow you with pretty graphics. The game will do that enough. And seeing Space Marines kicking ass will be covered quite well, if the screenshots are anything to go by.

[Richtofen]

The black and white cutscenes would look nice but some high res proper cinematics would do the game justice. The thing is, we've all read inferno, warhammer monthly and all the army books so the black and white artwork cutscenes would just kinda be showing these same pictures that we've all seen.

[Anthonace]

i think that relic will continue with the black and white cutscenes with dawn of war because they do them well and IMO they're awesome

[blood_angel]

I disagree with keeping the B&W cut scenes for DOW.
Mainly because you couldnt better the ones for HW. They were silent and minimalistic conveying the gravity of the situation and of the universe itself. Now imagine doing the same with huge explosions and the frantic chaos of a battlefield. Wont work.

[ComanderSeagoon]

Im my opinion, they should use the (brilliant) B+W movies to portray the overall story line and things not directly linked to the ground war (like epic battles between the spaceships for reinforcments etc) and if anything happens to your chapter or commander should be in in-game cinimatics.

[MacMeester]

The cutscenes are the only reason I finished Firewarrior :bandit:

mmm, a reason to finish that game :nod:
the intro movie is as i would imagine the 40K period...

[H.B.M.C.]

The cutscenes are the only reason I finished Firewarrior :bandit:

I think that's why most people finished Fire Warrior. Otherwise it was just an expensive drinks coster.

BYE

[GreatSamaman]

I'm not saying that the really nice cinematics of a game arent good to have, or that they take away from a game. I simply think that sometimes that distracts you(and the developers)from the gameplay itself. Like everyones been saying, you buy a GAME for the good GAMEplay, not some snazzy cinematics (you can go to a movie for that). However, a snazzy set of cinematics that actually fits in with the gameplay is fine. Most of the time when you play a game like WC3 or something (the best example i can give is Legend of Legaia for Playstation) the rare times you get a really bitchin cutscene, it just doesnt flow well with the gameplay. I personally find that Relic's in-game cutscenes and slideshow B+W cinematics complement each other superbly, and that is why I like them. Because when you look at them, they are just really nice black and white pieces of art, not actual moving cinematic, but it just seems right.

Now, I'm in no way saying that the whole 3d cinematics thing wouldnt work for DoW, but I would really enjoy it if Relic stuck to what it's good at and just try to improve upon it rather than jump to an entirely different style of game cinematics. I mainly want them to just make DoW have memorable/enjoyable/highly replayable gameplay rather than a few sweet cinematic sequences...

[JumpPackBoy!]

do not post in this again --- soul

[Maximus Decimus]

I for one think that the WC3 cinematics were great! they got me more involved with the story rather than taken me out of it...quite frankly i dont understand how those cutscenes take away from the games story and mood. The cutscenes had a rlly good mood to them and brought out the dramatic aura of the story. I still pop in my warcraft(RoC or TFT) cd on occasion to watch those cutscenes. I definately liked the warcraft cinematics ALOT more than the ingame cutscenes they featured in the game.

[Crested_Ones]

I cant help but agree... it can only add to a game when done correctly and with enough effort.

[SoheilsX]

I too agree, seeing as i started this thread :D.


So sometimes great cinematics distract from gameplay? Is that why Blizzard has released some of the most compelling games ever?

I rest my case... until my next post.

Which will be...........
now

[SoheilsX]

I told you :D

[JumpPackBoy!]

I think cinematics add to over all gameplay. Sure cut scenes are great but cinematics give you a better view of the story in its whole. I think DoW needs some good cinematics.

[SPOON!]

Cinematics have to suit the mood of the particular scene. homewold and HW2 used black + white movies because that enhanced the gameplay, it also made a strong contrast with the massive colour impact of the game.
My personal favorite cinamatics are from Max Payne and Max Payne 2. those still frames and Max's thoughts and feelings that talked over them... made that game. the game would have been spoiled if it had high-res cinematics. i'm sure what Relic choses will only enhance the game, since they've got a good track record with HW + HW2.

[Amur_Tiger]

I for one found that Blizzard cinematics while nice and pretty don't really fit well with the rest of the game. It's like most of the game you're just playing when the real action happens in the cinematics, it creates a distinctive rift between the two takes on the world. Relics B&W flash presentations flow very well with the game and keep the universe that it's played in unified. I not quite sure how they'll achieve the same effect with the busy atmosphere DoW will no doubt have but I'm sure they'll do a good job. I found that many Blizzard cinematics(Starcraft especially) showed the part of gameplay that were missing, like being able to control your spaceships.......... in space and having them have some real resiliency.

[Maximus Decimus]

Warcrafts cinematics added to the mood of the story and they were only at the beginning of a campaign(introduction) and at the end of a campaign(conclusion). They were not even "action scenes" so i cant understand how the intro movies and conc movies of each campaign took away from the gameplay.

[Vijil]

Judging from what I've seen and heard of DoW, and knowing what I know about the homeworld series, Blizzard have a lot of catching up to do on Relic.

As for cutscenes, Relic's theory has always been that overkill on the cutscene front detracts from the realism of the game, which was certainly true in WC3. I think they'll stick with the B+W approach because, for starts, they are good at it, secondly it fits the 40k universe art style perfectly, and thirdly its one helluva lot easier on time and resources.

[Tigurius]

If the game has a good intro and ending Cinematics, I'll be more than happy. Probably there will be in game cinematics too, just to get you more into the stroyline. But whatever they are making for us, I bet it will be good.

[blood_angel]

As for cutscenes, Relic's theory has always been that overkill on the cutscene front detracts from the realism of the game, which was certainly true in WC3.

Have you actually played WC3? The game is cartoony, the cutscenes realistic.

[Vijil]

I have played WC3. Thats my point. The cutscenes, though awesome, made the actual game kinda crappy by comparison.

[Maximus Decimus]

I guess its all in the way you look at it, the cutscenes for me were for the story and for helping establish the mood alone. I knew that in game they graphics couldnt be as good so I didnt mind it. Relic has great cutscenes as well and if they used that style that may work or may not work because with homeworld it estabished a unique feel geared towards a space game and the story. I dont know how the silent b/w cutscenes would work for DoW. I think blizzard cinematics would work for DoW better than the b/w silent stuff. Relic already mentioned that there will be in game cutscenes alot.

[JargonFilter]

i think in one of the recent articles the guys at relic said that they were sticking to mostly ingame cinematics, and won't have the b&w cinematics. But i could be completely wrong, i just remember reading that.

[Amur_Tiger]

Vijil said it better then I but the point still remains the difference in detail and quality of the cinematics made it seem detatched from the game, like another world that you're not able to touch. I understand that they may look nice and be cool but if they don't affect the gameplay positivly then they shouldn't really be there. Relics cinematics have always been very good at setting the mood that would flow into the game where WC3 it was something completely different. The fact that they were only at the beginning and end of each campain didn't help because it was part of the same overarching story and that's what SP is a story, built through in-game cinematics, missions and cinematics.

[Rikesgard]

I have played WC3. Thats my point. The cutscenes, though awesome, made the actual game kinda crappy by comparison.

WC3's mood is reflected in its cutscenes. Although the graphics of the games are cartoony, the actual game itself absolutely isn't cartoony (Blizzard's undertone of humor aside). You can't convey a story which is meant to have a lot of gravity to it if you're always presenting it in a cartoony look. Thus the cinematics were used with a far darker appearance, to go along with how they wanted to make each instance seem.

While you may not be a fan of Blizzard's cartoony graphics for its Warcraft games, the cinematics did a fantastic job of conveying the feeling they were meant too. And I seriously doubt the cinematic protraying the death of Grom Hellscream or Arthas murdering his father would have been at all as successful as they were had they retained the same, vivid, colorful appearance that WC3 has. Could you really make Arthas look like the dreadful bastard he was if he were all cartoony like he is in the game, rather than shrouded in shadow and flanked by faceless guards? Honestly, it's a great contrast having realistic cutscenes and cartoony graphics, because it helps reinforce that although the game is visually pretty cartoony, themetically it isn't at all.

[ObsceneName]

See the black and white set the mood for code empty space
that is homeworld while this game needs to eb more i dont know lively BandW silenti dont think would just work for it

and war3 cutscenes carried the very essence of the story line seriously watching archimonde destroy that city was pure greatness same with the arthas and grom hellscream scene and groms scene was by the far the best in the game

[Maximus Decimus]

I totally agree with Rikesgard and Obscene.

Yes they have stated that alot of it will be in game cutscenes but the same was with warcraft where the into and conc were the only cinematics. I think it would be most unwise if they cut cinematics from the game completely.

[JargonFilter]

you know what would be cool, is if they made the black and white cinematics 3D. Kinda like what a lot of anime movies are looking like. and by a lot, i was referring to appleseed.

of course they wouldn't make the cutscenes anime-ish. just a highly stylised look thats 3D. (ie looks like 3D concept art)

[Maximus Decimus]

I dont think anime style cinematics are good for 40k and portraying the mood. I also dont think black and white cinematics would work for 40k. Hey I have an idea, lets just wait and see what they give us because they are alrdy done their content stage(Aug 03) meaning most things they have agreed upon will stay that way.

[JargonFilter]

of course they wouldn't make the cutscenes anime-ish. just a highly stylised look thats 3D. (ie looks like 3D concept art)

thats what i said. NOT anime, just make it look like the concept art look taht relic always gives us, but in 3D. i was just referring to a movie that happens to be anime and 3D.