Thanks to Xaragoth's discoveries, we can now create our own cinematic using the previewer. Tutorials on creating them will be edited here in the future as we're still exploring. This is now to focus on how to put them in your map
.SC2Scene are XML cinematic file that is exported from the previewer set up with animation/ facial/ voice/ sounds. .. etc...
Here's a complete pack of scene file for Wings Of Liberty campaign to download and explore
Each scene file is associated with a sound file that play facial (mouth) animation on the character, if you play a blank sound instead, model will not talk.
Basic example using blizzard's scene file
Here's a basic setup to preload file scene file, disable unwanted sound, disable ui, then enable all of them back and clean up the scene when the cinematic is done.
Using the first cinematic scene: Public Enemy
File: CinematicScenes/Terran01.SC2Scene
Sound file: Terran01_ME (Unnamed)
Make sure to add all campaign dependencies
btw we need to figure out the camera stuff, They use a single camera called "exported camera" that call upon other camera. The trigger parameter can only call a single camera (that exported one) so its not going to be easy
We need to find a good way to jump to a specific point in the cinematic. That would make it possible to do them inside maps for people without 3ds max knowledge. At least you could get a half-decent one.
Hmm....is this the reason none of the "Set" category units appear in the map? I've been trying to figure out a way to make a cinematic with Donny Vermillion and his tv studio set, but I can't get the models to appear at all.
Are you planning a tutorial for creating a new scene from scratch ?
I've been messing around with the previewer and made a nice scene that supposed to appears for 5 second at the beginning of the map, thank to you guys :)
.Well I "should" be able to run it, but it's not working.
Only cinematic mode seems to engage and disengage, so here is some questions that i would like answered, if possible.
-What are the scene path relative to ? i guess the folders in the MPQ, but if my files are not in a mpq ? should i just replicate the MPQ hiereachy ?
-Is "cam_export" a a .sc2camera file exported from the previewer ? I tryed that but once again it could not be working simply because of my paths.
Also if you ever figure out how to animate a camera let us know ASAP :D
thank a lot.
You need a camera for the scene, cam export are the default one for blizzard, which animate. Add a stationary camera, name it then call it in the trigger. We currently cant animate camera atm
You need a camera for the scene, cam export are the default one for blizzard, which animate. Add a stationary camera, name it then call it in the trigger. We currently cant animate camera atm
Adding a camera through a trigger in the map or in the previewer ? I have game, userview and a camera that added itself when i added a skybox. I've looked at the hotkeys and couldn't find create camera.
also , can we attach a camera to something ? if so we could make a transparent model and attach the camera to it and move the actor.
You can add a camera with "StoryModeCameras -> Camera X". To get an animated camera, you'd have to set it up in 3D Studio Max, animate it there and export it. Sadly the exporter is not supporting cameras right now.
Still working on it.
Any typos are to be blamed to the certain lack of food.
Is there a tutorial on the way of how to make a cinematic in Previewer? Things like setting up cameras and how to make objects move from one spot to another?
Alright. There is currently no Tutorial under way, but I'll probably do another round of "How 2 Machinima" on ModCraft sooner or later. Currently, there is just no time to do a show, so we won't cover that.
Also, you can not move stuff in the Previewer without doing a special animation for it. And doing that is a pain in the ass due to the export script that just isn't made for anything related to cinematics. Setting up a Camera is pretty easy ... just look for one you like under "Storymode Cameras" and place it where you need it.
All in all it's still not viable to have Cutscenes in your maps. Doing a Machinima will work just fine though.
Its actually not that useful to do anything due to limited model and animations. Basically just a bunch of keyboard shortcut to move stuff around in the Previewer, set position, animation and then save it into a .SC2Scene file, which i already provide a tutorial on how to use scene file (which is the only useful thing). You can even use a text editor to modify those scene file (its around 4kb for each scene)
Hopefully we can have more support in this area in the coming HotS (since from the look of the teaser, they're still focusing on the ingame cinematic)
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What is a cinematic scene
Thanks to Xaragoth's discoveries, we can now create our own cinematic using the previewer. Tutorials on creating them will be edited here in the future as we're still exploring. This is now to focus on how to put them in your map
.SC2Scene are XML cinematic file that is exported from the previewer set up with animation/ facial/ voice/ sounds. .. etc...
Here's a complete pack of scene file for Wings Of Liberty campaign to download and explore
http://www.sc2mapster.com/assets/blizzard-official-cutscenes-file/
How to Use
To use the scene file, import them into the map, preload it then call this trigger.
http://wiki.sc2mapster.com/galaxy/triggers/play-sound-scene-file/
Each scene file is associated with a sound file that play facial (mouth) animation on the character, if you play a blank sound instead, model will not talk.
Basic example using blizzard's scene file
Here's a basic setup to preload file scene file, disable unwanted sound, disable ui, then enable all of them back and clean up the scene when the cinematic is done.
Using the first cinematic scene: Public Enemy
File: CinematicScenes/Terran01.SC2Scene
Sound file: Terran01_ME (Unnamed)
Make sure to add all campaign dependencies
For a more advanced method,(skipping by esc, array initialization) refer to my cinematic player map where we can select which one to load
http://www.sc2mapster.com/assets/cinematic-player/
Video & Map
New video of the cinematic player
A custom scene made in progress. Just to show what we can do.
Old video with sound not working
Good job! Stuff is getting interesting now :>
@Gorandor: Go
btw we need to figure out the camera stuff, They use a single camera called "exported camera" that call upon other camera. The trigger parameter can only call a single camera (that exported one) so its not going to be easy
Very nice, =D.
@progammer:
Yeah, I'll check on it. I suppose those are their cameras that are under storymode cameras though Ôo
You could always call upon the scene to play again though I suppose. Like doing 5 or 6 of them and play them after each other?
Updated. Work with sounds and an example cinematic player included
Working on mine as we speak....We def need to get a tutorial on how to make the scene files now for the people who did not get to watch.
We need to find a good way to jump to a specific point in the cinematic. That would make it possible to do them inside maps for people without 3ds max knowledge. At least you could get a half-decent one.
@progammer: Go
shouldve put spoiler alert :\
How does this work with publishing maps? Are scenes actually separate files or embedded in your map?
Hmm....is this the reason none of the "Set" category units appear in the map? I've been trying to figure out a way to make a cinematic with Donny Vermillion and his tv studio set, but I can't get the models to appear at all.
Are you planning a tutorial for creating a new scene from scratch ? I've been messing around with the previewer and made a nice scene that supposed to appears for 5 second at the beginning of the map, thank to you guys :) .Well I "should" be able to run it, but it's not working.
Only cinematic mode seems to engage and disengage, so here is some questions that i would like answered, if possible. -What are the scene path relative to ? i guess the folders in the MPQ, but if my files are not in a mpq ? should i just replicate the MPQ hiereachy ? -Is "cam_export" a a .sc2camera file exported from the previewer ? I tryed that but once again it could not be working simply because of my paths.
Also if you ever figure out how to animate a camera let us know ASAP :D thank a lot.
Scene are seperate file exported from the previewer that contain info about model/animation. then import to your map.
@dpsygnet: Go
You need a camera for the scene, cam export are the default one for blizzard, which animate. Add a stationary camera, name it then call it in the trigger. We currently cant animate camera atm
Adding a camera through a trigger in the map or in the previewer ? I have game, userview and a camera that added itself when i added a skybox. I've looked at the hotkeys and couldn't find create camera.
also , can we attach a camera to something ? if so we could make a transparent model and attach the camera to it and move the actor.
You can add a camera with "StoryModeCameras -> Camera X". To get an animated camera, you'd have to set it up in 3D Studio Max, animate it there and export it. Sadly the exporter is not supporting cameras right now.
Still working on it.
Any typos are to be blamed to the certain lack of food.
@Gorandor: Go
Any updates on that yet?
Is there a tutorial on the way of how to make a cinematic in Previewer? Things like setting up cameras and how to make objects move from one spot to another?
Alright. There is currently no Tutorial under way, but I'll probably do another round of "How 2 Machinima" on ModCraft sooner or later. Currently, there is just no time to do a show, so we won't cover that.
Also, you can not move stuff in the Previewer without doing a special animation for it. And doing that is a pain in the ass due to the export script that just isn't made for anything related to cinematics. Setting up a Camera is pretty easy ... just look for one you like under "Storymode Cameras" and place it where you need it.
All in all it's still not viable to have Cutscenes in your maps. Doing a Machinima will work just fine though.
I've been trying to figure out for days how to use those marines. But it doesn't seem like there is much in the way of useful information here. :(
Shows potential but none of the smart people have posted how they did anything.
@gamemore: Go
Its actually not that useful to do anything due to limited model and animations. Basically just a bunch of keyboard shortcut to move stuff around in the Previewer, set position, animation and then save it into a .SC2Scene file, which i already provide a tutorial on how to use scene file (which is the only useful thing). You can even use a text editor to modify those scene file (its around 4kb for each scene)
Hopefully we can have more support in this area in the coming HotS (since from the look of the teaser, they're still focusing on the ingame cinematic)