Media Blog

Do you Record or Watch Machinima?

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Yes, it sounds like a sneeze. But Machinima is a combination of the words machine and cinema. I have a top five list of tips on how to make good Machinima, sent in to us by Oliver.

  1. Make sure you have the proper equipment before even starting the script writing or acting. This includes a capture card, the game system WITH the game you will be using, and proper software to edit and create your final product. The only catch here is the capture card. You will need to determine what type of capture card is good for you. An external one connects via 2.0 USB and has generally slightly reduced quality but is easier to install. An internal one uses a PCI slot in your PC, and has higher quality. Obviously the catch is you have to install it yourself. The game system and the game is fairly obvious, and the software is just used to edit the movie parts. A simple program such as Windows Movie Maker, or iMovie will do just fine.
  2. Have a plan. Don’t just go into the movie with no idea where it’s going. Make sure any and all voice actors know their lines to avoid ‘umms…’ unless they are intentional, and have a time frame limit. Don’t make the Movie or show too long, or eventually people lose interest. Additionally, be prepared for requesting peoples’ help for body actors. If you need players just to run around and fight, you may have to ask the Machinima community for their assistance. However, in the end, it’s just going to help you make a better film.
  3. Don’t rush it! In general, you will not be able to create a decent piece of Machinima unless you put a little time into it. To expect to have the whole thing done in an hour is a bit over the top. Make sure you have proper camera angles, and be sure to avoid lag time between scenes. If you need to re-film something, just do it, because it’ll make your movie better in the end. Quality work takes Quality Time.
  4. Avoid using games not meant for the purpose of making Machinima. When making a Machinima film, you want to remove elements that make it look like game play, and make it more an actual film. In games such as Gears of War, or GTA IV, you are unable to remove certain HUD features, such as the ammo reader. Unless you are good at editing videos, it’s stuck in your film. My personal recommendation, and that of most Machinima directors, is to use Halo 3. It actually had Machinima in mind when the game was created. It has the theater mode, where you can remove all HUD displays, and use a fly camera that can go anywhere. It even has legal documentation on their site regarding the usage of material from the game IN machinima movies. It just makes the job easier, and allows you to make higher quality movies.
  5. Have fun with it. If you start making a Machinima series, and you aren’t having fun with it, stop making it! Machinima directing may not be for everyone, and while you may enjoy watching the videos, you may find it hard (and expensive) to make these videos. You can enjoy the art of Machinima by watching the videos, and you don’t have to become frustrated over something that’s supposed to be fun.

After we finished recording this video, I received a few emails from community members with examples of their Machinima work. Here they are, in no particular order:

If you are into making Machinima, I’d love to have a link to your work so I can watch and enjoy it.

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