Prepare a video preview of the new release

[pchote]

It will take a couple of weeks to pull a final release build together, and so we should use this time to create a highlights video for the new features. This strategy works well at driving social-media coverage of other projects like OpenMW.

If we can get some volunteers to do the narration and editing, then we can (and should - we will need to come up with a fair balance of features vs details across all the mods) plan out a script on IRC before we start.

[Mailaender]

@SoScared and @RiderRockon did great videos in the past.

[SoScared]

I'll gladly volunteer for the narration and editing with this preview.

[NinovanderMark]

I wouldn't mind chipping in on this. I can record some gameplay clips and send them through, wouldn't mind narrating either, but as @SoScared already beat me to the punch on that one I'm more then happy to let him have that :D

[SoScared]

I first and foremost love video editing. Basically I would need 1) detailed information on changes for all the relevant units and elements and 2) footage (e.g. showing units by themselves + demonstrate use in battle).

After the script is planned out and I have all the info and videos I need, I can produce the video. If this part goes through without too much delay I can yield the narrating to @RiderRockon as I can finish the video editing around a pre-planned script. I think it be favorable to include the community as much as possible:)

[Mailaender]

Some parts of the https://github.com/OpenRA/OpenRA/wiki/Changelog that may work in a video

• http://resource.openra.net and the integration into the client
• C4 on bridges and tanks
• scorched husks and capture-repairing them with engineers
• Dune 2000 polish fixes: animations on radar, factories, refinery, repair pad, starport
• Concrete under buildings to make them not detoriate
• New unit: Atreides grenadier
• Turrets integrate with walls
• GUI: news, enhanced replay viewer, mod and mission selector
• New units: soviet vehicle hijacker and allies phase tank
• Bibs for all buildings including small ones below them
• Performance improvements (maybe loading time before/after with a bar chart?)

[cjshmyr]

Haven't looked at the full list, but I think map beacons + banners on super weapons is worth a show

[pchote]

I have planned out a rough list of features to show, but haven't made time to write them down yet. Watch this space!

[cjshmyr]

:eyes:

[SoScared]

I'm mentally prepared for this:)

Video captures need be standardized and be with the highest quality possible. The best video format for me to work with is mp4 so contributors should process their captures into that. I'm a nut for 1080p but 720p will work fine as well.

I use fraps and virtualDub for my footage. Both free and simple to use.

http://www.fraps.com/ - I use the paid version but you don't really need it for short clips http://www.virtualdub.org/ Also, codecs: http://www.windows7codecs.com/

For crisp HD OpenRA footage, here is a processing settings file of mine that can be loaded directly from virtualDub's file menu: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ijwl01lrihd6qr4/OpenRA.Captures.vcf

[pchote]

The new playtest is now out, so we can now make a start on this. We should aim to get this completed within 1-2 weeks if that is possible - any longer will cause the release to be delayed.

Here's my thoughts / rough draft on what i'd like to see:

• Start at the new mod chooser and explain
  • Appears the first time you launch the game, but subsequent launches will go straight to the last-used mod. You can return to the mod chooser using the mods button in the main menu of each mod.
  • It provides a much nicer view of our default mods, plus any custom mods that you have installed
  • Yes, we do support custom mods!
  • If you have created a mod for the december release, then you will need to upgrade it to work with the new engine. There is a page on the wiki with a walkthrough of the required changes.
• Load one of the mods, and comment that the load speeds have been significantly increased in this release.
• Show off the new menu layout, with wipes / fades between the three mods.
  • New singleplayer menu, with access to an offline skirmish and campaigns (probably use TD to demonstrate this, as it has the most missions)
  • Replay browser changes
  • Battlefield news
• Show off the improved lobby
  • Join a custom server, and show the new map download/install in progress
  • Comment on the new resource site (maybe show an embedded screenshot of it?), and explain that user-created maps can be uploaded there, enabling this automatic download.
  • Comment on the new spawn selector, and the "username resets to newbie" bug fix
  • Switch to a map with invalid rules (e.g. one of norman's heavily customized maps), to demonstrate that we now disable incompatible maps that would crash the game.
  • Comment that we support maps that include custom rule changes and lua scripting, and that these can also be distributed via the resource site.
  • Comment / show the new "block spectators" option.
  • Comment / show the force-start warning dialog, and comment that the "proper" way to start a multiplayer game is to use the ready checkboxes.
• Go through each of the three mods in turn, and briefly show the new gameplay changes.
  • I haven't put a lot of thought into this yet, so we will want to brainstorm what / where to show these.

[SoScared]

With the exception of the showing of new gameplay changes (which might become the most time consuming), I can get to work on all these draft points straight away. Just let me know when everyone is happy with the draft.

**If there's no more say on this I'll follow this draft starting Saturday.

[NinovanderMark]

Hey guys, I'm afraid I'm going to have to rescind my offering of providing footage or doing voice-over work for this as I won't be having much in the way of time for that in the coming weeks.

[SoScared]

It's feedback time. Halfway into the easy part of the draft: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rgul5kqcal0ilvw/previewpreview.mp4

[SoScared]

So the preview video is the last issue now. I'll do my best (mostly in-game footage) aiming to get it done before Saturday. Rush in some feedback please.

[Mailaender]

Looking really good. This is a little GUI centric. The remaining seconds of the song could also be used to show C4 on long bridges by Tanya and an engineer resurrecting a husk as these features are not too easily discovered.

[SoScared]

Video as of Thursday: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3pq1b9m0gbugofv/Produced_4.mp4

Content fills about 7 minutes. I estimate the final product reaching 10 minutes.

Remaining content are the performance improvement, the player beacon, superweapon markers and the improved replay viewer. Remaining work is the commentary track, effects and editing. I'll have it finished asap but think I want to use Saturday to make the end product as pristine as possible.

[Mailaender]

The gameplay situations are well staged. :+1:

[SoScared]

Video as of Saturday morning: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rfo8lktmowsrfxy/Produced_sat.mp4

Final product will be about 12 minutes.

Remaining work is texting, final editing, voiceover and some polish. Releasing it tonight.

[SoScared]

Finished a new voiceover (a decent one this time) and editing is done. Just texts and graphics/polish left.

[SoScared]

https://www.dropbox.com/s/6rm0qrasht25up7/Produced_sat2.mp4

[MunWolf]

:+1: me like

[SoScared]

Completed: https://www.dropbox.com/s/t581l839axcmi8r/Produced_sat3.mp4

However, since there is still time until the release is out, I encourage anyone with the time to check the video for errors. Especially typos and text/graphics displacements.

[SoScared]

Typo 'destructable' to 'destructible' in husks scene fixed. Some background noice from the voiceover in the beginning of the video fixed as much as possible.

[SoScared]

Possible final video: https://www.dropbox.com/s/kurj98dpeytkp2j/Produced_sat4.mp4

[SoScared]

And so it was! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzU5HtFvEEM

[Mailaender]

:clap: