TASK - R&D - how to make a good video

[CodeMonkey]

What are the technical steps required to make the best quality video footage of AE?

The answer must include:

- Which softwares to use? Must be free or low cost
- How do you stitch together different video segments?
- How do you overlay music?
- What screen resolution should you run the game at?
- What settings are best used for recording?
- Where can the best quality video be hosted?
- Submit a video clip that demonstrates the technical quality of the technique you come up with.

N.B. the actual visual quality of the game is not important for this task. This task is about producing a video that is not grainy, stuttery, etc. This is purely a technical task.

[Stealth]

- Which softwares to use? Must be free or low cost-  
Well you can use desktop cam since the game is such low quality.  Fraps and Gamecam are the best, i prefer Gamecam, but are not free and the demos leave watermarks (also shortened to 30 seconds a clip).

- How do you stitch together different video segments?
Windows movie maker.

- How do you overlay music?
Windows movie maker.

- What screen resolution should you run the game at?
Again, the game has such acceptable graphics that it wont matter.

- What settings are best used for recording?
Of course the highest but the higher the quality, the more lag you will get though.

- Where can the best quality video be hosted?
Youtube now has a HQ button. So Youtube is now best.

- Submit a video clip that demonstrates the technical quality of the technique you come up with.
Just search death20108 on Youtube and all my videos are either done with Fraps or Gamecam.  I even have some that arent on that account. The Army Of Earth PRE v1.0 video was made with Fraps.

[CodeMonkey]

The question is: which settings results in the best visual quality. E.g. if you run the game at 640x480 and sample at full recording quality, do you end up with a better result than if you run the game at a higher resolution and sample at a lower resolution... etc.

This is an R&D topic; real answers needed.

[Stealth]

Oh, the better the resolution the crisper the picture with both programs.

[Stealth]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nna-1KUZyIU

[CodeMonkey]

OK, that is pretty good, particularly at 720p. 

Is there a way to create a link to the 720p version?

Please describe how you made this:

- software and the settings used
- your video resolution
- your computer specs

Also please note that you can turn off the GUI if you want:

1. press F3
2. type GUI <enter>
3. press F3 again
4. play the game, record
5. press F4 when you are done, to get the GUI back

[Stealth]

Haha, i didn't even look at the 720p...that is pretty nice.

No link is available because you have to choose it.

- software and the settings used- fraps default settings....i didn't mess with anything.
- your video resolution- 1280x 800
- your computer specs-  Genuine Intel(R) CPU  T2050 @ 1.60GHz
                                  1GB of RAM
                                  32 Bit OS
                                  Integrated graphics card.
I'm using a DELL Inspiron E1505 laptop.  Windows 7, im pretty sure its a core duo processor.


*EDIT- FRAPS is NOT a free program...i got it many years ago.

[CodeMonkey]

You said you prefer GameCam. How does the technical quality of the result compare?

[Stealth]

Gamecam used to be my preferred program, i was checking up on it today, fraps surpassed it in the past versions.  I used to like gamecam more because i didn't lag you out, it opened a mini screen in the bottom right hand and you can play normaly and see what you are recording, fraps records the whole screen and somewhat lags you.

[Stealth]

No, that is a bad idea, it wont teach them anything!  If it does, it will only do the same purpose as F1 or a veteran player...If the PC is slow, a camcorder/video will only slow it more...making a tutorial server where it tells you what buttons to press and wont let you go till your press them is an ok idea if that is what you are talking about.

[Stealth]

Ya, thats what i am finding out.

[VoHoV]

Also please note that you can turn off the GUI if you want:

1. press F3
2. type GUI <enter>
3. press F3 again
4. play the game, record
5. press F4 when you are done, to get the GUI back

My GUI (yellow writing showing fps, cpu usage, etc) has been on my screen now for seems like 2 months or so, don't know how it came on really?? and I've tried the above steps as outlined, but what happens is that my screen goes completely blank (black) then to get it back I have to press F4 and graphics return, but GUI is still on.  Is this only in the game or in main menu?  I get stuck with blacked out screen typing and pressing buttons blindly.  I guess it would be nice if the GUI on/off button was a simpler input F4 on and off......

Any other suggestions?

Also any plans to implement the ideas below for new players (interactive beginner server?)  If it was setup correctly it would automatically change as new game versions where released and no new codeing or video would have to be created each time.  (Or just let vets enter beginners and help.)

[Stealth]

Stay on topic you silly goose!  That f4 idea is good though.  And the interactive beginner server sound like a better idea.

[VoHoV]

Also please note that you can turn off the GUI if you want:

1. press F3
2. type GUI <enter>
3. press F3 again
4. play the game, record
5. press F4 when you are done, to get the GUI back

My GUI (yellow writing showing fps, cpu usage, etc) has been on my screen now for seems like 2 months or so, don't know how it came on really?? and I've tried the above steps as outlined, but what happens is that my screen goes completely blank (black) then to get it back I have to press F4 and graphics return, but GUI is still on.  Is this only in the game or in main menu?  I get stuck with blacked out screen typing and pressing buttons blindly.  I guess it would be nice if the GUI on/off button was a simpler input F4 on and off......

Any other suggestions?

Also any plans to implement the ideas below for new players (interactive beginner server?)  If it was setup correctly it would automatically change as new game versions where released and no new codeing or video would have to be created each time.  (Or just let vets enter beginners and help.)

WOWYY back then it looks like I was really into this game!!  Silly goose I don't know why because there is no support for it or any response to the forums suggestions from 'dedicated' players like myself, so I've given up as you can see I haven't been to the forums since March.  I guess that's why there's no new players, just old players with new nicks.  Every person in the forums has a different nick that they play with in the game.  Strange.  The game is FAR from being ready to graduate from beta form, and gets farther every month.  You get back what you put into it -- hmmmm

[Stealth]

Though that is a good point...dont be so harsh, CM does what he can, it is also up to us to attract new players by word of mouth.