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Breakfast Topic: Home movies
This Breakfast Topic has been brought to you by Seed, the AOL guest writer program that brings your words to WoW Insider's pages. I am a screenshot addict. Right now, there are over 2,000 screenshots to upload to our guild web site, which has close to 1,000 screen shots already uploaded. I've screenshot pretty much anything that moves and some things that haven't. And then there are the movies. I didn't discover my Mac's ability to make acceptable movies until my guild had been around for over a year. The early movies were grainy, but they documented some of the events we did. After some study and tweaking, I've gotten better quality movies where you can actually see who the people are in the raid. I'm still figuring out the sound issue, so some movies don't have sound. I've made a movie about everything from helping guild members with Tethyr, to our Onyxia raids, to our wiping on KT in Naxx, to some of our more, shall we say, colorful events. I decided my task over the next few weeks would be to upload the 84 videos I have stored on my computer and get them onto the guild web site. The 66 I have already uploaded have sparked a lot of comments of "Oh yeah! I remember that!" and identifications of who some people are in videos. These also serve as a visual history of how the game has changed from the end of The Burning Crusade through Wrath and into Cataclysm. I spent the day before the Cataclysm, Nov. 22, 2010, filming every Alliance flight path in the old world. When I looked at those to identify them -- wow, the world has changed so much. I look back at the gear my character was wearing in the movies. "Oh yeah. I hated those shoulders!" And I really miss the Arena axe from Season 3. I never should have deleted it. The movies are a history of where we've been. Does your guild make movies of the things you do? Do you have someone who puts together polished movies with titles and comments and snappy music? Or do you have someone like me who pushes a couple of key codes and films what's on the screen? How far back do your movies go?
Guest Post: Long exposure WoWtography
This article has been brought to you by Seed, the Aol guest writer program that brings your words to WoW.com. Long exposure photography is an intriguing photographic technique that involves slowing a camera's shutter speed, thereby allowing light more time to strike the film. The technique often produces otherworldly images in which there is a sharp contrast between stationary and moving objects -- perhaps you have seen long exposure photos of cars at night, their headlights melting into long streaks of color. Because long exposure photography often reveals hidden patterns, its applications can go far beyond generating simple eye candy. Last summer, I had the opportunity to do research on interactive digital media (read: video games) at the University of Rochester, and I thought it might be fun to try some long exposure photography within my favorite game, World of Warcraft. Rather than do real long exposure photography, however (difficult when one has no camera!), I opted to emulate the effect using video clips captured with Fraps and processed with a program called Exposure. Both of these programs have free versions available. %Gallery-99392%
WoW Machinima: The basics
(Dell is holding a machinima contest, which we'll discuss shortly. They asked me to write a tutorial to help new machinimators get their start.)Every day, I feature a video by some brave soul that dived in head first into the world of machinima. For those that aren't familiar with the term, it stands for machine and cinema. The literal definition is movies made in a 3D gaming platform. Using this basic guide, as well as the other tutorials and resources available to you, you'll be creating your first project in no time!Here is what you'll need if you want to make a machinima for free: WeGame camera - A free capturing program GIMP - A free image editing program Audacity - A free audio editing program Windows Movie Maker/iMovie - Free video editing programs that should have come with your appropriate system [Thanks for originally suggesting this, Bryan!] Read on for optional and advanced tools, plus additional resources ...
Cinemassively: Making a WoW machinima
ChrisT has created a tutorial on how to edit World of Warcraft footage into a machinima. While he skips the step where you would capture the gameplay with a program like Fraps, he does show how to do certain things in Sony Vegas. This video is suited towards the beginner to intermediate levels of video editing, with tips on velocity, editing on beats, panning, and masking. You may need to pause or skip backwards in order to follow along, as this how-to is quite fast-paced. However, if you're interested in getting started in WoW machinima, it's worth checking out![Via Warcraftmovies.com]If you have machinima or movie suggestions from any MMO, please send them to machinima AT massively DOT com, along with any information you might have about them.
Virus infected Fraps steals account information? [UPDATED]
WoW Insider has received a high number of reports of hacked accounts today. We have traced the Trojan to Trojan.Crypt.FKM.Gen. This Trojan has been known to steal World of Warcraft login information.What we believe has happened, and please take this with the appropriate grain of salt, is that Fraps had a modified version of SpyLocked in it, which installed the Trojan.Crypt.FKM.Gen into Microsoft Net Meeting, which was then started silently when Windows rebooted. When the users logged into WoW, their passwords were key logged and twelve hours later several level 70 characters, including many bank alts, were deleted. It should be noted that it is possible that SpyLocked was installed into Fraps via a malicious email, however that is unlikely. We can also not verify where Fraps was downloaded, however it was almost assuredly downloaded from the official site.This is evident in the logs of the virus scanner, which show both Fraps and Net Meeting as having viruses. Further, SpyLocked has been known to install further malicious programs on a computer. Finally, all of this has been confirmed via extensive interviews with the hacked subjects.What can you do to prevent this from happening?Two things: Change your password, now! When you're at home, run a complete virus scan. Do not sign in to WoW until you've done so. We've alerted the makers of Fraps to the problem, and if appropriate, will post their reply.Most of all it's important that you, our readers, stay safe. Take a minute to change your password now.Update 11:21 p.m. April 30th: I've been in contact with Beepa, the makers of Fraps, and they assure me that the official downloads from fraps.com are perfectly fine.
Raid Rx: Analyzing your healers Part 1
Raid Rx is designed to encapsulate and cure the shock and horror that is 25-man raid healing. Ok, so it's mostly horror... Anyways, if you're a big fan of X-TREME Whack-A-Mole (or are being forced into it against your will) this is the column for you. Holyrizz, a Dwarf Holy Priest on Thrall, sent in this screenie of RoS. You know the best part? The tiny mage peeking out from under all of the raidframes. Click on it for a bigger version. Doing the assignments is the glamorous and most visually apparent part of being a healing lead. Every boss fight you dish out tasks with a hefty side of sage advice like "If it's on the floor, stand in it no more." and my favorite "Ok, one more time with feeling." after some rather nasty wipage. The healers look to you for guidance and the ability to use each class to their fullest potential. Well, in order to do that last part, you need to be serious about the real purpose of you position: setting the bar for performance expectations and helping every healer reach or exceed them. This isn't an easy task by any means, but it's definitely something that needs to be done to maintain the well-oiled machine that is your healer group. In this series, I'm going over how to analyze your healing team, including various tools and techniques, plus how to relay that information back in a way that motivates a healer to change. Note that I didn't say it'll motivate them to like you and bake you cookies. If that's what you're going for, you need to switch to Guild Nice Person and save yourself the heartache. Today I'm going to talk about my philosophy when it comes to analyzing classes you haven't played, plus what you need in place to perform a solid, thorough critique of you healers.
WoW Moviewatch: How 2 Machinima, Episode 1
Ian Beckman, the creator of Azerothian Super Villians, and Drewbie "I've never met a cameo I didn't like", have teamed up to help WoW machinimators everywhere. How 2 Machinima is a new series that will explain the art of machinima in-depth. Episode 1 focuses on WoW Model Viewer, WoW Map Viewer, recording programs, chroma keying (greenscreening), and how to put your footage together to make the scene. I look forward to the second tutorial![Thanks, Ian!]If you have any suggestions for WoW Moviewatch, you can mail them to us at machinima AT wowinsider DOT com.Previously on Moviewatch ...
Cinemassively: Machiniminute, Episode 2
Yesterday, Juiceof Prunes showed us how to get started on machinima in the first episode of Machiniminute. Today, we'll look at episode two, which focuses on the interface, mice, and arrows. If you're even an intermediate machinimator, these tutorials will probably not tell you anything new. However, they're quite detailed and fairly painless for the person just starting out.Tip #1 in the video tells you how to hide your user interface (UI). I can't stress enough how important this is for your Second Life machinima. Tip #2 explains how to remove the mouse cursor in Fraps. Tip #3 talks about something that I don't believe will affect you when your UI is off, but for those times when you need the UI on, is very useful. In episode three, which is yet to be released, she'll instruct us on camera angles.
Oxhorn scores WeGame machinima job
Having been a full-time machinimator in Second Life for about 1.5 years now, I can definitely appreciate the plight of the WoW machinimator. They produce work that is easily 10 times the quality of what comes out of SL, yet have a hard time making any money off of it. However, it looks like Oxhorn has found a way.Oxhorn has landed a gig with WeGame, a video sharing site with a twist. WeGame not only allows you to upload your machinima, it also provides you with a free desktop client for filming. If you can't afford to pay for Fraps or any of the other options, WeGame is your best bet.Read on for more about Oxhorn's new job and WeGame ...
WeGame records their way into my heart
Having to find quality Machinima for two blog posts daily can be torture. Most people won't spring for a paid copy of Fraps or gamecam, so I'm stuck looking at watermarks. That's almost an instant disqualification for consideration.Enter WeGame, which would be just like any other video sharing site if it didn't have one major difference. They offer free, easy to use recording software to their users. As a matter of fact, it's so simple that I was able to record six quick videos, review them, and choose one to upload within 30 minutes of downloading the program. I'm getting ahead of myself, though.Read on after the jump to find out more about WeGame ...
Gametrailers' video developer walkthrough for The Agency
Whether you have or haven't heard about The Agency, chances are that you don't know too much about the actual game yet -- like most of us here at Massively. Over the past few days screenshots and videos from CES have been making their way out into the wild, but aside from that there has been little other information. Well no more! Gametrailers has posted up a three-part video developer walkthrough (also from CES, imagine that!) of some pre-alpha gameplay footage for everyone interested to devour in a crazed frenzy. The entire gameplay footage you'll see on the screen behind the mysterious glasses-wearing-developer was captured using FRAPS. So they've went and captured actual server-time play on separate clients in Seattle and San Diego, which is promisingly honest of them in a game were lag is such a huge factor. One thing we get to see is the character selection screen, although there is no creation screen to show. Most likely the creation process hasn't been finished (or maybe even started) yet, but promises are made towards having lots of visual options to pick for your persona. Our only concern is that he mentions we'll have to unlock said hairs, clothings, etc before we can use them, which usually means more grinding.There's a lot to see in the three videos beyond the character screen (including some Q*bert gameplay footage?) but one aspect that really stood out to us was the whole concept of "Agent Moments" where you get to do some crazy action movie stunt. These Agent Moments are said to be either passive experiences or something more akin to God of War with timed button presses. We just hope they don't overuse the button presses too much, as they can turn from cool to annoying quick.[via Warcry Network]
Machinima 101: The basics
You've seen a crazy good PvP video that shows a top ranked player's latest moves or maybe a short clip of the latest epic mount and now you want to make a Warcraft film of your own. With two simple programs you can make a video in an hour or less. It's not going to be an epic story of love and war across the ages, but it can be anything in game you want to show your friends, guildmates or the world whether it's a guild event, a boss fight or an Arena battle. In this article, I'm going to cover the very basics of Machinima (making movies using game footage.) By the end of this feature, you'll be able to record, edit and post a short video of your exploits in Azeroth. You can see a demonstration of how to make a Warcraft film by clicking on the short video tutorial above. Otherwise, read on for step-by-step instructions complete with screenshots and recommendations for advanced techniques.
Breakfast Topic: What makes a good PvP video?
handgun over on Livejournal asks "What, in your opinion, makes a good PvP video?"He suggests showing World PvP only, kills when you're outnumbered, or building in a plotline. But what do you think? It seems like whenever we mention PvP videos here, someone mentions World of Roguecraft, and they've got pretty much everything. But then again, they've also got 41 minutes, and I'd say a good PvP video has to be shorter than that. Somethingawf's video is one of my favorites, but it's really a parody of PvP vids more than it really is one. I also like the classic Big Blue Dress, which shows some cool PvP moves, but couldn't really be considered a PvP video.So if I made the perfect PvP vid, it would have to have a story, great music, lots of humor, be pretty short, and it would have to have my favorite feature of PvP videos-- the bragging, taunting, and the flashy crit kills. It's definitely an interesting genre-- what, in your opinion, makes a good PvP video?
WoW Moviewatch: Nihilum kills Magtheridon
I would've titled this "How to Kill Magtheridon," except there's not very much strategy that can be gleaned from this video. Still, it's an entertaining watch, and I love PvE vids. Unfortunately, there's no embedded version that I can find anywhere, which means if you do want to watch it, it'll be a 255 MB torrent or direct download. [Edit: YouTube version now in place; muchas gracias, Aphext] It alternates between MT and Paladin point of view, and it took me until halfway through the video to figure out what seemed so odd about the pally -- he's a Blood Elf! I know BC leveled the playing field gear-wise, but it still surprises me that a less-than-two-month-old character is doing bleeding-edge content, and winning at it. There's a raid warning towards the end of the video reading "Bravo first try" -- was this really Nihilum's first try on the boss? If so, bravo indeed! Also, I couldn't quite make out what the loot was, aside from one of the T4 chest tokens and some gold. Anyone have any guesses?[thanks, Babbon]
Ask WoW Insider: How do you make your WoW movies?
Welcome once again to Ask WoW Insider, wherein every week we choose a question from you, dear readers, to publish and solicit the collective wisdom of your Warcraft-loving peers. Today's question comes to us from Dennis, who wants to know what tools people are using to make machinima or simply record their experience in game: "Which programs are used to create lavish WoW videos such as WoW Mario or just to show a battle?" There are multiple solutions to this problem across platforms, so can you recommend your favorite to Dennis? Please send your burning questions to Ask WoW Insider at ask AT wowinsider DOT com, and we'll choose one each week to publish and be answered by your peers.
WoW Machinima Spotlight
The folks over at Machinima.com have put together a great collection of Warcraft machinima videos & featured them in their very own channel over at their website. There are some really clever videos here, some of which you may have seen, but plenty which were new to me.The Vengeance series, in particular, is a lot of fun, but all the movies are worth watching. Any particular favorites that you guys enjoyed?
