Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Categories
- 118.3K All Categories
- 732 Official Updates
- 46 News and Announcements!
- 10.8K Total War: WARHAMMER
- 6.8K General Discussion
- 179 Community Content
- 314 Multiplayer Area
- 291 Community Mod Section
- 386 Balancing Area
- 381 Balancing Discussions
- 5 Balancing Results (Moderated)
- 647 Feedback & Suggestions
- 2.2K Support Area
- 974 Crashes
- 445 Performance & Graphics
- 627 Campaign & Battle Bugs
- 119 Multiplayer Bugs
- 1.9K Total War Battles: KINGDOM
- 748 General Discussion
- 304 Feedback and Suggestions
- 52 The Tavern/Social Hub
- 85 Advice and Strategy
- 669 Bug Reporting
- 120 Crashes and Blockers
- 44 Performance
- 75 Other
- 429 Bug reports Archive
- 10K Total War: ATTILA
- 6.2K General Discussion
- 557 Game Mods
- 153 Assembly Kit
- 240 Multiplayer
- 3K Support Forum
- 1.8K GamePlay Issues
- 958 Crashes & Performance
- 89 Multiplayer
- 152 Mac & Linux Support
- 1.4K Total War Fan Section
- 1.3K Fan Made Content
- 177 Modding/TEd Tips and Tutorials
- 86.1K Total War Eras
- 36.3K Total War: ROME II
- 8.3K Total War: Shogun 2
- 793 Fall of the Samurai
- 1.5K Napoleon: Total War
- 1.3K Medieval II: Total War
- 1.3K Rome: Total War
- 226 Medieval: Total War
- 70 Shogun: Total War
- 1.3K Empire: Total War
- 7K Total War Eras - Multiplayer
- 710 Total War Eras Mods!
- 27.4K Total War Eras Support Forum
- 9.5K Off Topic
- 1.4K Total War General Chat
- 2.8K Off Topic (non Total War discussions)
- 150 New Player Board
- 1.5K Rants and Raves
- 1.8K Technology Discussion
- 550 The Graveyard
About our trailers, and what "in-engine" and "gameplay" mean.
Bart CA
Creative AssemblyHorsham, UKPosts: 333Moderators, Administrators, CA Staff
Hi everyone,
With the Karl Franz in-engine trailer going live this afternoon (2pm BST!) and a lot of discussion going on around what 'in-engine' means, we thought it’d be worth a post explaining the different kinds of videos we make and why we make them.
As you've probably noticed, we create a lot of videos for our games. When they’re not making in-game cutscenes, most of these are created by the Total War in-house cinematics team, and in some cases members of the Total War community team.
We create different types of video for different purposes and to suit a range of different tastes. When we first announce a game, we tend to kick off with a big CGI trailer, designed to establish the studio’s vision for the game (usually produced externally with the help of a CGI house), with consultation from the game’s senior developers and often using early elements of the in-game art (such as 3D models, or concept art).
As development gets up to full speed, more and more in-game assets are completed. We start using these assets in videos to show off how things are coming together, such as the ‘Introducing Demigryphs’ video released earlier this week.
When we show early game code to journalists, we usually follow up by releasing a video of it. The first of these will be released in two weeks’ time on the 30th of July with the Battle of Black Fire Pass Developer Walkthrough and there will be more to follow.
A bit closer to release, when the game is coming together in earnest, we’ll begin producing videos using gameplay footage. These come in the form of lets-plays, spotlights and eventually broadcasting livestreams.
Today we release our first in-engine cinematic trailer. These videos introduce characters and races, and the narrative surrounding them. They tell the kind of stories that we imagine players will experience when they play their own campaigns. They also give us a place to start showcasing cool features of the game in an exciting way.
Once we’ve storyboarded and written a script for a cinematic trailer, we set to work with our in-house cinematics tool (It’s called CINDY if you’re interested). This enables us to set up environments, units, models, terrain, and create custom camera paths directly within the game engine. Today’s Karl Franz trailer, for example, was set up in the Black Fire Pass battle map you’ll see in-game.
The cinematics team often ask our team of animators to make some custom animations for these trailers, chiefly for when a main character is gesturing and gesticulating. These aren’t generally made for the game but they help us to explain what’s going on and are often also used for in-game cutscenes. This being so, Total War: Warhammer offers an embarrassment of riches. Our animators have gone to town on hand-crafting spectacular combat-anims for many monsters and beasts in the game – the kind of stuff you just can’t get in the mocap studio. In today’s Karl Franz trailer for example, you’ll see a giant pick up a soldier and smash him repeatedly into the ground. This is just one of a variety of attack animations you see the giants perform in battle.
When we render the final video out, we add some post-processing cinematic effects such as enhanced depth of field and motion blur. Not features you’ll see in the game, but in these cinematic trailers we’re trying to create atmosphere and tell a story. These techniques help us do that.
So in a nutshell, that’s what an in-engine trailer is for us. We use the game engine itself as the set, along with all the props and actors it provides. We add some custom animations and some cinematic effects to make it a better watch.
Ultimately though, there’s going to be plenty of unedited gameplay to see before the game is finally released. If you follow us on social media or the forums you’ll see something for everyone.
Clearly Labelling Videos
So moving forward, we’re also going to make sure all our videos are clearly labelled so you know what you are seeing. If it’s not otherwise very apparent (like one of the following terms is used in the video’s title), you can check the description text on the video on our YouTube channel, and each will be tagged with one of the following:
‘Gameplay’
Footage captured from the current game build. If you played the game as it currently stands, that’s what you’d see. It might be edited down to make it fit the format (so loading screens removed, or various shots used to show different things).
Before launch it is also likely to be marked ‘Development in Progress’, in which case you can expect it to be representative of the final game, but you should be aware that it is not the final game and anything you see is subject to change as the game is worked on.
Gameplay videos can also be marked ‘Scripted’ or ‘Scripted Demo’, this means we’ve set the game code up to make sure specific things happen. This is handy in a sandbox game like Total War where sometimes anything can happen, but also important in the early production stages of the game where some features or components may not be ready to be integrated into the code yet and so they need to be simulated. For example, in the forth-coming video of our Total War: Warhammer Black Fire Pass demo, we’ve scripted when the various units engage with each other to simulate the battle gameplay, because we want to show off the different units fighting without them killing each other behind the camera while we’re not looking.
‘In-engine Cinematic’
The video uses Development in Progress in-game assets and code as a basis for a video shot with cinematic camera techniques to create movie-like footage. This is representative of the themes and general look and feel of the game, but it is not the direct in-game experience you will get when you are physically playing the final game.
‘In-game Cinematic’
This is the same as an ‘In-engine Cinematic’ except you can expect to see the vast majority (if not all) of the footage appear in the final game as an in-game movie, such as a intro or win movie for example.
‘Cinematic Trailer’
This is a video that doesn’t use the game engine to produce its visuals. They might use some game assets like models and audio to contribute to the making of them, but for the avoidance of doubt, please assume that nothing you are seeing is from the game itself. These are typically CGI or Live Action trailers and videos, and will be otherwise very apparent.
‘Livestream’
You’re more likely to see this on our Twitch channel of course, but unless stated otherwise, what you see during a Livestream is live gameplay captured from the current code build. Again, this may be flagged as ‘Development in Progress’ and therefore as above, is subject to change.
If during development a video we’ve previously released changes it’s classification for some reason (like the designers decide that an In-game Cinematic should be replaced with something else, or they really like our In-engine Cinematic to be included in the final game) we will endeavour to go back and update the description on YouTube.
If you’re in any doubt as to what you’re seeing, then post a question for the Community Team in the appropriate thread on the forum, but do please check the original official post on the forum which announces the video first.
Thanks for reading - if you have any questions, please post below.
You can always find this text here on the wiki for future reference: http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/About_our_trailers
Bart CA
With the Karl Franz in-engine trailer going live this afternoon (2pm BST!) and a lot of discussion going on around what 'in-engine' means, we thought it’d be worth a post explaining the different kinds of videos we make and why we make them.
As you've probably noticed, we create a lot of videos for our games. When they’re not making in-game cutscenes, most of these are created by the Total War in-house cinematics team, and in some cases members of the Total War community team.
We create different types of video for different purposes and to suit a range of different tastes. When we first announce a game, we tend to kick off with a big CGI trailer, designed to establish the studio’s vision for the game (usually produced externally with the help of a CGI house), with consultation from the game’s senior developers and often using early elements of the in-game art (such as 3D models, or concept art).
As development gets up to full speed, more and more in-game assets are completed. We start using these assets in videos to show off how things are coming together, such as the ‘Introducing Demigryphs’ video released earlier this week.
When we show early game code to journalists, we usually follow up by releasing a video of it. The first of these will be released in two weeks’ time on the 30th of July with the Battle of Black Fire Pass Developer Walkthrough and there will be more to follow.
A bit closer to release, when the game is coming together in earnest, we’ll begin producing videos using gameplay footage. These come in the form of lets-plays, spotlights and eventually broadcasting livestreams.
Today we release our first in-engine cinematic trailer. These videos introduce characters and races, and the narrative surrounding them. They tell the kind of stories that we imagine players will experience when they play their own campaigns. They also give us a place to start showcasing cool features of the game in an exciting way.
Once we’ve storyboarded and written a script for a cinematic trailer, we set to work with our in-house cinematics tool (It’s called CINDY if you’re interested). This enables us to set up environments, units, models, terrain, and create custom camera paths directly within the game engine. Today’s Karl Franz trailer, for example, was set up in the Black Fire Pass battle map you’ll see in-game.
The cinematics team often ask our team of animators to make some custom animations for these trailers, chiefly for when a main character is gesturing and gesticulating. These aren’t generally made for the game but they help us to explain what’s going on and are often also used for in-game cutscenes. This being so, Total War: Warhammer offers an embarrassment of riches. Our animators have gone to town on hand-crafting spectacular combat-anims for many monsters and beasts in the game – the kind of stuff you just can’t get in the mocap studio. In today’s Karl Franz trailer for example, you’ll see a giant pick up a soldier and smash him repeatedly into the ground. This is just one of a variety of attack animations you see the giants perform in battle.
When we render the final video out, we add some post-processing cinematic effects such as enhanced depth of field and motion blur. Not features you’ll see in the game, but in these cinematic trailers we’re trying to create atmosphere and tell a story. These techniques help us do that.
So in a nutshell, that’s what an in-engine trailer is for us. We use the game engine itself as the set, along with all the props and actors it provides. We add some custom animations and some cinematic effects to make it a better watch.
Ultimately though, there’s going to be plenty of unedited gameplay to see before the game is finally released. If you follow us on social media or the forums you’ll see something for everyone.
Clearly Labelling Videos
So moving forward, we’re also going to make sure all our videos are clearly labelled so you know what you are seeing. If it’s not otherwise very apparent (like one of the following terms is used in the video’s title), you can check the description text on the video on our YouTube channel, and each will be tagged with one of the following:
‘Gameplay’
Footage captured from the current game build. If you played the game as it currently stands, that’s what you’d see. It might be edited down to make it fit the format (so loading screens removed, or various shots used to show different things).
Before launch it is also likely to be marked ‘Development in Progress’, in which case you can expect it to be representative of the final game, but you should be aware that it is not the final game and anything you see is subject to change as the game is worked on.
Gameplay videos can also be marked ‘Scripted’ or ‘Scripted Demo’, this means we’ve set the game code up to make sure specific things happen. This is handy in a sandbox game like Total War where sometimes anything can happen, but also important in the early production stages of the game where some features or components may not be ready to be integrated into the code yet and so they need to be simulated. For example, in the forth-coming video of our Total War: Warhammer Black Fire Pass demo, we’ve scripted when the various units engage with each other to simulate the battle gameplay, because we want to show off the different units fighting without them killing each other behind the camera while we’re not looking.
‘In-engine Cinematic’
The video uses Development in Progress in-game assets and code as a basis for a video shot with cinematic camera techniques to create movie-like footage. This is representative of the themes and general look and feel of the game, but it is not the direct in-game experience you will get when you are physically playing the final game.
‘In-game Cinematic’
This is the same as an ‘In-engine Cinematic’ except you can expect to see the vast majority (if not all) of the footage appear in the final game as an in-game movie, such as a intro or win movie for example.
‘Cinematic Trailer’
This is a video that doesn’t use the game engine to produce its visuals. They might use some game assets like models and audio to contribute to the making of them, but for the avoidance of doubt, please assume that nothing you are seeing is from the game itself. These are typically CGI or Live Action trailers and videos, and will be otherwise very apparent.
‘Livestream’
You’re more likely to see this on our Twitch channel of course, but unless stated otherwise, what you see during a Livestream is live gameplay captured from the current code build. Again, this may be flagged as ‘Development in Progress’ and therefore as above, is subject to change.
If during development a video we’ve previously released changes it’s classification for some reason (like the designers decide that an In-game Cinematic should be replaced with something else, or they really like our In-engine Cinematic to be included in the final game) we will endeavour to go back and update the description on YouTube.
If you’re in any doubt as to what you’re seeing, then post a question for the Community Team in the appropriate thread on the forum, but do please check the original official post on the forum which announces the video first.
Thanks for reading - if you have any questions, please post below.
You can always find this text here on the wiki for future reference: http://wiki.totalwar.com/w/About_our_trailers
Bart CA
Forum Terms & Conditions
Formal disclaimer: any views or opinions expressed here are those of the poster and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of The Creative Assembly or SEGA.
Formal disclaimer: any views or opinions expressed here are those of the poster and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of The Creative Assembly or SEGA.
Post edited by Bart CA on
Comments
Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!
Team Dwarf
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeHopefully this will answer a lot of questions.
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeMine wasn't as long winded though. ;-)
i7 4790k @ 4ghz
1 x Titan X Pascal
16GB 2400Mhz Ram
1TB SSD Drive
34" Curved Monitor 3440x1440p
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeTomb Kings
The Empire
"Surrender and serve me in life, or die and slave for me in death." - Vlad von Carstein
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeAn' den I'm gonna get really mean."
Grimgor Ironhide, Black Orc Warboss.
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeVery good decision.
I am starting to think you have learned from Rome 2 fiasco. Now give us a demo some weeks before release and i might even eat my words and preorder!
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like+10 Respect for CA
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeBecause don't forget that with TW:WH, you have to satisfy 2 communities. Take your time, and create the best WH game ever (what is really really possible for you).
Can't wait for some gameplay videos, with some campaign map and dwarves
Dawis shall purge all their fallen Karaks, with the blood of the Greeskins and the skavens !
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeIt should hopefully thwart the fools out there who take everything at face value as well as those who take the most convoluted interpretations and amplify it out accross the communities causing confusion to all.
*Posts a reply after hours of creating a well thought out comment with proper grammar and paragraphing.
*purple post immediately after.
[Option 2]
*Posts a reply after hours of creating a well thought out comment with proper grammar and paragraphing.
*realise you posted it in the middle of a heated argument.
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeTeam Athens
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeTeam Dwarves"
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeOr come by the Sub-Reddit for discussion and ask any questions you'd like! https://www.reddit.com/r/LoremasterofSotek/
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeJust to be clear, the Last Roman Trailer (here) would be an "In-Game Cinematic" in that it is the intro you get when you play the campaign, but it is still a cinematic.
Formal disclaimer: any views or opinions expressed here are those of the poster and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of The Creative Assembly or SEGA.
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeGPU- GTX 670 OC 2gb
RAM- 16gb Corsair Vengeance
Mobo- Gigabyte Z77X-DH3
PSU- Corsair Gaming Series GS800 800w
Steam - Kooboh
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeAnd it looks great.
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeHi wakko2k,
We aren't saying "in-game footage"; please refer to the definitions in the original post. Perhaps you mean "gameplay" or "in-game cinematic"?
If we say "gameplay", yes you could assume this is what we intend the game to look like at the time the footage is captured. If it is marked "work in progress" then it is subject to change and graphical or gameplay features may be changed before release as part of the development process.
This is unavoidable, we would like to show everyone the game as it comes together, but it will change in the development process as it is made.
We shouldn't assume that everyone understands how games are made, and so we will adhere to these terms in future to help make it clearer.
Thank you for reading,
Bart CA
Formal disclaimer: any views or opinions expressed here are those of the poster and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of The Creative Assembly or SEGA.
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · LikeVery much agree. Good to see CA exhibiting some respect for its fanbase in these matters. And a helpful way of keeping expectations well managed!
- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like- Spam
- Abuse
- Report
0 · Like