Double Action Summer Kickstarter

[Vino]

Well the gameplay footage was recorded widescreen and the Kickstarter video is fullscreen, either there's going to be letterboxing or I'll have to pan and scan it, which I think will look bad.

Thank you, mouxe and 10506

[ThinRedPaste]

that being the case, I think it would be better to have vertical letterboxing on the camera footage and show the whole thing widescreen.

[BullHorn]

Oh.

OH!

Great video, well made, but you need to re-do it with a better camera and microphone. I'm in!

[Vino]

that being the case, I think it would be better to have vertical letterboxing on the camera footage and show the whole thing widescreen.

That would be possible on Youtube but it's not on Kickstarter. Look: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/vin ... n=d256ff7f Kickstarter's video area is fullscreen 4:3 ratio and it doesn't accept widescreen videos. I could make a widescreen copy of the video and put it on YouTube, but that's not what people would see when they access the Kickstarter. If we upload a widescreen video to Kickstarter then it'll put its own horizontal letterboxing on it, and the end result is that our vertical letterboxing combined with their horizontal letterboxing would put the camera footage in a black box, and the ingame footage would still be letterboxed.

@Bullhorn, that camera and mike are the best I can get at the moment unfortunately.

[ThinRedPaste]

then i guess the best solution is for any further footage to be recorded at a 4:3 resolution.

[Vino]

Yes I forgot to tell D that before we recorded. It's not a dealbreaker though.

[Dementei]

Ooo yea I see, it's fine then if it fits on kickstarter

[10506]

If any of you fine former TS'ers need a mumble to chill in feel free to use mine, it doesn't get much use these days. yawn.mumble.com 6119

[Flakk]

How does Valve's Steam greenlight thing work? Is that something that could help DAB maybe? Or is it too early?

[ThinRedPaste]

I think that's for games that are trying to get steam to sell them. Not aware of any free stuff on there.

[Vino]

At some point I may put DA on Greenlight, but the latest news is that Valve is losing interest in Greenlight, and gaining interest in making Steam more open so that anybody can put stuff up there. So I think our best bet is to go for an engine license and talk directly to Valve.

[Sin]

just wanted to pop my head in while i could and say:
I think this is a good start but I'd definitely hold off a polish a few things, namely:
1. video quality / marketing production
I think the quality of this video is reflective of what we'll be hoping to deliver down the line. With that, improving the quality can be as simple as cleaning up the text, transitions, using a better cam, putting the clip actually on the screen etc. (I can send you some references Vino even while away, but I think this is straightforward\
2. Cleaning up the script.
I like it, for the most part, but I do agree with emphasizing how great things were with TS, but also how you grew as a developer, what and how we learned things, and what sets us apart from other projects like these.
3. More detail.
I'd leave this out in the video since it cant get too verbose, but I'd say have a damn good (and well presented) design document that can be easily referenced and is mentioned in the vid. Maybe you can mention some high level things about the general idea, but leave the deets in the doc and leave the hype in the video.

also, without having too much context: I'd be sure and take our time on this to play it safe. Getting funding a bit later rather than pushing to get it early doesn't sound too unrealistic -- do we have a hard deadline of sorts? Again, been MIA and dont know much.

Didn't get to go through much of the text (sorry) but again, just wanted to pop my head in.
I'll be touching down in a month so hoping to give a helping hand asap!


dowork. <3

[Vino]

Yeah actually, I am on a bit of a schedule. I have to know whether the Kickstarter will pass before I apply for other summer programs, which starts next month. That's why I'm running the Kickstarter this month, by the end of next weekend at the latest.

There's zero possibility of getting a better camera to re-record things, I just don't have a better camera. But I wouldn't say that's a big issue if everything else can come in line. If you have time I would like to see your references for how you think I can improve the video, and your thoughts on how I can improve the script. I have an opportunity to revise all of these things before it goes live.

[10506]

Don't release the video without a better quality recording of yourself.

[Sin]

Some ideas (thinking out loud because y'all are so kind and allow me to do so :] ):

In regard to the camera quality:

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If you don't have access to / can't borrow a better camera - maybe you could...
Go to a Target or something, buy a good one to film, and return it within the return policy? It's a bit shady I suppose...but just saying. If you can't afford that, you know how to reach me.

In regard to the video itself:

The background:

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I think lighting was good, but maybe switch up the background elsewhere? Maybe you can find a cool office-space/library room to shoot the video in or a park. Nothing special, just the white by itself looks a bit drab. A Painted wall with some simple decor might just do.

Include a footer.

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Nothing extravagant, just something to box the video in. It could have the DA logo at all times. maybe our webaddress. maybe a caption (e.g.// "The specialist" or... "Development version of Double Action" etc.)

Clips on the monitor.

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Just unplug the monitor and have it on a nice tabletop. Cover it up with some colored paper and greenscreen it proper. Looks too jenk with video floating over it

Background music.

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I think you have some right now. I'd up the decibels a bit, and go for something more calm, but can be turned up and changed for the action shots

Focus.

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In regard to getting a better camera - I find that a video that can focus on you and kind of wash out the background a bit more seems more polished overall

Space.

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Although your bodylanguage seems natural, the space you are in seems cramped. The screen doesn't fit in the shot, and your shoulder is half off. Maybe scoot the camera back and capture abit more

Variety.

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I love you and all, but a 3.5 minute video of just you and DA can be a bit much to focus on the full-time. I think changing up the scene is out of the question since...what we're showing is software, but maybe different clips can help spice things up. Modelling clips, drafts, etc. By just looking at you and trying to focus on you talking the whole time (I may be okay with this since we've connected for so long), someone might get the impression that this is a one-man job, or an infomercial of sorts. Instead, you want to come off as the representative of the DA Team + Community.

Cinematics.

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If possible, could we use real_hud for the clips? Not that our UI elements aren't there, but I think it'd give it a bit more polish, and our UI is still incomplete. Re: The less we show our exposed screws, the more polished our work looks. Unless we make our exposed screws really cool in some way.

I'll try posting/sending some videos. <3

Keep it up!