Cinematic

Cinematic

Cinematic refers to something which relates to, or is itself, an animation or movie. Something which is cinematic is generally non-interactive.

How do cinematics relate to the Tygron Engine

In the Tygron Engine, a cinematic is an animation through the 3D world. During a cinematic, the user is no longer in control of their camera. Instead, the camera moves automatically between key locations. The user is also unable to take any actions, until the cinematic is ended. When the cinematic ends, the camera is places back into a normal position, directed at the last key location's camera direction.

The cinematic also displays text to the user when necessary. This can happen in two ways. The text can be displayed as a subtitle, while the camera continues to move in the cinematic. Alternatively, displaying the text can pause the cinematic, until the user confirms they wish to continue.

• 

  Text without pausing the cinematic

• 

  Text during a pause in the cinematic

When to use cinematics

Cinematics are generally used for exposition to the user. When it is necessary to provide information to a user, or to direct their attention to a specific predefined location in the 3D world, this can be done using a cinematic. Because a cinematic takes away the user's ability to move the camera themselves, and to take actions, a cinematic is best used for vital information which only has to be provided once. An example of this is an introduction to the area at the start of the Project Session.

By default, a welcome cinematic is present in each project, automatically generated when the project is created. This cinematic is displayed to all stakeholders at the start of the project session, and is a brief introduction of the zones present in the 3D world.

Creating and editing cinematics

Template:Editor ribbon In the editor, it is possible to create, duplicate, edit and delete cinematics in a project. It is also possible to create keypoints, or remove keypoints from a cinematic.

Creating or removing cinematics

Template:Editor ribbon When you create a new cinematic, it will serve as an "empty slot". Before a cinematic can be used, it is important to add key points to the cinematic, and to adjust their location.

The left panel allows you to select cinematics.

How to create a new cinematic:

1. Select "Animations" in the ribbon header.
2. Select "Cinematics" in the ribbon bar.
3. Select "Add cinematic" in the left panel.

How to duplicate an existing cinematic:

1. Select "Animations" in the ribbon header.
2. Select "Cinematics" in the ribbon bar.
3. Select the existing cinematic you wish to duplicate.
4. Select "Duplicate" in the left panel.

How to remove an existing cinematic:

1. Select "Animations" in the ribbon header.
2. Select "Cinematics" in the ribbon bar.
3. Select the cinematic you wish to remove.
4. Select "Remove" in the left panel.

Editing cinematics

The right panel allows you to edit the properties of cinematics.

There is only one property directly related to cinematics, but the right panel offers access to several other functions as well. Cinematics also contain keypoints, which define the path the cinematic takes through the 3D world.

Name

The field for the "name".

The name of the cinematic. This is also the name that will appear in the text panel if the cinematic pauses while displaying texts. Otherwise, the name only assists in differentiating between cinematics when selecting them in the editor. You can change this by altering the text in the text field.

Video recording

A link to the video recording panel.

A link to the video recording panel. Cinematics and video recording can be used in conjunction with each other. This is not an editable property.

Start cinematic

A button to start the cinematic.

This button starts the selected cinematic for the user that presses it. This is useful to test the cinematic. Note that this also starts a test run. This is not an editable property.

Editing Keypoints

Template:Editor ribbon The most important property of a cinematic is the keypoints. These determine the path that the cinematic takes. A cinematic should have at least 1 keypoint.

Creating and removing keypoints

The left panel also allows you to select keypoints of cinematics.

How to add a new keypoint:

1. Select "Animations" in the ribbon header.
2. Select "Cinematics" in the ribbon bar.
3. Select the cinematic you want to add the keypoint to in the left panel.
4. If there is already at least one keypoint present, select the keypoint you want the new keypoint to be added after.
5. Select "Add Key Point".

How to remove an existing keypoint:

1. Select "Animations" in the ribbon header.
2. Select "Cinematics" in the ribbon bar.
3. Select the cinematic from which you wish to remove a keypoint.
4. Select the keypoint you wish to remove.
5. Select "Remove".

Changing keypoint properties

The right panel allows you to edit the properties of keypoints.

When a specific keypoint is selected, you are able to edit its properties in the right panel. Upon selecting a keypoint, the camera will also orient itself to that keypoint, by assuming its location and direction. The camera will match the exact orientation the camera will have as it passes this keypoint when the cinematic is run.

Description

The field for the "description".

The description of the keypoint. This is the text that will be displayed to the user when the cinematic reaches this point. You can change this by altering the text in the text area.

Paused

The checkbox for pausing at this keypoint.

The pausing property of the keypoint. When this checkbox is checked, the cinematic will pause when it reaches this point, until the user chooses to continue. You can change this setting by checking or unchecking the checkbox.

Time

The field for the "time".

The time in seconds to travel between this keypoint and the next keypoint. A lower number means the camera will travel faster between the two key points. You can change the time by altering the number in the text field. Note that if the provided time would cause the camera to move too quickly, the time is automatically adjusted to a higher number so that the camera travels with a lower speed.

Time Slider

The slider for setting the camera's time for the current keypoint.

This slider allows you to see the orientation and location of the camera at any time between this keypoint and the next. By moving the slider, you move the camera between the selected keypoint and the next by the same relative amount. This is not an editable property.

Fired Events

The list of event bundles fired by the keypoint.

The event bundles which will be fired when this keypoint is reached. This allows events to take place at given points during a cinematic. Event bundles can be added by selecting an event bundle from the dropdown box and selecting "Add". An event bundle can be removed by selecting the event bundle in the list, and selecting "Remove Event Bundle".

Edit Camera Position

The button to edit the camera position.

This button activates the camera editing mode. In this mode, it is possible to move the camera, and orient it in any direction. The camera's location and orientation can then be stored as the orientation for the camera when the cinematic reaches the selected keypoint.

Editing Camera Position

The buttons in camera editing mode.

When the "Edit Camera Position" button is selected, you enter camera editing mode. This mode allows you to edit the camera location and orientation for the selected keypoint. In place of the "Edit Camera Position" button, new buttons will have appeared in the right panel to store the current camera position. In the 3D world, an object will be visible to help orient the camera.

Moving the Camera

This object indicates where the camera is currently aimed at.

While editing the camera position for a cinematic, you have more exact control over the camera. This also means the controls are different from moving the camera normally.

 Editing the camera position:

• To move the camera, use the left mouse button.
• To move the camera up and down, use both mouse buttons at the same time.
• To change the direction the camera is pointed at, use the right mouse button.
• To rotate the camera around its axis, scroll up or down with the scroll wheel.

Store Camera Position

The button to store camera position.

When the camera is in the position you want for this keypoint, you can press "Store Camera Position" to store the current location and orientation of the camera for this keypoint.

Stop Editing Camera Position

The button stop editing the camera position.

When you are done editing the camera position for this keypoint, you can press "Stop Editing Camera Position" to leave the camera editing mode. The camera will reset to the camera position set for this keypoint. If you store your current camera position right before stopping camera editing mode, you will not see the camera move.

Coupling cinematics to stakeholders

Main article: Level.

If desirable, it is possible to attach a cinematic to a stakeholder for a specific level. This means that when the level starts, the user in the role of that stakeholder will see the provided cinematic. A cinematic can be viewed by multiple stakeholders, at the same time or at different moments for each.

How to couple a cinematic to a stakeholder:

1. Open the levels editing panel.
2. Select the level in which you want to show a stakeholder a cinematic.
3. Select the "Stakeholders" subitem.
4. Select the stakeholder to whom you wish to show the cinematic.
5. In the right panel, make sure the "Start with Cinematic" checkbox is checked.
6. Using the dropbow below the checkbox, select the cinematic you wish to show.