Captured Game Footage For Animations

Steve KSteve K Posts: 3,235
edited December 1969 in Art Studio

In the Carrara forum, there is a topic on Animations created in Carrara. Part of it was about high end game animation. Here is an example of the realism in "Grand Theft Auto 5" (yes, some glitches, its a WIP):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHL8XYs1W0I&feature=c4-overview&list=UUlMEK10oWdfqx6NaNAGJtFA

In the past I've talked to Tech Support for Rockstar Games (who publishes GTA5), the general policy is that "fan videos" are OK (there are thousands on YouTube), as long as nobody is making money. OTOH, they do not pre-approve any use of footage from their games, and in fact the legal/copyright group (Tech Support suggested I check with them) does not even respond. So ... :-S

Comments

  • FirstBastionFirstBastion Posts: 7,762
    edited December 1969

    The youtube videos are all free publicity, be they walkthroughs or machinima that benefit the GTA franchise and rockstar games. But using game footage in other ways would blur that benefit, and so it makes sense that they'd try to protect the use of their intellectual property against infringements.

  • Steve KSteve K Posts: 3,235
    edited December 1969

    The youtube videos are all free publicity, be they walkthroughs or machinima that benefit the GTA franchise and rockstar games. But using game footage in other ways would blur that benefit, and so it makes sense that they'd try to protect the use of their intellectual property against infringements.

    No argument there.

    A gray area came up when I wanted to use captured footage in a 48 Hour Film contest. You may recall this is a contest in cities around the world where teams make a 4-7 minute video in two days, given a genre, line of dialogue and character at the start of the contest. There are prizes (video hardware and software usually), but its basically an amateur affair (altho some of the teams have pro capabilities). The contest was concerned that since they sell compilation DVD's (almost all of which are bought by the team members) and charge admission to the contest screenings, it could be considered "commercial". I did not think it rose to that level, the admission just offsets the cost of using the theater, and the DVD sales are pretty much limited to contest participants. I always end up out a hundred bucks or more for entry fee and tickets.

    To me, it can be looked at as just another way of creating animation, albeit with some way sophisticated tools. The live action teams (almost all ot them) are after all getting their footage from the real world, a pretty sophisticated source also.

    It was kind of humorous since the 48 Hour Film organization also had sponsored machinima contests, where all the footage is from games. But apparently games intended for machinima. Or something.

    I never convinced them, and ended up creating my own "game footage" for about ten seconds of console gaming in the middle of my animation.

    But for my little animations on YouTube, with no commercial plans at all, I have no qualms about using game footage. I don't think Rockstar does, either, since as you mention its to their advantage.

  • Steve KSteve K Posts: 3,235
    edited December 1969

    You have to be careful about what is copyrighted:

    http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20140123&id=17284838

    I have a recording of this phrase in my collection of Sound FX from Digital Juice, and in fact used it in my video "Warped Drive". So maybe I'll be hearing from the beer co.

    :roll:

  • jorge dorlandojorge dorlando Posts: 1,157
    edited December 1969

    Just to let you know:
    is a limited time HitFilm 2 Express for free
    https://hitfilm.com/express/free

  • Steve KSteve K Posts: 3,235
    edited December 1969

    Just to let you know:
    is a limited time HitFilm 2 Express for free
    https://hitfilm.com/express/free

    Looks interesting, here is a comparison chart on the different versions:

    http://hitfilm.com/ultimate/compare

    I'm pretty happy with my Magix "Movie Edit Pro", its just become second nature and does everything I can think of. But thanks for the heads up, someone here may be looking for anew video editor.

  • jorge dorlandojorge dorlando Posts: 1,157
    edited December 1969

    speaking of footage, can someone tell me if this footage here ... Can I put a V4, V5, or V6, walking across these trees?
    That is the side that is that light?
    Well ... I imagine this is not easy, but there is a trick?
    http://www.clipcanvas.com/video-575321-stock-footage-sun-tree-park-light-loop.html

  • Steve KSteve K Posts: 3,235
    edited December 1969

    speaking of footage, can someone tell me if this footage here ... Can I put a V4, V5, or V6, walking across these trees?
    That is the side that is that light?
    Well ... I imagine this is not easy, but there is a trick?
    http://www.clipcanvas.com/video-575321-stock-footage-sun-tree-park-light-loop.html

    I would try a "green screen" approach, i.e. render the walking figure with a solid green background (you can use other colors also), then layer the two videos in the video editor, with the animated layer as the foreground. Then set the color green as invisible in the animated layer. The live footage will show up everywhere the green color was.

  • Steve KSteve K Posts: 3,235
    edited December 1969

    Steve K said:
    In the Carrara forum, there is a topic on Animations created in Carrara. Part of it was about high end game animation. Here is an example of the realism in "Grand Theft Auto 5" (yes, some glitches, its a WIP):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHL8XYs1W0I&feature=c4-overview&list=UUlMEK10oWdfqx6NaNAGJtFA

    I finally got a round tuit and fixed most of the glitches. "GTA5 Cruisin': Cable Car Ride" (4 minutes)

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myq6UuJlnPQ&list=UUlMEK10oWdfqx6NaNAGJtFA&feature=c4-overview

  • jorge dorlandojorge dorlando Posts: 1,157
    edited December 1969

    Steve K said:
    speaking of footage, can someone tell me if this footage here ... Can I put a V4, V5, or V6, walking across these trees?
    That is the side that is that light?
    Well ... I imagine this is not easy, but there is a trick?
    http://www.clipcanvas.com/video-575321-stock-footage-sun-tree-park-light-loop.html

    I would try a "green screen" approach, i.e. render the walking figure with a solid green background (you can use other colors also), then layer the two videos in the video editor, with the animated layer as the foreground. Then set the color green as invisible in the animated layer. The live footage will show up everywhere the green color was.
    Hmmm, so this is possible!!
    Thanks for the tip.
    I did not bought this footage yet, but your help is ideal for my decision to buy it!
    thank you

  • Steve KSteve K Posts: 3,235
    edited December 1969

    Steve K said:
    speaking of footage, can someone tell me if this footage here ... Can I put a V4, V5, or V6, walking across these trees?
    That is the side that is that light?
    Well ... I imagine this is not easy, but there is a trick?
    http://www.clipcanvas.com/video-575321-stock-footage-sun-tree-park-light-loop.html

    I would try a "green screen" approach, i.e. render the walking figure with a solid green background (you can use other colors also), then layer the two videos in the video editor, with the animated layer as the foreground. Then set the color green as invisible in the animated layer. The live footage will show up everywhere the green color was.


    Hmmm, so this is possible!!
    Thanks for the tip.
    I did not bought this footage yet, but your help is ideal for my decision to buy it!
    thank you

    You just need to make sure your video editing software can handle the "green screen" layering. I don't know if they all do.

  • LeslieSOsborneLeslieSOsborne Posts: 54
    edited December 1969

    speaking of footage, can someone tell me if this footage here ... Can I put a V4, V5, or V6, walking across these trees?
    That is the side that is that light?
    Well ... I imagine this is not easy, but there is a trick?
    http://www.clipcanvas.com/video-575321-stock-footage-sun-tree-park-light-loop.html

    It actually is pretty easy to do but takes some work to create a good final video. Avoid "green' screen (keying) idea altogether. If you're using Daz Studio 4.6 (and earlier versions) you can export footage of "V" as an image sequence with an alpha (transparent) background. At that point you will be able to place the footage over the background footage to make it appear as if "V" is walking across the trees. Simply V's movement and the camera in your 3D software to match what's needed for the final footage you want as a background.

    I suggest you start with a simple V render with animation you feel works well for your shot. After you've matched the action considering fine tuning the lighting in your 3D software (Daz Studio, etc) to better match the lighting of your background footage. The footage you chose has a complicated lighting scheme. So be patient. You may want to post updates to your project, in progress, to see if forum members have suggestions for you doing your final edit.

    ALSO, if you're going to take this approach you will likely have to use a more sophisticated video editing software program so that you can effectively place your alpha footage over your background footage to get the FX you are seeking. Good luck!

  • jorge dorlandojorge dorlando Posts: 1,157
    edited December 1969

    losborne said:
    speaking of footage, can someone tell me if this footage here ... Can I put a V4, V5, or V6, walking across these trees?
    That is the side that is that light?
    Well ... I imagine this is not easy, but there is a trick?
    http://www.clipcanvas.com/video-575321-stock-footage-sun-tree-park-light-loop.html

    It actually is pretty easy to do but takes some work to create a good final video. Avoid "green' screen (keying) idea altogether. If you're using Daz Studio 4.6 (and earlier versions) you can export footage of "V" as an image sequence with an alpha (transparent) background. At that point you will be able to place the footage over the background footage to make it appear as if "V" is walking across the trees. Simply V's movement and the camera in your 3D software to match what's needed for the final footage you want as a background.

    I suggest you start with a simple V render with animation you feel works well for your shot. After you've matched the action considering fine tuning the lighting in your 3D software (Daz Studio, etc) to better match the lighting of your background footage. The footage you chose has a complicated lighting scheme. So be patient. You may want to post updates to your project, in progress, to see if forum members have suggestions for you doing your final edit.

    ALSO, if you're going to take this approach you will likely have to use a more sophisticated video editing software program so that you can effectively place your alpha footage over your background footage to get the FX you are seeking. Good luck!

    That good to know, thank you. Interesting ... I'm getting great information here
    thank you very much

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