Machinima Wiki and finally, a music video...
Cruising through my usual links of Machinima-related sites, I noticed our friends over at Machinima Deustchland have started the much needed Machinima Wiki. While its still a baby Wiki (insert your fave baby Wiki name here), the beginning information is a bit thin, but as all Wikis have, this shows great promise. I applaud Machinima Deustchland for taking this initiative and look forward to contributing to this addition of the Machinima Infollective. Props, congrats and good glances in your direction, Machinima Deustchland!
HL2 Machinima Video - "I'm Still Seeing Breen"
In other news, I finally completed the HL2 music video I had been working on - well, "completed" is a hard word to say - you always want to tweak this or that. In any case, its completed for now, as I need to focus on more important endeavours (like the upcoming GDC). I really enjoyed stretching my Machinima legs on this project and it made me more familiar with the HL2 tools - FacePoser, DemoUI and a wee bit of the new Hammer - which are all pretty cool.
Some background on the video: After I completed Half-Life 2, I thought it was one of the more exceptional games I had played. Around each corner, there was yet another experience that would forever be burned into my gray matter. Afterwards, I found myself playing through some of the more exciting levels again and thought to put together a music video around it. I had been itching to put FacePoser to work, and it became obvious that a music video would be a good place to give it a try. I tested putting HL2 visuals to a song by Breaking Benjamin called "So Cold", which had been in my head for a few weeks. The holidays arrived and it put the project on hold for a bit. Afterwards, I stumbled upon Hooked on Booze's vid of a similar nature, which gave me additional inspiration to complete my project (thanks, Shawn!).
I then restarted working on it just prior to the Sundance Machinima panel - thinking it would be a good example of what's possible in HL2 and where Machinima is headed. With this, I managed to show a small WIP clip at the panel. Then my father passed away, and it was placed on the backburner once again, until this week.
Warning: this machinima music video contains spoiler footage of Half Life 2.
Ok, that's a long enough post - I have some news about our being at the GDC this week - which I'll probably post on Monday. Until then, this damn balcony is closed.
HL2 Machinima Video - "I'm Still Seeing Breen"
In other news, I finally completed the HL2 music video I had been working on - well, "completed" is a hard word to say - you always want to tweak this or that. In any case, its completed for now, as I need to focus on more important endeavours (like the upcoming GDC). I really enjoyed stretching my Machinima legs on this project and it made me more familiar with the HL2 tools - FacePoser, DemoUI and a wee bit of the new Hammer - which are all pretty cool.
Some background on the video: After I completed Half-Life 2, I thought it was one of the more exceptional games I had played. Around each corner, there was yet another experience that would forever be burned into my gray matter. Afterwards, I found myself playing through some of the more exciting levels again and thought to put together a music video around it. I had been itching to put FacePoser to work, and it became obvious that a music video would be a good place to give it a try. I tested putting HL2 visuals to a song by Breaking Benjamin called "So Cold", which had been in my head for a few weeks. The holidays arrived and it put the project on hold for a bit. Afterwards, I stumbled upon Hooked on Booze's vid of a similar nature, which gave me additional inspiration to complete my project (thanks, Shawn!).
I then restarted working on it just prior to the Sundance Machinima panel - thinking it would be a good example of what's possible in HL2 and where Machinima is headed. With this, I managed to show a small WIP clip at the panel. Then my father passed away, and it was placed on the backburner once again, until this week.
Warning: this machinima music video contains spoiler footage of Half Life 2.
- Video removed - new version to come
Ok, that's a long enough post - I have some news about our being at the GDC this week - which I'll probably post on Monday. Until then, this damn balcony is closed.
86 Comments:
Paul, that was one of the best machinima films I have ever seen. Truly wonderful. Shows what you can do with good tools and a lot of imagination. Professional level work that is not just entertainment, but political commentary as well. Vegas Video seems to agree with you because the editing was excellent. The Face Poser work was remarkable. I hope you will put together some comments over at machinima.com on the making of this film. When you see films like this you get inspired to keep working. Fine fine fine! Thank you, Paul.
Good work on that video, Paul! I liked the facial animation most. I'm just starting to imagine what you cold do with custom content. Forget 35mm!
Thanks for the wiki compliments. I hope it'll help Machinimators to find any help they need.
Greets,
Klaus
great job I am impressed I hope this encourages more people to produce machinima in HL2 because I think it shows GREAT potential for this kind of use with the facial expression capabilities which you used quite well on the Gman I must say....keep up the good work and I hope to see you do more in HL2 and the Source Engine....
Good job, Paul. Good, good day for HL2 machinima.
Totally blown away man, that ROCKS!
Yeah, quite awesome indeed! I was thinking about making an HL2 short and this convinced me that a music video was the way to go. Which program did you use to record the video? (I'm trying FRAPS without success -- recording at 6fps??)
Wow - the first time to your site and this is what I find. An amazing job - I've watched it twice already.
Truly impressive. I think I watched it about 5 times now ;) What a creative use of technology - I really envy your artistic skills. You just encouraged me to explore the possibilities Half-Life 2 technology offers for home multimedia production. Thanks!
very great video !! I'm impressed here...
how about doing a video with a lot of action the next time? don't get me wrong! I totally liked this one...but how about some shooting scenes...like...a bank/casino robbery or sth. ^^
I'm just askin because I'm totally not able to do that stuff myself...feel free to ignore this :D
INFUCKINGCREDIBLE!!!!! Wow is all i can say! my mouth stands still open. i didnt expect this to be possible... i m watching this vid for the 1000th time now... thx for the great work!!
INFUCKINGCREDIBLE!!!!! Wow is all i can say! my mouth stands still open. i didnt expect this to be possible... i m watching this vid for the 1000th time now... thx for the great work!!
very nice video,ive watched it over 10 times now and its amazing what you have done. i very like the music as well. very impressive!
greets
indy
A few seconds ago I had the exact same idea, to do a music video in HL2. Thank goodness for google! Although I've not watched the video yet, I have a feeling it'll be damn good ;) I'm downloading the SDK as I type!
You get my high fives of the day for the following:
1) "SSB" blowing me away by not only being my first exposure to Half Life 2 outside of the tech demo video way back when, but exposing me to it in a wonderfully pieced together manner
2) Gman lip syncing -- The effect and the way it's worked into the video totally amplifies the creep factor... really awesome
3) Wrapping up in an amazing, adrenaline fueled way that ends with a big question mark.
NOW... I have to ask (and forgive me if y'all see it as way obvious)
(also, I take it only someone who's watched the whole thing would scroll down here so no spoiler worries)
"Still seeing Breen" = In the end you think Breen's definitely still out there and behind much more beyond Black Mesa and Combine?
bleenko@gmail.com
PS: Seeing this has totally got me wanting to do the Quake 2 video for Beastie Boy's "Sabotage" after having just dropped the idea years ago
Nice work there!
The only thing thats get to unpro is that dude who sings.
There could be an background effect while he is singing his ass of in some sort of an activity..
But Nice work, keep it up and you will reach high on this skill..
Tommmy
www.finally.mine.nu
It's hard for me to tell you just how awesome I think this video is. Forget the original lead singer of this song, I will forever picture Gman singing the lyrics! I've been showing this to my fellow cubicle mates at work. They are totally blown away!
WOW!!!!
Amazing work. I can't keep myself from watching it over, and over again. Not only am I a fan of HL2, but I also enjoy Breaking Benjamin!!
It's hard to put into words the best way to describe this Piece, other than UTTERLY FANTASTIC!
Keep up the great work.
Any way someone could set up a torrent for this? I don't think it's going to download for me.
Good shit! Well done!
Best video I have seen in a very long time. You could almost use it for an ad. It makes me want to go back and play through HL2 for the 5th time.
awesome vid, the gman lip sync made me laugh at first, but it was excellent. if you do another one, you should pick a song with a 'story' and follow a character, and set him/her in scenes with props like a regular video. that way the clips seem more relevant to each other rather than a bunch of cool half life stuff. still awe3some though.
Pretty decent work!
I'm with the guy before me, do a little something with a story to it.
The only thing that didn't jive with me were the shots with the dune buggy/airbike thingy (can't remember what it's called), they made it feel like an ad for the game and taking away from the overall feel of the whole thing. Sometimes it's not what you put in, but what you leave out.
A-W-E-S-O-M-E JOB!!!
MTV quality and the video went so well with track that I'm buying my first BB CD tomorrow :D
Makes me want to start playing HL2 again ;-)
Keep up the great work....ARTEEST!
Absolutely incredible! Thanks!
Absolutely awesome video! You did an excellent job! Please make more! Nice taste in music too!
Please make more! Please make more!
Please make more!
All thumbs up! Pro Level Work!
Please make a 'making off'!!!!
Cheers
LemonNado
Wow, that was incredible. Fantastic job, so much so that it gave me chills. Very impressive! I can't seem to find just the right words, but, wow, thanks for creating such an awesome work... simply amazes me.
Incredible-I do video work myself ,not machima yet, but that is the finest piece of work I have seen in a long time. That better be making it to g4 soon!
ok..must confess i don't really know much about this but was intrigued by a link i saw at hardocp.....
all i can say is DAMN!!..quite amazing...
That was.. wow.. awesome. I want to pull out HL2 again now!
WOW!
Great job!
Very impressive.
Hi Paul.
I was wondering if I could mirror your video on my site?
mail me @ hesus99@hotmail.com, please
this video owns. no more left to say, =)
-k-
Amazing, Simply Amazing!!! I got a link to this from a forum I frequent and I am so very glad I downloaded it. This is without a doubt the coolest Machinima video I've ever seen. You have redefined the art for me. I will likely be installing HL2 again because of this video. You should get some kickbacks from Valve...
I would love to find out more on how you were able to do it. Do you forsee a technical layout of what you used? Keep up the great work. I can't wait to see what you come up with next.
Outstanding video! Brought a smile to my face.
Is it possibly to just get the song from this for my ipod? I dont know if you made the song as well or not, I just ran across this from a forum else where. Thanks in advance. I'd be happy to host the mp3 if it comes about.
Sorry for the "Me too" comment, but man that rocks! Awesome!
What can I say...I am speechless. Awesome job, and y ou could not have picked a better song!!!!
Crazy leetness
Wow ! Impressive... want some more... This is realy a great job you did...
My god man, that was amazing! I only hope to see more of this kind of work! I was researching to make a kind of joke video using Madona's "This used to be my play ground" and scens from the play ground after you return to city, and from Ravenholm, maybe having Alyx lip sync. This is TRULY inspiring!!
Wow... That was Crazy good song, Great Game, you are a god.. its amazing.. i seen it done with the dragon ball z clips but nothing tops this, keep up the great work i hope to see some more.
impressive...!!!!!
:0 amazing!
That's crazy stuff. I'm mostly impressed by the facial expressions matching up with the lines being sung in the song.
Fantastic.
This mov sucked. You suck. TFC owns HL2. Make one about TFC next time
Very well done. I can see you put a lot of work into it and I enjoyed it thoroughly!
WOW, all i can say is a perfect song to a perfect game to a perfect movie.
1. The lightning effects as you fly down the street to double drum beats is absolutely great!!!
2. The Television blowing up and coming down in the final sequence is unbelievable timing and presence.
I am new to this art, I have to say I am very impressed and look forward to future work.
Thanks,
Mark
WOW, all i can say is a perfect song to a perfect game to a perfect movie.
1. The lightning effects as you fly down the street to double drum beats is absolutely great!!!
2. The Television blowing up and coming down in the final sequence is unbelievable timing and presence.
I am new to this art, I have to say I am very impressed and look forward to future work.
Thanks,
Mark
What can I say? Awesome!!! Great job. The emotion behind it is chilling to the bone. You should win a Pulitzer for this one. Keep up the good work.
This post has been removed by the author.
All i can say is WOW!!!
Very Very Very impressive.
i can see this playing at cpl
on the big Screen!!!.
THAT WOOD BE COOL
Very very very impressive...It would be awesome if they came out with an HL2 movie in theaters...sort of like resident evil...just awesome though...i've watched it 5 times already...it's soo cool...
Very nice job, Keep 'em comin'!!!
I have to say the vid was simply amazing. The lip-synching must have been a major pain to pull off, but it was well worth the effort. Kudos to you for your patience and attention to detail.
Also, I like your choice of music to accompany the video. The visuals you chose really matched the track too. Eager to see what else you come up with in the future!
This is the greatest game-movie i've ever seen in all the years i've been gaming. Great synchronization, i especially liked the few seconds after Breen said 'Do they have the right to...'
The link to this video is going straight to my forum, hope you won't get bandwhyth problems. ;p
PS Did you get the breen voice actor to help you? How did you get his voice?
Awesome video :)
Lip sync is very well done, and so is the editing.
Best machinima movie ever created. Period.
check this one out..haha Inspired by Still Seeing Breen, thanks Paul!
Alyx from HL2 singing the "America" song from Team America: World Police
hey paul!
the video you made is great!
great facial movement, great scenery, i am impressed by how you have made everything so perfect, so i can only hope you will make another one ;).
keep up the good work.
the HL2 video just kicks ass, flat out man. You must watch a great number of music music videos and LOVE Half-Life 2. Had no idea Valve release a "face poser"..sweet! VERY slick..can you do a Halo 2 video with breaking benjamin's "blow me away" would LOVE to see that one. Kick rocking out to games man!
damn..I apologize about the typos - was watching the video at the same time..go figure.
Rock on man!
WOW! I'm totally impressed by your
great video! Really really great!
HL2 currently is my favourite game ... I'm going to run it right now ... not before playing your video again ...!
well that still seeing breen should have been released as a promotional video for valve, its the best vid i seen and made me wanna play hl2 more and more, even took me away from my server admin post on excessiveplus quake 3 mod, if you ever want to make a video for my clan i would love it :D
www.excessivepluse.net
http://themrclan.com/index.php?
our sites thanks for the vid
UNBALEEVABLE VIDEO! ive just finished hl2 a few weeks ago, and found and watched this vid. blown away by the great work in the expressions, timing, and kick-ass clips from the game... how u do it?
Must see more.
This thing should be the offical music video of HL2. I've never seen such detail in a machinima like this before.
A1, Tip-Top, first class job.
Well Done
Awesome work. Hope we see more and more of machinima coming out. after red vs blue it really seems to be doing well. I was actually impressed how good the lip sync was.
The facial expressions could do with a bit more work. but i guess that would take longer :/
Great movie! Can't wait for the next one to get done!
well, It mmust have been great for it to get on MTV2!!!! I love the way you used face poser for it, i was really suprised when you decided to use the g-man for the vocals guy.
So where is the revised one then?? It's been promised for over a month now!!!
(Mind you I am certain it will be well worth the wait....)
Great work man, I can't describe how awesome that is.
Fantastic piece of work there. Give yourself a huge pat on the back! I believe you've impressed a good portion of the world with this!
OMG that was frickin amazing btw what was the song???its sounds so damn familiar but i cant figure out what it was PLEEZE TELL ME^_^
but i mean that was abso-fuckin-lutely amazing
I would just like to say that I had never seenanything like this till it was posted by someone at spikedhumor.com. I am afraid you have ruined it for me because the more I research michinima the more I find that none can compare. My hat is off to you, this was one of the finest videos I have ever seen.
THAT WAS AMAZING...Having played through HL2 almost 3 times now, and being an avid Breaking Benjamin fan (having seen them 3 or 4 times) I almost cried when i saw this video. We watched it as part of a machinima section of our Experimental Game Design Class at RPI, and i was blown away to say the least. Definitely given me an incentive to play around with this type of artwork. Seven thumbs up!
WOW! thats grat, the person that has this Pc , hehe it hast to be a nice P^LOL!°! !P!Kok donno what 2 say^^ lol^sry
This movie still rocks so hard :) And it still gives me the chills and makes me sad for the people of the Half-Life Universe. Really powerful music video you have made here. I see a version 1.2 is out without Dr. Breen in the start but with higher resolution. I like the 1.1 content better though, but still awsome :) Hope you will make more some day!
Dude, great video >:D Still sends a shiver down my spine when I watch it :D
This is the greatest video ive seen in a long time. too long has GMan gone on without any respect from anyone, and now thats all about to change.
thanks for the awesome video. looking forward to your next one!
Dude,
I'm a halo freak thats was cool that you used so cold by breaking benjamin. I think it would be an other cool idea if you make a music video of halo 2 using blow me away by breaking benjamin. I can not found that any where on the net.
Hello, I'm quite impressed by this music video. I've created some music videos myself. 4 of them. I am actually working on a Half Life 2 music video now. This just gives me more motivation to do so. I never knew about this Face Poser, but I think I'll look into it. Thanks for a great music video. I havn't seen any other Machinima videos, but I'll take a look at some. In the meantime, You can email me at elements480@yahoo.com and check out some of my videos at: utserver.servehttp.com/movies.html
Thanks again.
Congratulations on that vid :) I found it really cool and climatic as well..you really demonstrated the capabilities of the hl2 tools / machinima, good work and hope some future releases are underway :D
Congratulations on that vid :) I found it really cool and climatic as well..you really demonstrated the capabilities of the hl2 tools / machinima, good work and hope some future releases are underway :D
Wow...wow...wow...wow...wow..
Still seeing breen hein ?
Well, I have the G-Man etched in my mind now...great work. I've showed your video to quite a few friends to get them into Half Life 2, and after watching your video, they can't wait to play the game. The Valve team could really use you in IT Marketing and Promotions. Imaging your work being the next promo for Half Life Ep2...Fantastic choice of music and themes. Cheers !
omg! omg! omg!, just amazing dude, you made just a winner formula:
HL2 ambient + So Cold + amazing lipsync & face mood
R= Introspective view/mood what catch anyone see it, for real.
Congratulations Amigo!
btw, Thx for introduce to me Breaking Benjamin, great, great band.
Keep the Fun
Keep being Amazing
Even though there were a hundred other posters telling you how awesome and inspring this video was, Ill be one more!. This is the most amazing piece of work I have ever seen. I am a die hard HL2 fan and stumbled across this by accident. All I can say is OMG I loved it!
Simply put amazing work, best all around music video Iv'e ever seen! I'm a die hard HL2 junkie, thank you for making this video
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