Tango Elektrico - Making Of

You guess it, realizing machinimas includes a lot of work. If the creating is ready, the workflow is to play at the first computer and record the first character. Then you, or a second animator, sit at the next computer and record the second character, while the first is replayed by the tracked record of the first and so on.

In between you can record the camera track. Or you do it all in realtime together with some friends. Everything what you are doing with the gamepads is tracked and recorded. On each computer is a camera view of the "main camera" so the team can see what happens with the camera in realtime.

In the moment I dont know if I want to release it because then I think I have to work it out. I do everything by my own and looking for some people who are interested in this field. Specially the design of modells are very time consuming as you know. I have now about 10 selve made characters. Most of the characters which are on the market I cannot use because they are too simple or too detailed or poor animation.

If you watch my first video you can imagine how much work it is for one person.

I use 3d Studio Max to design and animate the characters. Then export the animated characters by sylix max2mdl. I have some standart rigs for this. They have to fullfill some conventions I have defined. I can load my mdl Characters directly into the machinima system.

I have a lot of instructions to control the system by keyboard and to chat with the other animators (many thanks to Locoweed's multiplayer tut.).

Workflow

  1. The idea: As far as the idea is imagined, write it down. A good screenplay and character studies help you to have things under control.
  2. Creating the world: The next step is to model the world, where the action takes place. You can do this perhaps with 3D Studio Max. The mapping (creating the surface) can be done with Photoshop.
  3. Characters and animations: You can model the characters also with Max and Photoshop. Of course you find in your screenplay the exact description of the animations you need. I awake the characters with the animation tool of Max.
  4. Game machine: The next step is to set the characters and objects inside a game machine, I use gamestudio.
  5. Programming: Now a lot of programming work is required so you're able to move characters in realtime. The player must be able to move a character or the camera by gamepad.
  6. Action, please - Recording is ready: With Snagit your're able to record the action in realtime. Now the movie is in developing.
  7. Postproduction: The single videostrams must fit together to a nice movie. Perhaps you like a little bit more sound, an effect or text on your video.

You guess it ...
creating machinimas demands many, many hours of your lifetime. But let me say, the work is very interesting and eventful – in many ways ;-).

 

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