- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Machinima
A machinima basically a video made with characters in a video game. Many fans like to create machinimas and host it online for others to watch, enjoy, and comment on. Be aware though, not everyone will like what you have made! The best way to create a excellent machinimas is to find some people who also like creating videos. Make a group or a clan of people and give each other jobs. If you think that you're okay without a machinima clan then forget about making videos. Without a group of some sort, you won't be very organized and whenever you want to record, your friends may not want to help or be on to record with you. So there’s key 1. Another thing is to actually make a script. I personally think that 99.9% of the Halo2 community doesn't like machs that aren't scripted. It makes the movie messy and sometimes leads the movie into not making sense. So remember - make a script, review it, ask for opinions from your fellow clan mates, and edit it. Do that as much as want until you feel like the script is ready. Another tip is, don't stand for goofing off. Set times for breaks and messing around. If you see a person goofing off while you're trying to record, tell them to stop or to leave. Time is a valuable thing, and if you want to get the mach right, you are going to need all the time in the world. So keep in mind:
1. Become organized. Create a clan and maybe a website. You can create a website free at Freewebs.com . It's a great way to keep your clan intact with each other.
2. Create a script, ask for others opinions, and edit until you feel it's finalized. Also don't make things as you go, no one likes watching unscripted machs.
3. Time is valuable. Don't waste time by goofing around. Instead make break times were you guys can goof around.
Montages
A montage is basically a bunch of clips from recorded games tied with music and special effects. The only thing with these clips is that they contain the best, most unbelievable, kills you have gotten. This means no scope snipes across the map, across the map sticks, killamanjaros with a single battle rifle, combos, weird vehicle kills... basically things that people don't usually see or do while playing Halo 2. Make sure to keep the clips with the music. If they aren’t together then it will make the montage look bad. Don't overdo it with special effects or no one will like it. Make sure there arn't scenes with you dieing in them, it makes you look bad as a player. Remember, montages are all about your skill in Halo 2 and showing that you die multiple times isn't a good way to show how good you are on this game. Also, choose music that people will like and understand. No one wants to listen to some Asian song while watching you fight in Team Slayer. So remember.
1. Make the clips short, and have things that people usually don't see in game play. This doesn't include modders and cheaters. No one wants to see that.
2. Keep the clips with the beat. If something big happens in the music, try putting something big from the clips. It will give the viewer a good feeling when watching.
3. Don't overdo your montage with special effects. Keep the special effects low but add enough to keep the viewer interested.
4. Dieing is a big no. Don't show yourself dieing because it will look bad. I'm sure all of us seen the scoreboard at least 1,000 times. We don't need to see it in your montage. Remember montages are for you to show what type of player you are.
5. Choose a song that everyone can understand. I learned that the hard way...
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I have everything you need, I think I'm ready for movie making, except for one thing. How do I take off the reticule and display?
Ok, I can tell you seriously want to make a machinima! Good. Anyways, there is one way of getting the reticule off your screen, and there is one way of getting your whole HUD off your television set. The first way is quite simple and it doesn't involve buying anything for your X-Box. First make this game type:
Oddball - Movie
Starting Weapon: Plasma Pistol
Secondary Weapon: None
Oddball Icon: OFF when dropped
Score to win: None
Weapons on Map: Your Choice
I recommend you call it Movie, so if someone joins they will automatically detect that your making a movie. It also serves as a warning. "We are making a movie, if your not needed you may be booted". After you finish making the game type, make a custom game. Choose any map you want and play. When you are in game, hold the plasma pistol trigger until it's fully charged. Go over the oddball and press (X). *Don't let go of the trigger button or you wont drop the oddball and plasma pistol* If you did it right the oddball and the plasma pistol should drop. Be careful because if you run over a weapon you will automatically pick it up. You may also need to jump backwards when you drop the plasma pistol and oddball or you may pick one of them up again. Doing it this way will not remove your shield and radar. This is where you need to crop it, and I will get into that in the editing section.
The second way of doing this will cost you some of your hard earned cash. It's called... *gasp* Action Replay 30.00 US Dollars. You can pick it up at any video game store. *Action Replay will not get you banned. Bungie used to ban people because there was a hack that allowed you to auto reload on the game. The second update deleted the problem, and the auto reloading glitch does not work and will not work ever again* First you will need to head over to codejunkies.com and find a HUD less game type. There are many of them but you should look for the a Team slayer one. You can find two types of modified game types. One is where you don't start with any weapons but your HUD is still on (Basically the oddball one), and another that allows you to start with no weapons, no radar, and no shield display. But be warned, if you pick up a weapon and then switch to another weapon, the display HUD will freeze. You might notice a pistol reticule when you’re holding a rocket launcher. It's an easy fix... kill yourself. Cameraman isn't supposed to have a weapon anyways... Some people might have trouble getting the file onto their action replay, so I guess I will help with that too.
Action Replay File Transfer
1. Download the correct HUD less save and save it to your desktop. (DO NOT UNZIP THE FILE)
2. Make sure your AR is connected to your computer. Open up Action Replay.
3. Drag the HUD less save from your desktop into your memory section.
4. Disconnect AR and connect it to your X-Box controller.
5. Copy the HUD less save from the AR onto your X-Box Hard Drive
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