Cutscenes

Cutscenes are animated sequences made by interpolating scene params (just like brightness, saturation, DOF, ...) and scene objects params (position, orientation, animation and musics fading, ...). They are composed by a list of Tracks. Each track executes the interpolation of time-changing param values that are stored inside a list of keyframes. Each track has its own list of keyframes. A track is associated to a sceneobject in the case that it interpolates a sceneobject param, otherwise track interpolates scene params or titles text params. Cutscene can be played using Scripting but also using GameMachine.

Cutscene tool is called by clicking on the related icon as showed in the following image:

When Cutscene tool is called cutscene tab is opened on the left panel and tracks tab is opened on the center-bottom panel.

Creating a cutscene

To add a new cutscene click on Add button inside the Cutscene tab as showed in to the following image:

A new dialog will appear that ask you to choose a name for the cutscene to create:

Digit the name you want cutscene must have and do not forgot to press enter for applying the change. Then click on OK button to confirm the operation. You will see the new cutscene name added into the CS list block of the cutscene tab. To select the cutscene for editing click on the cutscene name inside the CS List block.

Cutscene parameters

Cutscene params are located on the tracks frame as showed into the following image:

On the right there are:

• the selected cutscene name.
• the name of the Camera associated with the cutscene

On the left there are:

• selected cutscene total duration: expressed in milliseconds (1000.0 = 1 sec.)
• current cutscene time: is the value, expressed in millisecond, of the current time that corresponds to the position of the timeline.

Cutscene Tracks

Tracks are the core of the cutscene system. They contain a list of keyframes which values are interpolated basing on the timeline value. Each track can interpolate only one param, we say that it can perform only one action, for example interpolating the positions of an object over the time means performing translate action. The action can be performed on a SceneObject , on the whole Scene or on the titles screen. A Track belongs to a specified class basing on the action it can perform, so we say that a track performing the translate action belongs to the translate class. Another example of action is the rotate action: Just like translate track, a track performing rotate action must be associated to an object (the object to rotate). Tracks are showed into the tracks tab. Selected tracks are showed as dark grey rectangle, all other tracks are in blue as showed into the following image:

To select a track simply click on the grey rectangle on the left containing the name of the track. Tracks keyframes are showed as small light grey rectangles inside the track rectangle, selected keyframes are in red. To select a keyframe you first must select the containing track and then click on the keyframe rectangle.

Creating a track

To create a track first select the cutscene in which you want to insert the track and than click on the Add track icon as showed into the following image:

After click on the add track icon the track creation dialog appears as showed in to the following image:

This dialog lets you to configure the track before adding it to the cutscene.

• Name: Inputbox that lets you to insert the name of the track. NOTE that it's very important to give a unique and meaningful name in order to easily recognize the track. Do not forget to press return after insert the text into inputbox
• Action: The comboBox that lets you to choose among the available actions. Actions are implemented into a separate plugin DLL, new actions can be implemented and furnished into a new plugin DLL.
• Target: The target sceneObject. It is set only in the case the action interpolates params of an object. You can leave it blank. If pressed the Pick object dialog will appear that let you to pick the target object directly from the scene. NOTE That we have discovered a bug in version 1.03.01 so that you must select the target BEFORE click the ADD TRACK button in order to make target be really selected.

When ready click on Add button to add the track. You will see a new track in the Tracks tool tab as showed in the following image:

In our example we have created a new track called moveCamera associated to a translation action and a camera object.

Track Parameters

Basing on the the associated action class, a track can have specified params that can be edited in the CS track section of the Cutscene tool tab as showed in the following image:

In our example a track called moveCamera is associated to a translate action and has camera object as target. Tracks have two basic common params:

• startTime: the time , along the timeline, when track starts interpolating values. It is expressed in milliseconds.
• endTime: the time when track ends the interpolating values. It is expressed in milliseconds.

Attention

NOTE that All keyframe values outside these bounds aren't processed.

List of available track classes

Translate

As said translate track must be associated to a SceneObject. Translated tracks are showed into the sceneview as curved lines: selected tracks are showed in yellow, all the others in blue. Track keyframes are showed as green balls on the curve, selected keyframes are showed as wire boxes. When the translate track is selected (by clicking on the track name button) also the associated object is selected. In the above example the object is a soldier character.

To add a new keyframe at a given time place the timeline on the specified time (by holding the top timeline thumb) and then translate the track object (the character in the example) where you want it must be at that time:

Click on the Add key button to add the new key, as showed in the following image:

The track curve will adjust accordingly. If you want to modify the value of a translate keyframe you have to select it and then you can choose two procedures:

1. Change the keyframe value from the scene view and Place the track object where you want it must be at keyframe time and click on the refresh keyframe button.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Change the keyframe value directly from keyframe params : time is the keyframe time expressed in millisecond, X,Y,Z are the space coordinates of the keyframe translation.
   

Rotate

Scale

MusicFade

FadeAnim

Show

Title

ChangeFocus

Fov

LookAt

Brightness