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The games industry went through a time not long ago when the largest proportion of it's budget was spent on FMV cutscenes. I don't think the same is still true, but often I wonder why they bother at all. Most cutscenes are of the watch-it-once-then-forget-about-it type. Once you've seen them the first time, there seems to be no point watching them again, usually because they recap the plot or similar such scenes that you only need to see once. Some cutscenes are really cheesy and naff, like X-com apocalypse's end sequence or many of Red Alert 2's intro, outro, and between-mission scenes, although in the latter example they were still very good quality and mostly enjoyable to watch. Some cutscenes are, frankly, dull and unlikely to be watched even once. This may be a little controversial, but Half-Life's intro (standing on a train going to work) was too long at best and bored the pants off me at worst. Far too much time is spent on creating some of these poor excuses for straight-to-video, half-arsed movie efforts.
Unfortunately, there is a flip side to the argument. Occasionally, the developers get it right and a truly informative, exciting, or rewarding piece of video gets woven into a game. These have a habit of curbing my hatred by actually making me want to watch them, in some cases again and again. I find it especially rewarding to finish a game if the satisfaction is accompanied by a good piece of video, if only something blowing up. In fact, I get quite upset if such a piece of video is missing.
Some of my favourite FMVs include:
3. The aforementioned Red Alert 2 intro. Although as cheesy as a Frenchman's breath, the horrible realisation that America is being invaded and will have to call for help from the allied nations of Europe, not to mention an apocalypse tank rolling over a "welcome to Texas" sign, is too good a sensation to pass up.
2. All three endings to Deus Ex. Just the concept of having three different endings to choose from is an interesting one, but each one was pulled off with flair and style. I won't give away the plot, but suffice to say that each one had a totally different outlook on the events after the game, and each one you wanted to find out more about.
1. Every cutscene in the seminal "Fallout 2" is worthy of several Oscars each. The horrifying realisations of the intro set the tone for many of the plot twists in the game itself. If you've never seen it, some of the survivors of the nuclear fallout are given instructions as to how to leave their shelter, or vault, and are then sent out into the world only to be mercilessly slaughtered at the entrance by a group of soldiers while still taking their first look at the sun after two years. It doesn't translate well to paper, but if you have a mate with a copy, watch that intro and be shocked. The end sequence was also a stroke of genius, taking the Deus Ex idea of three endings one step further by actually having the ending based on the events of the game. Wonderful. More like this if you please boys.
A good cutscene can really add to the atmosphere of a game or provide an extra reward for your efforts, but unfortunately such masterpieces are rare. My advice is if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. More's the pity that mostly it isn't worth it. Ho hum.
Unfortunately, there is a flip side to the argument. Occasionally, the developers get it right and a truly informative, exciting, or rewarding piece of video gets woven into a game. These have a habit of curbing my hatred by actually making me want to watch them, in some cases again and again. I find it especially rewarding to finish a game if the satisfaction is accompanied by a good piece of video, if only something blowing up. In fact, I get quite upset if such a piece of video is missing.
Some of my favourite FMVs include:
3. The aforementioned Red Alert 2 intro. Although as cheesy as a Frenchman's breath, the horrible realisation that America is being invaded and will have to call for help from the allied nations of Europe, not to mention an apocalypse tank rolling over a "welcome to Texas" sign, is too good a sensation to pass up.
2. All three endings to Deus Ex. Just the concept of having three different endings to choose from is an interesting one, but each one was pulled off with flair and style. I won't give away the plot, but suffice to say that each one had a totally different outlook on the events after the game, and each one you wanted to find out more about.
1. Every cutscene in the seminal "Fallout 2" is worthy of several Oscars each. The horrifying realisations of the intro set the tone for many of the plot twists in the game itself. If you've never seen it, some of the survivors of the nuclear fallout are given instructions as to how to leave their shelter, or vault, and are then sent out into the world only to be mercilessly slaughtered at the entrance by a group of soldiers while still taking their first look at the sun after two years. It doesn't translate well to paper, but if you have a mate with a copy, watch that intro and be shocked. The end sequence was also a stroke of genius, taking the Deus Ex idea of three endings one step further by actually having the ending based on the events of the game. Wonderful. More like this if you please boys.
A good cutscene can really add to the atmosphere of a game or provide an extra reward for your efforts, but unfortunately such masterpieces are rare. My advice is if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. More's the pity that mostly it isn't worth it. Ho hum.
I like cutscenes - it gives me chance to sit back and spark a fag. I'm deadly serious. Cutscenes are an essential intermission between the exploration and murder of gaming interaction.
Actually the sign says "Drive freindly the Texas way"
I used to love FMV's but I don't really care now. I must agree, the Half Life Train/Helicopter scenes are way too long. However, you do get to see the facility at work.
The games industry went through a time not long ago when the largest proportion of it's budget was spent on FMV cutscenes. I don't think the same is still true, but often I wonder why they bother at all. Most cutscenes are of the watch-it-once-then-forget-about-it type. Once you've seen them the first time, there seems to be no point watching them again, usually because they recap the plot or similar such scenes that you only need to see once. Some cutscenes are really cheesy and naff, like X-com apocalypse's end sequence or many of Red Alert 2's intro, outro, and between-mission scenes, although in the latter example they were still very good quality and mostly enjoyable to watch. Some cutscenes are, frankly, dull and unlikely to be watched even once. This may be a little controversial, but Half-Life's intro (standing on a train going to work) was too long at best and bored the pants off me at worst. Far too much time is spent on creating some of these poor excuses for straight-to-video, half-arsed movie efforts.
Unfortunately, there is a flip side to the argument. Occasionally, the developers get it right and a truly informative, exciting, or rewarding piece of video gets woven into a game. These have a habit of curbing my hatred by actually making me want to watch them, in some cases again and again. I find it especially rewarding to finish a game if the satisfaction is accompanied by a good piece of video, if only something blowing up. In fact, I get quite upset if such a piece of video is missing.
Some of my favourite FMVs include:
3. The aforementioned Red Alert 2 intro. Although as cheesy as a Frenchman's breath, the horrible realisation that America is being invaded and will have to call for help from the allied nations of Europe, not to mention an apocalypse tank rolling over a "welcome to Texas" sign, is too good a sensation to pass up.
2. All three endings to Deus Ex. Just the concept of having three different endings to choose from is an interesting one, but each one was pulled off with flair and style. I won't give away the plot, but suffice to say that each one had a totally different outlook on the events after the game, and each one you wanted to find out more about.
1. Every cutscene in the seminal "Fallout 2" is worthy of several Oscars each. The horrifying realisations of the intro set the tone for many of the plot twists in the game itself. If you've never seen it, some of the survivors of the nuclear fallout are given instructions as to how to leave their shelter, or vault, and are then sent out into the world only to be mercilessly slaughtered at the entrance by a group of soldiers while still taking their first look at the sun after two years. It doesn't translate well to paper, but if you have a mate with a copy, watch that intro and be shocked. The end sequence was also a stroke of genius, taking the Deus Ex idea of three endings one step further by actually having the ending based on the events of the game. Wonderful. More like this if you please boys.
A good cutscene can really add to the atmosphere of a game or provide an extra reward for your efforts, but unfortunately such masterpieces are rare. My advice is if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. More's the pity that mostly it isn't worth it. Ho hum.
Unfortunately, there is a flip side to the argument. Occasionally, the developers get it right and a truly informative, exciting, or rewarding piece of video gets woven into a game. These have a habit of curbing my hatred by actually making me want to watch them, in some cases again and again. I find it especially rewarding to finish a game if the satisfaction is accompanied by a good piece of video, if only something blowing up. In fact, I get quite upset if such a piece of video is missing.
Some of my favourite FMVs include:
3. The aforementioned Red Alert 2 intro. Although as cheesy as a Frenchman's breath, the horrible realisation that America is being invaded and will have to call for help from the allied nations of Europe, not to mention an apocalypse tank rolling over a "welcome to Texas" sign, is too good a sensation to pass up.
2. All three endings to Deus Ex. Just the concept of having three different endings to choose from is an interesting one, but each one was pulled off with flair and style. I won't give away the plot, but suffice to say that each one had a totally different outlook on the events after the game, and each one you wanted to find out more about.
1. Every cutscene in the seminal "Fallout 2" is worthy of several Oscars each. The horrifying realisations of the intro set the tone for many of the plot twists in the game itself. If you've never seen it, some of the survivors of the nuclear fallout are given instructions as to how to leave their shelter, or vault, and are then sent out into the world only to be mercilessly slaughtered at the entrance by a group of soldiers while still taking their first look at the sun after two years. It doesn't translate well to paper, but if you have a mate with a copy, watch that intro and be shocked. The end sequence was also a stroke of genius, taking the Deus Ex idea of three endings one step further by actually having the ending based on the events of the game. Wonderful. More like this if you please boys.
A good cutscene can really add to the atmosphere of a game or provide an extra reward for your efforts, but unfortunately such masterpieces are rare. My advice is if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. More's the pity that mostly it isn't worth it. Ho hum.