Thursday, January 08, 2009

New year updates

I know people who come here like updates, so here's a post on what's happening. Unfortunately I'm behind in pretty much all areas, probably because I'm focusing on several different things. I've gotten some additional help with the new website, which I think is helping things move along faster.

The next CP episode is growing more elaborate than I originally intended, which is adding to the production time, but I think it's going to make the episode that much better. Unlike the last one, which was meant to be different, I think this next one will have something for anybody who's a fan of the series. Once it's done, then work will resume on "The Tunnel".

Finally while I'd prefer to focus on CP, I know a lot of you like Freeman's Mind, so I'll do my best to have another episode of that out sometime next week (assuming I don't run into more problems).

EDIT:
Freeman's Mind is looking closer to Friday or this weekend because all the shouting retakes wears my voice down some and there are only certain times I can record. The good news is it will be a longer episode.

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the update !

I appreciate the work you do, especially Freeman's Mind. However it seems you're working on a lot of things at once, maybe you'd be better off focusing on one thing at a time ?

Anonymous said...

More production time with you simply means top quality episodes. The videos you make are so good that nobody minds having to wait a while longer for a new one to come out.

Anonymous said...

Take your time, rushing ruins things. CP I like allot, but Freeman's Mind is more appealing to me, mostly because it's unique. In most Machinima, it's a third-person view of the characters, whereas you're literally inside Freeman's head...hence the title of course. I actually couldn't help doing some "Calhoun's Mind" while playing the "HL: Blue Shift" expansion, though it was just me screwing around in the beginning, not really recording or dubbing footage. I don't even have the necessary tools for that kind of thing. The most I can do is record with fraps. Anyway, glad you updated (since I periodically check the site), keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Alright Thanks for the update man, it's been a while on the last CP episode but Freeman's Mind makes it totally worth it. By the way is your youtube channel "chilledsanity" because if it is, you barely ever update it... it only contains your old CP episodes...

Anonymous said...

Ross,
I'm sure this will be the best episode yet! Best series, with great writing. Machinama should give you an award for CP. lol Keep up the good work. You sound like a busy guy!

--A dedicated CP fan

Phyraxis said...

I do love me Freeman's Mind. :D

Out of curiosity, how long does it take to make episodes of each thing you do?

Unknown said...

sweet good luck on all of your projects :)

Anonymous said...

Very nice! I can't wait for it! Keep up the good work.

Anonymous said...

Looking forward to it...
thanks mate!

Anonymous said...

Good luck on that CP episode.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the update man, will be waiting for the next Freeman's Mind and CP soon :D
Keep on the good work man.

UsodStallion said...

Hey Ross!

Thanks for taking the time to do all this work.

I'm trying to start new things (I'm a beginner machinima maker, although i've done no machinima).

I'm really bugging out right now because I don't know what to do.

I want to do what you're doing on CP but with left 4 dead, and I want to do what digitalph33r or the other machinima guys do with halo 3 on gears of war 2.

Please, please tell me anything you can about how to get the games recorded on gears of war 2/ left 4 dead like you and the other pros and how to do what you do on CP with left 4 dead.

I really want to do this, badly, but have no help and am lost. If you can Ross, please help. Thanks man.

Otto said...

Hey Luke, I think he moved his updating profile to machinima.com instead, so you'll have to find the machinima video channel.

Anyway, like everyone else, I wish you the best of luck.

Anonymous said...

Can't wait for the nex Freeman's Mind episode. I'm sure it will be one of the best. :-D

Anonymous said...

Really love all your work. As someone said, take your time. Quality over quantity.

One fun thing when i started playing Half-Life 2 again i cought myself thinking how you would do different "scenes" in the game. I can say that Half-Life 2 is going to be alot harder to master then Half-Life 1. There are alot more people who are interacting with you while your playing. But that's not something you have to worry about now i guess.

Keep up the great work!

Anonymous said...

It's great to hear the new Civil Protection episode is going well, It's my favourite of your machinima series's.

Also have you heard anything from noesis recently, they still don't have the second guide out yet.

Anonymous said...

Your Machinima movies are awesome, good luck on "the tunnel".

Ross Scott said...

A dedicated CP fan: I don't know about the "best episode", but I'm pretty sure fans will like this next one. My best ideas aren't even in production yet because the animation would be so insane.

The Cynic: It really varies. I don't have a good time measurement on it.

Luke: Yeah I get a zillion more views by releasing through Machinima.com's channel, so I've been doing that. I pretty much just use the other channel for extra stuff now like the April Fool's video.

UsodStallion: You're probably best off waiting for the SDK to be released. If you want help on the animation end of things, the existing Noesis guide I made will explain a lot that will carryover to Left 4 Dead.

Mathe: Actually no, HL2 would be easier, it's much easier for me to work off responses to existing dialogue than generate commentary from walls and crates.

Master Chris: Yeah I think they're busy on another project, sorry but it's pretty much out of my hands at this point.

Anonymous said...

do you have a xbox 360? if so, gamertag?

UsodStallion said...

Thanks Ross! Where can I purchase this guide? Isn't it the first one on the valve store page?

Blake said...

Oh good, Freeman's mind will continue!

A bit selfish but it is one of my favorite things.

Anonymous said...

Keep up the good work. I look forward to new episodes of CP.

Have you considered doing some kind of podcast as well?

Anonymous said...

Freeman's Mind is one of the greatest machinima's ever created. I (selfishly) pray that you will play through the entire game. Regardless, you've done great work so far and keep it up!

Anonymous said...

You know, I really hope this gets answered, because I'm not sure.

Is "Civil Protection" made using Half-Life 2 or one of the episodes? And does the guide Ross made explain how to do what he does in CP or for stuff like Galaxy Gulp, or both?

Sorry if this question irritates anyone.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but I'm not sure if my last comment worked or not. It told me some kind of error last time.

Anyway, is CP done in HL 2 or one of the episode games? And does the guide teach you how to do stuff in HL, or do something like Galaxy Gulp, or both?

Sorry if this question irritates you, but I really would like to know. Hope someone can tell me. :)

Ross Scott said...

anonymous: No, I only have a PC and even then there are more games for it than I'll ever have time to play.

Usodstallion: I'm not sure about the Valve store. The official title is "Machinima Choreography with the Source Engine". I plan to have a permanent link to it on the new site.

anonymous: CP episodes 1 - 4 were done in HL2, 5 - 6, and the special were done in Episode 1, and 6 had some scenes done in Episode 2 as well. The guide I made covers Episode 1, but 90-95% of what I go over applies to all versions of the Source engine.

Totema said...

Ooh, can't wait till Gordon starts meeting the marine douchebags.

UsodStallion said...

(Yes another comment)

Thanks Ross.

When my video is completed in the upcoming months or so, I will tell you first. I know that's awhile, but sometime in the future when I get back to you...well...if you could check it out then that would be kickass.
Adios! Best of luck on all the future videos.
-Tom

DT said...

Hey Ross, how do you do the CP episodes? I don't want to get the guide, but what program do you use to record, and how do you move their heads like that in hammer? How do you remove one shadow instead of all of them? And, how do you make a strider smack you with its legs?

Anonymous said...

Freeman's Mind is one of the funniest things on you tube. You are very talented at the running commentaries you script. Keep em coming, it is really appreciated.

Anonymous said...

Thank you very much for this videos. All of them are perfect.It would be great if there are some english subtitles for them.

Otto said...

pdan4, it's all done is Source. Footage is gained using the built-in 'Source Recorder' and everything else is performed in Hammer. You just need time to learn how to use it so efficiently. There's certainly a lot of online tutorials for one eager to learn.

Anonymous said...

I suspect this episode of FM is going to be outrageous(at least I hope)

Anonymous said...

hey ross, love your work man.you are my favorite machinima maker. every one you make has made me laugh so far. keep up the great work!

Ross Scott said...

UsodStallion: Yeah, depending on what you're doing, machinima can easily take a couple months.

Serbdude: Unfortunately not, this one will pretty much just be more of the same. I do have some crazy stuff planned for FM, but I have to pace it since there's still a lot to cover.

Everybody: Thanks for all the positive feedback, I'll do my best to keep making more.

DT said...

Which entity do you use for camera-angle positioning?

Unknown said...

Your Videos are awesome Ross Scott and I hope you make more Freemans mind...Watching them gives me a blast from the past whenever I see them...But Half-Life wont work on my computer anymore...
It musta taken a few takes to get that guy to say shut up when you asked him to be your human shield...hilarious

Anonymous said...

I understand that hole voice thing, I have a bottle of throat spray in my bedroom.

Anonymous said...

I have shown your works to many of my friends and now they too follow your videos releases. Keep up the good work!