Dark_Respite

One question I do have that I'm not sure has been addressed here.

I know that published, public story arcs will be available across all US servers... but will that also include the European ones as well? (I've got a few fans over there that would love to play through my arcs, but I'm here and they're there.)

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Sister Flame is also into DOCTOR WHO? Oh, the girl can do no wrong. And I love that she thinks bears are more dangerous than CoT....

*imagines Sister Flame on a CoT mission*

Sister Flame: "Aw man, this is the twenty-sixth cave I've checked and no bears?"
Death Mage: "Foolish hero, how dare you interrupt this all-important ritual-"
Sister Flame: "Hey, did this ritual thing of yours chase out all the bears? Bears need a home too, you know! You Circle of Thorns can't have ALL the caves!"
Death Mage: "... what?!"
Sister Flame: "OUT OUT OUT! I WANT TO FIGHT BEARS!"

BTW, _Wyll_, with the MA now finally allowing Sister Flame to make her mission (and yes, I will also be playing it), I think it's time for Flame to make her video debut. Please ask her if she would like to appear in the trailer I'll be making for Issue 14, and if she does, send me a PM.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
While I am in no way, shape, or form interested in i14 and the MA.

I do have to give Dark some major props. That video was extremely well done. Nice job!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks, Anight... Gotta say, that beats the response I got with the I-13 teaser and trailer where folks who either had no interest in the issue or outright hated it started bashing on ME for making the videos for it.

[ QUOTE ]

Hey now! Don't bring her work down! He never got me as giddy as a schoolboy as I get watching the fine works of DR. In fact going to tell her on her CoHFaces right now! Wicked Slick!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks for the comment on CoHFaces, Harry.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Excellent vid, Michelle! You've really outdone yourself this time.

The way the character emotes, music, and background play together is so very powerful.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks. I make it a goal of mine each video to have learned something new since the last video I made. This way I can keep raising the bar.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Must remember to dash onto the game with Agent Tavarisch and get her the Toga and Sandals...

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Nice job, only one question did you mod the holding the blueprint bit or is it someplace in the game files?

[/ QUOTE ]

That was me doing some very tricky demoediting, some judicious use of Leandro's Splasher program, and knowing how to make Sony Vegas Movie Studio do what *I* wanted it to do.

Hmmm... maybe if I get money back from my taxes, I'll splurge and get the rest of the addon plugin packs for Vegas...

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Once again, DR, you have outdone yourself!

I am impressed with the antici............pation from shot to shot, melded with the text and quote. My hat is off to you.

In the Navy, when a job is considered 'well done', we simply say to the hard worker, "Bravo Zulu"!

"BRAVO ZULU" to you DR!! VERY well done, indeed.

And if I may, I am in agreement with most folks of this post: DR needs to be hired to design and produce video PR for this game, period.

The advertising of this game needs a MAJOR overhaul for Issue 14. This Issue is TOO IMPORTANT to just leave to 'word of mouth'. This would bring back MANY old timers to the game, guaranteed.

All it takes is Issue 14 going live, DR at the helm of video PR production for CoH/V, and a nice paycheck for her.

Make it so, Number One!!!

(um...the ball is now in your court, NC Soft; shoot or let others take the shot)

[/ QUOTE ]

*spreads her hands helplessly*

Deej, I've tried. Applied twice, got rejected twice. I don't know if it's their budget, the fact I live in AZ (though I've stated both times I'm willing to relocate, and even at my own expense if necessary), that maybe I rubbed the devs the wrong way at HeroCon, I'm not qualified enough... I honestly have no idea. I've never gotten answers, though I've asked. The answer has just been "no."

But I've said it before and I'll say it again... it means a tremendous amount to me that you guys (the CoX player base) watch my stuff and think, "THIS is how CoX should be advertised." Because it means that my videos convey what you enjoy most about the game - whether it's the creativity, the action, the drama, or the sheer coolness of being a superhero or supervillain.

Whatever it is, if I'm getting it right, I'm glad of it.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Can I request that this video and all future/previous ones be added to NCSoft's channel and added to the website?

I'm not kidding, I am totally serious Niviene. How many new people would show up if they saw these videos? It would show off how creative the community is and make for some cool machinima videos to tease people with for the upcoming issues.

[/ QUOTE ]

I appreciate the compliment, Jonathan, but it'll never happen. NCNorCal's YouTube channel is for the stuff produced in-house, or the stuff they commissioned.

Unfortunately, I don't fall under either category. Every video I've made for CoH, I've made because I wanted to, at my own expense and time, and apart from player appreciation (and the public recognition/embarrassment at HeroCon 2008 from Lighthouse *grin*), gotten no compensation.

If you want to hook people into the game using my videos in your blog or a forum you hang out on or something, be my guest - I know a lot of people do. Just please don't spam sites with my stuff.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Bah, Hyperstrike, give it a go, anyway.

I want to inspire people, not intimidate them.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Absolutely mind blowing videos. This one is right on par with the level of excellence that we have come to know as "The Samuraiko Standard" of videos.

I am usually flabbergasted and relentlessly resistant to changes in the game until you open my eyes to the possibilities. Although I don't always like the changes, your continued efforts keep my checking account low and my character count rising.

[/ QUOTE ]

That has to be one of the coolest compliments I can receive. Thank you.

[ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ]

Er, Rick, is that a good or a bad ?

[ QUOTE ]
Dear lord, madam, how on *earth* are you going to fit CoSR into the arc limits?!? Multipart, I'd assume. >.<

[/ QUOTE ]

*smirks* It's actually not going to be the entire story, although I can certainly do some of the book as story arcs in the game (that momentous first date, the attack on the charity ball, etc). But THE HEARTS OF HEROES arc is actually based on upcoming events (well after the hell they're in now).

Depends on how many people would want to PLAY through the story of TCoSR.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

I'm hoping mine prove to be popular enough to make Devs' Choice so I can get the slots back.

As for how I made the blueprint environment... it involves the inspired use of four judiciously demorecorded/demoedited maps, Leandro's Splasher program, getting the "Issue 14: Architect" logo off the CoH site, the right RGB colour code, two very specific Sony Vegas Movie Studio filters, and a metric a**load of patience, trial, and error to get it right.

All for a five-second shot. Am I insane or what?

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Jeez, you're good at that. The scenes are so deceptively simple, but you manage to pack so much anticipation into them. You have a positive gift for finding extremely appropriate music, too. And I assume those phrases floating by in the background are titles of storyarcs you've got planned (aside from the last two which were issue titles)?

Frankly, ncsoft is insane for not hiring you. :P

[/ QUOTE ]



To give you a hint...

Steel to Brass - my Nemesis arc
The Stuff of Dreams - my Carnival of Shadows arc
Memories of Midnight - my Midnighters arc
'Dyne of the Times - my BAB arc (and BAB the dev actually gave me the idea)
Voices from the Past - my Omega Team arc
Fractured Shards - my Shadow Shard arc
The Menders' War - my Menders of Ouroboros arc
The Heart of Heroes - the arc based on my lengthy story THE COURSE OF SUPERHERO ROMANCE
THe Twilight of All Time - a magic-based arc created by my husband
Cause and Effect - another Mender arc
May the Light Prevail - a Legacy Chain arc created by me and my husband
Everyone Dies - my Dark Astoria arc
One Soul, Two Destinies - my story arc of the lead character from my I-13 teaser
All Roads Lead to... - my Cimerora arc

Others not mentioned in the trailer...

And Death Shall Have No Dominion - our SG and VG go head to head
Gilded Darkness, Tainted Light - the story of Andrea Blake
Hell Hath No Fury... - my Arachnos arc
Save the Date - the anniversary of Manticore and Sister Psyche

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

You're welcome... it means a lot to me when the players get psyched because of one of my videos.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Showoff...

Well, at least that means that the effect is within reach given enough effort, as opposed to needing inside access to the game animators. I wonder if we could coax him into giving us some tips on how he pulled it off?

[/ QUOTE ]

From what Jun told me... frame by frame changes. With far more patience than I'd have (at least without some serious monetary compensation).

One way to do it would be to check each of the male/female faces and find the ones with open/closed/pursed lips, move them to the angle you'd need, whitescreen the character, get captures of just the mouths, and then use transparent images in sequence in something like Vegas or Premiere.

You'll notice that the camera doesn't move around when the characters are talking.

Like I said, time consuming.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Awesomeness personified! However did you get this power - Aura of Excellence? Or do you just have Moment Of Glorious on auto?

[/ QUOTE ]

More like "Unbearable Creativity (Always On)".

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

No. StoneFalcon did each frame individually.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Hey NCSoft - THIS is how you market your product. Take notes.

You are truly the Spielberg of MMO fan vids. Can't wait for the next one(s).

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Unfrakking believable! You should get a medal or your own signature character or something for doing all this amazing advertising for free! Loved the Shakespeare quotes and the part where everything looks like a three dimensional blue print the best and the evil laugh at the end of course.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you for the compliments. Now if I could just get the Powers That Be to agree with you...

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Samuraiko, you rock!

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks...

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

I don't think it's in my nature to do something lousy. Especially because, fool that I am, I've not yet given up hope that NCNC will change their minds and decide to hire me.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

[ QUOTE ]
Wicked stuff, DR!

Obligatory "NCSoft should hire you to make videos" comment.

[/ QUOTE ]

Obligatory "Fat f***ing chance" response. But I'm glad you liked it!

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Just for the S&G factor, to help whet your appetite for Issue 14, I did my teaser...

Meh rez version on my YouTube channel (when it finishes uploading).

High rez version on my [http://www.samuraikoproductions.com/...html]SAMURAIKO PRODUCTIONS website[/url] (on the righthand side of the page).

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

The YouTube version is still uploading, although if you visit my YouTube channel, you should eventually be able to see it once it goes live.

For those who insist on the high quality version, as always, you can find it on the Videos page of the Samuraiko Productions website.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

Actually, I thought Ex had just finally had enough of me and booted me off the forums.

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite

HAHA! And me just about done with my I-14 teaser...

Michelle
aka
Samuraiko/Dark_Respite