Not a problem : DVD 'Game'

[welchb]

Hi all,

It might not be in quite the right forum but certianly a topic for discussion and views -- re. Video Studio.

Over Christmas, I played a couple of "DVD Games" and was really impressed. For example "Who wants to be a millionaire".

The general usage of these games is via the 'arrow' keys and enter/select keys on the DVD remote control.

Typically with the "Who wants to be a millionaire" -- use the arrow keys to select the correct answer.

What's interesting to me is the following --->

1) How are questions displayed ? --- are there literally hundreds of screens exactly the same, with different questions ? OR

Is there one display screen and somehow questions are randomly inserted into this ? -- I suspect the 1st of the two.

2) How do the controls work ?

Again this is quessing (and if point 1) i) is true but I suspect that each of the options is linked as a menu to a 'clip'

But if that's the case how does the game progress and know you've had 3 correct answers and now your total prize money is X.

3) Could VS be used to create this type of game ?

I sort of suspect not but would be interested to know more generally how the games are created.

I can understand the concept of a storyboard -- and that when given different decisions this would branch into other parts of the story which in turn could have different branches etc.....

Any views or info is welcomed ?

Thanks,

Brian

[sjj1805]

You would need much more specialised software to create a Game DVD.
The Game relies upon the use of a random number generator and various other logic. You would not find the necessary tools in a video editing suite.

Pity because someone bought me 'Deal or No Deal' as a Christmas Present.
I am sure that given the right tools I could do a better job of it myself.
Far too slow.

[welchb]

Hi Steve,

Thanks for the post --- I found this very interesting in terms of the DVD games.

Slightly off topic I realise as most of the forum tends to be specifics to VS and issues people are having but none the less related to video editting I guess.

Your email made alot of sense on the random number stuff but I'd still be interested to know if there are any commerical programs (user budget) out there which does some of this sort of stuff _and_ more of the mechanic's of the games themselves.

If anyone else has any more info. would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Brian

[GeorgeW]

For "Question/Answer" type games on DVD, look for DVD Authoring software that offers the following features:

-adding your own VM Commands
-access to read/write the General/System Parameters (GPRM and SPRM -- when allowed by spec)
-full menu design and navigation control
-high number of allowable menus

Most of it is done with "Menu" type assets, and then you just add counters (correct, incorrect, etc...). And at some point you try to "mix" things up by adding a "randomizer" routine to avoid asking the same questions in the same sequence repetitively.

Here is a quick "Quiz" example I just did (made the questions up on-the-fly) -- I did not add handlers for early "exit" points (like early menu call, or hitting NEXT on your remote control, etc...).

NOTE: this link will be active for 7 days.

Use the navigation buttons on your software dvd player -- don't use the mouse to click the answers (especially on question #10 so that when the score displays, you don't accidentally move the score number).

LINK TO DVD QUIZ ===> SAMPLE DVD QUIZ

Regards,
George

[welchb]

Hi George,

Thanks for the postand info, the email and the example.

It certainly points me in the right direction but think this sounds more like specialist editting software/menu creation.

Very interesting and will see where this develops.

Thanks again Geroge and all.

All the best,

Brian

[GeorgeW]

fyi,

for those who downloaded the DVD quiz sample, and asked for the answers:

c, b, c, c, a, c, a, c, c, b

Regards,
George