Story mode for DCS - video briefing.

[Mars Exulte]

I didn't mean it as an insult +) I'm here too afterall =D

[Svsmokey]

I didn't mean it as an insult +) I'm here too afterall =D

 

No offense taken !

[draconus]

IIRC, Lock On did support playing avi files before and after missions, but at some point this was removed.

 

Now, that you mentioned it, I remeber that DCS 1.5 had those old training videos available to play ingame.

[Yurgon]

Being a 99% single player, I wish there was an optional feature to be able to trigger full screen videos right before mission starts.

 

There was definitely a feature where a pre-recorded track could be played in a single player mission. Basically, it was a track playback, but in a mission, and the mission designer could choose at which point the playback would stop and the player would be tossed into the player controllable aircraft.

 

It's not exactly a video, and the options are somewhat limited, but this was used for some very old missions and was also the way that the original Ka-50 trainings worked: the player watched Wags (or some other pilot) do stuff, it was narrated (sounds played by trigger), and at the end of the lessons, the player could just take over and practice.

 

Check this post for details, particularly TRACK PLAYBACK PRIOR TO MISSION START (MISSION INTRO). Last time I tested it in DCS 1.5, it still worked.

[Gierasimov]

Thanks for the link I will check this out.

One thing though, recorded track is not editable right? I mean post processing and stuff... I remember interactive missions where I would continue after a track finished...

[Ironhand]

Thanks for the link I will check this out.

One thing though, recorded track is not editable right? I mean post processing and stuff... I remember interactive missions where I would continue after a track finished...

 

Not editable in the true sense. You can change views and also take control at any point. But once control is taken, you can’t give it back. But I think you already know all this.

[Gierasimov]

Yes, I do, and method from the link given by Yurgon works as well, just tested it, not quite what I meant, but gives some sort of intro, if the track is recorded perfectly (which will never be the case).

 

But, yes, this is still applicable:

 

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TRACK PLAYBACK PRIOR TO MISSION START (MISSION INTRO)

 

It's now possible to create missions with a pre-recorded introduction track.

 

The procedure to create a mission with an intro track is as follows:

 

1. Create a mission with the necessary triggers, graphical and audio material.

2. Launch the mission, record the intro track and save it.

3. Create a new file, called "continue_track" with the number '1' inside. The file can be created with Notepad or other similar program. The file should have no extension.

4. Open the TRK file with your archive opener (winrar, etc.) and insert the "continue_track" file inside the "track_data" folder of the TRK archive.

5. Rename the TRK extention to MIZ.

 

As a result you will have a MIZ file that includes a track file inside. When the mission is launched, the track will be played back, after which the player will be handed control automatically.

 

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[Kang]

Would it be nice to have a briefing video from time to time? Probably. Still I'd vote no, not because it's a bad idea, but because I don't think it would see very much use at all. I absolutely agree that having a good narrative of situation and task is what sets great missions apart from decent ones, but how many designers of great missions would - on top of their efforts - also start producing videos? That's a completely different ballgame.

[Gierasimov]

With all DCS related YT content, I don't think this would be an issue. I am not saying reusing that content, I am saying people do create it.

[Fri13]

Came to search how to get a video to the briefing, and found this. So of course came to give a vote.

 

I would see a good way to have the few video replay features already mentioned that Lock-On had.

• Intro video BLUE
• Intro video RED
• Outro video 1
• Outro video 2
• Outro video 3
• Outro Video 4

 

Why so many outro videos? For the triggered endings. Like success in primary goal and two secondary, or failure in primary but success in secondary etc. So designer can have four videos for creative use.

 

What format to use, I would see a 640x480 to be enough in matroska or already common mp4 containers, using x.264 codec for video and MP3 for audio (as it is now free codec).

 

I don't see reason for full screen videos or anything like that. As briefing window is small so small video can be used. Even a 320x240 would be enough for many cases.

I as well see the video to be nice in the upcoming Super Carrier briefing rooms and such, as you could have the video playing in the TV. Similar thing for the airbases ready rooms (that as well works as multiplayer lobbies to talk to people, organize sorties etc etc).

 

What comes to animation to use DCS engine, I don't see that to happen for the realtime playing. Instead mission designer could just record screen by themselves and then make the video for mission from it. Easier that way.

[JonathanRL]

As a Campaign creator, I would love to use this as a tool in my Campaigns.

[Devil 505]

Following up to the above topic.  My buddy and I have tried a few things, including letting chat GPT creating a LUA script to attempt launching a video upon starting the briefing.  We are probably going down a black hole with the attached script but I do not know enough about scripting or LUA to see if it is remotely close to being able to work.  It also said to get it to work, go to you trigger and add "mission start" and then in the last box, select "DO SCRIPT FILE".  From there, you can actually select your LUA file. 

I feel like we may be on the right path, but would like to reignite this topic.  We really want to be able to play briefing videos in game while in cockpit or in virtual free cam possibly under a FARP tent. I would settle with the briefing screen for now.  Please feel free to take and use the attached LUA file to assist in figuring this puzzle out if you think you can do it.  All I ask is please share the wealth if you learn how to do it so we can all have a good time.  Hopefully someone from ED reads this.

If so, please consider adding the ability to script or trigger an MP4 video from the mission editor.  Maybe be able to place an MP4 in the briefing like you do photos.  Allow us to create an F-10 trigger to launch the video or have it launch anytime during the mission.  Maybe a small screen in upper left or right hand of the screen.

I would appreciate any feedback on this one.  I feel this would bring a lot to us Multiplayer pilots who fly weekly with friends on campaigns.

[cfrag]

3 hours ago, Devil 505 said:

including letting chat GPT creating a LUA script

That's a very bad idea. Current levels of ChatGPT, because it bases it's 'deep learning' on a code base mixed with various frameworks and does not have enough intelligence to keep those apart, are a far cry from creating anything usable in DCS. Their code will serve more to confuse you than help. Especially if you don't know Lua - which would be the only reason to resort to ChatGPT, so that's a Catch-22.

3 hours ago, Devil 505 said:

We are probably going down a black hole with the attached scrip

There is no script. (and that somehow feels like a quote from the Matrix )

Other than that, I'm a bit ambivalent wrt video source in games. While it may be helpful in some cases, it significantly increases file size. I like the fact that missions in DCS are tiny, and can be transferred to clients easily. If videos were part of a mission, these videos too will have to be transferred to you when you log into a server. Each time that the mission starts. Not a show stop, but definitely a concern for anyone with a anything less thangigabit connection. Since it's something server admins can control, I'm not against video, but I urge caution against what you wish for. Track playback would indeed be much preferrable, as mentioned - if track playback ever worked, that is.

Edited March 30, 2023 by cfrag

[Devil 505]

Appreciate the feedback.  After talking with the guys and pretty much coming to the same conclusions above, we decided to shelve the idea and stick to making more immersive briefings with better photos and a more traditional feel. 

[upyr1]

The videos would be awesome. 

[xfirf]

Thats a cool idea. Especially with so much AI-tools being available it would be much more immersive having an AI reading the text with some background noises than reading through it.

Edited January 5 by xfirf

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

16 hours ago, xfirf said:

Thats a cool idea. Especially with so much AI-tools being available it would be much more immersive having an AI reading the text with some background noises than reading through it.

Oh boy, an warbly voice being emitted by a program unable to discern context giving me a briefing with the incorrect vocal inflections if any at all.

Thrilling.

[Slammer22]

WE WANT VIDEOS.