Custom intro video for EB-need opinions + feedback

[ywingpilot]

http://www.savefiles.net/d/e8w53d4gc22hmy.html
I did an intro video for EB, I just want honest feedback. Like it, hate, just tell me. My grand plan is to add the faction intros as well.

[keravnos]

Sorry, not being able to download I can't comment. Any way you can upload this to a different site, maybe?

Your download has failed. There were no available download servers. Click here to try your download again.

[Spoofa]

yeah, upload it at some other place that requires no registration to download.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I'd like to see it, but it's download is unavailable to me also.

[Obelics]

downloading it, feedback coming soon...

edit: the only problem is that is downloading 13kb per second... so feedback coming not very soon...

ok here's the feedback:
overall rating: good (but not exceptional)

the first part is very good (the intro)
but the last scenes are a sort of random. For example the scene when the iberian assault infantry throw their astae to the polibian triari seem to be put there just randomly, and the triary advance towards the iberians, not charging, just as suicide cannon foodder, so the scene seems comic instead to be epic.
And the whole film, after you have completed it all, seems to not have a coherent story, just a random view of cut scenes (and this cut scenes are not epic, the best is that with the gallic general marcing, the worst is that with the triari vs iberians, and that of the hetaroi marching, who looks streched vertically).

Sorry if i make some criticism, but you sayd honest feedback, and i liked very much the first part, and the whole think gave me a great excitement, cause im very very thirsty to see EB intro sscenes.
So in the end, id say that it could be an official intro, but it has potential to be better.

Anyway even so, it is better than nothink and id like to have it as an EB intro (the part with the EB map is great, but im not sure on the didascalics, cause im not good on english).

for what they can count, my praises for your effort

EDIT: please if you can do an intro for every faction, do it, there is always time for improvements, and the important think is to have it i think.

[shlin28]

Great video, but the scene with the Companion Cavalry is a bit squashed me think.

[MarcusAureliusAntoninus]

overall rating: good (but not exceptional)

Second.

[Elthore]

i think its very good, it gets me pumped to play a campaign for sure.

The fight scenes seem to play out well too (considering the RTW engine)

I have some suggestions regarding the text though:

1. group as many as you can together, so new text isnt popping up every 2 seconds
2. remove the quotes. no need for example "barbarians" (call them celtic and germanic tribes)
3.move the text to the top or bottom, if you want it in the middle, make it bolder


if you follow those suggestions, theres gonna be more text to read when it comes up. You might need to change the sequence of things. The text is interesting so dont mix it with an exciting background.

edit:quotes, not quote...da

[Teleklos Archelaou]

I'm still downloading it, but I could see the start. My personal view is that we have zero done "on tape" in this area (we do have some scriptwork done), and that while I don't think it is done at this point the way the team would do it (papyrus font is ok, but the dots in between words are strange and a more instantly legible font might be better; music is not EB music, where the offical videos would need to have it; the map images are some of the lower quality ones, while an official video could have some really high quality and detailed versions possibly even specially made for it; etc.), I do think the skill shown in putting it together is something the team would like. We should talk more about the matter, and maybe work with you to try a faction video or two first, and then if things go well maybe starting on an official one. Just my personal thoughts on the matter.

[Birka Viking]

I think its good but you should use EB music. And not only write barbarians...Other wise it was great man...

[Spoofa]

I'm still downloading it, but I could see the start. My personal view is that we have zero done "on tape" in this area (we do have some scriptwork done), and that while I don't think it is done at this point the way the team would do it (papyrus font is ok, but the dots in between words are strange and a more instantly legible font might be better; music is not EB music, where the offical videos would need to have it; the map images are some of the lower quality ones, while an official video could have some really high quality and detailed versions possibly even specially made for it; etc.), I do think the skill shown in putting it together is something the team would like. We should talk more about the matter, and maybe work with you to try a faction video or two first, and then if things go well maybe starting on an official one. Just my personal thoughts on the matter.

That would be awsome to have factional introduction videos!

I think the video was pretty good, maybe a little bit over the struggle in greece would have added an extra punch but maybe thats just because im playing a konion hellenes campaign and loving every second of it.

[ywingpilot]

About the music, the first one is from RTW, the second is straight from EB

[Wolfman]

The fight scenes were a little slow to me. And the text flashed way to fast for me to read. But other then that i think it was a pretty good video.

[antisocialmunky]

That would be awsome to have factional introduction videos!

I think the video was pretty good, maybe a little bit over the struggle in greece would have added an extra punch but maybe thats just because im playing a konion hellenes campaign and loving every second of it.

As long as they're epikker and have better narration than RTW's.

[Teleklos Archelaou]

One nice thing about the main EB theme is that it does divide up into little culture group sections at times - it's not always as easily distinguishable, but plenty of times you can hear something that is more eastern, or more roman, or more barbarian. But making some faction videos with their culture themes as the music would be very nice for sure. Starting with some of the more complete ones (with generals and standard bearers finished - like Aedui or Arverni) would be a good idea I would think.

[Caratacos]

First impression is that there is good potential there. You have a good build up of tension at the beginning (though the text needs a little work-- what it says, i mean). I myself would up the tempo at the end so the viewer is bombarded with battle scenes one after the other until it climaxes with with a "Europa Barbarorum" logo still-screen-- then fade to black. Basically try to make it so that it is more like, sex. Leave the viewer feeling like they need a cigarette afterwards.

[PSYCHO V]

Love it !

[Spoofa]

First impression is that there is good potential there. You have a good build up of tension at the beginning (though the text needs a little work-- what it says, i mean). I myself would up the tempo at the end so the viewer is bombarded with battle scenes one after the other until it climaxes with with a "Europa Barbarorum" logo still-screen-- then fade to black. Basically try to make it so that it is more like, sex. Leave the viewer feeling like they need a cigarette afterwards.

like the vanilla intro?


actually the vanilla theme wasnt too bad, it got me ready to play

[skuzzy]

I think the music is great. The fight sequences after you elaborate on the scenario are really choppy and awkward. Although, I can't say myself could do better. Also one thing that bothered me are all the 's you were putting to accentuate wording, it ruins the flow and looks out of place. Overall it's good work though.

[Gazius]

The blue map in the opening seems... wrong. Maybe a grey or something else, but not blue. I did like the pan across the map though, as well as the zoom into the regions. The font seems horribly misplaced, as well as the central dot spacing. As far as content of the text, kinda hit and miss.

As far as the battles go, I thought they were a bit too... timid? If at all possible it may be worthwhile to try to feature more of the unique buildings in EB.

Overall however I rather liked it.

[Germaan]

First impression: I like it. I second the opinion the music is good (i also liked some of the music in RTW ). I d'ont mean that the music in EB Is less, on the contrary it is very good. Because i can play for houres a litle more music in the game would be a good thing ( gives variation ). I think the scenes schould be longer, now they are going to quick after each other. Also leave the text a litle longer on screen to reed them properly. Some scenes could be better like the one with the Triarii and the one with the piramids. But grosso modo good start and valauable effort. Realy nice work.

[HFox]

This is almost a good promo piece for the project as a whole.

Something that may be nice - For people who dont know what they are looking at....not familiar with EB or even RTW.....some subtitles may help explain what they are seeing.

Agreed some of the sequences could probably be improved on but for a first cut ......I think this is damn good. Definately got me in the mood to play.

[keravnos]

It is much better than we currently have, granted. However, I do think that its battle scenes left something to be desired. I would advise Ywingpilot to emulate some of the best looking pictures of the competition and maybe even use the generals camera in a horse unit as it is attacking.

A constand scene that comes to mind is a general and his bodyguards attacking a lower quality inf. say "Hoplitai haploi" or "Pantodapoi Phallangitai" and cutting them down like scythe. Be sure to capture the motion of the cavalry unit, 1-2 seats behind the first line, much like this month's screenshot winner.

Other than that, a very nice start. Hopefully there will be more, a LOT more where this came from.

[ywingpilot]

I will see, what I can do about changing the intro, I have it all saved on my computer

[Imperator]

I for one thought is was phenomenal!!! I love the way you set it up by panning it across the map- zooming in on certain areas (Carthage v Rome, Seleucid vs Ptolemy) but maybe for the redo spend a wee bit more time in the north than just "the barbarians". I thought the first few battle pics were great- although the two phalanxes fighting in Egypts were less so because the camara was far back from the fighting, I like to see it zoomed it more. The music was beautifully added- I like how you started with RTW music (maybe to remind a viewer it's a RTW game) and then moved into EB music! So here's a handy list of what I thought:

Good:
Music
Order of shots (start on map with flashes of armies, then comes the real fighting! sets it up perfectly)
Clip shots of soldiers (in between map shots)

To Improve:
Text (very simple, just make fewer, longer sentences and you'll be fine)
Battles (all your shots were epic- but not as epic as possible, just try to find even MORE epic shots to show how intense EB is. That's the hard part)

Overall, though, I thought it was bloody brilliant! You are very talanted and I hope and pray you talk to the EB team and make some movies because you really are very good at it!

[Caratacos]

Please don't be discouraged ywing. People only want to see the best for EB-- and the best never happens on the first take (and remember-- even with the best it is impossible to please everyone). As long as you are enjoying the creative process (which is the most important thing) it will show through in your work. If you stop enjoying it give us the big finger and say "do it yourself then!"

One thing that came to me after reading what Imperator just said about the "barbarians". You should definitely mention the Averni/Aedui civil war (power-struggle for gaul). Perhaps pose the question whether or not there will be a strong enogh warlord to become high-king/overlord of the german tribes. Similarly whether or not the warriors of the casse will grow powerful enough to demand tribute from all the tribes across the whole island of britain (or avalon or alba or whatever it was originally called) and perhaps even Eire. Talk about the possiblity of uniting the getic tribes to show those darn greeks who is boss. As for the Lusatanians (whatever) i'm not so sure (sorry Sarcasm-- i'm pretty ignorant of them ).

Just some ideas.

[Arkatreides]

I really enjoyed the opening. I thought it was very well done, but as others said could be extended to focus more on other theatres of conflit.

Personally I think that you might as well skip all the battle scenes towards the end and just focus more on the scrolling map. It is somewhat difficult to capture the heat of the battles anyway and to be honest we all know what it does, but the opening really made me want to dig right in and control one of these nations to utter supremacy.

It's good already, don't be let down by (constructive) criticism, but like many great things the first draft is not the final draft!

I hope to see more.

[Obelics]

yes, it seems like the first tryout of somethink that could become really great

[ywingpilot]

This movie was created using movie maker & virtualdub so it has its limits

[Thaatu]

I think the blue map is great, it gives it a dreamy look. Some of the text is a bit corny, like the "who will prevail" or the "rightfully their's" part and the battle shots are too random. It would be good to reorganize them to something like this:

- 1st part, different historically composed armies marching in columns in different terrain.
- 2nd part, those armies formed up in battle line.
- 3nd part, armies closing in on each other.
- 4th part, closeups of generals ordering the charge (with their respective voicemods of course).
- 5th, Flash. The end.
- 5th, an alternative ending, you see the armies collide from a birds eye view.

Writing a screenplay could help.