Latest posts for the topic "So, what is happening"

So, what is happening

DavidB — GMT

In the last 3 weeks we (Short Fuze) have been a mite busy. * - moved into new office (rather nice one, actually, do come visit...) * - been in deep talks with our (helpful and supportive) investors about the next steps in the life of the company * - hired a bunch of new people * - worked with specialist consultants * - took Moviestorm to see some big and small companies that can help us in 2007 * - totally reviewed the Moviestorm product, all the feedback from beta testers, and our production methods (well, we have a 'team' now, as well as passion and experience) * - set out a marketing and development plan * - installed heaps of new hardware and software * - handled a /lot/ of new art from our fantastic outsource art partners * - actually been making some new moviestorm movies Its been a really tough 3 weeks, but we feel sure it was worth it. Early next year the benefits will (we hope) show in Moviestorm. Thanks for bearing with us. Do, please, keep up the comments and criticism (and praise). Thanks

Re:So, what is happening

filmfreak — GMT

This is very exciting news. May we see those moviestorm movies?

Re:So, what is happening

DavidB — GMT

you know how it is: there are movies you make for yourself to see if something works, movies you make for a few friends and movies you show to the world. I'll find out which catagory they fall into!

Re:So, what is happening

filmfreak — GMT

Fair enough. I can't wait to see what you guys cook up.

Re:So, what is happening

DavidB — GMT

OK, some of the next lot of movies we make will get out. Right now we are not quite happy with way they look, and we are pumping in heaps of art and animations right now (as well as features), so anything we have now will not show the product off to its best advantage. Sorry. A short delay will also give us a chance to beef up the server and forum features so it can host videos more easily

Re:So, what is happening

hitch — GMT

Hi, so when will the product be avalaible for use. Has the beta testing been completed now? thanks

Re:So, what is happening

Eddz — GMT

hitch wrote:

Hi, so when will the product be avalaible for use. Has the beta testing been completed now? thanks

Hi Hitch, We've got our latest beta release coming within the next week, with the public release around April. Regards.

Re:So, what is happening

DavidB — GMT

Eddz is spot on. We are totally committed to working with the machinima community to test, thrash and refine Moviestorm. We've had to take some big steps to get ready for this, and it took us a fair while to get organised and trained up as a team. Now we are 10 and have a proper office and infrastructure, which is enabling us to do so much more than when we were really just a bedroom startup. Oh, and we are still recruiting fast! So, we were a bit too quiet for a while, but we are back now. Over the remainder of this month there will be "proper" notices about the Beta delivery schedule and what we are aiming for. There will also be confirmations sent to a very much larger pool of beta testers, which we are now geared up to handle. It is hard to tell how long it might take to get to a "Release 1.0" of Moviestorm (or whatever the first full non-beta release is called), until the whole of the community is able to give us more feedback (and movies!) from the first couple of beta versions. Now, where can we find some more volunteers ;-)

Re:So, what is happening

filmfreak — GMT

(Raising hand...jumping up and down in back of the room) Oo-oo-oo...me! Pick me! :D

Re:So, what is happening

DavidB — GMT

Office expansion and kit out for new people is now underway. Beta testing 1.2 in full flow (we still need more - in fact we need about 900 more beta testers over the next 3 months, so form queue. :-) ) First movie has "escaped" onto GoogleVideo. As if you did not already know. One of our beta testers has made 9 minutes of Hamlet as a test piece. Amount of art in the product has gone up by about 500% and is going to increase dramatically over next 3 months as we have the outsource agreements and schedules in place. New programmers and new people for testing, website functions, production and art are now in place and working as hard as they can. News about our growth and future plans on this channel before the end of the month.

So, what is happening

Toriel — GMT

This is good news. Thanks for keeping us informed!

Re:So, what is happening

steelblade — GMT

DavidB wrote:

First movie has "escaped" onto GoogleVideo. As if you did not already know. One of our beta testers has made 9 minutes of Hamlet as a test piece.

What, my short don't count? :) Anyway....LINK! I can't find it with the searches I did. :)

Re:So, what is happening

DavidB — GMT

arg - no offence, but the first one we were "told" of was http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8693614792520865921 ... so if someone wants to 'fess up ;-)

Re:So, what is happening

steelblade — GMT

DavidB wrote:

arg - no offence, but the first one we were "told" of was http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8693614792520865921 ... so if someone wants to 'fess up ;-)

Yeah, that one is mine. Where is the Hamlet one? Or was that one not put online?

So, what is happening

matt — GMT

Hamlet's not online.

Re:So, what is happening

filmfreak — GMT

Will we be able to view Hamlet, soon?

So, what is happening

matt — GMT

Errr, dunno. That's up to the guy who made it.

So, what is happening

richke — GMT

I checked out the movie and i thought it looked very promising. Some of the animation was awesome and other seemed choppy. But i know this is just a start and see there is so much potential. It freaking awesome to see you guys started with in idea in a bedroom(i think) and now this idea is slowly growing and will turn to something huge if its done right. I can wait for more updates...

Re:So, what is happening

capemedia — GMT

Good start movie, some nice animation and things look promising. I must say recently I have taken great interest in iClone and especially the new release version 2. However as an ex-?The Movies? user, there is still use for that game in my films. I suppose the question is, where will Moviestorm see itself? Are you going for the game market or the more professional Machinima market? This will obviously be determined by the price of your product. "The Movies" + expansion is retailing at around £20, where as iClone 2 will be around £100. Have you considered this?

So, what is happening

richke — GMT

Look at cape coming in with the good questions :)

Re:So, what is happening

DavidB — GMT

Good questions deserve a good answer from our marketing and product team. There is a pretty deep commitment to free application + paid for content packs + (optional) paid for community services. Exact pricing models are going to be worked out in May (ahead of commercial releases), and we keep a very close eye on things like any products that can produce machinima whether they be games or pro-am products. I do not want anyone to be unable to make the movies of their dreams because of our pricing structure. (However, do not plead to me for freebies as I have an accountants heart of stone) :-)

Re:So, what is happening

Anonymous — GMT

Greetings to all, What is the commercial viability of MovieStorm? What quality can we expect from the gold version of MovieStorm. I am thrilled at the possibility of using a new medium to create my second film. Are you going to have a service where MovieStorm users can comission their own assets. Let's say you want several characters wearing space suits for example. Thank you in advance for your reply. Regards, Jose Perez

Re:So, what is happening

DavidB — GMT

Commercially viable: yes (see press release for our recent funding) Over the last two weeks we have been rushed off our feet working with future commercial and IPR partners . Can't say who until about June. Quality - well there are big improvements due before release in terms of render speed and flexibility, lighting, volume of assets, style of assets and the help files. We intend to be at least as good, if not better, than a top tier game would be at commercial release. ( :!: ambition warning :!: ) Commissioning assets: PM me for costs. Seriously. Also, we intend to have a reasonably simple system for users in the community to vote for most important / most desirable assets from the list that we are already commissioning so they get made first. Also - learn to MOD!

Re:So, what is happening

jase180 — GMT

DavidB wrote:

Commercially viable: yes (see press release for our recent funding) Over the last two weeks we have been rushed off our feet working with future commercial and IPR partners . Can't say who until about June. Quality - well there are big improvements due before release in terms of render speed and flexibility, lighting, volume of assets, style of assets and the help files. We intend to be at least as good, if not better, than a top tier game would be at commercial release. ( :!: ambition warning :!: ) Commissioning assets: PM me for costs. Seriously. Also, we intend to have a reasonably simple system for users in the community to vote for most important / most desirable assets from the list that we are already commissioning so they get made first. Also - learn to MOD!

I'm sure there will be no shortage of Modders. I wonder, with all the potential here, will you make web space available at a cost for the posting of higher resolution films made with the game? I love to know the progress of the game mechanics, and cant wait to see a demo of whats been created with it.