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Submitted by , posted on 09 January 2003
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Image Description, by
This project was created during the work on my diploma thesis in
computer science about "Autonomous Real-Time Camera Agents in
Interactive Narratives and Games"
The goal of my thesis is the development of an agent-based software
implementing complex cinematographic knowledge that can be integrated
into any kind of narrative application. The main focus of the agent lies
in the expression of dramaturgically relevant information based on the
means of expression of cameras. To prove the practicality of my system I
integrated the camera agent into the HL source-code.
If the agent is activated, it takes over the visual control in the game
and tries to present events in the game (like dialogues, fights,
intermissions, etc...) in "Hollywood-movie-style", following narrative
and cinematographic concepts. Below are some screenshots taken from the
activated agent. Dialogues are filmed as if you are watching a dialogue
in a movie. Subliminal information like fear, lonelyness, dangers and so
on are considered by the agent and expressed in the pictures. Remember
the fight against those assassins in this big warehouse? (see
screenshots...) With the camera agent activated, you are watching the
fight like a thrilling movie. Though the game is not playable as a first
person shooter anymore, it gives the whole game a completely new
dimension. Imagine your mother sitting in front of a networked computer,
experiencing your walkthrough through some computer game as if sitting
in front of the tv or in cinema, watching a cool movie ;). Seriously
interesting fields could be 3D-based adventure games or virtual reality
envronments in general, where the dramaturgic meaning of images has to
be considered.
If you want to check the mod out by yourself, download it here:
http://cocoonpage.com/hlcam/
If you are working on an interesting project and an autonomous camera
agent is just the last missing feature, contact me. New infos will come
soon, so stay tuned. Feel free to write me for questions or feedback or
whatever!
Alex
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