The Hidden Blade Assassin's Creed in Depth

stab and i both use dvd recorders. we rip the dvds to pc using different programs tho. i use dvd. i forget what stab uses. we use windows movie maker to edit. if you are interested in hd recording, you can try this.
http://www.hauppauge.com/site/products/data_hdpvr.html
i think this is what asaic uses.

Yep, that's the one. You need to have an HDTV to record in HD with this device, but it records SD as well.

I use Magic DVD Ripper. Ian uses DivX. I guess he forgot what he uses too.

Making Assassins Creed Machinima would be extremely difficult and would take a lot of editing, though. You can't get good camera angles and your voice acting has to be separate from the gameplay. That's why Halo 3 is so popular with Machinima directors, because it gives a heavy amount of camera freedom in addition to the forge function which allows freedom of environment, camera, and also allows the recording of voice. Assassins Creed doesn't really have any of these functions, although the camera can be frequently adjusted. I don't know if this is the right game to do it in because it would take many laborious hours to do all the editing, filming, cutting, etc. If you have that time, go for it, I'm just saying it's gonna be a lot of work and there's always Halo 3.

@Fly Like an Eagle
Ok, I'll keep that in mind
To the rest of you thank you for your help

Computer play allows for some abilities that recorders do not if you want to record gameplay. You can take out the widescreen black bars with some programs etc...Granjow is the best one to speak of about that. (I know AC2 is not out on PC yet but just a heads up if it interests you to record)

Lilkody makes a good point though. Behind Halo 3 in the world of Machinima is GTA IV on the PC. Why only on the PC? GTA IV's PC game has an F2 function which automatically saves the last 30 seconds of gameplay to a video file that can be viewed later and is backed up on RockstarSocialClub.com. This removes the need of a capture card, but it also fixes the issue of camera angles because you can go into the film editor of the game and put the camera anywhere you want. First person, car hood, top of a building, birds eye view, you name it, you can do it.

Now, whether the PC version of Assassins Creed II will have this feature is still unknown, and it probably won't, but editing PC files as opposed to console files is much easier, you'll find. If you're heartset on Assassins Creed Machinima then I would wait until the PC version comes out. You'll be a lot happier in the long run.

Yes, but then, do I buy it for PC, or do I make something illegal?

Why would it be illegal?

I mean, the other way to acquire the game would be illegal; you know, download a ripped copy, but that would be wrong. But I don't want to buy the game again.

i dont think the difference between pc and console is significant enough to warrant waiting for the pc version and pirating it. besides, i think console vids sometimes look better than pc ones due to the smoother change in camera angles. i know thats a function of the controller, not platform, but still.

at the end of the day, what will make or break your machinima vid will be its content. focus on that first.

But here's what I don't understand, you say you've seen Ian and Stab's machinima but they haven't made any, they just make help videos and stunt assassinations. What exactly are you planning to do (if you don't want to spoil us with the story that's okay, I'm just curious)?

Ok, what I meant with "I've seen Ian's and stab's videos" is that I wanted to know the method they used to record the gameplay. Now, if I know different methods, I can try 'em and see what's the best one.
What I had in mind was to make like a comedy-like machinima, showing some glitches and curious stuff I found in the way. Also looking forward to make it like in episodes, for example, "The Quest for Altair's robes", featuring Ezio making favors and assassinations and bumping with fifferent "characters" along Italy.
Maybe just like a personal project, something to do during my free time.

I had assumed he was referring to Hiding in Plain Sight and Turkey Shoot, which are very simple machinima vids.

http://www.thehiddenblade.com/hiding-plain-sight-altairs-job-hunt
http://www.thehiddenblade.com/turkey-shoot-diary-schoolboy

that's not really machinima though, right?
when i hear the word machinima i think of stuff like Red vs Blue where the camera is free to move at will and new voices are created for the characters.

what stab and ian does is more like...instructional videos mixed with alot of humour but it's not machinima.

neither hiding nor turkey was instructional, although references were provided to the instructional material that supports it. in both vids, the camera angle is controlled for specifically for cinematic purposes. the new voices are added in speech bubbles, as opposed to spoken. in many cases, altair movement was intentionally acted out to fit the dialog. different takes are edited together to create a new story that is completely different from the original material. sounds like machinima to me as i said, just a very simple case of it.

Exactly, it can be gameplay or just making fun with the glitches of the game. A machinima is defined as the creation of animations using settings, characters or engines based on videogame material, regularly filmed in a real-time 3D view. Look for it on wiki, maybe I'm wrong, but that was what I understood.

Yes, because the wiki is always right (stab we need an eye-roll emoticon for these kinds of moments. I miss it)

Anyway I think most people, me and Rob included, have bought into the stereotypical definition of a Machinima, which is anything that is remotely close to Red vs. Blue and filmed from Halo gameplay. But there are many other divisions as well.

That was what I meant with the other post, I just consulted on wiki for a more "accurate" or "technical" definition.

Anyway, does my ideas seem as something that would have succes or do I abandon the idea of making a machinima?

Again, it would take A LOT of work, but we rarely get any variation of AC content around here. Normally just alternate playing styles and whatever stab and Ian are working on at the time. Go for it, I'm eager to see it, and a change of scenery would be nice for the AC community.

Yeah, a machinima would be great! I'm a big fan of RvB and the Half Life mind serieses (Freemans mind, Barney's mind, check them out, they are great), an AC machinima in the style of the mind series would be great! Ezios mind....

Can someone give me instructions on how to use a dvd ripper with a ps3?

Where is the best place to post video links? I have an AC1 video from way back and I am currently working on an AC2 video for a week.

Just link it right here or consult the instructions beneath the comment box for help. Copy/paste the URL and maybe it'll get frontpaged by Stab or Ian.

ok well this is going back 2 years, I'm working on a AC2 1080p PC video now. I'm not looking for ratings or the extra views or anything, it's not why I joined the site but here is AC1 anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAIyNB6dd9s

bravo! very well done! fantastic music selection.

Great machinima Couly!Simply brilliant!

Although at some points the 3rd person follow camera gets repetitive, almost everything else in the video was performed exceptionally well. Excellent job Couly!

Nice montage and gameplay Couly! Brings up ol' memories...

cheers yeah you're right, I've corrected that in my AC2 video, if I ever get it done, I've been at i since the game came out for PC.

ok here's my AC2 video, hope you like it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO-iARS5g0E

Genius Couly.

That scene with the Glider was a really nice touch.

My one recommendation would be to cut out the zoom out after a kill animation. In the montages I've scene, the best ones have clipped out the camera zoom out after a kill animation to preserve the intensity of the moment.

This is probably the best AC2 montage I've scene. I would say AC2 video, but for the purpose of being politically correct and preserving Stab and Ian's feelings, I'll say montage. Once again, stupendous job, Couly.