Project Spark for making games...and (quick?) storyboarding

Denis Haineault

Denis Haineault

Well-known member

I've been following this puppy since it was announced last June, and while made for people who want to make games, I just realized just how useful it would be for making quick (visually pleasing) storyboards.

This video only scratches the surface of what it (apparently) will be able to do once released, but from what I've read and from what what I've seen in other demo videos, I think it might be a useful little storyboard tool for filmmakers.

Quick highlights:

- you can quickly paint landscapes (deserts, forest, icy/snowy, more to come)
- you can specify "day" or "night" (you can even specify what time...so the sun (moon also?) will look kinda right)
- intended to be accessible even if you are not a computer programmer-type of person
- the virtual camera is supposed to be flexible and easy to control (apparently, doing game cinematics is quite easy...so could be useful for storyboarding)
- there is no textual (traditional) programming -- the "programming language" is accomplished visually, using logic blocks (for storyboarding, there's probably no need to dabble into this too much)
- to be released around the same time as Microsoft will release their next console (by the end of the year)
- will work on xbox360, xbox One, Win-based tablets and PCs (only Windows 8 though)
- it's free !

Again, this is a game designing tool, but I think there is something useful in there for filmmakers as well. And yes, there are other tools out there with similar capabilities, but I think this one is quite neatly packaged...or at least, that's where they seem to be going.

Here's a bit more, showing how to design from scratch:


part 2:

cheers!
 
Last edited:
Best evidence yet of the proclaimed merger of movies and games.

My jaw was on the floor for a good 5 minutes. That was amazing.
 
refocusedmedia said:
Source Filmmaker anyone?
Click to expand...

Source Filmmaker is definitely another good option. However, it seems to require some animation skills to make the best of it (don't know...I haven't used it). But surely, it comes with canned animation rigs, and that would do fine. Also, I'm not sure if you have to use only the landscapes already provided, or if you can create some from scratch in order to approximate the stage you're trying to storyboard?

The strength that Project Spark *seems* to have is that it requires very little technical skills to use, and can produce things (from scratch) very quickly...and quick turnarounds are never a bad thing.

Anyway, the more options the better...
 
It is free.

The (unconfirmed) expected model is:

- Microsoft will sell additional content in their market place
- Microsoft will make a cut on anyone who makes a game and sells it through Microsoft's store

It will be something along those lines anyway...
 
I like this.

For storyboarding though, I wish there had been a way of setting up focal length and also easy snapshot exports.

I think it would be a bulky tool to use for something like that. It would be easier to just do it with a camera and a friend or two.
 
Jawa Ex Machina said:
I like this.

For storyboarding though, I wish there had been a way of setting up focal length and also easy snapshot exports.

I think it would be a bulky tool to use for something like that. It would be easier to just do it with a camera and a friend or two.
Click to expand...

Well it is for making games, but I hear you. Most of the time, a camera with friends will be all that is needed.

But I'm just thinking of those times when you want to communicate some fancy special effects shot you have in mind, and a quick perviz would help. But hey, it is situational...I agree.

When the tool does come out, we'll see just how quick/easy it is to (say) make a previz of your monster trashing through a village while shooting freak'n lasers. :) Come to think of it, the mech-type creature in the first video makes me think that something like this could have been used to do a quick previz of something like Pacific Rim.

Anyhoo... I'm clearly into this tool (primarily for toying around with it and making games), but I just thought it might have other uses as well.
 
Neither 'Spark' nor 'Source Filmmaker' are available for the Mac. While 'Steam', which is required for 'Source Filmmaker'... when one attempts to install, one gets the 'not available' alert.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top