This is a tutorial on how to edit the current 'Conquests' BIK movie and also how to create one of your own. Great for MOD makers.

I use a utility called RADVIDEO TOOLS. It can be downloaded seperatly Here (http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads9/BINKVIDEO.zip) This powerful Utility Converts BIK files to FLC, GIF, WAV, and even individual image files. I also included the utility in my tutorial. Download my html tutorial Here (http://www.civfanatics.net/uploads10/Create_Your_own_CIV_movies.zip)

Download the Readme also.


Tools used:

RADVIDEO TOOLS (http://www.radgametools.com/default.htm)
ANIMATION SHOP
PAINT SHOP PRO

Is this for the game intro movie? :drool:

Yes it is. RADVIDEO TOOLS allows you to export the BIK as an FLC, GIF, and allows you to extract the sound. So ya, this tutorial covers the intro movie. If you look in the 'Movies' folder if you have conquest, you will see a victory movie too. The methods discribed in this tutorial are the same for that one

Sounds cool. Finally, Civ3 graphics modding that doesn't involve palettes! :D
I don't have the time or good reason to try it now, but it has potential....
...LotM....

can't you get a video to play if you beat a certain scenario...like you have to go into some text file and change some directories...and stuff or is it hardcoded

EDIT:
Okay I want to convert a couple of .swf files for the BIC...my macromedia flash can export the videos as .mpg, .mpeg, .swf, .gif, BUT I use what is called movieclips and those wont play if they are set as .gif....so my question is can you get .swf into a .bic

I know you can convert your swf files directly to avi format and then with RADVIDEO TOOLS you can convert the avi to BIK

Ill try to get the software that converts swf to avi up in a moment

EDIT: Wait, a minute, you can export a flash file as AVI

DHRUVHere's the best method: 1. open movie in FLASH
2. Go to File>Export Movie
3. Under save as type choose Windows Avi


Then from there u can use RADVIDEO TOOLS and convert to BINK.

Ya thats great....but macromedia flash mx 2004 professional already has that available....but thanks because I needed to make this one .swf into a screensaver

Yeah, the Rad Video tools can convert BIK to and from just about any other format including FLC, FLI, GIF, AVI, and MPG. I'm planning on using the Rad Tools to convert a certain Final Fantasy Anime Music Video that's currently in AVI format. I'm going to use it as the intro for the FF mod.

That should look pretty goods in the MOD, when do you expect to finish the MOD by?

That should look pretty goods in the MOD, when do you expect to finish the MOD by?

Hopefully by December, although that might be a bit optimistic. I still have 9 civs to add, since I'm in the process of adding two factions from FF III, one of which I was able to get all the units and LH in one fell swoop. Once I find a name for the leader, I'll be adding Crystal Chronicles which will leave only 8 empty slots and only FF I, II, Mystic Quest and possibly Spirits Within to get civ and unit ideas from before I will be forced to go to other Square-Enix games, or, like Firaxis did with the Alien Crossfire expansion for Alpha Centauri, I might Change Japan to Square Enix with Yoshinori Kitase or Testuya Nomura as leader and the other FF team members as GLs. I've also got several LHs to make as well.

In addition I've still got about 3 dozen units to add, not to mention re-doing the industrial and modern tech trees, adding each games unique summoning tech (with associated small wonder and summoned creatures), as well as finishing up the advisors (I've only got the Foreign advisor left, and all I need for her is the proper hair...Aeris is my foreign advisor), the advisor screens (I've made the advisor screens look like Final Fantasy Menu screens) and possibly making some Final Fantasy type Pop heads (i.e. changing the mideast ones to look like FFX NPCs, the Native American ones to look like FF VII charachters and NPCs, etc). And that's still taking into account that I've still got a ton of Civilopedia entries that need written, as well as some serious revising for the Diplomacy.txt as well as the Script.txt. Thankfully the Label.txt bit is finished.

All in all, I'd say that I'm about 70% finished, but the last 30% is gonna be a hum-dinger. All I can say is that it took a whole 2 years for Embryodead to do his Warhammer Fantasy mod, and he had the direct support of some of the best unit creators in CFC, so I've still got about 9 months for this one ;)

Wow, i had no idea they take that long!! That makes me want to stay away from MOD making, not like the idea to make a MOD crossed my mind. Well good luck.

Hahahhaha! Don't worry, not ALL mods require a complete graphics change. (However, my MOD is only about 50% done, and I still have to find another CIV to add, add +-50 units, make a few of those units, plus add techs and finish the Tech Tree.

oh, whhhhoo. Got scared there

Actually, Making LHs and advisor screen graphics as well as .biq editing is realatively easy. Researching info for civs, messing with the tech tree, making units and editing the various .txt files are the hard parts.

Hi, polyphemus!

Thank you very much for the RADVIDEO TOOLS link and your tutorial!

It's a really easy and good way to make own intro movies! :)

your welcome. just glad i could help

I've had RadVideo a while and have successfully made movies into bik, but they never have sound. Now that I found your tutorial, I'll try it out and if I still have problems, I'll ask you questions here. I would love to get a movie up for my Mystara mod.

Good. Ya let me know if it works

I've had RadVideo a while and have successfully made movies into bik, but they never have sound. Now that I found your tutorial, I'll try it out and if I still have problems, I'll ask you questions here. I would love to get a movie up for my Mystara mod.

Adding sound is simple. First open RAD VIDEO TOOLS. Then browse for your BIK movie. Select "Mix in Sound." Browse for your sound file and then lastly select "mix"

Adding sound is simple. First open RAD VIDEO TOOLS. Then browse for your BIK movie. Select "Mix in Sound." Browse for your sound file and then lastly select "mix"
The problem has actually been that the file I convert to bik already has sound, but it doesn't convert with the video. I haven't had a chance to try again, but I will see about doing it sometime in the next couple of days. I'll play around with some short file. If the first conversion has no sound then I'll mix it in from the same file and see how it goes. I'll post my results.

Ill try to get the software that converts swf to avi up in a moment

EDIT: Wait, a minute, you can export a flash file as AVI

DHRUV

Then from there u can use RADVIDEO TOOLS and convert to BINK.

You can get quite nice software that converts swf to avi from:http://www.geovid.com/Flash_To_Video_Encoder/

How can I convert video files to BIK!?

well, it depends on which file types you have in mind. RAD video tools can convert only to avi or BIK. BUt it can convert from: mpeg,mpg,mpeg-2, mpeg-4, wmv, mov, and ASF

But how!? :confused:

well, for starters, what do you want to convert to, the only choices are avi or bik? If you want to convert to BIK than highlight your file and click "BINK IT." If you want to convert to AVI than once again, highlight your file, but this time click, "convert file".

I see, and do you now any tool witch I can convert mp4 or Windows Media Video file in to avi? :D and thanks for helping me with this! :)

im pretty sure RAD VIDEO TOOLS can convert wmv into BIK or avi, im testing it right now...

yes, it can convert wmv and mp4 into BIK or AVI!!

Well I tested it and it doesn't :( maby mine got screwed up!?)

i tested the conversion from wmf to BIK, it worked for me, make sure itws up to date, click "check for new version" or something like that to get the recent version. I think it was a new addition. Anyways, the website says it can convert from mpeg-4 also.

No I managed! the problem was that I right-clicked the wmv file and selected "open with=>" RAD and basically that as the problem!, when I tryed to open RAD and then the wmv file then it worked :D

good to hear you solved your problem...

@polyphemus how can I edit (change) the size of the video? and I mean visual size (pixels)

click "BINK IT" >on the bottom half it should have "Input Video Settings">you can then edit the size from there

Sorry for the retarded bump, but can I ask something?

So, can this program basically make an intro movie for the game (for a mod) and other movie things? If so, I think many mod makers will have fun with this. Thanks for posting dude :) ;) :lol:

well thaaa! :p

Yes, thats why i have posted this tutorial...RADvideo Tools allows you to creat a bink file out of your movies into a BIK file which is civ3 format.

*Gets an idea*

This might be good *rubs chin*

I hope it inspired you :D

In the process of moding, I seem to have lost the intro movie for Conquests. It does not play when I load up the game and I wonder if that is at all related to why the game crashes when I try the mod. Or is it a coincidence or what? Not that I usually watch the movie and miss it, just curious.

I am uploaded the original movie file for you so that you wouldn't have to install the whole game again. I am not sure it that is why the game crashes. It should just skip over it...does the game freeze at that exact point in time?

I haven't downloaded your thingy yet, but just thought I would ask about the opening movie not showing. I thought I may have done something to prevent it from loading. It is not like the program has learnt that I skip past is every time.

When I load my mod, it crashes, but I have worked out that the something in the units I have added is doing it. I think. :crazyeye:

Make sure the movie is called "Conquests" and in BIK format so the game can recognize it. The file is located....conquest>art>movies

In case you accidentally deleted the file, here is the link to another one:

http://www.3ddownloads.com/Strategy/Civilization%203/Mods/BNK_Intro_Video/Conquests.bik

this may the tool that i've desperately needed - i'll post again with a review - thanks for this thread - Monster