Shiggs713
Immortal
This is my first tutorial so bear with me. I have found other tutorials in the forums very useful, and would like to give some back . I didn't see any relavent threads so I started a new one. I acknowledge that this is no "end all" fix to making movies for civ4, but it is a great start.
I have produced several neat little movies for various wonders that I have added on to mods using this method. You can use this method for almost any in-game movie; intro, wonder, victory, era, or even just for a python event. Although finding good content or creating your own from scratch will be the hardest part.
Here is a few quick in-game screen shots to get you interested. They are from the Gateway Arch movie and the CN Tower 2 movie, I simply made a mod, only created directories leading to wonder movies folder, and just placed Gateway Arch movie and then CN Tower movie there named as stonehenge.bik, to make sure it worked.
Sorry about the crappy jpg images, that was easiest to upload.
PROGRAMS YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO GET:
First you will need Muvee Autoproducer 4.5 (or similar program), My PC came with it, you can download a free trial version here. This trial only last 21 days so use carefully. Im sure if you look hard enough you can find similar freeware applications.
Second, you will need RAD Video Tools with bink capabilities(or similar program, MUST have bink capabilities). I got my free version here. This is one of the best freeware applications I have ever found. Very useful.
Third (Optional), you will need a program to convert sound files. I only use this for converting .cda to .mp3 (taking a song from a cd and converting to a version that is playable by windows without the cd). The program I have settled with for now is Audio MP3 Maker, although it has some restrictions. You can only use the first 5 songs of any CD you are attempting to rip from. You can get a free version of this application here. I recently found another great program, CDEX, much more useful than Audio MP3 Maker, you can get free version here
4th (Optional) I also use a freeware version of the AVS Video Converter 5.5 which you can get here. Its nice for editing video frame by frame, and can convert video files to many usable formats. Does not include .bik converter though, so you will still need RAD.
NOTE
Keep in mind that most of the programs are limited freeware versions, If you want to have all the power, you may want to upgrade 1 or more of them, or try to find better freeware programs.
STEPS TO MAKING THE MOVIE AND CONVERTING TO A USABLE FORMAT FOR CIV
First you will probably need to find some good content to use. Pictures, movies and sounds.
A good place to find pictures is flickr.com.
I would recommend getting all the files you want to use completely prepared before starting the Muvee Autoproducer. This includes organizing the files and making sure they all in a usable format (example; get pictures in jpeg, get movies in .mpg, and get audio in .mp3). You may not have to convert some files though, Muvee AutoProducer reads many filetypes.
You won't need to crop or resize any images or video's, Muvee AutoProducer can do this very well.
I keep all my working files in the appropriate folders on my computer (pictures in MY Pictures folder, sounds in MY Music folder, ect.)
This is the easiest way when using Muvee Autoproducer.
Its fairly simple to "compose" a simple muvee using Muvee Autoproducer. Just load up the files you need in the appropriate spots, and click make muvee! I would recommend messing with the "hotspots" so the pictures come to life more, and adjusting the settings and intro/credits to your needs.
After you have what you want, save it and close.
Start RAD Video tools. Find the file you just saved as a movie. Should be in .mpg, mpeg, or .avi format. Simply select it and Bink it! It will make an exact copy of the movie that is readable by civ4.
You can also use RAD Video to convert .bik to .mpg and a few other filetypes.
PUTTING IT INTO YOUR MOD
(I have found a few other threads for this, so I just provided some links to help out .)
Now all you have to do is either rename it and place it in the appropriate folder in your mod, or just place it in the appropriate place in your mod, then modify the xml to use the video you just created.
Note if you are making video's for things that previously did not exist, you will need to add code in a couple xmls for everything to work correctly.
I found a useful thread by Dale on how to do this for the intro video here, the wonder videos are kinda similar but different.
Here is a link to useful thread by SailorLazarus on how to integrate movies into your mod.
Any feedback, questions or any other useful information would be greatly appreciated
I have produced several neat little movies for various wonders that I have added on to mods using this method. You can use this method for almost any in-game movie; intro, wonder, victory, era, or even just for a python event. Although finding good content or creating your own from scratch will be the hardest part.
Here is a few quick in-game screen shots to get you interested. They are from the Gateway Arch movie and the CN Tower 2 movie, I simply made a mod, only created directories leading to wonder movies folder, and just placed Gateway Arch movie and then CN Tower movie there named as stonehenge.bik, to make sure it worked.
Spoiler :
Spoiler :
Spoiler :
Sorry about the crappy jpg images, that was easiest to upload.
PROGRAMS YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO GET:
First you will need Muvee Autoproducer 4.5 (or similar program), My PC came with it, you can download a free trial version here. This trial only last 21 days so use carefully. Im sure if you look hard enough you can find similar freeware applications.
Second, you will need RAD Video Tools with bink capabilities(or similar program, MUST have bink capabilities). I got my free version here. This is one of the best freeware applications I have ever found. Very useful.
Third (Optional), you will need a program to convert sound files. I only use this for converting .cda to .mp3 (taking a song from a cd and converting to a version that is playable by windows without the cd). The program I have settled with for now is Audio MP3 Maker, although it has some restrictions. You can only use the first 5 songs of any CD you are attempting to rip from. You can get a free version of this application here. I recently found another great program, CDEX, much more useful than Audio MP3 Maker, you can get free version here
4th (Optional) I also use a freeware version of the AVS Video Converter 5.5 which you can get here. Its nice for editing video frame by frame, and can convert video files to many usable formats. Does not include .bik converter though, so you will still need RAD.
NOTE
Keep in mind that most of the programs are limited freeware versions, If you want to have all the power, you may want to upgrade 1 or more of them, or try to find better freeware programs.
STEPS TO MAKING THE MOVIE AND CONVERTING TO A USABLE FORMAT FOR CIV
First you will probably need to find some good content to use. Pictures, movies and sounds.
A good place to find pictures is flickr.com.
I would recommend getting all the files you want to use completely prepared before starting the Muvee Autoproducer. This includes organizing the files and making sure they all in a usable format (example; get pictures in jpeg, get movies in .mpg, and get audio in .mp3). You may not have to convert some files though, Muvee AutoProducer reads many filetypes.
You won't need to crop or resize any images or video's, Muvee AutoProducer can do this very well.
I keep all my working files in the appropriate folders on my computer (pictures in MY Pictures folder, sounds in MY Music folder, ect.)
This is the easiest way when using Muvee Autoproducer.
Its fairly simple to "compose" a simple muvee using Muvee Autoproducer. Just load up the files you need in the appropriate spots, and click make muvee! I would recommend messing with the "hotspots" so the pictures come to life more, and adjusting the settings and intro/credits to your needs.
After you have what you want, save it and close.
Start RAD Video tools. Find the file you just saved as a movie. Should be in .mpg, mpeg, or .avi format. Simply select it and Bink it! It will make an exact copy of the movie that is readable by civ4.
You can also use RAD Video to convert .bik to .mpg and a few other filetypes.
PUTTING IT INTO YOUR MOD
(I have found a few other threads for this, so I just provided some links to help out .)
Now all you have to do is either rename it and place it in the appropriate folder in your mod, or just place it in the appropriate place in your mod, then modify the xml to use the video you just created.
Note if you are making video's for things that previously did not exist, you will need to add code in a couple xmls for everything to work correctly.
I found a useful thread by Dale on how to do this for the intro video here, the wonder videos are kinda similar but different.
Here is a link to useful thread by SailorLazarus on how to integrate movies into your mod.
Any feedback, questions or any other useful information would be greatly appreciated