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Cutscene

(Redirected fromCut-scene)

For the film and television narrative technique, seeCutaway (filmmaking).
For scene that has been removed from the final version of a film or television show, seedeleted scene.

Acutsceneorevent scene(sometimesin-game cinematicorin-game movie) is a sequence in avideo gamethat is not interactive, interrupting thegameplay.Such scenes are used to show conversations between characters, set the mood, reward the player, introduce newer models and gameplay elements, show the effects of a player's actions, create emotional connections, improvepacingor foreshadow future events.[2][3]

The cutscene in the originalPac-Mangame exaggerated the effect of the Energizer power pelletpower-up.[1]

Cutscenes often feature "on the fly" rendering, using the gameplay graphics to create scripted events. Cutscenes can also bepre-renderedcomputer graphicsstreamed from a video file. Pre-made videos used in video games (either during cutscenes or during the gameplay itself) are referred to as "full motion videos"or" FMVs ". Cutscenes can also appear in other forms, such as a series of images or as plain text and audio.

History

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The Sumerian Game(1966), anearly mainframe gamedesigned byMabel Addis,introduced itsSumeriansetting with aslideshowsynchronized to an audio recording; it was essentially an unskippable introductory cutscene, but not an in-game cutscene.[4]Taito'sarcade video gameSpace Invaders Part II(1979) introduced the use of brief comical intermission scenes between levels, where the last invader who gets shot limps off screen.[5][6]Namco'sPac-Man(1980) similarly featured cutscenes in the form of brief comical interludes, aboutPac-ManandBlinkychasing each other.[7]

Shigeru Miyamoto'sDonkey Kong(1981) took the cutscene concept a step further by using cutscenes to visually advance a complete story.[8]Data East'slaserdisc video gameBega's Battle(1983) introduced animatedfull-motion video(FMV) cutscenes with voice acting to develop a story between the game'sshootingstages, which became the standard approach to game storytelling years later.[9]The gamesBugaboo (The Flea)[10]in 1983 andKarateka(1984) helped introduce the cutscene concept tohome computers.

In thepoint-and-click adventuregenre,Ron Gilbertintroduced the cutscene concept with non-interactive plot sequences inManiac Mansion(1987).[11]Tecmo'sNinja Gaidenfor theFamicomin 1988 and NES the following year featured over 20 minutes ofanime-like "cinema scenes" that helped tell an elaborate story. In addition to an introduction and ending, the cutscenes were intertwined between stages and gradually revealed the plot to the player. The use of animation or full-screen graphics waslimited,consisting mostly of still illustrations with sound effects and dialogue written underneath; however the game employed rather sophisticated shots such aslow camera anglesandclose-ups,as well as widescreenletterbo xing,to create a movie-like experience.

Other early video games known to use cutscenes extensively includeThe Portopia Serial Murder Casein 1983;Valisin 1986;Phantasy StarandLa Abadía del Crimenin 1987;Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished – The Final Chapter,andPrince of PersiaandZero Wingin 1989. Since then, cutscenes have been part of many video games, especially inaction-adventureandrole-playing video games.

Cutscenes became much more common with the rise ofCD-ROMas the primary storage medium for video games, as its much greater storage space allowed developers to use more cinematically impressive media such as FMV and high-quality voice tracks.[12]

Types

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Live-action cutscenes

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Live-action cutscenes have many similarities to films. For example, the cutscenes inWing Commander IVused both fully constructed sets, and well known actors such asMark HamillandMalcolm McDowellfor the portrayal of characters.

Some movie tie-in games, such asElectronic Arts'The Lord of the RingsandStar Warsgames, have also extensively used film footage and other assets from the film production in their cutscenes. Another movie tie-in,Enter the Matrix,used film footage shot concurrently withThe Matrix Reloadedthat was also directed by the film's directors,the Wachowskis.In the DreamWorks Interactive (now known as Danger Close Games) 1996 point and click title, The Neverhood Chronicles, full motion video cutscenes were made using the animation technique of stop motion and puppets sculpted out of plasticine, much like the game’s actual worlds and characters. The game’s creator, Douglas TenNapel was in charge of filming the cutscenes, as stated in the game’s behind the scenes video.

Pre-rendered cutscenes

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Pre-rendered cutscenes are animated and rendered by the game's developers, and take advantage of the full array of techniques ofCGI,cel animationorgraphic novel-style panel art. Like live-action shoots, pre-rendered cutscenes are often presented infull motion video.

Screenshot of a pre-rendered cutscene fromWarzone 2100,a free and open-source video game

Real time cutscenes

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Real time cutscenes arerenderedon-the-fly using the samegame engineas the graphics during gameplay. This technique is also known asMachinima.

Real time cutscenes are generally of much lower detail and visual quality than pre-rendered cutscenes, but can adapt to the state of the game. For example, some games allow the player character to wear several different outfits, and appear in cutscenes wearing the outfit the player has chosen, as seen inSuper Mario Odyssey,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildandGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas.It is also possible to give the player control over camera movement during real time cutscenes, as seen inDungeon Siege,Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty,Halo: Reach,andKane & Lynch: Dead Men.

Mixed media cutscenes

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Many games use both pre-rendered and real time cutscenes as the developer feels is appropriate for each scene.

During the 1990s in particular, it was common for the techniques of live action, pre-rendering, and real time rendering to be combined in a single cutscene. For example, popular games such asMyst,Wing Commander III,andPhantasmagoriause film of live actors superimposed upon pre-rendered animated backgrounds for their cutscenes. ThoughFinal Fantasy VIIprimarily uses real-time cutscenes, it has several scenes in which real-time graphics are combined with pre-rendered full motion video. Though rarer than the other two possible combinations, the pairing of live action video with real time graphics is seen in games such asKilling Time.[13]

Interactive cutscenes

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Further information:Quick time event

Interactive cutscenes involve the computer taking control of theplayer characterwhile prompts (such as a sequence of button presses) appear onscreen, requiring the player to follow them in order to continue or succeed at the action. This gameplay mechanic, commonly calledquick time events,has its origins ininteractive movielaserdisc video gamessuch asDragon's Lair,Road Blaster,[14]andSpace Ace.[15]

Criticism

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DirectorSteven Spielberg,directorGuillermo del Toro,and game designerKen Levine,all of whom are avid video gamers, criticized the use of cutscenes in games, calling them intrusive. Spielberg states that making the story flow naturally into the gameplay is a challenge for future game developers.[16][17]Hollywood writerDanny Bilsoncalled cinematics the "last resort of game storytelling", as a person doesn't want to watch a movie when they are playing a video game.[18][19]Game designerRaph Kostercriticized cutscenes as being the part that has "the largest possibility for emotional engagement, for art dare we say", while also being the bit that can be cut with no impact on the actual gameplay. Koster claims that because of this, many of the memorable peak emotional moments in video games are actually not given by the game itself at all.[20]It is a common criticism that cutscenes simply belong to a different medium.[21]

Others think of cutscenes as another tool designers can use to make engrossing video games. An article onGameFrontcalls upon a number of successful video games that make excessive use of cutscenes for storytelling purposes, referring to cutscenes as a highly effective way to communicate a storyteller's vision.[19]Rune Klevjer states: "A cutscene does not cut off gameplay. It is an integral part of the configurative experience", saying that they will always affect the rhythm of a game, but if they are well implemented, cutscenes can be an excellent tool for building suspense or providing the player with helpful or crucial visual information.[22]

See also

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  • Interactive movie– Video game genre
  • Machinima– Film production in graphics engines
  • Scripted sequence– Series of events rendered in real time in a video game's engine

References

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  1. ^Matteson, Aaron."Five Things We Learned From Pac-Man".Joystick Division. Archived fromthe originalon June 16, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 16,2012."This cutscene furthers the plot by depicting a comically large Pac-Man".
  2. ^Hancock, Hugh (April 2, 2002)."Better Game Design Through Cutscenes".Gamasutra.RetrievedNovember 19,2014.
  3. ^Aaron, Marcus (2014).Design, User Experience, and Usability. User Experience Design for Diverse Interaction Platforms and Environments.Springer. p. 662.ISBN978-3319076263.RetrievedNovember 19,2014.
  4. ^Willaert, Kate (September 9, 2019)."The Sumerian Game: The Most Important Video Game You've Never Heard Of".A Critical Hit.RetrievedSeptember 10,2019.
  5. ^Sellers, John (August 21, 2001). "Quarter Pounder Deluxe".Arcade Fever The Fan's Guide To The Golden Age Of Video Games.Running Press.p. 37.ISBN978-0-7624-0937-2.Deluxe Space Invaders landed in 1979. Titled Space Invaders Part II in Japan, the game replicated the frenzy of the original but didn't bring much novelty to the arcade. Kudos, however, to Taito for one innovation: The sequel featured funny little intermission scenes between levels (a precursor to the breaks in Pac-Man), in which the last invader you shot would limp off screen.
  6. ^Space Invaders Deluxe,klov. Accessed on line March 28, 2011.
  7. ^Gaming's Most Important EvolutionsArchivedJune 15, 2011, at theWayback Machine,GamesRadar
  8. ^Lebowitz, Josiah; Klug, Chris (2011).Interactive Storytelling for Video Games: A Player-centered Approach to Creating Memorable Characters and Stories.Taylor & Francis.p. 14.ISBN978-0-240-81717-0.
  9. ^Fahs, Travis (March 3, 2008)."The Lives and Deaths of the Interactive Movie".IGN.RetrievedMarch 11,2011.
  10. ^"Bugaboo, un hito en la historia del software español",Universidad de Extremadura, 2009, p.33. (Spanish).
  11. ^Buecheler, Christopher."The GameSpy Hall of Fame".GameSpy.Archived fromthe originalon March 11, 2011.
  12. ^"The Next Generation 1996 Lexicon A to Z: Cut Scene".Next Generation.No. 15. March 1996. p. 32.
  13. ^"Killing Time".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 76.Ziff Davis.November 1995. pp. 142–143.
  14. ^Rodgers, Scott (2010).Level Up!: The Guide to Great Video Game Design.John Wiley and Sons.pp. 183–184.ISBN978-0-470-68867-0.
  15. ^Mielke, James (May 9, 2006)."Previews: Heavenly Sword".1UP.Archived fromthe originalon June 4, 2011.RetrievedDecember 19,2007.Some points in key battles (usually with Boss es) integrate QTE (quick-time events), which fans of Shenmue and Indigo Prophecy might like, but which we've been doing since Dragon's Lair and Space Ace. Time to move on, gents.
  16. ^Chick, Tom (December 8, 2008)."A Close Encounter with Steven Spielberg".Yahoo!.Archived fromthe originalon August 7, 2011.RetrievedDecember 11,2008.
  17. ^Dutton, Fred (November 17, 2001)."Del Toro, Levine speak out against cutscenes".Eurogamer.RetrievedNovember 19,2014.
  18. ^Brown, Nathan (September 3, 2011)."Bilson: Cutscenes Are Gaming's" Failure State "".Edge Online.RetrievedNovember 19,2014.
  19. ^abSterling, Jim (November 3, 2011)."In Defense of the Videogame Cutscene".Gamefront.RetrievedNovember 19,2014.
  20. ^Koster, Raph(December 7, 2005)."The Pixar Lesson".Raph Koster's Website.Raph Koster.Archivedfrom the original on November 9, 2008.RetrievedOctober 7,2008.Well, that would leave the part that has the largest possibility for emotional engagement, for art dare we say, in the bit that can be cut with no impact to gameplay whatsoever. This is why I say that many of the peak emotional moments we remember in games are actually "cheating" – they're not given to us by the game at all, but by cutscenes.
  21. ^Holmes, Dylan (2012).A Mind Forever Voyaging: A History of Storytelling in Video Games.Dylan Holmes. p. 92.ISBN978-1480005754.RetrievedNovember 19,2014.
  22. ^Klejver, Rune."In Defense of Cutscenes".RetrievedNovember 19,2014.
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