During this mid-semester break I have been doing a lot of things (job interviews, job training days, catching up with friends, desperately working on my Project Proposal in the last 24 hours etc…) one of which was playing lots of video games. Now with literally minutes before the week is up Im making a blog post

I recently purchased the new Mad Max game because I adore the franchise and everything about the game looked promising. While I could talk about it in many ways, one aspect in particular I thought was quite connected to this course.

The game has included in it a “capture mode” where you can the ability to manipulate many aspects not usually available to you as a player. Including Field of Vision slider, Depth of Field slider, a free camera that can go anywhere, even a multitude of filters and an intensity slider. All of this is so you can indulge in two options “Photo” or “Video”, that allow you to take a snapshot of your current view or record a short clip, respectively.

These options allow you to make much more cinematic look to the game.

Here is a link to a Youtube video of regular gameplay

Here is a link to a Youtube video made using the Capture mode in the game

The difference is massive, in terms of camera placement, colour grading and well everything the “Capture Mode” allows users to get creative and produce images and videos that have high production value. This harkens back to my earlier blog post about how Metal Gear Solid attempted to be “cinematic” and emulated techniques and styles used in movies. Modes like this (there are similar modes, but this is fresh in my mind and the best one I’ve experienced) go one step further and allow people to make their own “Cinematography” in a video game.

Its cinematography inside a 100% digital/fake environment,  I find this very interesting and I’ve been having lots of fun messing around with it. If I make something worthwhile I’ll export and upload it and put it in a later Blog post.