00:07Storytelling is perhaps the most fascinating part of any medium.
00:10When we read a book, watch a movie or play a videogame,
00:13we can always appreciate if the story is told in a fresh and interesting way.
00:17And even if the story itself is nothing to sing about,
00:19with some special techniques it can still be elevated above others.
00:24In videogames there is a lot of ways storytelling can go.
00:27Visuals, text and even environment can be used as a means to deliver the message.
00:32When it comes to cutscenes, which is a traditional way to go,
00:35games borrow heavily from movie makers, photo artists and even painters.
00:39We use the classic rules of composition to place objects on the screen in such a way
00:43that they generate more tension and interest.
00:45We sit there for hours picking the right camera angle and lighting for a keyframe,
00:49which is supposed to keep the player on the toes.
00:52And of course we experiment with different color schemes to set the tone and mood of our cutscenes.
00:56How exactly does it work?
00:58Let's ask our cinematic artist, who is a rare guest on this side of the camera,
01:02since he is the one doing all the shooting and editing of our dev diaries.
01:07One color can usually have multiple meanings, depending on the context.
01:11In our game we came up with three distinct color schemes to highlight three different natures of our hero's insanity.
01:18Red, for example, means our protagonist is losing his mind because he is struggling to accept his own actions.
01:26Red dominates is cutscene, it's the color of blood, it's impossible to overlook.
01:30It works on psychological and biological levels.
01:34It has this electrifying effect.
01:36Rattle you to stop whatever you're doing and pay attention.
01:43Of course, colors go toe-to-toe with other techniques and tools.
01:47Storyboard, shot longevity, composition, etc.
01:50They all have come to games from other industries.
01:53Finding the perfect sequence is a game of trial and error.
01:56And when every piece of the puzzle is in its place, comes perhaps the most important part.
02:00I'm talking about lighting, of course.
02:03Lighting is such a versatile tool.
02:06And we use it not only to create the right atmosphere, but also to tell a story in a symbolic
02:12way.
02:13Let's give a look at this particular shot.
02:17Light and dark symbolize the wellness of the main character and the insanity that slowly devours his mind.
02:25And even though there is light behind the character, he still cannot resist stepping into the dark.
02:31And that's why we use backlight here.
02:34By doing this simple trick, we bring the hero to the front and hide the rest of the environment.
02:41And at the same time, to build up tension and surprise the viewer.
02:48So, cutscenes often follow the same rules as cinematography.
02:52And not unlike movies, video games have their share of technological limitations.
02:56This can certainly be a weakness or a strength, depending on how you see it.
03:01Making a cutscene is always a compromise between what we can and cannot do.
03:06We have to be really inventive because we can sacrifice technical aspects without actually sacrificing artistic value.
03:14One of the simplest tricks you can do is switch to first person and suddenly you don't have to worry
03:19about those stubborn animations.
03:22Our trailer is a really good example.
03:25Originally our hero was supposed to walk all the way to the chair.
03:30But making these fingers move was a really meticulous and exhausting process.
03:35It was taking a lot of time and our animation artist was getting really frustrated.
03:39Then an idea popped up in my mind, why not keep them in animate and just make a fly move.
03:46In the end we saved some time and the result was even better than before.
03:51Tricks like this are certainly common in every industry.
03:54We are sharing some of our techniques to give you a taste of what to expect.
03:58This story is probably the most cryptic and ambiguous part of the sinking city.
04:02And we want the player to discover it bit by bit.
04:04Because trust me, there is a lot to discover.
04:07Once again everybody, thank you so much for watching this update.
04:10Maybe hit that subscribe button if you like what we do and I'll see you next time.
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