I'll take a look at the scripts I wrote a while back this afternoon and see how they hold up. Even if we just do one a week on Sundays or something, it might be enough.

Did we ever get any word from the devs on these demos? Are they even interested?

I hope their interested in helping. You could make the whole game if you wanted to. Khalsa & munroe rule to say the least.

If we make something good, then it would be nice if we could tie it into RTFM.
And if I'm around I'll be happy to help if I can.

Well, the mistake that we've made so far in the demo project has been a lack of coordination. Whoever takes it over again (maybe the possibly unlazy munroe) should follow a guideline like the following for getting people involved.

1) Ask people to sign up and commit.
2) Define time/day where filming would occur. Probably 2ce/week at most.
3) Define who are the writers and who are just actors.
4) Get set up with enough server access & binds to do the explanatory CPs that we had before.

I think you get the idea. One guy coming onto IRC randomly and shouting just isn't good enough. It does not make for consistent results.

Also, might it be wise to have the camera with a hacked client that doesn't show chats, and edit the text in after.
So then you can change it without re-filming.
Also, could add voice overs etc.

What would be the possibility of doing some video editing, and putting in the text/voice overs that way?  I might be able to help out with the acting, but I could probably do well with video editing as well.  I understand there's the step of getting the demo to a video, I tried doing this before on my laptop and failed miserably (but it could have been because I recorded direct to video, I seem to recall having read since then that the best plan is to record a demo and play it back at a slightly lower timescale).

Demos are great, but videos that people can watch without a client at all could have a wider appeal, and still reach the players we're targeting.

I'm up for doing the voiceovers. Maybe I'll record one tonight and see what you guys think. I might have to buy a better mic for this though, hmm....but I did just get one with rockband...interesting.

Did you know tremulous has a /video option? Records AVIs as far as I can figure out.

Slows your computer down waaaaaaaay bad though.
I'd help but videos+dialup=no.

if you do the voiceovers as straight up sound recordings, send them over my way somehow and I'll clean them up and edit them. I do alot of that kind of audio editing. Just put them in mp3 format and upload them to the MG website or something so I can grab them.

email me at evets25ATgmailDOTcom

The_Steve formerly know as evets

The issue with voiceovers is that the standard client can't play that -- we'd have to make huge video files (no fun). However, voiceovers would actually be easier than syncing text in everywhere.

Also, seeing as we are also pretty much working on 1.2, we might convince someone to let us play voiceover sounds in parallel to the demo playback in game. It would require client-side changes, but it would be worthwhile. This may actually be a change people are willing to make. This way, we can save space, though.

Another problem I foresee: the only way these would be at all helpful would be if we distributed them with the game. The issue there is that we would balloon the client download size. Another option would be to put the demos on the downloads page as a separate, but recommended, download.

That's probably the best idea. That way those new players who are smart will download them, and the new players that aren't can be easily directed to download them.

When next I find a tuit, preferably a round one, I'll experiment with the video output a bit.  I'll be surprised if it can't be shrunk down to a reasonable size without losing a lot of quality.  They also don't have to be 1400x1200 or something ungodly huge, just large enough to be able to view the action and see what's going on - but no need to read the writing on a mara+'s skin :>

But you can't do much with out the demo. So I guess thats the #1 issue. You need an inside man. Lol? Rocinates right you wouldn't need a full screen to view the actions. But I'm sure you could also make it in different sizes for those who want it full, half, or just plain out small.

P.S. should someone split this topic?

Who do you think we are?

All we have are "inside men."

heh, i remember the good old days when i first learned to play.  Seemed like there were a lot fewer dicks around, i dunno maybe its just me.

Really the easiest way to learn the game is to go over the manual, explore the maps offline, and spectate a lot. 

Players without the patience to take these simple steps are going to have a tough time, fortunately there are more average players than great players, and plenty of both are perfectly willing to help somebody who asks.  I've seen time and again that the fastest and most effective way to turn a noob into a competent player is some tutoring.  I believe Khalsa knows exactly what i'm talking about, always going on about Bloody showing him the ropes 

Anyway, i've got a lot of free time on my hands right now, (working part time till i decide what i want do for grad school) and though pretty much everybody who knows me understands my very limited technical knowledge and total lack of anything resembling programming skillz feel free to use me as a resource in any other way you can think of.