Rydygier 1317 Posted February 17, 2017 Failed to find any topic allowing actual free discussion about Armachinima, so assuming, it's not against some contest rule, I overlooked (sorry, if so), here is one. How did you choose your favourits amongst 130 entries and which? To avoid spending too much time with watching each of 130 entries, I used two step evaluation: 1. Spent few hours in total across few days to check every entry which means watching each as long, as it took to make me confident, is there something in it or not. First 30 seconds usually are enough to sift the latter. This way I eventually bookmarked 17 "finalistis". 2. Watched each of them and granted +'s in several categories (concept, visual, audio, camera work/montage, voice acting, music...). Then just sumed up pluses and voted on the three highest scores. Still, I would prefer to have at least 5 votes, with three I was forced to leave out of podium few really worthy entries just because there was three even more worthy IMO. I draw attention to the factors like: - is there any particular, original idea/thought behind or not and how it is told, - how authors are using a tool (Arma 3) to achieve desired result - how are used strengths and how avoided limitations, or how concept fits Arma engine possibilities, - how camera work/shots are done - is the story watchable as a movie, smoothly and understandable or awkward/chaotic, but also is camera work thoughtfully support desired effect or not (is it used as another artist's tool or not), - how visuals looks like (choice/lack of post processing effects etc.), - audio authenticity - very important to me as for immersion. For example if someone's voice in the open field sound like recorded in the small room - it's counted in minus. Attention to details and technical quality - radio comms, background etc, - Music usage. How soundtrack supports the storytelling. If it's present, where should be and not present, where shouldn't, how it works with montage, - the choice, with what scenes tell the story, what to show, what to omitt - storytelling dynamics, - and of course the final result as a whole. What feeling/emotional response, if any, it induces in me. Pluses was granted according to system: 0 - nothing worthy of mentioning, 1 - above average machinima level, 2 - estimable machinima level, 3 - pro machinima level, 4 - IMO something above machinima expectations, 5 - real-deal movie-like quality. 17 finalistis and their very subjective scores was: Spoiler 1. The Choice Concept + Visual Audio Camera Voice Acting + Staging/storytelling Music Total: 2 2. Op. Bellérophon - Episode 2 Concept Visual ++ Audio ++ Camera + Voice Acting + Staging + Music + Total: 8 3. Miller The Killer Concept +++ Visual Audio Camera Voice Acting Staging +++ Music Total: 6 4. Tanoa Red Concept Visual Audio + Camera ++ Voice Acting + Staging + Music Total: 5 5. Force Closure Concept ++ Visual Audio ++ Camera +++ Voice Acting +++ Staging +++ Music +++ Total: 16 6. Recover Concept Visual + Audio +++ Camera ++ Voice Acting + Staging ++ Music + Total: 10 7. Live By The Sword/Die By... Concept Visual Audio + Camera +++ Voice Acting + Staging + Music + Total: 7 8. Coming Home Concept ++ Visual ++ Audio Camera + Voice Acting Staging + Music Total: 6 9. Jungle Concept + Visual Audio Camera Voice Acting + Staging Music Total: 2 10. Brass Concept Visual ++ Audio ++ Camera + Voice Acting + Staging + Music Total: 7 11. East Wind Concept Visual ++ Audio ++ Camera ++ Voice Acting + Staging + Music + Total: 9 12. Katie Concept ++ Visual Audio Camera Voice Acting Staging + Music ++++ Total: 7 13. Home Sweet Home Concept +++ Visual + Audio + Camera + Voice Acting +++++ Staging + Music Total: 12 14. Operation Green Phantom Concept Visual + Audio +++ Camera + Voice Acting + Staging Music ++ Total: 8 15. Mortuus Vivens Concept + Visual ++ Audio ++++ Camera + Voice Acting ++ Staging ++ Music ++ Total: 14 16. Heart Of Steel Concept +++ Visual ++ Audio ++++ Camera +++ Voice Acting ++ Staging +++ Music Total: 17 17. When Will It End Concept +++ Visual +++ Audio Camera ++ Voice Acting Staging ++ Music +++++ Total: 15 And the "winners", to whom my votes went: Heart Of Steel (17), Force Closure (16), When Will It End (15). 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
St. Jimmy 272 Posted February 17, 2017 I took hour or two to watch as many entries as I could. I didn't watch them fully, some seconds here and there and the beginning is already enough to see if the video gets in the top list. I've currently 15 videos in my list. I bet I missed one or two good ones because I didn't watch like 30 of them. Now I'd need to watch them fully and drop off some more. 3 votes is pretty low in that many entries. Need to give some focus in the next week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Corvinus 35 Posted February 17, 2017 That's some really elaborate process. Mine was much simpler - a name and a snapshot would decide if I'm going to watch the video at all, and after that I just took tree finalists from all the videos I watched based on: 1.) Original idea and nice execution of it. Spoiler Wanderlust. 2.) Impressive directing. Spoiler Brass. 3.) Proper story, interwoven into Arma lore; and a very good voice acting on a professional level. Spoiler Force Closure. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
vafana 110 Posted February 17, 2017 I spent about two hours to watch the entries, I chose to start with those that have more "artistic" titles and it seems that was not a bad idea, because it turned out to have a more quality content, in my opinion of course. Spoiler When Will It End -- concept Heart of Steel -- visual, camera, concept The Choise -- concept Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jack Ost 124 Posted February 17, 2017 For me, my primary vote is Op. Bellérophon - Episode 2 for origininality of game content use, introduction of women and usage of a diversity of languages (In addition to the rest say above). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rich_R 1087 Posted February 18, 2017 I'm glad this thread was started. I wanted to have this very discussion after casting my votes on the 14th. Watched all of them all the way through just in case they 'kicked' in at some point. Having made similar videos in the past, I realize how much work goes into these and wanting to give everyone the respect they deserved. Although I looked for much of what Rydygier outlined, I relied much more on whether the video moved along and connected the dots. Particularly liked the videos which included voice acting and of course (and has been said before) those that fleshed out the Arma lore. To give an idea of what I enjoyed, some of my picks were; Spoiler Bold Force Closure Recover Brass and one more I didn't write down :( Have to say, it was amazing work across many of the submissions and I could've voted for a few more! High standards in the competition! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ANGRY_FARMER 10 Posted February 22, 2017 well, in arma fashion, i spend way more than 30 seconds before declare something "not very good". (probably its why i still have not seen all videos) anyway in general i like more the plot than the simple "showcases", so for me : - miller the killer (too fun) - si vis pacem para bellum (nice story) the rest seems all a bit "clones"....dunno...maybe its me too bored by stereotypes! :) hope to find a good third to give my vote to ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dcal 16 Posted February 23, 2017 My favorite is Miller The Killer. I am in the competition and I voted for that one and two others. Some amazing entries, the Arma community is awesome! The main thing I looked for was something that kept me hooked and had originality compared to the rest of the entries. Miller The Killer had that, it was different from everything else, very well done, and the guy used his own custom made animations for the video which made the degree of difficulty higher. Its just downright funny too lol 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rydygier 1317 Posted February 25, 2017 Miller The Killer, although finally I gave my votes elsewhere, for me stays surely most funny, sadly there wasn't separate category for comedy. BTW there was too few funny entries. And indeed too often was cliches like: situation occured, galant specfor troops sent, job done. The more valuable becomes an original, non-cliche idea. There may be different philosophies, but I paid more attention on the overall finest final result rather than effort put into, although often the latter leads to the first. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kydoimos 916 Posted February 25, 2017 Nice, thread, Rydygier - your thorough process and scoring system has inspired me to try something similar! I did have a chuckle at Miller the Killer too :D Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
