L&M 2 - Framing Gaming

In this week's lesson we discussed framing and camera angles.

The obvious comparison between films and games in terms of film techniques are "cinematics" - a term used to refer to pre-rendered animated mini-movies implemented within a game that are filmed - in the modern day, at least - with extensive use of techniques like motion capture and facial tracking. Most modern-day triple-A releases make use of this technique – a notable example is The Last of Us, whose quality of cinematics is often on par with fully-fledged 3D animated blockbusters. Modern day cinematics are "filmed" practically the same as modern-day movies and, in fact, some techniques used in the movie industry - like the aforementioned motion capture - are used in gameplay too, for more realistic action in circumstances like first-person weapon animations (used by Modern Warfare, in particular, which aimed for hyper-realistic weapon animations).

A less obvious comparison is between framing in films and in levels in games. Level designers making a game level must keep in mind similar rules and techniques for engaging frames in movies, too - rule of thirds, long shots, and more, as well as the development of "vistas" to draw the player's attention. These vistas will help guide players towards their gameplay goal. Titanfall 2, from 2016, makes use of this technique extensively within a chemical plant environment in the game. Branching paths are often left to the sides, poorly lit, so as to reward exploration but not confuse the player. The main path forwards will take up most of the “frame”, be the most brightly lit, and usually the most linear path. The only difference is level designers must design their "frames" to be more adaptive, as player intervention will allow them to circumvent and sometimes outright destroy any intentional framing by a level designer. Levels have to look good from every angle - not just one.

Work Cited

Sony Computer Entertainment, The Last of Us, June 2013

Activision, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), October 2019

Electronic Arts, Titanfall 2, October 2016