Clark Aldrich On Simulations and Serious Games: full motion video

21.12.06

full motion video

In the sim Display, pre-scripted series of pictures shown in rapid succession to simulate movement. Full Motion Video (FMV) can also include an audio track.

The educational simulation Genre of branching story, uses FMV almost completely.

Traditional FMV

FMVs feature cinematic effects. Full Motion Videos can stand-alone, such as in a movie or television, or can be part of a sim. FMVs, when used in sims can serve as non-interactive cut scenes.

Where there is interactivity in full motion video, it is primarily limited around multiple choice decisions (although sometimes it is in finding a hot spot on the screen). This interactivity can either branch to more FMVs, or change a condition in the task.

Full Motion Videos are judged by their production and artistic quality, sim, game, or pedagogical success, frames per second (fps), and resolution. Usually, the FMV is of higher quality than any fully interactive portions.

FMVs may be storyboarded, or even replaced if budget is an issue, by comics. FMVs significantly increase the cost of a simulation.

Full Motion Video in the Age of Social Networking

In the age of YouTube, and cell phones with video capture, FMV (albeit of lower quality) is presented and treated increasingly as any other post, including the more traditional text and pictures.

1 comment(s):

Clark Aldrich said...: Anyone want to comment on costs of producting FMV?; March 08, 2007

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Congratulations to WILL Interactive's CEO, Sharon Sloane

Let me add my heartfelt congratulations to WILL Interactive's CEO, Sharon Sloane, who recently was selected by the Board of Directors of Women in Film and Video (WIFV) - Washington as a winner of the Women of Vision Award for 2009. (Previous winners include Cicely Tyson, Leslie Stahl, Barbara Koppel, Tipper Gore, Gwen Ifill and Tyne Daly.)

Sharon is a wonderful person and WILL Interactive is a great and pioneering simulation creator. I believe WILL Interactive may produce the most honest experiences that the training industry has ever seen, and have taken the genre of branching video to the highest possible level. Again, congratulations to Sharon, Lyn, and everyone at WILL Interactive. This is well deserved.

About Clark Aldrich

I am a simulation designer, researcher, and analyst working with a growing list of international clients from corporate, military, government, and academic environments to effectively plan, build, use, and evaluate simulations, serious games, and virtual worlds.

I also work as an analyst on non-simulation projects, applying the Sim research philosophy, to improve the effectiveness of more traditional consulting and business planning and create innovative intellectual property.

I work with clients however it suits them, from end-to-end design and delivery, to long term/part time projects, to one day jump-starting/brainstorming/mid-course correction on critical projects, to board positions. Email me as independent consultant or about my part-time contract work for SimuLearn.

Below are some of my projects:

600 Page The Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games Available for Pre-Order

The Complete Guide to Simulations and Serious Games, a reference for creating sims, is slated for a late summer, 2009 release date.

It is 600 pages long, and has over 350 pictures. But as with any good reference book, The Guide is structured to not necessarily be read straight through (although you can), but to be explored. It is organized as a virtual world might be, meticulously, logically, but not assuming any prescribed path. One can pick a section and devour it, or hop around. One can start with one specific concept, zoom out a little and read about tangential concepts, transport to a new section, and then come back, bringing new perspectives even to previously read entries. It is your journey.

I believe for some corporate, military, and academic researchers and sims designers, it will meet the same role as Webster's Dictionary (Noah Webster was an ancestor of mine) and The Elements of Style by William Strunk and E. B. White (no relation) met for others, as a definitive reference. Much as The Elements of Style doesn't give "the answer" to how to write a great novel but does talk about using paragraphs, chapters, tone, and punctuation, this guide talks about using levels, displays, units on maps, artificial intelligence and other interactive systems, and balance between engagement and education for interactive content.

And for policy and economics leaders, as well as entrepreneurs and philanthropists, it redfines the concept of what knowledge and other intellectual property can be captured and shared.

Learning Online with Games, Simulations, and Virtual Worlds also available for Pre-Order

Army Influence Trainer Released

Virtual Leader Product Line Available

SimuLearn's Virtual Leader Global Product Line, for which I was the lead designer, is available. Virtual Leader is the winner of countless awards and recognitions, including a patent and the title "The Best Online Training Product of the Year," and the world's first example of a new type of educational content. Through the AI and interface that I designed for the program, Virtual Leader develops leadership and emotional intelligence in players, as has been proven and documented in numerous third party published research. While I was not involved with the subsequent vLeader line, others at SimuLearn have taken the core product and my supporting content and put some interesting new packaging and additional material around it.