In-game graphics better than pre-rendered cut-scenes

[chan0o]

Yarr.. like Mortal Kombat Komplete edition. Dat intro =/

IMO, pre-rendered cut-scenes should be placed at the beginning and at the end of the game.
Every other cut-scene should be rendered real time so that it reflects how you customised your character (equipment and bodily looks).
Immersion breaker if you suddenly get gear/look different during a cut scene, and afterwards, back to what you actually look like.

[oltman]

Uncharted has always used pre-rendered cutscenes, but it was pre-rendered in the engine. This means the next level can load while you watch a bit of a story background. the fact that they used high quality in-engine renders meant it was very hard for you to tell the difference between real-time and pre-rendered. in my books that is the perfect balance

[Jagtiger]

Depends on genre of game.

If it is strategy game, it really should have live-action and/or CGI movies. Story cannot be told well without backstory on your commanders, ideals and so on. Also it makes game more interesting too, as it puts you in place of high ranking commander that have idea about what he is fighting for.

Good example:
C&C series (except for Generals). Great story telling via movies at beginning of each mission. I played this game without movies and it made less sense, even with briefing text.

Bad example:
C&C Generals. It does not make sense: you are some general placed in middle of mess, fighting for some weird ideals of 3 faceless factions. It even does not tell purpose of each faction. Dude in news is not enough.


If it is FPS, it should better use in-game engine to produce. It makes you part of story. Also it saves HDD space.

Good example:
AvP2. Not a single movie. Just cutscenes using in-game engine and it blends in nicely, making you part of entire story.

[Snare]

Depends on genre of game.

If it is strategy game, it really should have live-action and/or CGI movies. Story cannot be told well without backstory on your commanders, ideals and so on. Also it makes game more interesting too, as it puts you in place of high ranking commander that have idea about what he is fighting for.

Good example:
C&C series (except for Generals). Great story telling via movies at beginning of each mission. I played this game without movies and it made less sense, even with briefing text.

Bad example:
C&C Generals. It does not make sense: you are some general placed in middle of mess, fighting for some weird ideals of 3 faceless factions. It even does not tell purpose of each faction. Dude in news is not enough.


If it is FPS, it should better use in-game engine to produce. It makes you part of story. Also it saves HDD space.

Good example:
AvP2. Not a single movie. Just cutscenes using in-game engine and it blends in nicely, making you part of entire story.

Agreed. It is wholly dependent on the genre. I mean it would be truly indecipherable to have a fighting game cutscene being rendered in engine

[MetalSoup]

Agreed. It is wholly dependent on the genre. I mean it would be truly indecipherable to have a fighting game cutscene being rendered in engine

The cut-scenes in Mortal Kombat are actually a great example of pre-rendered cut-scenes looking worse than the game graphics. They look like absolute shit compared to the rest of the game.

Pre-rendered: (click for actual size)


In game (same scene, 1 second later)

[MOnk]

I quite liked the comic book story boards used in the infamous games.