Digital Workshop

Hi All.
I guess "interactive" is a very subjective word.
To me, interactive DVD is a contradiction in terms -- wandering around a pub pushing a few menu buttons is not my idea of interaction.
None of my pubs could be adapted to run on the current generation of DVD players without losing 90% of their interaction and functionality.
You pay a large price when a pub leaves the computer environment and ends up on an appliance.
Paul

I own a DVD but I'm still no expert on the technology Steve

However, as I understand it, the interactivity of DVDs is very limited both in functionality and the number of hotspots you can have on a DVD. It was only recently that a small company from Australia discovered how to make any one DVD go to a random chapter and thus opened up the market for DVD board games which is now the most rapidly sector of that market.

So the problem for Opus would be the lack of functionality but it could be a different publication type (like the video export) which allowed menu pages and content pages.

A straightforward, linear e-book could be produced on DVD but Melanie was proposing something more interactive. And sadly, though I might like to have the resources to be up there alongside Philips and Sony setting the next standard for DVD I can't see it happening just yet

BUT...Certainly the market would seem to be worth the investment. I read somewhere that within a few years more homes will have a DVD player than have a video recorder. And as well as DVD board games, music DVDs are becoming hugely popular and I can see lots of opportunities for DVD training for businesses and publishing less ambitious interactive novels or factual books. It would be an additional opportunity for Opus users I'm sure.

In fact, thinking about it, if I was the Managing Director of DW I would have seen this coming and have been badgering the developers about it for months so that it was already being tested with a view to it appearing in a not-too-distant future version... wait! I am the Managing Director of DW... oops, what a giveaway

Paul Harris

This sounds almost David Brentish

Come on, Paul, spill...!

I'm designing a multimedia extravaganza/thriller/game at the moment which will include video, graphics, soundeffects, text etc. I'm still trying to decide the interface. I want to avoid mouse clicks entirely. I suffer from RSI from mousing (and I know a lot of other computer-users who do) and I can't play games that are clickfests.

So on the PC CDrom front I have a range of keyboard strokes or a joystick. BTW, any feedback from joystick exploiters? I also have database access and could run the logic from the database. I also have the option of making the last chapter/scene FP 3D (exciting chase scene!)

I've tried to find out more about DVD scripting, but I just keep ending up at DVDStudioPro, which I've no intention of buying, especially if Opus is planning DVD output. On the DVD front, as I understand it, functionality-wise I have moving between hotspots and selecting - navigation (could someone please confirm?). No database. No 3D. It's very much more restrictive. However I agree with you that it's an up and coming format with great potential. The beauty of DVD is that you can sit in the comfort of your lounge watch on a huge screen with several people. Sitting on a PC chair in front of a PC typing or clicking just isn't relaxing.

The project will prolly take a couple of years. If you could be more specific about if and when DW intend to include hotspots and navigation into a DVD compatible output, this would help me decide on choice of interface.

There may be others in a similar position, deciding choice of platform for a publication that won't go live for a year or two.

Can you be more specific about your plans?

Also, can we have a collaboration forum? Under Community? So that the coven of 13 who've said they want it (so far in the poll) can talk behind the backs of the 2 who said they'd never come in???

Thanks

Melanie

PS. Nick/Envoy



I'll need voice-overs too - there might be some way we can trade. If you find yourself stuck for a female voice-over, contact me and I'll give it a try, if you like. I'm not a professional actress, though, so it may not be up to scratch (which is why I offer as a last resort!) - depends on your standards.

Hi Melanie,

...thought I'd join in again...



I wish I knew more about DVD, but I do have a demo DVD which lets you create its own characters. So I'm not sure if this is simply linear MPEG or some sort of actual interactivity? Knowing DVD script would be great.



I think there could be a big future in DVD. There may even be an enhanced format (for interactivity) for the likes of Sony or Philips to introduce. It's probably just a matter of time. (like when your multimedia extravaganza/thriller/game is released)

.....now...all we need is some software to be ahead of the game! "Hocus Pocus it's Opus" (sounds sort of magical doesn't it?)


Melanie... do you really think Paul is going to give away any clues or secrets yet!


Do you come with the original native Bristol UK accent?



A Collaboration Forum sounds like a great idea. "Come on people"... get to the voting booth and cast your vote. The better the feedback, the clearer the overall picture is as a whole for us forum/Opus users.

"Also, can we have a collaboration forum"

I thought this was already a collaboration forum.

Paul

Hi Steve,



Goodoh!



That sounds interesting, what is it? Url?



Why not? Everyone's working in this area now, it's hardly a secret. I'm not sure what the commercial disadvantages would be to revealing to your customer base future plans for DVD interactivity. Maybe I'm naive and obtuse? Please fill me in on the bad thing that would happen as a result, if it's obvious to everyone else...

I think it would be useful to know and plan for. Might even draw customers in... so I must be missing something. Please correct my thinking if it's wrong-headed.



No, unfortunately not, but I know a few who do - very useful!

Mine's a bit of a mish-mash. I've spent half of my life up north and the other half down south, so I have southern inflections with a northern twang. Most people can't determine my birthplace. And my speaking voice is quite deep, so I couldn't get away with doing a teenage female protagonist. It would have to be 20's upward. Really it would be better for bit-parts like receptionists, authoritative voice-over narration and evil and comic older women. Short phrases rather than sustaining a part.

So you can see why I'm offering as a last resort!!!



Well, at this stage I'd have to say "Come on DW", do the 5 minutes work that it would take to open a new forum and then the 13 people who want to do it, can post over the Easter break. And hopefully many more who haven't visited the site since the poll went up. And who knows? Maybe the 2 that said they'd never look might even be tempted at some point?

I've had a few pms from people talking about collaboration - how it might work, what the benefits might be... etc. I haven't the cut and pasting gumption to assemble those here, but really these ideas should be out there on a new forum so that everyone can chip in.

I've just gone through my hard-drive and so far discovered about 7 projects, some idle for years, all of which I'd be happy to offer up for collaboration in some form. I can't finish 'em, maybe someone else can. I also have current projects that I'd appreciate contributions with. I also may be able to be contribute to someone else's project, whether ongoing or still speculation.

I don't want to post them up in the lounge because it feels like flooding the lounge with collaboration talk/detail. I also don't want to have to repeat myself when DW does open up the forum.

Also, I'm eager to hear the ideas that everyone has.

Sooooooooooooooooooooooo.... my vote is to open it now (Brendan? Paul?) and let's go in and start collaborating! I don't think we need a minimum number, do we? 13 is a good omen. The number of attendees at the Last Supper (topical, topical). The number of lunar cycles in a year. It's epic.

When they make a film of this I want to be played by Angelina Jolie (failing that, Angela Lansbury), how about you Steve?

I'm thinking Johnny Depp for Brendan, Brad Pitt for Robin Garrett and Sean Connery for Paul Harris. Although they might want to have a say in this... Tony Coleman I'm seeing more as a Hugh Grant sort of figure at the moment. With maybe Colin Firth as Duncan Lily?

But it's all speculation until one of the DW staff lands himself a starring role in the final screenplay by adding a forum to this phpBB noticeboard.

How about it, chaps? Who wants the pivotal role? And who would you like to be played by?

Cheers

Melanie

PS. If any of the other women (Linda? Jocy? any other women here?) want Angelina Jolie, I'd settle for Gina Gershon at a pinch...! Also Kathy Bates is still up for grabs.

Hi,

A new Creative Exchange section has been added to the board allowing user to request or offer services and collaborate on projects.



Brenden set up the new groups, so it looks like he's bagged the starring role...but I can I still be Brad Pitt?

Regards,

Creating forums with these Scissorhands is no mean feat


Brenden

Thank you very much on behalf of the 14 who are currently interested and the future collaborators who will join.



Goodoh, I like Johnny Depp.



The Brad Pitt part is a tough role - he's shrewd with a dangerous undertone, becomes a pivotal but dissenting voice in the collaborators forum and is involved in the final nail-biting twist. He also has 3 steamy bedroom scenes and a bare-knuckle fight. Brad's been on steroids, sunbeds and I am an idiot since Christmas in preparation... Do you still want him?

There's also Rowan Atkinson, if Brad Pitt sounds a bit stressful... but you'll have to trade with Dave Emberton to get him...



I'll post up something over the weekend and I hope other follow suit...

Thanks again,

Melanie

I knew buying a second hand Teasmade from ebay was a bad idea.


Brenden

I'm really sorry for spelling your name wrong.

Don't worry, it'll soon be a household name and all folks whose names begin with N will be adding a silent K in homage...

Cheers, Melanie

Melaine...on your original idea of writing on screen fiction, my son has referred me to the following site for a bit of on-screen 'soap'
http://www.redvsblue.com
Enjoy
Andy.

oh matron!

- Nurse the screens!