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Valve Hands Over Its Own Movie-Making Tools To Gamers

Posted by Soulskill on from the movies-about-hats dept.

cylonlover writes "Valve has gained a reputation over the years not just for consistently putting out great games, but also for the slick trailers and promo videos that go along with them. But now the developer is turning the tables and handing over its own video-making tools to fans free of charge. With the Source Filmmaker, gamers will be able to direct, animate, and record their own videos as if they were shooting on location inside a video game."

68 comments

  1. Steers and queers by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Holy dogshit! Slashdot, only steers and queers come from Slashdot, private Taco! And you don't much look like a steer to me, so that kinda narrows it down!

  2. Get ready! by vencs · · Score: 0

    Talking Tom just got aliens, nukes, 5.1ch and whole lotta off the shelf/attic un(der)used gradgets.

  3. inaccurate title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the title is innaccurate, they are only giving it to a small number of people.

    1. Re:inaccurate title by Guspaz · · Score: 2

      Are those people not gamers? If they're gamers, the title is still accurate.

      It's just a slowly ramping up beta, that's all. Everybody will get it eventually.

    2. Re:inaccurate title by click2005 · · Score: 1

      I dont know how small the number is but I've seen a few people besides myself running it. I'm assuming its a random selection like they did with DotA2 and CS:GO. It looks really interesting but not easy to figure out. I'm sure YouTube guides will turn up. Bonus points for making a How-To in the tool itself.

      --
      I am a free slashdotter. I will not be modded, blogged, DRM'd, patented, podcasted or RFID'd. My life is my own.
    3. Re:inaccurate title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The title is still inaccurate. It would be like saying 'The government doesn't collect income tax from citizens.' Sure there are people who are citizens that they don't collect from but it's a terribly inaccurate sentence.

    4. Re:inaccurate title by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's not inaccurate, it's misleading.

      The difference is extremely important.

  4. trailer by Krau+Ming · · Score: 2

    someone make a trailer for half life 3 then. i can't wait any longer.

    1. Re:trailer by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      don't worry, they'll script it soon enough. then they'll claim that the ai is acting unscripted.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    2. Re:trailer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I don't get the snark. Did Valve make bullshit claims about HL 2 before launch? Nope. So, shut it.

    3. Re:trailer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      They did, actually. The scene in Ravenholm during one of their E3 demos included two Combine soldiers kicking down a door. Valve claimed that this was unscripted, but when the HL2 source was leaked it was discovered that it was entirely scripted, and the soldiers would kick down the door even if the player was not inside the building. I am guessing that this is what gl4ss was referring to.

  5. DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

    It's Independence Day in America, the day we celebrate kicking your British asses out of our country. Today we will toss some American inspired cheeseburgers down our throats, maybe a dog or two, and rinse it all down with a couple bottles of beer. Then we'll toss some apple pie into our pie holes as well. You'll notice the traffic on Slashdot is much lower today. Don't worry, we'll be back tomorrow, albeit a bit hungover. We'll rehydrate with some tax-free American iced tea.

    The Queen can pound sand.

    Sincerely,

    America

    1. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1

      That's not beer, that's piss you drink. Hug your French buddies too, as it is the French who won your war of independance for you.

    2. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by Sketchly · · Score: 1

      'Tossing a dog or two down your throat'. Te he he!

    3. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by halivar · · Score: 1

      1) American beer is indeed piss. This is not trolling, or flaming. It is a sad, indisputable fact. But every day, hardworking craft microbrews fight the good fight to drag the American beer industry, kicking a screaming, into tasty world-wide acceptable standards of beer. As an American, I am proud of these microbrews, and I devote this July 4th to their patriotic efforts in beer-making.

      2) The French help to the Americans in the Revolution is somewhat akin to the American help to the Brits in early WWII. But no one claims Monty didn't kick Rommel's arse, because he did.

    4. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by interkin3tic · · Score: 0

      A little perspective, please. Beer is an acquired taste, so I'm not sure how you can say it's fact that one is bad, let alone everything from one country. There's no such thing as a universal standard for beer since it all tastes like crap the first time. None of us were born liking beer, so if you don't like American beer, it's simply because you convinced yourself that other beers were better. Beer was traditionally much more watered down, to the point where you could drink it to stay hydrated. So even if you're drinking bud light, you're drinking really strong beer compared to most brews throughout history.

    5. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by halivar · · Score: 3, Informative

      Mass-produced American beer (or "NASCAR beer" as I like to call it) is made with a lot of artificial ingredients. Prior to prohibition, American beer was highly rated, especially cream ales, which were its specialty. All of that beer know-how was lost to ages, and is only now beginning to resurface. I, myself, absolutely hated beer until I discovered microbrews. When I learned that beer can have a bouquet no less complex and interesting as wine, I became a big fan.

    6. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh god its a beer douche. You are worse than a wine douche.

    7. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by evilRhino · · Score: 1

      Oh god, it's a hater. You are worse than a douche.

    8. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      1) American beer is indeed piss. This is not trolling, or flaming. It is a sad, indisputable fact

      Not trolling or flaming? Then you must just be a delusional person with an intelligence level well-below average. You're also seriously misinformed and spouting off nonsense.

      The United States (I'm assuming you're referring to the US when you say "America") does not can/bottle urine and sell it. We also don't drink urine.

      Definition of PISS
      1. To urinate on or in.
      2. To discharge (blood, for example) in the urine.
      3. Urine.
      4. The act or an instance of urinating.

      Definition of BEER
      1. an alcoholic beverage usually made from malted cereal grain (as barley), flavored with hops, and brewed by slow fermentation
      2. a carbonated nonalcoholic or a fermented slightly alcoholic beverage with flavoring from roots or other plant parts
      3. fermented mash
      4. a drink of beer

    9. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      A little perspective, please. Beer is an acquired taste, so I'm not sure how you can say it's fact that one is bad, let alone everything from one country. There's no such thing as a universal standard for beer since it all tastes like crap the first time. None of us were born liking beer, so if you don't like American beer, it's simply because you convinced yourself that other beers were better. Beer was traditionally much more watered down, to the point where you could drink it to stay hydrated. So even if you're drinking bud light, you're drinking really strong beer compared to most brews throughout history.

      The crappiness of American beer has nothing to do with alcoholic strength, although they are generally at the lower end of the spectrum, it's about the taste and the ingredients.

      In the UK you can buy strong "white cider" (7%+ proof) that tastes either of nothing, or piss. It's a cheap way for teenagers and the unemployed to get drunk. It is objectively, by any sane standards, not as tasty as proper cider made from actual apples.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    10. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      We'll rehydrate with some tax-free American iced tea.

      And I thought you were so butch!

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    11. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Jesus wept, I think parent was serious.

      Mind you, he's right in the sense American "beer" isn't quite as bad as that from Australia.

      Yup, it's like making love in a canoe.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    12. Re:DEAR POOFTERS AND RED COATS by Disfnord · · Score: 1

      "Put that beer back in the can it were born in!" - you

  6. Valve oh how I love you by Dyinobal · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Seriously I hate sounding like a fan boy but I can't think of many companies that would do this when they could likely sell this as DLC or something else for cash. I 3 Valve.

    1. Re:Valve oh how I love you by dav1dc · · Score: 1

      It is a truly wonderful day when a software company open sources a useful tool for the rest of use to use.

      Props to Valve!! ^_^

    2. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      They're not opensourcing, they're just making it free to use.

    3. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Open source? I think not.

    4. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I 4 Valve.

    5. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great but.

      a) When will Steam client have a UI I that works on a TV with a game controller
      b) How is Steam going to implement the new EU legislation which gives consumers rights to resell digital products
      c) Why does Valve think it is best to engage in the bare minimum of communication with their customers
      d) Will there be a summer sale and why is it later than usual? :-)

    6. Re:Valve oh how I love you by increment1 · · Score: 4, Informative

      The tool is not open source, and it is not entirely free of restrictions either (cannot commercialize created videos if they include any Valve assets). This is not a jab at the tool though, it appears to be a wonderful tool from what is a generally wonderful company.

      Although it would be nice if Valve would allow their assets to be used in commercial videos (say you wanted to make a cutscene for an indie game), but it is understandable for them to restrict this. You can still use the tool to make such a scene, it would just have to only use your own assets.

    7. Re:Valve oh how I love you by TarMil · · Score: 5, Insightful

      If it's only if they include any Valve assets, then the restriction has nothing to do with the tool, it's just that the assets are copyrighted.

    8. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Great but.

      a) When will Steam client have a UI I that works on a TV with a game controller b) How is Steam going to implement the new EU legislation which gives consumers rights to resell digital products c) Why does Valve think it is best to engage in the bare minimum of communication with their customers d) Will there be a summer sale and why is it later than usual? :-)

      a) Sometime in 2020(ish), then they will have a working UI but it won't be 99.999%+ up to their idea of perfection so they'll delay it
      b) I haven't read the legislation, but maybe allowing people to sell entire accounts would technically fill the requirement. Valve wouldn't do something as low as that though. In a way it's a shame, I've bought all of my games on sale at 33%-90% off with the understanding that I wouldn't be able to resell it. If people were able to sell afterwards I think we'd see a lot fewer sales and that would make me sad.
      *As I said, I haven't read the legislation so I'm not sure if that would be the obvious way to react to it from a business point of view.*
      c) So as to resist the urge to over-hype their products when they're ready? I don't really know.
      d) No doubt there will be. Maybe they delayed it due to the power outages in the US right now. Not as many people are gonna buy if no one can get online then again, that's only three states that are affected.

    9. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      b) Easy. Steam won't change anything because they present themselves as a "subscriber" based system in all their legal agreements. Notice how the agreement has always been called the "Steam Subscriber Agreement". Valve aren't stupid, how do you think they get away with disabling Steam accounts and the VAC Ban system? Thats right, you subscribed to it and they just chose to terminate your "subscription". "But but, I'm paying to own the games aren't I?" I hear you say, well no, you're not. You're just paying a once off subscription fee, to allow access to that product on your account.

      Oh by the way, Valve don't have a legal presence in Europe either (Unlike Microsoft, Blizzard etc) so they don't have to comply in the first place. Valve is only incorporated on US soil, only has a legal presence on US soil, and all sales occur on servers on US soil, they just alter the pricing depending on region.

    10. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Unless the indie game you hypothesize about isn't Source based, you owe money to Valve anyway, if you're selling it.
      Or are you propposing to make a cut scene that doesn't use the engine of your game, and thus it is not representative at all in regards to the look and mechanics of the game?

    11. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      they can't go that further on offering their commercial assets free for commercial use. they have to protect their IP.

    12. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      www.diesel-generatorset.com

    13. Re:Valve oh how I love you by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yes, but as long as they do business there in Europe, they still have to comply -- or their product might be banned.

      See Facebook in China (or the lack thereof)

  7. Clearly the best that has come of it ... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YrrAroK6bI&

    X gonna give it to ya.

  8. No matter what the tool by YrWrstNtmr · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Be it 35mm + live actors, digital, silent B&W, IMAX, or this game engine...you still need a good story teller to make a good movie or short.

    Let's hope some good story tellers jump on this and make some good stuff.

    1. Re:No matter what the tool by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      It helps when the medium doesn't get in the way of creativity though.

  9. Whoops, I spotted a typo. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    You meant... "INconsistently putting out great games." It's been 4 1/2 years since Half-Life 2: Episode 2, with still no word about the Episode 3 conclusion.

    1. Re:Whoops, I spotted a typo. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      DoTA 2?

  10. So what? by jmerlin · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    It's Valve. Mandatory DRM and an each-purchase-is-non-refundable-and-permanently-bound-to-just-you approach to software distribution. I really could care less if you open-sourced every thing you've ever made, the damage done in the name of greed by your company overshadows any good deed you could possibly do.

    1. Re:So what? by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 1, Funny

      I really could care less

      Do you want another go at that?

      --
      systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
    2. Re:So what? by jmerlin · · Score: 0

      Couldn't*

      I didn't do an editing pass, whoops.

    3. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I too could care less....but as a reasonable minded individual, I choose not to.

    4. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "The damage done"? Jesus, get some perspective. What damage? Did they force you to buy their games? Did they force other game companies to use DRM just because they were? Did they kill baby whales?
      They haven't done any "damage" at all, and if their DRM is an issue to you, then vote with your wallet. I refused to buy Diablo III due to its restrictive always-on leash, and I was annoyed that after all that wait the game was not something I could bring myself to play.

      If you only support DRM-free companies, fine, but I see no reason to shit on a company when they actually do something *right* for the community.

    5. Re:So what? by citizenr · · Score: 1

      It's Valve. Mandatory DRM and an each-purchase-is-non-refundable-and-permanently-bound-to-just-you approach to software distribution. I really could care less if you open-sourced every thing you've ever made, the damage done in the name of greed by your company overshadows any good deed you could possibly do.

      You have to wonder what will happen with Steam model in light of a recent EU decision.
      http://yro.slashdot.org/story/12/07/03/1245200/used-software-can-be-sold-says-eu-court-of-justice

      --
      Who logs in to gdm? Not I, said the duck.
    6. Re:So what? by jmerlin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Pointing out that Valve perpetuates a legally questionable business model (actually illegal in California) that most Slashdot readers find obnoxious and obscene, not to mention draconian (DRM + no first-sale doctrine rights) is not "flamebait." Further, mentioning a negative fact about Valve in a discussion about Valve's "good deeds" is quite on topic, contrary to the poor moderation present here. Moderation without liability begets abuse in all cases. Moderators who incorrectly moderate posts like we've seen here should be banned from ever moderating again on /.. It's pretty clear why this site is in the gutter.

    7. Re:So what? by jmerlin · · Score: 0

      "Perspective?" Your post is full of logical fallacies. The damage is in perpetuating a model of digital distribution that mandates DRM and stomps on consumer rights. Failure to understand how the destruction of rights is damage indicates you're either incredibly ignorant (to the point of sheer stupidity) or a shill. The AC implies shill. Have a nice day.

    8. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      b) Nothing. Steam won't change anything because they present themselves as a "subscriber" based system in all their legal agreements. Notice how the agreement has always been called the "Steam Subscriber Agreement". Valve aren't stupid, how do you think they get away with disabling Steam accounts and the VAC Ban system? That's right, you subscribed to it and they just chose to terminate your "subscription". "But but, I'm paying to own the games aren't I?" I hear you say, well no, you're not. You're just paying a once off subscription fee, to allow access to that product on your account.

      Oh by the way, Valve don't have a legal presence in Europe either (Unlike Microsoft, Blizzard etc) so they don't even have to comply in the first place. Valve is only incorporated on US soil, only has a legal presence on US soil, and all sales occur on servers on US soil, they just alter the pricing depending on region.

    9. Re:So what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually the customers perpetuate the DRM model by constantly buying into it.

    10. Re:So what? by jmerlin · · Score: 2

      Yet they still call it a "game purchase" not a "very limited game subscription license." We need legal clarification specifically that services that offer "subscription based acquisition and licensing" for services/products that do not themselves require a fee-based subscription actually constitutes a sale under copyright law. IIRC, we've had rulings recently that are starting to head in that direction, but we need a big one here that invalidates the legality of Steam's "no refunds, no trading, no sales, just you giving your money to us forever" system. Otherwise, we should all simply purchase games and add them to steam as a game manager rather than as a store. I can't actually believe this model is still legal. The EFF must not be targeting Valve at all.

  11. What's the point? by Dunge · · Score: 0

    Movies don't need to be rendered in real time, what advantage does this offer over 3d modeling packages like Maya?

    1. Re:What's the point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Movies don't need to be rendered in real time, what advantage does this offer over 3d modeling packages like Maya?

      Making a movie when you can just "play" the actors is a lot faster than scripting (by text or GUI) them - it is also less flexible, but that's the price to pay if one chooses to use this.

    2. Re:What's the point? by Jesus_C_of_Nazareth · · Score: 1

      I'm guessing price and access to a lot of existing assets. Last I checked Autodesk canned the free learning edition of Maya.

      --
      JC
    3. Re:What's the point? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is extremely flexible for movie making and isn't just some glorified in-game recorder. I strongly encourage you to check it out.

  12. Violent beginnings.. violent endings ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I think it's great... but when I showed my father he was disgusted by the attitude toward violence. I hadn't seen it but now that it's been pointed out to me I have trouble viewing it without wondering what kinds of desensitized psychopaths the gaming generation is...

    Maybe I'm one.. amazingly entertaining twisted little stories in those TeamFortress2 clips...

  13. Now if only valve... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ... would give you patches that patch out it's DRM of year old games so you can play games away from the mothership.

    1. Re:Now if only valve... by BanHammor · · Score: 1

      You can play those games offline once you have registered them.

  14. Is there a law against realistic inertia & gra by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Why is it that all CGI today uses an unrealistic inertia and gravity model? Why do all CGI movies and CGI characters in movies move unrealistically? Take Gollum in the Lord of the Rings - every time he jumps, the gravity model is unrealistic, and thus ruins the illusion. Why is that?

    SourceFilmmaker seems to use exactly the same, unrealistic inertia and gravity models. Why?

  15. Re:Is there a law against realistic inertia & by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    because it's a game about cartoon people, shooting cartoon bullets out of cartoon guns?

  16. Now let's look at it pessimistically by mwfischer · · Score: 1

    Internet begging for steam summer sale?

    Eh let's give them the internal movie tool for free. That'll hold them over.

  17. Rule 34 in.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Am I seriously the only one who thought that?

  18. 3D Movie Maker featuring: McZhee! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Want to make your own movies, Download Microsoft's 3D movie maker 95 and have hours of fun! lool

  19. Not much has changed in 17 years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    When there was a program that did exactly this, and was not much poorer in terms of quality.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_Movie_Maker

  20. Re:Is there a law against realistic inertia & by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Easy.You don't want realistic.
    You think you do, but you don't. Realistic physics on the scale of average person-to-person interactions, or in an area the size of a room or parking lot or alley is.. Fast. Way too fast to make any literary impact. You blink and it's over.

    All filmmakers and game makers exaggerate physics or slow it down for dramatic effect. It's what you're conditioned to seeing.