Cinematics

Cinematic Sequences

Presentation

Right now, we envision two types of cinematics: free cinematics and full cinematics. Free cinematics are short sequences that the player watches, but he still retains control of his character. Full sequences involve taking control away from the cinema and scripting the entire cinematic (action, sound, camera movement, cuts, etc.).

Cinematic sequences

Opening

Cinematic: | blank
Level: |
Type: |
Description: |

Training

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Cinematic: | CH2_Cin1
Level: | CH2L1
Type: | Full
Description: | Tommy encounters some of the captives—Indian males who are being tortured, plus he speaks to Mary Thunder, who is held in a cell.

Cinematic: | CH2_Cin2
Level: | CH2L1
Type: | Full
Description: | Tommy is surrounded and captured in the bridge of the shuttle after the Keeper alternates break through the door.

Chapter 3

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin1
Level: | CH3L1
Type: | Full
Description: | Tommy awakes as the blur gradually fades--sounds are muffled, but some creatures appear to be working above him. He hears the sound of a whirring blade and then sees a spray of bright red blood. He fades out of consciousness. Fading in again, Tommy’s vision is clearer--the room is quiet--though distant humming and the sounds of huge machines can he heard. No one is in the room. Tommy turns left--he sees a door. He turns right and there, on a clean, alien-looking table, are one of his legs and one of his arms. Tommy lets loose a blood-curdling scream as he passes out once again...

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin2
Level: | CH3L1
Type: | Free
Description: | Tommy hears from another Indian captive in the large prison room (after he wakes up)—he learns that he is not alone, about some of the parasites he can eat and a clue about escaping this room.

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin3
Level: | CH3L1
Type: | Full
Description: | In the shadows, something moves. "Tommy? Is that you?" asks Mary Thunder. Mary looks frazzled--she explains that there were a dozen of them, but those things and some other creatures, fine and frail and silent, came and took the rest of them away. She doesn’t know why they left her. She is in a cell, but Tommy can find no way out. He asks how long they have been there--she doesn’t know for sure, but certainly over a week, after the ship landed here (wherever that is). She thought Tommy was dead. She grabs his hands through the bars. Tommy hears a scream.

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin4
Level: | CH3L1
Type: | Free

Description:

Tommy sees what looks like a primitive operating room with a glass viewing panel. One of the strange creatures he glimpsed back on Earth and another, filigreed creature are working on an Apache strapped to a table. A pool of blood gathers under the table. The Apache turns towards Tommy and Tommy recognizes him. He screams out Tommy’s name.

When Tommy finds a way into the room, he approaches his friend, or what’s left of him. Limbs lie on the floor. He turns towards Tommy and whispers "why didn’t you stop them?" and then he dies.

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin5
Level: | CH3L1
Type: | Free
Description: | Tommy sees a shadowy figure appear. An old Indian, partially transparent, moves close and begins speaking with Tommy. His steps make it seem as if he is not quite touching the ground, but floating just slightly above it. He explains that the moment has come, and they are connected one again. Tommy recognizes him as his great grandfather (who died when he was 13), but he can’t believe it. The old man explains that he is a spirit, remaining here to help someone complete a journey, and that someone is Tommy.

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin6
Level: | CH3L1
Type: | Free

Description:

There, floating a meter off of the flaked metal flooring, is the strangest machine or creature that Tommy has ever seen. Wrapped in ornate folds of metal, with appendages like liquid sculpture, yet a strange, nearly human-like face stretched across a gas plasma CRT screen is the Staleene Keeper.

The Staleene Keeper speaks--in a cold, feminine voice using English (but Tommy can tell this isn’t coming from inside of his head). She welcomes Tommy to the "folds of the Trocara." She is impressed with his seeming skills, but he must remember that he is nothing but a momentary speck--just a fleeting flash of interest for the Keeper to even talk to him--soon, she tells him, even if he survives another hour, he will be but a specimen of an extinct lineage and wholly forgotten by her. After all, she enigmatically explains, Earth was won, once again, in the games, and this time it was not Tommy’s stock fathers who succeeded.

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin7
Level: | CH3L2
Type: | Free
Description: | Tommy sees the back of his great grandfather, hunched over and making marks on the floor. The old man ignores him but stands up and chants. Soon, a portal opens in front of the old man and he steps into another place.

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin8
Level: | CH3L2
Type: | Full

Description:

Hataa skeen begins to shriek and gesture--occasional words come through as English. He has killed them all--all that there were--now there is only Hataa skeen alone. She should die now, she should just fall on her spear. Tommy says he didn’t mean it, they attacked him. She wails and shrieks--no more--cannot breed, we were bred and failed our battles and we came here to hide—now you have destroyed us all -- I should be dead.

She continues to wail but manages to explain that she must get to the Hegemon--he can help--with Tommy’s convincing and force, he can bring back her species--that is what she must do. She hates Tommy but she needs him. The camera pulls back as she falls to her knees to weep.

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin9
Level: | CH3DQ
Type: | Full
Description: | Tommy finds himself in a cave-like room--sandstone walls, decorated with paintings. The old man chants and the portal closes. There seem to be no doors. Tommy’s great grandfather explains to Tommy that it is time to begin his training--time to awaken what has been sleeping inside all these years. He advises Tommy that only by his will and focus can he awaken and reconnect to these forces. He also explains that without them, Tommy will surely die, and "so will your children and the spirits of your ancestors. It has been foretold." Tommy tries to ask a question, but the old man raises his hand. He says that it is time to awaken the uplifting force within. He claps his hands and vanishes, leaving Tommy trapped in the room.

Cinematic: | CH3_Cin10
Level: | CH3DQ
Type: | Full
Description: | Here, his grandfather sits, and simply nods his head--he says nothing, but with a wave of his hand, the portal appears again--Tommy steps through.

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7