Acutscene orevent scene (sometimesin-game cinematic orin-game movie) is a sequence in avideo game that is not interactive, interrupting thegameplay. Such scenes are used to show conversations between characters, set the mood, reward the player, introduce newer models and gameplay elements, show the effects of a player's actions, create emotional connections, improvepacing or foreshadow future events.[2][3]
Cutscenes often feature "on the fly" rendering, using the gameplay graphics to create scripted events. Cutscenes can also bepre-renderedcomputer graphics streamed from a video file. Pre-made videos used in video games (either during cutscenes or during the gameplay itself) are referred to as "full-motion videos" or "FMVs". Cutscenes can also appear in other forms, such as a series of images or as plain text and audio.
The Sumerian Game (1966), anearly mainframe game designed byMabel Addis, introduced itsSumerian setting with aslideshow synchronized to an audio recording; it was essentially an unskippable introductory cutscene, but not an in-game cutscene.[4]Taito'sarcade video gameSpace Invaders Part II (1979) introduced the use of brief comical intermission scenes between levels, where the last invader who gets shot limps off screen.[5][6]Namco'sPac-Man (1980) similarly featured cutscenes in the form of brief comical interludes, aboutPac-Man andBlinky chasing each other.[7]
Shigeru Miyamoto'sDonkey Kong (1981) took the cutscene concept a step further by using cutscenes to visually advance a complete story.[8]Data East'slaserdisc video gameBega's Battle (1983) introduced animatedfull-motion video (FMV) cutscenes with voice acting to develop a story between the game'sshooting stages, which became the standard approach to game storytelling years later.[9] The gamesBugaboo (The Flea)[10] in 1983 andKarateka (1984) helped introduce the cutscene concept tohome computers.
In thepoint-and-click adventure genre,Ron Gilbert introduced the cutscene concept with non-interactive plot sequences inManiac Mansion (1987).[11]Tecmo'sNinja Gaiden for theFamicom in 1988 and NES the following year featured over 20 minutes ofanime-like "cinema scenes" that helped tell an elaborate story. In addition to an introduction and ending, the cutscenes were intertwined between stages and gradually revealed the plot to the player. The use of animation or full-screen graphics waslimited, consisting mostly of still illustrations with sound effects and dialogue written underneath; however the game employed rather sophisticated shots such aslow camera angles andclose-ups, as well as widescreenletterboxing, to create a movie-like experience.
Other early video games known to use cutscenes extensively includeThe Portopia Serial Murder Case in 1983;Valis in 1986;Phantasy Star andLa Abadía del Crimen in 1987;Ys II: Ancient Ys Vanished – The Final Chapter, andPrince of Persia andZero Wing in 1989. Since then, cutscenes have been part of many video games, especially inaction-adventure androle-playing video games.
Cutscenes became much more common with the rise ofCD-ROM as the primary storage medium for video games, as its much greater storage space allowed developers to use more cinematically impressive media such as FMV and high-quality voice tracks.[12]
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Live-action cutscenes have many similarities to films. For example, the cutscenes inWing Commander IV used both fully constructed sets, and well known actors such asMark Hamill andMalcolm McDowell for the portrayal of characters.
Some movie tie-in games, such asElectronic Arts'The Lord of the Rings andStar Wars games, have also extensively used film footage and other assets from the film production in their cutscenes. Another movie tie-in,Enter the Matrix, used film footage shot concurrently withThe Matrix Reloaded that was also directed by the film's directors,the Wachowskis. In the DreamWorks Interactive (now known as Danger Close Games) 1996 point and click title, The Neverhood Chronicles, full motion video cutscenes were made using the animation technique of stop motion and puppets sculpted out of plasticine, much like the game’s actual worlds and characters. The game’s creator, Douglas TenNapel was in charge of filming the cutscenes, as stated in the game’s behind the scenes video.
Pre-rendered cutscenes are animated and rendered by the game's developers, and take advantage of the full array of techniques ofCGI,cel animation orgraphic novel-style panel art. Like live-action shoots, pre-rendered cutscenes are often presented infull motion video.
Real time cutscenes arerendered on-the-fly using the samegame engine as the graphics during gameplay. This technique is also known asMachinima.
Real time cutscenes are generally of much lower detail and visual quality than pre-rendered cutscenes, but can adapt to the state of the game. For example, some games allow the player character to wear several different outfits, and appear in cutscenes wearing the outfit the player has chosen, as seen inSuper Mario Odyssey,The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild andGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas. It is also possible to give the player control over camera movement during real time cutscenes, as seen inDungeon Siege,Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty,Halo: Reach, andKane & Lynch: Dead Men.
Many games use both pre-rendered and real time cutscenes as the developer feels is appropriate for each scene.
During the 1990s in particular, it was common for the techniques of live action, pre-rendering, and real time rendering to be combined in a single cutscene. For example, popular games such asMyst,Wing Commander III, andPhantasmagoria use film of live actors superimposed upon pre-rendered animated backgrounds for their cutscenes. ThoughFinal Fantasy VII primarily uses real-time cutscenes, it has several scenes in which real-time graphics are combined with pre-rendered full motion video. Though rarer than the other two possible combinations, the pairing of live action video with real time graphics is seen in games such asKilling Time.[13]
Interactive cutscenes involve the computer taking control of theplayer character while prompts (such as a sequence of button presses) appear onscreen, requiring the player to follow them in order to continue or succeed at the action. This gameplay mechanic, commonly calledquick time events, has its origins ininteractive movielaserdisc video games such asDragon's Lair,Road Blaster,[14] andSpace Ace.[15]
DirectorSteven Spielberg, directorGuillermo del Toro, and game designerKen Levine, all of whom are avid video gamers, criticized the use of cutscenes in games, calling them intrusive. Spielberg states that making the story flow naturally into the gameplay is a challenge for future game developers.[16][17] Hollywood writerDanny Bilson called cinematics the "last resort of game storytelling", as a person doesn't want to watch a movie when they are playing a video game.[18][19] Game designerRaph Koster criticized cutscenes as being the part that has "the largest possibility for emotional engagement, for art dare we say", while also being the bit that can be cut with no impact on the actual gameplay. Koster claims that because of this, many of the memorable peak emotional moments in video games are actually not given by the game itself at all.[20] It is a common criticism that cutscenes simply belong to a different medium.[21]
Others think of cutscenes as another tool designers can use to make engrossing video games. An article onGameFront calls upon a number of successful video games that make excessive use of cutscenes for storytelling purposes, referring to cutscenes as a highly effective way to communicate a storyteller's vision.[19] Rune Klevjer states: "A cutscene does not cut off gameplay. It is an integral part of the configurative experience", saying that they will always affect the rhythm of a game, but if they are well implemented, cutscenes can be an excellent tool for building suspense or providing the player with helpful or crucial visual information.[22]
Deluxe Space Invaders landed in 1979. Titled Space Invaders Part II in Japan, the game replicated the frenzy of the original but didn't bring much novelty to the arcade. Kudos, however, to Taito for one innovation: The sequel featured funny little intermission scenes between levels (a precursor to the breaks in Pac-Man), in which the last invader you shot would limp off screen.
Some points in key battles (usually with bosses) integrate QTE (quick-time events), which fans of Shenmue and Indigo Prophecy might like, but which we've been doing since Dragon's Lair and Space Ace. Time to move on, gents.
Well, that would leave the part that has the largest possibility for emotional engagement, for art dare we say, in the bit that can be cut with no impact to gameplay whatsoever. This is why I say that many of the peak emotional moments we remember in games are actually "cheating" – they're not given to us by the game at all, but by cutscenes.