21 replies to this topic

[Phil]

This took me a while to figure out, program and write down, but here it is:

The BFME Palantir Video Converter


(click to enlarge)

Note: the screenshot is based on GothmogtheOrc's Kings of the West mod


This tool makes it possible to add the alpha channel required for Palantir movies to any EA VP6 file. Custom campaign videos, here we come!

What you'll need:

• A 224x224 px EA VP6 file (crop/resize in VirtualDub, compress with VP60, then convert with Siberian_GRemlin's VP6 Builder)
• Basic command prompt knowledge, as there is no graphical interface

What you'll be able to do:

• Add new Palantir videos to campaign maps
• Add Palantir videos to Special Powers

Download the Palantir Video Converter
Read the instructions on a new page in ched's video tutorial

Happy modding.

[JUS_SAURON]

That's pretty EPIC !

Cool stuff ....

[Námo]

*high five*

Does this work for BfMe1 as well? - the tutorial don't mention any specific differences between the various versions of the game.

Thanks, really appreciated.

[Mathijs]

As far as I know, this works for both games.

[Phil]

*high five*

Does this work for BfMe1 as well? - the tutorial don't mention any specific differences between the various versions of the game.

Thanks, really appreciated.

Actually, it was developed for BFME 1 (but has been confirmed to work with BFME 2 as well). I've first posted this in the BFME 1 subforum, but moved it here for maximum exposure.

[Ridder Geel]

Very nice indeed

[DeeZire]

Well done

Will this work on any size (resolution) video or does it require the specific dimensions of 224x224?

[Phil]

I don't know for sure, but I strongly suspect it will only work for these dimensions. The background is that I ripped out all (unique) alpha channel frames from one of EA's Palantir videos and the tool injects them into the source video frame by frame, so the alpha channel itself will only be 224 x 224 pixels in size. The effect when using different dimensions is 'undefined'

[Yarrum]

This is a bit late but...WOOOOOOOOOOOOO! It's about time!

[Phil]

I've finally written a documentation and uploaded the source code for those who are interested in analysing or improving it.

[OperationRenegade]

I believe I read before in a tutorial about successfully putting Palantir Videos into BFME 1. In a comment they mentioned that while showing a Palantir video in BFME 2/ Rotwk it causes the vid to be seen in a square shape rather then fitting into the circle of the palantir border. This causes the movies corners to be visible well outside of it's border. I presume however that you could easily just cut off the edges & scale down the video clip.

[Phil]

Yeah, that was the problem to which this tool is the solution. Just scaling down the video doesn't look good either, even if you make the corners black. The trick is the alpha channel that makes the corners invisible.

[OperationRenegade]

So was this same technique used by EA? I thought they removed some hard coding or changed the properties of the HUD from BFME1. Good to hear you can add videos without messing up the quality of the vid itself.

[Phil]

Well, I didn't actually test it in BFME2 because I don't have the game. However, someone else did test it for me and confirmed the same file was also properly displayed in BFME2.

[OperationRenegade]

Good to hear, thats good for bfme2 modders, i don't plan on adding any kind of videos into the game however, to much work. XD

[OperationRenegade]

However I was thinking at one stage of adding limits/ hero modes to heroes, it would be quiet epic to see a video to pop up when u achieve one, kinda useless though for heroes who weren't shown in the movies.

[逊Arathorn妻]

I've added support for EA's vp6 format in FFMpeg (the most widely used multimedia library used). The latest VLC Media Player can play ever vp6 video in the data/movies folder (even those with alpha channels). Didn't know where to post that so I write it in here, because it's kindof related. Screenshot:

Edited by 逊Arathorn妻, 30 July 2016 - 02:16 PM.

[Ridder Geel]

sounds amazing

[SamGamgee]

I'm having troubles with the PalantirVideoConverter.exe. The program doesn't want to convert my videos (which are 224x224 px and VP60 encoded...).

Does this still work on Windows 7? (I haven't tried on XP yet)

Edited by SamGamgee, 15 February 2017 - 09:59 PM.