I am making a rather ambitious campaign, (twitch.tv/shalashaska824) and am requesting the forum's assistance in adding cutscenes(hand-drawn and animated; not map-based cutscenes) into the campaign. I'd like a way to redirect to a cutscene using "Set Next Scenario" or something like that or some work around. It is critically that my end-users have not have to install a modification to their install of SC1/BW. Also, a way to boot the campaign directly into a cutscene would be awesome(but I can just have a note to watch the intro before playing.)

On a related note, using some sort of .MPQ(how to do that) or something to have the campaign and extra maps integrated into the game would be awesome(and would justify using a modification or install packet).

Thank you for your help, even if it's a "I don't know" or "You can't do that, n00b!" ^_^

P.S. I see you can include a file with a post, so I guess I'll include a little preview(a bonus map, for up to 3 players that has nothing to do with the campaign, in a strict sense). It's total garbage.

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This is not possible by any known method without having end-users run some kind of external program, permanant modifications to their install are not required though, if they were comfortable running something alongside starcraft.

The closest you're probably going to get without an external program is something like this, where you're splicing in approximately the color scheme you're looking for, but it's going to be less than low quality compared to running a video file.

You can replace the campaign files, including cinematics as smk files. The only thing is they must match the original campaign structure (such as cinematics where the original has them).

Thanks, guys. I decided on just putting text into the missions that tells you to open the video files.... At least until I figure out something better.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Sep 30 2013, 4:49 am by checkmate824.

This could be a good solution, you can force the structure to your whims by using blank .smk files if there's a cutscene where you don't want one and using Set Next Scenario to a map that has a cutscene after it if you want a cutscene right away. You can jump across each race's campaign and even from Original to Brood War with Set Next Scenario, no? So you shouldn't run out of missions with cutscenes anytime soon.

I'm sorry, I simply don't understand this; so I can use my own cutscenes that I'm going to make? And I don't know what a .smk file is...

Yes, but, replacing smk files requires use of an external program by your end-users (which isn't necessarily bad, considering that they're already downloading this campaign for single player, but it's up to you) ask for more help if you're going down this route.


Blizzards video format, I believe it's among the formats SUPER can convert to, among other converters.

Okay, I downloaded SUPER but I don't think I'm going this route but thanks guys for all your help! ^_^. But while I have you guys here; one quick question: do Larva count towards the "Men" count for triggers like "commands at most 20 men"?

or just replace the smk's in the MPQ's, then redistribute the modified MPQ's? Might be inefficient bandwidth-wise sending the entire thing. I think including the smk's in the map MPQ itself might override the data MPQ's, though I could be wrong on this.

The official converter is part of RAD Game Tools. SMK is short for Smacker, and I'm not sure if you can still get it from their website. It used to be around here somewhere ....

It looks like it is included with bink. link.

Also the map MPQ is the lowest priority archive. In order to use any modded files in the map you have to use SCMLoader, but I don't think that applies to the smks. You'd have to make a campaign mod that has the campaign maps and videos in an MPQ with a launcher. If you did the campaign this way it would have to follow the structure and sequence of an existing campaign.

EDIT: I looked in to the "set next scenario" action for the campaigns, and it appears any used in the campaign only exist for reference. I seem to recall that it doesn't do anything in the campaigns, but I may be wrong.

Post has been edited 1 time(s), last time on Oct 1 2013, 4:36 am by FaRTy1billion.

Come on, you know how the branching paths work in the campaign, it checks whether you destroyed Physics Labs / Nuke Silos and then uses Set Next Scenario. Same for the one with infested terrans in BW zerg campaign (lulzy because 5 infestable CCs -> 5 MAPS)

Except it references .scx files, and those don't exist.

I'm just confused how yall know all this lol/

But, maybe yall could provide me with a more explanatory site or something so I can do independent research and figure out a solution I can work out.

I attached a few more bonus missions but keep in mind it has nothing to do with the main campaign except it coems with it.

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