Maximvs Video Tutorial: POTCO Video Capture And Creation

[Maximvs]

Camtasia (Video Capture Program)

I currently now use CamStudios - VERY easy to install, free, and has no strings attached! For this tutorial I am going to use Camtasia from TechSmith as it produces a clean image. I would of used FRAPS (another Impressive looking Video Capture Software - seen an example of it used to capture a WOW Attack scene with 2 Level 70 Characters... it was cool) but FRAPS puts a logo over the video as part of its Trail Offer - and I didn't want a big logo over my Video Clips... but for those that can use FRAPS carry on!

- Instructions: Installing Camtasia Studios (Video Capture Program)

At the time of this tutorial, Camtasia Studios 5 was available, FULLY functional for a 30 day trial. Now for a secret... if you know the install day of the program, and the day before it runs out... to keep using it past 30 days just set your Windows Date / Time back to that day before expiry and presto! It works again! (They did not put a calculation date range in the program and it just looks directly at the systems date, so as long as its in the Installed Date Range - you can use it again!) I'm sure they won't make that mistake again...

Remember those systems requirements? Here they are with a few comments:
- Windows XP or Vista (there is a MAC option, but I cannot explore it)
- DirectX 9 or higher (same as POTCO)
- 1.0 GHz CPU Processor - Recommended 3.0 GHz for Video Capture (well Duh! That's why we want it! You may be able to push a 2.0 GHz - but - be ready for the choppy!!! - I currently have a 3.0 GHz)
- 500MB RAM - Recommended 2GB RAM (I have only 1 GB and it works good for the most part, but anything less than 1GB, your on thin ice anyway...)
- 60MB Hard Drive Space (HAHAHAHA! Have At LEAST 10GB FREE SPACE on top of any other space you need!!!! The Conversion Alone Uses 300-600 MB PER Video Clip!!! The things they don't tell you...)

1) Go to Camtasia (feel free to search the 'Net' for the site) and Click the Free trail Download Button

2) Look over the Requirements Page - then Click the Free Trial. If it skips this page you will go to the Download Now Page. Click the Download Button.

3) If you have File Protection on, click the link that says: (i)Click Here If Your Download Does Not Start - Save the Downloading file to a place where you will be able to easily find it (take a break - it will be several minutes for the download)

4) With he Installer now downloaded, Double Click the File to start the Install. Click Run on the Security warning.

5) Nice Welcome Box appears, click Next Button



6) Click the Accept The License Agreement Dot, Click Next Button



7) 30 Day Trail Box Appears, Click Next Button



8) Install Path Is Displayed, Click Next Button



9) The Add-In for Microsoft PowerPoint screen Arrives, Click The checkbox to Remove The Checkmark - then Click the Next Button (note* This is Personal Preference - as this is a trial and we are only using it for POTCO, the less integration with other software the better!)



10) The Install Live Output Support Box Appears, Click Next Button (note* Once again, its Personal Preference if you want to try to capture Video from a Web Cam - but this is trial software so in my case I don't chose the option and go Next.)



11) Ready To Install Box Appears - Click to Remove the Launch Tour checkmark, then Click the Next Button (note* the Tour is nice - but I provide the links below so no need for it here).



12) OOOh, its installing When Done Click the Finish Button!

--Setup Camtasia BEFORE Using It In POTCO...

With the program now installed - we want to 'tweak it' a bit before we actually use it to Capture Video in POTCO. So lets run it and make those tweaks!

1) Start Camtasia on the Desktop Icon or from your Start Menu > Programs Area.
2) The 30 Day Trial Window Appears, Click Finish Button



3) NOW Were Cookin! The Project Window Appears! We will ALWAYS Use the New Screen Recording Option from this window - and you should leave in the Show This Dialog Box At Startup! It makes using the program MUCH easier for what we want it for - Video Capture... Click the New Screen Recording Option - and Camtasia shrinks to the Tool bar



4) The first time - you get asked to watch a Tutorial Video - just Click the OK Button - I'm the tutorial for POTCO hehehe. This Box Never Appears Again (unless you want it to).
5) Here we go... the Video Capture Box Click the Tools Menu, then Click the Options Menu Choice



6) Click the Video Tab. Click the Manual Dot, then in the Frames / Sec(ond) box Type In 60 over that default 5 value - oh yea... we want Real Time Click the OK Button to complete this option.



Now - your ready to get some POTCO Video....

[Maximvs]

Video Capturing and POTCO

Now the adventure begins in the world of POTCO. Note – Camtasia can be used to capture any Video off a PC, but this tutorial is focused at POTCO and getting these treasured scenes from the game. Feel free to explore Video Capturing once you get better at doing videos.

- Instructions: Video Capturing In POTCO

Here are the steps to do a capture of POTCO using Camtasia. Note Capturing Video in POTCO is not just the capture – but there are several steps after the capture to do in Camtasia which need to be done once you hit the Stop Recording button – make sure your pirate ends up in a safe spot or else…


-- Starting POTCO
1) Start POTCO and log in.
2) If not already so, change the screen to a Window Format under the Options Screen to 800x600 (note: This is the old options Screen - The New Screen has the options under the Display Tab



-- Starting Camtasia
3) Start Camtasia (the Load Screen will appear, showing the Quick Start screen)



4) Click the Video Capture option shown in the quick Launch Screen (Camtasia will minimize and show the Video Capture Tool box)



5) Click the Select Area to Record Button, then Click the POTCO World Box (the inside of the box edge - The Record Button Appears at the ready)







-- Using POTCO and Record Your Scene
6) Position your Pirate to start your scene (ship, town)



7) Click the Record Button - You are now Recording!! (Note the attached Recording Bar at the bottom of POTCO)
8) Press the F12 Key on the Keyboard to remove the Game Interface
9) Proceed to do your Pirate Scene



10) Press the F12 Key on the Keyboard to bring back the Game Interface
11) Click the Stop Recording Button (Camtasia will display a Review Screen)





-- Complete Camtasia and Encode Your Video
12) Click the Save Button on the Review Screen (Camtasia will render the video to prepare to produce a file - NOTE - this can take some time and you should not do anything while processing! When complete, the Produce Video Box Appears)
13) The Save Box Appears. This Folder is in the My Documents section under a new Folder called Camtasia Studios. Save your new File here. This Will begin the Post Save Options and the actual encoding from Camtasia to AVI Movie Format.



14) In the Post Save Box, click the Produce My Video In a Shareable Format, then click the OK Button



15) If not already selected, click the Custom Production Settings, then click the Next Button



16) Click the AVI Option in the list, click the Next Button



17) If not selected already, Select the highest Color Setting from the Video Colors box and the highest Framerate from that box by clicking each item and changing the option. Click the Next Button to continue.



18) As a recommendation select the Preset Box and click the 640x480 or 800x600 setting. The reason is the ‘condensing’ of the video in many cases produces a slightly crisper picture in the end. Click the Next Button to continue.



19) Some extra options (none required), click Next Button to continue
20) The Finish Screen – note the filename of your Video Clip in the top line (you need it for later). For faster completions (not MUCH faster mind you), remove the checkmarks from Show Production Results and from Play Video After Production. Click the Finish Button… and hang on….



The Video will now go from its Captured Encoded State (when you first ported it out of POTCO and saved that file) to an actual AVI Video File. Once again you play the waiting game and everything comes to a standstill at times. But, once its done…

YOU GOT A VIDEO CLIP!

--- Doing More Than One?

If your doing several Video Captures, you’ll notice that the Capture Box (step 4) is waiting in the bottom corner and is ready to go again. Get your Pirate to their next Scene and do it again! Rinse and Repeat until you have enough clips to put together a Video.

If you did the whole video in one shot that’s fine, or you have finished getting all your clips and are ready to process them – then proceed with the final phase… Windows Movie Maker (and yes – you can exit Camtasia now using the Close X Buttons and you should exit POTCO – you’ll be too busy to play at the moment anyway).