Creating a 'Play All' Script using DVD Studio Pro

2008-10-10T16:11:00.000-07:00

What you'll need: 3 different video clips.

A 'Play All' can be done with stories as well as scripts. However, to better help understand scripting in general, we will do so.

For this lesson we will use 3 different tracks [video clips], 4 scripts and 1 menu. Go ahead and import your 3 clips and put them each on individual tracks that we have made [of course putting them all on the same track would make this much easier, again we'll use 3 to better understand scripting].

Add 4 scripts and name them; 'Start_Play_All', 'Play_All_2', 'Play_All_3' and 'Stop_Play_All'.

On the DVD main menu add a button [or use an existing button] and name it 'Play All'. Be sure to have buttons for all 3 tracks and target them to their appropriate tracks. Naming is always important but for now I'll leave them as; 'Track 1' to 'Track 3' since we'll have different video clips.

Now we must set up a partition where the Play All information will be stored. Select the DVD icon in the outline tab. Then in the Inspector window select the Advanced tab. Select the arrow next to 'GPRM 0' to bring down the drop menu and select the first partition and name it 'Play_All'

Now let's start setting up our scripts.

Select the 'Start_Play_All' script, and set the following in the Script Command window.

Command - Set GPRM
Operation - mov
Source Type - Immediate
Source Value - 1
Target - Play_All

Add a line.

Command - Jump
Jump to - Track 1::Chapter 1

End result.

For the next two scripts do the following

Command - Jump
Jump to - Track 2::Chapter 1 [for 'Play_All_2']
Jump to - Track 3::Chapter 1 [for 'Play_All_3']

Select the Compare Command box.

Execute if - Play_All
is - '='
to - Immediate
with value - 1

Add a line.

Command - Jump
Jump to - Menu 1::Track 2 [for 'Play_All_2']
Jump to - Menu 1::Track 3 [for 'Play_All_3']

On the 2nd line of these last scripts we set each to jump to the next track or track button. If Play All was not selected, then we want the end of each track [line 2] to jump to the next track button to force the viewer to the next track.

Now for the last script. 'Stop_Play_All'

Command - Set GPRM
Operation - mov
Source Type - Immediate
Source Value - Play_All
Target - Play_All

Add a line.

Command - Jump
Jump to - Menu::Play All [or which ever button you choose]

Now we need to set each tracks end target to each script.

Track 1 to 'Play_All_2'
Track 2 to 'Play_All_3'
and
Track 3 to 'Stop_Play_All'

Be sure to do this for both the Track end target and the Chapter end target.

Last step. We need to set the target for the Title, Menu and Return buttons to the 'Stop_Play_All' script.

Here's the ending result.

How to make a DVD game using DVD Studio Pro

2008-10-09T14:46:00.000-07:00

This is a rough draft. Let me know of any possible mistakes and I'll be sure to take a look. Thanks.

First we need to set the partition in which the information will be stored during the game. Select the Outline tab and select the DVD icon. This will open up the disc information window. Select the Advanced tab. Select the arrow of the first partition [GPRM 0] to open it. Select the first and rename it to 'Points' to manage better.

Open a menu template, delete all buttons/drop zones etc. [Leave a blank menu] There are several ways to do this. Even bring in a photoshop document. Use the text tool and write your question. Make a few buttons [in this case 2, to keep it simple]. Replace texts with a right answer and wrong answer. Continue to make all the menus with the different questions you have. Name these; 'Ques_1', 'Ques_2' etc.

Here's a, very simple, example.

Add a script.

Select the Script tab on the timeline and select the script we just made. Rename it 'Correct_1' [It's very important to name everything!! Makes it so much easier to manage].
Select 1.NOP and in the script command window do the following.

Command - Set GPRM
Operation - add
Source Type - Immediate
Source Value - 1
Target - Points

Add a line

In the Script Command window do the following.
Command - Jump
Jump To - Ques_2

Select Ques_1 menu and select the correct answer button and target it to script 'Correct_1'. For the incorrect answer buttons, target these to 'Ques_2'
[You can make more complex, time consuming, games by adding; 'Correct/Incorrect' menus and target the wrong answers and scripts to these menus first. Then place a button on these menus to proceed to 'Ques_2'].

Repeat these steps for the next question, 'Ques_2'

Add three menus [or however many points possible you have plus 1, for '0 points']

Use the text tool and write the point value on each menu.

Add one button to each of these menus [we'll target these buttons later] Remember to names these menus. 'Total_0', 'Total_1' etc.

Add another script, rename it 'Total' and set the following.

Command - Jump
Jump To - Total_0
Select the 'Compare Command' box
Execute if - Points
is - '='
to - Immediate
with value - 0

Add line

Command - Jump
Jump To - Total_1
Select the 'Compare Command' box
Execute if - Points
is - '='
to - Immediate
with value - 1

Add line

Command - Jump
Jump To - Total_2
Select the 'Compare Command' box
Execute if - Points
is - '='
to - Immediate
with value - 2

In the Graphical view window, set this script and the total points menus to the side.

Add another script, rename it 'Correct_2' and set the following

Command - Set GPRM
Operation - add
Source Type - Immediate
Source Value - 1
Target - Points

add line.

Command - Jump
Jump To - Total [in the script drop menu]

Go the 'Ques_2' and target the correct answer button to 'Correct_2'
This will send you through the 'Correct_2' script then the 'Total' script to your total outcome menus.

In order to play again without any problems, we must write a script that sets the 'Points' partition back to zero.

Add script, rename it 'Set_to_Zero' and set the following

Command - Set GPRM
Operation - mov
Source Type - Immediate
Source Value - 0
Target - Points

add line

Command - Jump
Jump To - Ques_1 [or whatever your beginning menu may be].

Target all buttons in the total points menus, 'Total_0', to the script 'Set_to_Zero'.

Almost done. Select the DVD icon in the Outline tab. Open the General tab and set the Menu, Title and Return options to target the 'Set_to_Zero' script.

This assures that the 'Points' partition will always be set to zero.

To help you get a better understanding, activate the Log tab and simulate the game. When all questions are answered correctly here is what you get.

First answer correct [click on pictures for a larger view].

Second answer correct.

Total score.

End game, set points to zero.

Ending Graphical View

Here is a more complex game I made recently using over 30 scripts and involves subtracting points and even a special video to watch if you answer all the questions correctly [only accessible by putting in a secret password].

Hope this helps.
Any questions let me know.
Next week. Play All Scripting

LH