Moviestorm

Moviestorm

Moviestorm 1.1 running on Windows XP
Developer(s)	Moviestorm Ltd
Stable release	1.4.0.1 / 05th Jul 2010
Operating system	Windows/Mac OS
Type	3D animation
License	Proprietary
Website	www.moviestorm.co.uk

Moviestorm is real-time 3D animation software published by Moviestorm Ltd. The software is aimed at people of all age groups (with a stated minimum of 14 years old) and appeals to those with a diverse range of backgrounds and interests. Currently active members include bloggers, musicians, writers, teachers, students, engineers, marketing professionals and physicists. Moviestorm enables the user to create animated movies, using machinima technology. It takes the user from initial concept to finished, distributed movies. Sets and characters can be created and customised, and scenes can be filmed using multiple cameras.

The software's website features a Web 2.0 social media service, which includes a video hosting service, and an online community where movie-makers can talk about their movies, find collaborators, and organise online events. Moviestorm also makes use of Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to release the latest news on the software and to interact with both current and potential users.

Development history

Moviestorm has been generally available since August 2008 and over 100,000 people have now registered to use it. The interface has undergone fairly radical change since its first incarnation. Many User Interface improvements were implemented with the release of version 1.3 in June 2010 and version 1.4, released in August 2010, contained some long-awaited upgrades especially in the Dressing room which allows much more control over facial morphing of avatars. This release also features a completely new lighting system which more closely resembles the 3-light systems used in real live action filming. Version 1.5 is due to be released in late 2011, and features many changes.

Moviestorm Ltd interacts with customers in its active online forums.

Business model

Users new to the program can try it for 7 days for free by registering at the website. Thereafter Moviestorm offers a subscription model. Subscribers pay around US $7.99 monthly and this entitles them to receive 800 Moviestorm Points each month which can be used in the official Marketplace to purchase themed content packs and other additions/modifications to the program. In addition to purchasing content outright, users can rent content packs for as little as one day, in order to only pay for content licenses when the content is actively being used. Moviestorm Points can also be gifted to other users in return for advice or assistance or in payment for a user-created modification. Subscribers have access to the Modders Workshop a tool which allows them to create their own 'props' and a wizard allows the direct import of models from Google SketchUp version 6. As of 2011, users can create their own custom "gestures" with the release of the Moviestorm skeletons.

Subscribers can also increase their points at any time by buying more points from the online marketplace. A subscription can be discontinued at any time, and resumed later with no penalty.

Examples of use

Children's animation

Blockhouse TV, based in Norwich, UK, utilised Moviestorm in their animated series for children, Jack and Holly. The first season, Jack and Holly's Christmas Countdown, was released in 2010.^[1] The second season, Jack and Holly's Cosmic Stories, was released in 2011.

Film teaching

Moviestorm has been used in film schools and media courses in many countries. Wan Smolbag Theatre in Vanuatu was one of the first to adopt it in 2008, under tutor John Herd. Students trained on Moviestorm have gone on to successful careers with the island's TV network.^[2][3]

References

1. ^ "Educational children's DVD created by Norfolk couple". BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/norfolk/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_9049000/9049467.stm. Retrieved 15 November 2011. 
2. ^ "Machinima & Education". Fallopian, Vol 2. http://www.voom-machine.com/fallopian/. Retrieved 15 November 2011. 
3. ^ "Launching television careers in surprising places". Moviestorm News. http://www.moviestormblog.com/index.php/moviestorm_-_launching_television_careers_in_surprising_places/. Retrieved 15 November 2011. 

External links

• Computeractive article
• Moviestorm Ltd's page about the software
• Business Weekly article
• Review in Microfilmmaker Magazine
• Article on Softpedia website
• Fallopian On-Line Magazine article on Moviestorm's use by Wan Smolbag Theatre's Youth Centre in Vanuatu
• Chipchick.com Moviestorm Lets You Make 3D Animated Movies on your Home Computer