Consult Hollywood

If technology demos are going to be target end-users, it needs to be visually cool and exciting. It does not necessarily need to represent a plausible in-game scenario – it should show a glimpse of the future. After all, when gamers are showing off their new hardware to friends (future customers), they'll turn to the best graphics as opposed to the benchmark. I've given a few technology ideas about pre-calculating physics, but to understand what the art of a good technology demo is, it's easier to turn to real examples.

One of the greatest real-time demos was the Metal Gear Solid 2 trailer from E3 2000. Through this real-time demo, Konami won Game of the Show two years before the game was released and almost single-handedly established the PlayStation 2 as the market leader by showing gamers what the PS2 could do that the Dreamcast could not. A look at the trailer for Metal Gear Solid 3 will further elucidate my points. Go ahead and take a look at the MGS3: Snake Eater trailer here. Keep in mind that MGS3 is running on 4 year old hardware.

After watching the trailer, chances are that for the most part, you'll agree with the statement that the trailer was exciting. The point is that demos targeted for end-users should be thought of as machinima. It needs to tell a story. MGS3 has the excitement of top-notch Hollywood action film with 'John Woo moments' and dynamic music. There are exciting characters from the anachronistic flying guards to the bad-ass young Ocelot. There is action and explosions, humor (the alligator head), and drama. Even a demo such as Animusic had its storyline. The characters were the bouncing balls and the story was developed through both music and animation. You wanted to see where the balls would bounce next or what instrument would activate. 'The Doublecross' tells a classic espionage story and leaves the gamer eager to see what happens next.

Important to all three demos were film techniques of editing and direction. That's what a good tech demo needs. It should not be a demo that is left running in the background in a continuous loop like NVIDIA's Dawn. There should be an introduction, middle, and end. People should say 'That was a cool, I want to see that again' as opposed to 'I've seen enough, show me the next demo.' Don't dwell on a particular camera shot to show off the 16-pass shader that took months to code if the scene flows better cinematically with a quick cut -- make the end user want to watch the demo again to get that second glimpse at that effect.

Storyboard the demo –there needs to be a screenplay and the recognition of the importance of a director and cinematographer. Bring in exciting characters (even if they're just the inanimate balls) and use unique settings. Spend the time finding a good composer. Even if someone like Klaus Badelt, Hans Zimmer, Trevor Rabin, or Harry Gregson-Williams isn't available, a good soundtrack makes visuals look even better. There's a lot of good source material out there, just watch domestic and foreign movies and anime, or even look at books.

Short animated films as graphics technology demos are not only feasible, but they will be an obligatory cost of new hardware development.

This is my last article for FiringSquad (or any other online magazine). I've enjoyed my time sharing my thoughts on hardware, software, and the industry in general and hope you've enjoyed the articles I've written since 1999. Of course, I'll probably continue to lurk in the shadows and as my profile says:

If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find him, maybe you can hire Alan...