Game does NOT play videos (.mov) after the game is installed ?

Hi...

I created a small game. I included a short .mov video. It works perfectly when I'm in MMF2. However, when I 'build' an installation program, it does not work correctly.

I made sure that all of the necessary files are in the same directory. Similarly, when I create the installation, it doesn't report any errors and doesn't tell me its missing any files. And when I 'install' the game on somebodys computer, if I look real quick, it seems to indicate that it installed all the files including the .mov video games.

But when I play the game, any place where a .mov video is, its just blank.

How can I get mmf2 to play the .mov files? It works perfectly in mmf2, but the exporting evidently doesn't work so well.

Any help would be enormously appreciated. Thanks GREATLY in advance.

PS: I didn't use AVI (instead of .mov) because when I tried to incorporate .avi files in MMF2, they didn't work at all... but when I used .mov files, they displayed file when INSIDE mmf2... but once I tried to export it to an exe program and/or install program, it doesn't display on a different computer.

avi did not work with the DirectShow or active direct show object?
This is the object to use for videos on the PC. Not the AVI or Quicktime object.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Francois

avi did not work with the DirectShow or active direct show object?
This is the object to use for videos on the PC. Not the AVI or Quicktime object.

---

Hmm.... Personally, I can't figure out why MMF2 would display the game perfectly and display the video perfectly... but NOT have it work when I export it to an .exe and/or install program. To me, personally, this seems like a bug or something is WRONG. Indeed... why bother previewing the game in MMF2 only to find out that the preview isn't really accurate since it does NOT work properly when you export the game. Thats not really a preview. That is a tease! ;)

Nonetheless... to make life easy, since there evidently is different ways to import videos into MMF2, could somebody possibly tell me EXACTLY how to import a video so that it DOES work when the game is exported as an .exe and/or install program? For example, there is stuff called "directshow" or "active direct show" or "avi". Could somebody tell me EXACTLY what I'm supposed to do to have the videos work when the game is exported? If possible... please make it as super simple as possible since I'm obviously a novice and am confused...

Again... your help is enormously appreciated since I must be missing something...

Is it possible the path to the video file is wrong when you build your game?
This could explain why it works inside MMF and not when you create your final EXE.

If you wanted to send me over your MFA file I would take a look.

Or you could try to explain how your calling your files to play and we could see if it looks right.

Are you calling them to play in the event editor using an expression?

Actually.. perhaps this will help... I have since discovered that it WILL work on my computer that I have mmf2 installed on... but when I try and run it on a DIFFERENT computer, the videos do NOT work. I'm 99% sure that its not because of the files being in the wrong place. Indeed, I put the .mov files in the same folder as the MMF2 program and when I created the install program, it seemed to find the .mov files -- and it even put the .mov files in the same folder after the game was installed on the other computer... but it does not play the .mov files on the other computer.

Hmm... it almost seems like the different computer can't play .mov files regardless of mmf2 or not. Hmm... Is that possible? I would have hoped that MMF2 would enable people to play the videos regardless of what software they have installed on their computer... but maybe I'm wrong.

Hmm... could somebody tell me EXACTLY how to import .avi files in MMF2 instead. Do you think that would make a difference? I'm a novice computer person, but I seem to remember people having trouble running .movs on computers (because of necessary codecs or something), but .AVI files supposedly seem to run on virtually all pc computers. Could you tell me EXACTLY how to import .avi files in MMF2 instead and perhaps I'll try that.

PS: Thank you GREATLY for offering to look at the MMF2 file. I would have uploaded it now, but I'm not home at the moment so I don't have access to the files...

PPS: When I finally get the game to run properly (with the video working), I'll move onto asking how to get all of the necessary files into a single .exe or java file as simple as possible. I realize most people are not going to want to bother installing software on their computer just to play my crappy little game... so I'm hoping an option is available that can simplify the process and avoid the necessity to 'install' the game and/or copy the additional .mov files. I do know that there is a flash exporter (I posted a message elsewhere about this), but I really don't want to spend $70 just to play my crappy little game -- particularly since I'm not sure if the flash exporter would play the game properly anyway (particularly since I can't even get the program to run properly without flash).

It sure sounds like a file path problem but you can check if the target computer can play the videos.

Put the video on a flash drive -- Take flash drive to other computer -- If you try to open the movie on the other computer does it play?
If so then its most likely a path problem in your MMF file and when you compile your game its looking in the wrong place for the file.

Do you use the event editor to play your file using something like: Apppath$+"your filename"
If you have the path hard coded in the properties then of course it won't find it on other computers.

The target computer does NOT play the .mov files... I tried it on 2 different computers (one with windows 7 and one with xp). I'm guessing that those computers don't have the necessary codecs or something.... In fact, I installed the game on the 2 other computers.. it put the .mov files in the same folder and the .mov files simply don't play on those other computers -- even if I click on the .mov files directly in windows.... (totally bypassing the .exe program). Its like the computer doesn't know what a .mov file is. I also tried to load it manually on the other computer with windows media palyer and it doesn't play the .mov files.

I really don't think it has the wrong path... I'm guessing it must be the format .mov that is confusing some of the other computers. I'm guessing they don't have the necessary plugsins/codecs. I was hoping that MMF2 would allow videos to play regardless of what configuration the other computers have (which is what I thought the install program would do), but evidently I'm wrong.

Shall I convert the .mov files to .avi?? And if so, how do I get mmf2 to use .avi files since it doesn't allow me to play the .avi files in mmf2? (UNLIKE the .mov files that DO play fine in mmf2). When I insert .avi files into mmf2, is just shows an empty box.. it does NOT play the .avi files in mmf2 (which again is very very odd to me since mmf2 obviously has an options to insert .avi files).

PS: thanks sooooooooo much for your ongoing help. Much appreciated. :)

.mov is the problem. You need special codecs usually that sometimes you can get with installing Quicktime, but mostly they're only available for macs.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jacob

.mov is the problem. You need special codecs usually that sometimes you can get with installing Quicktime, but mostly they're only available for macs.

---

Okay...

I have tried for hours trying to have my video play and it simply does NOT work. It displays fine in MMF2 if in mov format, but it does NOT play on other computers. Hence, MMF2 is NOT good at using .mov files.

I have tried countless times importing the video in .avi format.. but that does NOT work at all in MMF2.

So how exactly do you import video in MMF2? No offense.. but I really don't think this program MMF2 works properly. It seems very powerful, and I'm blown away by what people can do with the program, but I think its got problems. Admittedly, I'm a TOTAL 100% NOVICE.. but if it says "import avi" and I import the "avi" and it doesn't work, it seems to me there is a problem with MMF2. Call me a moron, but I don't think it should take HOURS to try and have the program play a simple video.

Any suggestions??

Can you email me an example mfa and mov file?

Then I can see how your trying to play the file. This does work in mmf so I am sure I can spot the problem in seconds

Here is the latest:

I FINALLY was able to have MMF2 play the video file clip on 2 different computers. How? I converted it to .mpg. That is the ONLY thing I did different. Hence, it seems to me that .mov and .avi simply do NOT work well in MMF2 since the ONLY thing I changed was the format of the video. I changed nothing else and now suddenly it works.

Secondly, MMF2 seems to even have bugs when using a video in .mpg. Here are the 2 bugs I found:

1. MMF2 does NOT display the .mpg video. It just shows the 'mpg' icon in the box. However, when you save your MMF2 creation as an .exe or create an installer, the .mpg does does play properly. But again, you cannot view the .mpg video inside MMF2 (unlike a .mov file that you can view inside MMF2 -- but as noted previously -- a .mov file doesn't play properly on lots of computers so I wouldn't bother using it).

2. MMF2 does NOT allow you to 'move' the .mpg video. For example, insert a .mpg video into MMF2 and then try and have the video simply move across the screen. (I do this normally by clicking on the .mpg/graphic, clicking on properties, click on "movement" and then changing it from 'static' to path (where I create a small path of where I want it to move to). For whatever reason, MMF2 does NOT allow me to move .mpg files at all.


NOTE: I am a 100% novice... so there is a very good chance I'm doing some stuff wrong. I sincerely apologize for that. Nonetheless, I felt it appropriate to post the within message to advise others in case they are having the some problems. And if the bugs do exist, then hopefully this message will alert people so it can be fixed. But again.. I am indeed a schmuck and a total novice at MMF2. But seriously... it simply does NOT make sense to me why a .avi & .mov doesn't work.. but a .mpg does... or why a .mov can be viewed in MMF2 but a .mpg can't.

Hope this helps. :)

Like what Jacob said:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jacob

.mov is the problem. You need special codecs usually that sometimes you can get with installing Quicktime, but mostly they're only available for macs.

---

This is especially true and I would avoid using .mov in future. There are many video converters out there (or even using Windows Movie Maker) which can easily convert it from one file format to another. The DirectShow object is better suited (like Francois said) and that is dependent on DirectX on the user's PC which most users have installed anyway. Windows Media Video (*.wmv) would be a better option for Windows PCs, but isn't friendly if you was to port your app to another platform (eg. Java)

DirectShow supports MP3, MPEG, AVI, WMV, WMA and many others, providing the codecs are properly installed. I'd suggest experimenting with them. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by puzzele

2. MMF2 does NOT allow you to 'move' the .mpg video.

---

Try using the Active Direct Show object instead. I think this is better for moving around the screen, since it's "windowsless".

Yep, definitely avoid .mov files. Avi is undoubtedly the way to go - you just need to be sure that data inside the .avi file is compressed using a mainstream codec (.avi itself is just a container format for data that may be compressed in many different ways).

Like the original poster was asking I'd like to see some sort of tutorial or step-by-step instructions on how to insert videos into these games. I've tried for hours trying to get one simple video to work and all I get is a blank white screen. I know its something I'm doing wrong but with no help at all on how to insert videos I don't have any idea what to try next.

Thanks in advance for whoever is willing to step up with a tutorial like this.

redhat39 - use the DirectShow object that supports most formats such as AVI/MPEG. Use the load action then use the Play action to commence.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by redhat39

I'd like to see some sort of tutorial or step-by-step instructions on how to insert videos into these games.

---

Here you go. I've put together an example MFA with all the events commented (in the Event Editor) on how I would use MMF2 to insert a video using the DirectShow Object. I hope it helps everyone who's struggling. :)

Inserting Video Example: Attachment 9160

I've also listed the supported formats and some other advice regarding distributing the video as well as the program.

ive never had a problem. there is nothing wrong with mmf2 and video files.

MMF cannot include the dozens of different codes that exist. It does its best to play with what is available on the machine.
To play an AVI, just use the DirectShow object (or the Active Direct Show object). Also make sure that the codecs used by the video are installed on the machine (to do so, just open the Media Player on this video, if it plays it then it is OK). If the coded is not installed, do a search on Internet for "Windows Codec packs", you'll find good ones, install them it should work.

A good solution is to abandon every single video extension in MMF3. Just create one single new one that plays a single video format (ogg theora is a nice option, but there are others too) and build the codec into MMF3. Right now we unfortunately have five bad options (Direct Show, AVI, MPEG, QT, and VideoPro).

Yes I agree with Nifflas a fully self contained video playing object that relied on nothing on the users computer would be excellent.

Thanks guys for all the answers. I did finally find a video tutorial on how to use the DirectShow object here by this very sharp kid: v2.atomicstud.com/mmf2_beginning_tut.php

Turns out what I was doing wrong was I wasn't adding a "start of slide" event. Hey I'm a total noob to all of this so even these small things like this need to be explained to me. :)

If whoops this post was edited