Intro sequence

Intro sequence

An intro sequence is a non-interactive introductory sequence for a computer or video game. They were very often prerendered, hand drawn, or otherwise outside the main game engine. In recent years, sophisticated game engines have been able to render graphics of comparable quality to raytraced sequences, and so modern intro sequences often take place within the game engine ("Unreal Tournament"), or even as a scripted subsection of the game ("Half Life").

The term is used almost exclusively in the game industry. The non-abbreviated term "introductory sequence" usually refers to the opening of a film. Indeed, the game term follows from the film term, as games use intro sequences to create a cinematic atmosphere.

Before the advent of powerful 3D video cards, the mismatch between what a game developer's workstation could render without time constraints, and what the target home computer could render in real time, was large enough that games would nearly always include some kind of scene or mood setting intro sequence.

The interactive movie genre, and games like "Myst", whose graphics are almost completely prerendered, are a separate phenomenon.

Notable games

Amiga CD32 games often included long, cinematic intro sequences, as the hardware was no more powerful than an Amiga 1200, but the 650Mb space on each CD could be easily filled with pre-rendered videos. The launch titles "Microcosm" and ' featured a long cinematic video, with "Super Stardust" and ' following later.

" was an early game to feature an intro sequence created entirely with the game engine.

Cut scenes

Closely related to intro sequences are cut scenes, where normal gameplay is suspended while a short piece of exposition plays out, which may involve a change in the position of the camera (e.g. Dawn of War) or may not (e.g. Half-Life 2).

Developments in software and hardware have allowed more recent games to render their cut scenes within the game engine itself.

ee also

* Cut scene
* Outro


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • The Simpsons opening sequence — The Simpsons title screen as of 2009. The Simpsons opening sequence is an element that begins almost every episode of the American animated television series The Simpsons. Starting with the season 20 episode Take My Life, Please , the opening… …   Wikipedia

  • Crack intro — Cracktro for the cracking group Quartex on Amiga. A typical crack intro has a text running at the bottom of the screen. A crack intro, also known as a cracktro, loader, or just intro, is a small introduction sequence added to cracked software,… …   Wikipedia

  • Title sequence — Not to be confused with opening credits. A Title Sequence is the method by which cinematic films or television programs present their title, key production and cast members, or both, utilizing conceptual visuals and sound. It usually follows but… …   Wikipedia

  • Crack Intro — Une crack intro, aussi connue sous la dénomination de cracktro ou plus simplement intro, est une séquence d introduction ajoutée à un programme déplombé, à un crack ou encore à un keygen afin d informer l utilisateur quel est le cracker (ou l… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Crack intro — Une crack intro, aussi connue sous la dénomination de cracktro ou plus simplement intro, est une séquence d introduction ajoutée à un programme déprotégé, à un crack ou encore à un keygen afin d informer l utilisateur du nom du cracker (ou le… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Portal:Animation/Intro — Shortcuts: P:ANIM P:ANIMATION P:TOON P:CARTOON …   Wikipedia

  • X-Men (TV series) — For the newer X Men animated series see . For other uses see the X Men (disambiguation) page. infobox television show name = X Men caption = format = Animated Series Action Adventure runtime = 22min creator = Larry Houston Frank Squillace voices …   Wikipedia

  • Idol series — The British talent search television series Pop Idol has spawned spin offs in 40 territories , in what is now referred to as the Idols format, as described by FremantleMedia. [ [http://www.fremantlemedia.com/our… …   Wikipedia

  • Aaron Platt — Infobox Actor name = Aaron Platt birthname = birthdate = June 9, 1981 (age 27) location = deathdate = deathplace = yearsactive = 2002 present occupation = Film director Director of photographyAaron Platt, (born June 9, 1981), is an American film… …   Wikipedia

  • Grounded for Life — Infobox Television show name = Grounded for Life caption = The cast of Grounded for Life format = Sitcom camera = picture format = 480i (SDTV) runtime = 22 mins creator = Bill Martin Mike Schiff developer = executive producer = starring = Megyn… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”