War through a camera lens: Film Memoir mode
Experience the First World War as civilian audiences would have done with the new Film Memoir mode in both Verdun and Tannenberg.
Film Memoir mode will set your game to black and white, apply a film grain overlay typical of the 1914-1918 period, and add subtle sound effects for that complete old cinema experience. Don't worry, it isn't April 1st today - the black and white camera mode we joked about before has been made reality!
Partly inspired by the amazing colorization work seen in Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old, we wanted to give players a taste of the reverse - turning color into black and white. It can really make you appreciate some of the challenges faced by photographers and filmmakers of the time as they searched for scenes that would translate well to black and white images. Here's a full release trailer:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Everyone will be able to play with Film Memoir mode until April 26th, after which it will become a bonus part of the Supporter Edition. Owners of the Supporter Edition, either Verdun or Tannenberg, will be able to continue using it anytime they like. And there are other ways... read on!
[h2]Show off your journalistic skills and win prizes![/h2]
We will be giving away prizes for creating impressive content with Film Memoir mode - merch and a Supporter Edition!
TIP: Don't forget to turn off the UI with the F8 key before making your films or photos!
We will pick one winner for each of these three categories:
To enter, post your creations on Twitter using the #WW1Memoir hashtag and @ww1gameseries, OR upload content to the Steam Hub with 'Film Memoir' as part of the description text. Feel free to work together or capture footage on both fronts.
Tannenberg and Verdun are both currently 55% off on Steam!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/633460/
[h2]Photography and film during WW1[/h2]
The first photograph was produced in 1825, and the technology had gone global by 1850. Military leaders recognized the potential of photography, with the British Army already investigating as early as 1856. The German Kaiser Wilhelm II was a big fan of photography, and he had a sizable collection of court photographers who put out a host of images to glorify him as German leader. This said, before WW1 there were no countries who used photography for military purposes on a large scale.
Military leaders were often hostile to non-official photography in general. British Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener barred all civilian photographers from working near British troops and prohibited personal cameras among those troops - which didn't stop some people from smuggling their cameras to the front.
Folded up, the Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak could fit in a jacket pocket - hence the name. It was even marketed as the 'Soldier's camera' in the US during the war.
One exception in the early days of the war was the Belgian Army. Seeking international support, they allowed unusual freedom to friendly and neutral civilian press photographers - their hope being that showing the world their tough situation would inspire support. It so happened that German photographers were trying to highlight the exact same thing, though to show the superiority and success of the German military. Photos like the one seen below, focusing on outdated Belgian equipment, were popular with both sides.
Photograph of Belgian troops and transport dogs, from the Imperial War Museums.
Many official photographers may have used staged or recreated scenes to take their photos. While this was understandable given the challenge and sheer danger of taking genuine photos in a war zone, it did undermine the authenticity of some official work. Many newspapers put out calls to amateur photographers on the frontlines to submit photos, especially if they were unsatisfied with the quantity or subjects of the official photos they were given by the government.
This photograph of German troops advancing through gas was originally described as part of an attack on German trenches, but it seems likely that it was actually taken during a training exercise.
We can't wait to see what you all come up with using Film Memoir mode!
Film Memoir mode will set your game to black and white, apply a film grain overlay typical of the 1914-1918 period, and add subtle sound effects for that complete old cinema experience. Don't worry, it isn't April 1st today - the black and white camera mode we joked about before has been made reality!
Partly inspired by the amazing colorization work seen in Peter Jackson's They Shall Not Grow Old, we wanted to give players a taste of the reverse - turning color into black and white. It can really make you appreciate some of the challenges faced by photographers and filmmakers of the time as they searched for scenes that would translate well to black and white images. Here's a full release trailer:
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Everyone will be able to play with Film Memoir mode until April 26th, after which it will become a bonus part of the Supporter Edition. Owners of the Supporter Edition, either Verdun or Tannenberg, will be able to continue using it anytime they like. And there are other ways... read on!
[h2]Show off your journalistic skills and win prizes![/h2]
We will be giving away prizes for creating impressive content with Film Memoir mode - merch and a Supporter Edition!
TIP: Don't forget to turn off the UI with the F8 key before making your films or photos!
We will pick one winner for each of these three categories:
- Best short film
- Best image
- Best story
To enter, post your creations on Twitter using the #WW1Memoir hashtag and @ww1gameseries, OR upload content to the Steam Hub with 'Film Memoir' as part of the description text. Feel free to work together or capture footage on both fronts.
Tannenberg and Verdun are both currently 55% off on Steam!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/633460/
[h2]Photography and film during WW1[/h2]
The first photograph was produced in 1825, and the technology had gone global by 1850. Military leaders recognized the potential of photography, with the British Army already investigating as early as 1856. The German Kaiser Wilhelm II was a big fan of photography, and he had a sizable collection of court photographers who put out a host of images to glorify him as German leader. This said, before WW1 there were no countries who used photography for military purposes on a large scale.
Military leaders were often hostile to non-official photography in general. British Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchener barred all civilian photographers from working near British troops and prohibited personal cameras among those troops - which didn't stop some people from smuggling their cameras to the front.
Folded up, the Vest Pocket Autographic Kodak could fit in a jacket pocket - hence the name. It was even marketed as the 'Soldier's camera' in the US during the war.One exception in the early days of the war was the Belgian Army. Seeking international support, they allowed unusual freedom to friendly and neutral civilian press photographers - their hope being that showing the world their tough situation would inspire support. It so happened that German photographers were trying to highlight the exact same thing, though to show the superiority and success of the German military. Photos like the one seen below, focusing on outdated Belgian equipment, were popular with both sides.
Photograph of Belgian troops and transport dogs, from the Imperial War Museums.
Many official photographers may have used staged or recreated scenes to take their photos. While this was understandable given the challenge and sheer danger of taking genuine photos in a war zone, it did undermine the authenticity of some official work. Many newspapers put out calls to amateur photographers on the frontlines to submit photos, especially if they were unsatisfied with the quantity or subjects of the official photos they were given by the government.
This photograph of German troops advancing through gas was originally described as part of an attack on German trenches, but it seems likely that it was actually taken during a training exercise.We can't wait to see what you all come up with using Film Memoir mode!