A Technical Challenge
Using the PlayStation TV does present one problem though. It’s HDMI output is protected and can’t usually be run into any video capture device. Fortunately we have a solution here. I use an external USB based capture device, the Ezcap 280H that was supplied to us by Gearbest. Not only does this have a pass through connector so we can still use the PSTV on the television, but it removes the console’s HDCP protection allowing easy recording of footage. It’s not only allowed us to get footage from the Vita but any other system we own with HDMI output and it’s revolutionised what we do.
Bulk Work
As I said, I do find it important to be as productive as possible so I never work on one project at a time. Not only do I record footage for several games at once (I’ve currently got video captured for about 30 modern and retro games), but I create most aspects of my videos in blocks as well. That way when it comes to the final stages of production I can put together and upload several videos in a single day. After that I can then schedule them to go live over a period of time if I know I’m not going to be able to post any for a while.
It makes no sense creatively to just play one game and capture it when I have to set the hardware up specifically to do it. And it’s the same when it comes to writing the scripts for the voiceovers that I record to accompany them…
The Scripts
So with ample footage captured, I move on to the reviews themselves. I generally work in the same way I do with regular reviews for the website, but instead of writing them directly to the site I write everything in Word every time I create a PS Vita YouTube video. I do this for one simple reason – timing. I found early on that a script that was two pages in length – when recorded – ran for roughly six minutes. That gave me enough time to say everything I wanted to and felt like a good length for a comprehensive video. Using the footage as reference I’m usually able to write them in a couple of hours (albeit spread out over a week or two).
Now I tend to write quite a few scripts at the same time. Not just for game reviews but other videos as well. Usually so I can keep my mind fresh while I’m writing, but more often so I don’t run out of ideas of things to say. One thing I have changed recently is the style of script I’ve been producing. Very early videos adopted a similar style to reviews I’ve written for the website and while I felt that they were informative, they were perhaps too stilted at times. So my more recent scripts are a lot more relaxed, informal and I’ve taken a more considered approach to the wording I use. I still find it easier to pre-script everything rather than recording off-the-cuff (I did it once and decided never again), but keeping to a more casual style certainly kept the video for enjoyable for the viewers.
continues…
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