How to use BattleRecorder

DrunkenSoul · 07-22-2005, 10:29 AM

All battlefield 2 servers have BFrecorder enabled.

How to download recorded rounds

(all players)

Launch Battlefield 2 and go to your community tab.
Select the round you want to download and select to download.

(supporting members)

Supporting members have the option to download any recorded round. To understand how to do this, please view the instructions in the supporting members forum.

Here are some controls while watching the battle and ways to convert the recorded battle as an avi. (courtesy of PlanetBattlefield http://www.planetbattlefield.com/bf2/game/bfrecorder/)

Quote:

Battlefield 2: BattleRecorder

The following commands can be used to control the game replay and camera in a recorded demo. (Note: the term "Demo" depicts the recording itself)

Q – opens the Playback Rose. Move the mouse to highlight the desired playback option and press the Left Mouse Button to select. Options available here that are not bound to separate keys include "Restart" and "Quit".
T – opens the Camera Rose. Choose the camera option or cycle through the available players.
1 – Pause the playback (also available in the Playback Rose).
2 – Playback recorded session at normal speed (also available in the Playback Rose).
3 – Playback recorded session at 5% of normal speed (also available in the Playback Rose).
4 – Playback recorded session at 25% of normal speed (also available in the Playback Rose).
5 – Playback recorded session at 50% of normal speed (also available in the Playback Rose).
6 – Playback recorded session at normal speed (also available in the Playback Rose).
7 – Playback recorded session at 150% of normal speed (also available in the Playback Rose).
8 – Playback recorded session at 300% of normal speed (also available in the Playback Rose).
Spacebar – cycle between players.
Right Mouse Button – cycle between free camera and player camera.
Mouse wheel – zoom camera in and out when locked onto a player.
W, A, S, D, Ctrl and Shift – move free camera around map, forward, left, backwards, right, down and up.
Mouse look – aim free camera.

Basic Rendering Instructions
Playing back a demo outside the client and recording your camera movements

* This mode lets you record a camera path to go with a demo recording so that they can be played back together. The camera works exactly as described in the instructions above but all movements you make are recorded.
o If working from the machine that recorded the demo, drop the demo.cmd file provided with this update (click here to download the demo.cmd file) into the root of the Battlefield 2 install folder.
o If working from a client that has downloaded a demo from the game’s front end:
o Create a "Demos" folder in the root of the game install folder.
o Move the demos you wish to render from into the demos folder from their normal location in you’re my Documents folder.
o Drop the demo.cmd folder found below into the root of the game install folder.
* Launch the demo recording as follows
o Launch the Command Prompt and browse to the game’s install directory.
o E.g. type "cd c:\Program Files\EA Games\Battlefield 2" and hit ENTER
* Type "demo.cmd +c " and press enter.
o E.g. "demo.cmd +c mydemo mydemocam" will record a Demos\mydemocam.bf2cam for demo Demos\mydemo.bf2demo
o Before quitting the game, wait for the message 'camera file closed' in the console or the camera file will be broken.

Playing back a demo with pre-recorded camera movements

* This mode combines the previous steps and shows you a take with both the demo and camera tracks active.
o Launch the game as follows: demo.cmd
o To watch the demo with the default recorded camera use: demo.cmd -def

Rendering images to disk

* This mode writes out an AVI file to disk based on a demo file and a recorded camera file.
o Launch the game as follows: demo.cmd +r
o A dialog box pops up where you can select encoder (Xvid or Divx is recommended) and the quality settings for that encoder.
+ If you want to stop rendering before the end of the demo, press 'R'

Capturing sound

* This mode tries to set up an ideal environment for recording sound.
o Launch the game as follows: demo.cmd +s
o Use external recording software to capture the sound from the playback.

Information for Server Admins

Impact on server performance The Battle recorder feature can impact server performance in two ways:

* A bandwidth hit (if the demos are uploaded on the same machine that is running the game server.) We strongly recommend that you do not run battlerecorder on the same server you are using to host gameplay. Instead, set up a separate ftp server to host demo files.
* A performance hit - dependant on the demo quality setting, which is found on the BF 2 server launcher UI. The demo quality setting can range from the default setting of 1 (lowest quality / minimal performance hit) to 10 (maximum quality / biggest performance hit.) Depending on the server specifications, you'll want to set your demo quality appropriately. We recommend no more than quality 5, the highest quality was built in for users that are creating movies / trailers with the Battlefield 2 engine. Due to the demands even the lowest setting of quality can have, we do not recommend running Battlerecorder on any server that is configured for 64-players.

Requirements

* FTP server (only if using a separate machine from the server to host demos.)
* Web server - our in game downloading system requires http transfers, and does not support ftp downloading.

How To Set It Up
To activate the BF2 Battle Recorder using the BF2 Server Launcher UI the admin must:

* Enable the AutoRecord option.
* Input the address where users can download demo files (this has to be in the format of an http: address, as the Battlefield 2 front end does not support ftp downloads.) IMPORTANT - at the end of the address (i.e. 123.456.7.8/demos/) make sure you include the final slash, or the demo download url won't parse correctly in the Battlefield 2 front end, and clients won't be able to download your demo.
* If the FTP server is password protected (which we strongly recommend) the admin must use a text editor to make changes to the rotate_demo.cfg file located in the c:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2 Server folder to contain the proper server address, user login and user password.

The section of the file you must edit is shown in its default state here:
# login information for the ftp server goes here
ftp_server = my.ftp.server
ftp_user = my_user
ftp_password = my_password

Make sure to enter the full address for the ftp server as shown below:
# login information for the ftp server goes here
ftp_server = ftp:\\1.2.1.1
ftp_user = user
ftp_password = userpassword

Inside the rotate_demo.cfg file, you will also be able to set the maximum number of demo files to keep in the rotation, before older demo recordings are overwritten.

Once the above steps have been completed correctly the server will post a recording of the action to the specified server at the end of each round.

**Trooper** · 07-22-2005, 10:45 AM

ive tried that and when i rejoin the game to do the recording it crashes the game.

DrunkenSoul · 07-22-2005, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trooper[SNPR]

ive tried that and when i rejoin the game to do the recording it crashes the game.

if it keeps crashing, i suggest u try an external program like battlelauncher
http://wolfgaming.net/vB/showthread.php?t=18120

*edit* if you wanna try it...it tells u, u need to join. Heres a username/pass: bmnrulez/bmnrulez

JMJ · 08-28-2005, 06:08 PM

When I try this it doesn't work as described above. It looks for the demo file in some subset of folders, not in the "Demos" folder that I created.

C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2>demo.cmd +c demo0 mydemocam
ERROR: mods\bf2\Demos\demo0.bf2demo does not exist

So I put it where it was looking for it. I got the camera file created, but then when going to render, it locks up trying to load the map, It never lets me select an encoder (never saw that popup box).

Is there some better way to make movie files? I'd like to make some movie files from some battlerecorder files. Any ideas?

=Sarc= · 08-28-2005, 08:26 PM

While you're viewing it, use Fraps to record video. That in-game renderer is supposedly really slow.

Pommetje · 08-28-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JMJ

When I try this it doesn't work as described above. It looks for the demo file in some subset of folders, not in the "Demos" folder that I created.

C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2>demo.cmd +c demo0 mydemocam
ERROR: mods\bf2\Demos\demo0.bf2demo does not exist

So I put it where it was looking for it. I got the camera file created, but then when going to render, it locks up trying to load the map, It never lets me select an encoder (never saw that popup box).

Is there some better way to make movie files? I'd like to make some movie files from some battlerecorder files. Any ideas?

Hi JMJ,

To see the popup you need to ALT-TAB to your desktop and mimimise any programs ontop of the desktop. I could not find it either the first time but it apeared underneath the programs.

Only problem I got was that my mouse pointer won't work in the popup, so I have to select the setting with the arrow-keys and TAB.

BTW when you want to use slowmotions in your video you have to select this while recording it to disk. The program does not use any slowmo's or speedups you created while recording you cam-movements.

All in all I don't really like the BR, the biggest problem I have with it is that you can't skip part of the recording, so you have to record the complete camerasession (up to the part you would like to use). Then render everything to disk and THEN cut the part you like with an video-editor...........Oh my, have you ever tried to edit a 2Gb file???

So SARC's idea about Fraps is not that bad.

Hope this helps you.

JMJ · 08-29-2005, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pommetje

Hi JMJ,

To see the popup you need to ALT-TAB to your desktop and mimimise any programs ontop of the desktop. I could not find it either the first time but it apeared underneath the programs.

Only problem I got was that my mouse pointer won't work in the popup, so I have to select the setting with the arrow-keys and TAB.

BTW when you want to use slowmotions in your video you have to select this while recording it to disk. The program does not use any slowmo's or speedups you created while recording you cam-movements.

All in all I don't really like the BR, the biggest problem I have with it is that you can't skip part of the recording, so you have to record the complete camerasession (up to the part you would like to use). Then render everything to disk and THEN cut the part you like with an video-editor...........Oh my, have you ever tried to edit a 2Gb file???

So SARC's idea about Fraps is not that bad.

Hope this helps you.

Cool, thanks! I can give it a shot and then just use Windows Movie Maker to edit the file. I do that a lot with my digital camcorder, so I just need to get to the point of having a file to edit

Pickle · 10-23-2005, 03:37 AM

Is it possible to share battlecorder files?

TheVegeet · 12-16-2005, 03:29 PM

When I go to the Community tab, theres a few files listed, but none from TG

I tried downloading these but it said "Could not find host" or something like that

The same files are there everytime, none new are added.

DrunkenSoul · 12-16-2005, 05:03 PM

you have to download them pretty soon after the game is completed because servers will remove them as they take a lot of space

Pickle · 12-16-2005, 06:21 PM

So if I have a battlecorder file I can send it to someone else?

ScratchMonkey · 12-17-2005, 03:06 AM

The server has a script that "rotates" out the older recordings. You can configure how many to keep. I think the default is 30. To get a feel for the size, you can browse MA's demo collection here:

http://matureasskickers.net/MISC/bf2demos/

You don't find 64-player demos because the recorder CPU cost gets exponentionally higher with more players and the server lags too much when 64 players are present.

Flippin · 12-17-2005, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pickle

So if I have a battlecorder file I can send it to someone else?

Yes.

The demos are under "My Documents\Battlefield 2\Profiles\Default\Demos"

Remove it, copy it or do whatever you like with it.

There is no way of sending them ingame if thats what you mean?
Use AIM, Messenger, File sharing, email, hosting or anything else you can think of to get the file to the other person.

Boot · 01-09-2006, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrunkenSoul

you have to download them pretty soon after the game is completed because servers will remove them as they take a lot of space

When you say pretty soon, do you mean minutes or days?

TheVegeet · 01-09-2006, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheVegeet

When I go to the Community tab, theres a few files listed, but none from TG

I tried downloading these but it said "Could not find host" or something like that

The same files are there everytime, none new are added.

oh nevermind, i only play on server 1

07-22-2005, 10:45 AM	#2 (permalink)
Trooper Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In my wifes house......if she says i can Age: 25 Posts: 8,781	Re: How to use BattleRecorder ive tried that and when i rejoin the game to do the recording it crashes the game. __________________ that sounds like a good idea trooper. -Vulcan

08-28-2005, 06:08 PM	#4 (permalink)
JMJ Join Date: Jun 2005 Age: 37 Posts: 4,077	Re: How to use BattleRecorder When I try this it doesn't work as described above. It looks for the demo file in some subset of folders, not in the "Demos" folder that I created. C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2>demo.cmd +c demo0 mydemocam ERROR: mods\bf2\Demos\demo0.bf2demo does not exist So I put it where it was looking for it. I got the camera file created, but then when going to render, it locks up trying to load the map, It never lets me select an encoder (never saw that popup box). Is there some better way to make movie files? I'd like to make some movie files from some battlerecorder files. Any ideas? Last edited by JMJ; 08-28-2005 at 06:57 PM.

08-28-2005, 08:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
=Sarc= Join Date: May 2003 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 4,597	Re: How to use BattleRecorder While you're viewing it, use Fraps to record video. That in-game renderer is supposedly really slow. __________________ JO Guides & Tutorials Team Element - It's who you game with.

10-23-2005, 03:37 AM	#8 (permalink)
Pickle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Land of Fruit and Nuts! Age: 35 Posts: 1,281	Re: How to use BattleRecorder Is it possible to share battlecorder files? __________________ "Umm Deputy these aren't my pants" - Common alarm cry of the North American Crackhead [tg-c1][ma-c1][defense]

12-16-2005, 03:29 PM	#9 (permalink)
TheVegeet Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Massachusetts, US Posts: 140	Re: How to use BattleRecorder When I go to the Community tab, theres a few files listed, but none from TG I tried downloading these but it said "Could not find host" or something like that The same files are there everytime, none new are added. __________________ veh-JEET No, it doesn't mean anything...yet

12-16-2005, 05:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
DrunkenSoul Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: NJ/NYC Age: 22 Posts: 1,106	Re: How to use BattleRecorder you have to download them pretty soon after the game is completed because servers will remove them as they take a lot of space __________________ \|TG-1stMIP\|DrunknSoul 1st Mechanized Infantry Platoon (C-Team) [medic][conduct][combat][defense] [tog-c1][ma-c1][tpf-c1][ma-c2]

12-16-2005, 06:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
Pickle Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Land of Fruit and Nuts! Age: 35 Posts: 1,281	Re: How to use BattleRecorder So if I have a battlecorder file I can send it to someone else? __________________ "Umm Deputy these aren't my pants" - Common alarm cry of the North American Crackhead [tg-c1][ma-c1][defense]

12-17-2005, 03:06 AM	#12 (permalink)
ScratchMonkey Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: San Pablo, California Posts: 4,487	Re: How to use BattleRecorder The server has a script that "rotates" out the older recordings. You can configure how many to keep. I think the default is 30. To get a feel for the size, you can browse MA's demo collection here: http://matureasskickers.net/MISC/bf2demos/ You don't find 64-player demos because the recorder CPU cost gets exponentionally higher with more players and the server lags too much when 64 players are present. __________________

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