OT: CD Menuing

JimMSG wrote on 4/18/2006, 10:54 AM
I've been getting some real nice results for clients needing autostart menus on their promo CD's using Samlogic CD Menu Creator. Unfortunately, this isn't going to work for a current project.

Basically the project is a video promo disc. What is wanted is for the disc to go into the computer, and autostart with a highlight reel. When the highlight reel finishes, it should go to a menu where the prospect can select full length examples of the different kinds of videos the client produces.

If I was doing this with DVD it would be pretty easy, but Samlogic can't do that. It has to start with the menu, and another problem is it doesn't know when a video has finished and requires the user to hit escape or a close window button to get back to the menu.

So the question is, what kinds of software is out there that will do this sort of thing? For example could I do this with Macromedia products. I have another project coming up where I'm probably going to have to get and learn how to use Flash. Could I do something like this with the tools in Studio 8? Should I consider something like Authorware? Of course these are going to some interesting things to lab's budget.

Suggestions? Ideas?

Comments

ScottW wrote on 4/18/2006, 11:03 AM
Are you stuck with CD as your format? You mentioned DVD, if that's available you can do everything you want with DVD Architect.

If you're stuck with CD, then Multimedia Builder might be the way to go. While everything is organized around pages, you could certainly create a page that has just the intro video on it, which would play as soon as launched, then at the end of the video go to a page that has your menu (and MMB does know when the video ends).

www.mediachance.com

--Scott
JimMSG wrote on 4/18/2006, 11:20 AM
Yes, I know I can do all that in DVD Architect, and quite easily. The client is afraid too many prospects aren't going to have DVD drives in their computers to play it on though. Otoh, I know they're probably also going to want users to be able to choose non-video events like .pdf docs and spreadsheet models. I don't think there is any way that can be incorporated into DVD Architect menus.

I think I'll have a look at your MMB suggestion, and I have some time on this, so I think I'll make a DVD version and see if I can convince them how numerous DVD drives are in today's computers.
logiquem wrote on 4/18/2006, 11:24 AM
Macromedia Director is the tool for this but you'l find the learning curve very steep. Very powerfool and flexible tool, but Lingo learning is needed for anything complex.

The last time i made a try, Flash was'nt really great at streeming medias from CD-Rom.
Former user wrote on 4/18/2006, 12:14 PM
As mentioned -- Multimedia Builder would easily be able to accomplish this. It's also inexpensive and very easy to use. There are only a couple of things worth mentioning:

1. The video(s) will not be embedded in the project, they will be linked to. So if you want to protect the video content then you might look for another app.

2. MM will build an executable (exe) from your project. But it will only run on a Windows platform. If you Mac compatibility then you will need to go the Director or Flash route.

I use MM all the time to create content / interactive CD's for my clients and so far I've had excellent results.

Jim
ScottW wrote on 4/18/2006, 12:28 PM
You can't incorporate the PDF docs using DVDA, true. However, you can add them in using eDVD from Sonic.

--Scott