Salute To Superfans: The TwoScotsmen

We all love video games, but some just love them more than others. In this series, we’ll be highlighting some of our most passionate fans from around the world.

Battlefield super fan and director The TwoScotsmen creates epic, cinematic Battlefield trailers, and he took some time to tell us his thoughts on Battlefield 1, how he works with the team at DICE and the basics of creating game cinematics.

You’re a pretty big fan of the Battlefield franchise. What’s your favorite game?

It’s really tough to choose one because it has changed so much over the years. I’d have to say Battlefield 4 simply because of all the work I've done in that title, but game play wise, I’d say Battlefield 1942. It truly captured the all-out warfare that just wasn’t common back then. 

For you, what are some of the most exciting aspects of a Battlefield game?

This is tricky, because I believe there are so many aspects of the game that make it what it is and that must be finely balanced.

All-out war should be played on a large battleground to cater for all varying styles of play.

Ensuring different play style options. Having the usual four classes gives you your basic role, but mixing in vehicles and varying weapons really allows players to bring their own unique style of play to your squad and team.

Game modes like Rush, for me, I felt it provided a competitive edge and encouraged a lot more teamwork to succeed whether defending or attacking.

Great game play is of course the most important aspect, but it’s only emphasized by a finely tuned audio and visual experience. A lot of games do this well, just not as well as DICE.

What’s your go-to vehicle when playing a Battlefield game?

Tanks! Give me a tank any day of the week! I've always loved the vehicles of Battlefield, but a big armored beast, with a gunner watching our back is too much fun. I can shoot choppers out of the sky for days with a tank.

You’re known for making video game cinematics like the ‘Battlefield 4 Through My Eyes - Cinematic Movie,’ how do you create something that amazing?

Before turning my hand to game cinematics like ‘Through My Eyes’, I had worked on a lot of short films and I also used to teach video direction and editing for a while too. 

But I really wanted to create something awesome and being a big gamer, with a huge love of in-game cut scenes, as well as the old cinematic trailer styled Battlefield 2 intro, it was the only logical choice. Having an over-active imagination, and Battlefield 4 looking as good as it does, it really was easy to start working on it.

Interestingly, ‘Through My Eyes’ was a product of research, though. I must have watched every cinematic there was and came up with one overall conclusion - this isn't Hollywood enough for me! So I set out to bring a more realistic feel to the camera work and flow.

As for the events of the cinematic, that was a product of previous work I had done before... camera trickery. Using clever editing to create a sort of “One Shot” camera for the whole sequence, so that immersion is never broken.

I think giving viewers something styled differently from the norm was the most important part of ‘Through My Eyes’, with the name as a direct link to how I would teach back in my old job. You can teach storytelling and editing techniques, but a vision is something only you can develop. Tell your story how you see it, through your own eyes. Boom. Trivia! 

You’ve worked on trailers for the Battlefield franchise, how did you start working with DICE?

My ‘Battlefield 4 Cinematic Action Movie – Smokescreen’ won DICE’s BattleFilm competition, which led me to E3. While I was there we got talking about how I could get involved in a more official capacity.

Working with the DICE production team has been an excellent experience. Collaborating our ideas and working over scenes until we had the final product has been the most fun I've had making cinematics in Battlefield.

What were your first impressions when you saw the Battlefield 1 trailer?

To put it simply, I was blown away! I can't express how excited I am for this instalment. I’ve wanted the franchise to go back to older eras for a long time and DICE certainly didn't disappoint.

What’s the first thing you want to do in-game when Battlefield 1 is released? 

First thing would be to get into the air with a wingman and see how that plays out, as me and my friend used to fly a jet team in Battlefield 3 all the time. Good times!

For gamers new to Battlefield, where should they start?

Battlefield 4 would be my choice to start, simply for that all-out war experience then swiftly move onto Battlefield 1 when its available - and try and dodge my sniper rounds!

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