How to Make a Proper Machinima Using Halo 3

Plan your story. Decide which characters you wish to appear in your film -- you can choose between Master Chief, other Spartans or Elites -- and write a script accordingly. Study conventional films along with other machinima for ideas on how you want your final project to look. Pay particular attention to the way directors shoot over the shoulders of characters during two-way conversations.

Choose your sets. You can either use the Forge section of the game and edit elements to suit your story or set the action inside one of the ready-made custom games. Sign in along with the players who will take the parts of the other characters and act out the scenes. This is best done in a local game in split-screen mode as it avoids any potential lag which may occur when using Xbox Live.

Remove the yellow, red and white jacks of the Xbox output from your television and plug them into the video capture card on your computer. Launch the software that came with the card so that you can view what is being recorded.

Enter the Theater Lobby of Halo 3. Every game is automatically saved enabling you to replay your scenes right away. Sign out all the other players, otherwise the replay will remain in split screen mode.

Start recording with the capture card and play the film. Press the "Y" button on your controller to enter flying camera mode which allows you to view a scene from any angle and switch between characters. Record each scene several times from a variety of viewpoints. This will provide a greater range of options during the final edit.

Edit your film using the software that came with your capture card or Windows Movie Maker which is supplied free with all Windows PCs. This software can also be used to add dialogue -- using a microphone -- and additional sound effects or background music. For a truly professional looking film, use the software to add titles and end credits. You can then upload your film to a site such as YouTube or Machinima.com to share with others.