Cutscene

Cutscenes are short, pre-animated sequences before, during or after missions. Their purpose is to advance the plot and give background information about characters, situations and actions.

San Andreas Cutscenes

In San Andreas cutscenes are only loaded using main.scm. However, camera movement during cutscenes can't be controlled via script. This data is usually stored externally in the anim\cuts.img archive. Each cutscene consists of 3 files with the same name and a different extension: .cut, .ifp and .dat.

Whilst modification of existing cutscenes is possible through the files detailed below, new cutscenes cannot be added to the game unless they have a filename that already exists. This is due to the presence of an internally hardcoded table which links each cutscene (the .cut, .ifp and .dat files) to its audio streams and it does so by cutscene filename.

Cutscene data

The CUT File

The .cut file is loaded first. It contains the important data of the cutscene like its offset and the loaded models. The models of an cutscene are usually stored in the models\cutscene.img archive. It's split up into certain sections. Not every cut-file requires all sections, but it is better to include all sections into a cut-file and leave unused sections empty.

INFO

The info section contains information to the offset. It describes the 3D-coords of a point to which all other coords in the rest of the files are relative. Its format is

info
offset X Y Z
end

The offset parameter can also be set using opcode 0244.

MODEL

The model section contains information about models the cutscene uses. The models don't need to be defined in the IDEs. But the texture name must be the same as the model's one. The model section also attaches models to animations in the IFP-animation archive. Its format is:

model
?, name, animation
end

Where the name is without extension, and the animation describes an entry in the IFP file. The unknown value is a number, which is always 1 and actually is ignored by the game.
There is a Limit to 50 entries here!

EXTRACOL

Extracol stands for "Extracolor" and sets the active interior's color. It corresponds to the opcode 04F9.

extracol
Number
end

Extracolours can be edited in the timecyc.dat.

TEXT

The text section displays a GXT entry at an certain point of time relative to the cutscene start.

text
starttime, length, gxt
end

Where the numbers are integer and define the time in milliseconds.

UNCOMPRESS

the uncompress-section uncompresses the IFP animations.

uncompress
Animation
end

PEFFECT

stands for the particle effect and sets an particle effect from the effects.fxp.

peffect
effectname, starttime, endtime, unknown_number, bone, X, Y, Z, ?, ?, ?
end

The bone is a number of the body part the particle effect is attached to.

REMOVE

Removes an static (IPL-mapped) object being placed at specified coord.

remove
Objectname, X, Y, Z
end

ATTACH

Actually the content and use of this section is unknown. It is rarely used.

attach
Number, Number, Number
end

MOTION

Unused section

The DAT-File

The dat-file contains information about the camera movements during the cutscene.

It consists of 4 blocks:

• Block1: Rotation
• Block2: Zoom
• Block3: CameraPositions
• Block4: CameraTargetPoints

Each block starts with an integer number being the number of entries in this block, followed by its content and ended by a semicolon. The whole file is also marked as finished with an additional semicolon. Each line is marked as finished by an simple comma. The file describes 3 lanes, where the last 2 ones are ignored. So those 3 lines could be set identically by editors. This gives a general format:

TimeOffset,Lane1,Lane2,Lane3,

The TimeOffset is an floating value which defines the time of the event in seconds. The game interpolates the curve between the 2 points.

Block1 - Rotation

TimeOffset,Rotation(Lane_1),Rotation(Lane_2),Rotation(Lane_3),

Describes the rotation around the vector towards the target point in euler angles (degree).

Block2 - Zoom

TimeOffset,Zoom(Lane_1),Zoom(Lane_2),Zoom(Lane_3),

Defines the focal of the camera for each lane.

Block3 - Cameraposition

TimeOffset,X(Lane_1),Y(Lane_1),Z(Lane_1),X(Lane_2),Y(Lane_2),Z(Lane_2),X(Lane_3),Y(Lane_3),Z(Lane_3),

Defines the position of the camera relative to the offset point.

Block4 - Target

TimeOffset,X(Lane_1),Y(Lane_1),Z(Lane_1),X(Lane_2),Y(Lane_2),Z(Lane_2),X(Lane_3),Y(Lane_3),Z(Lane_3),

Defines the position of the target of the camera relative to the offset-point.

The IFP animation archive

This is an ANPK (Animation Package v1 | GTA III/VC) IFP file including the animations used for the cutscene. For the file specification look here: IFP Animations. The positions of the bones and animated objects in the animation are relative to the offset defined in the INFO section of the .cut file.

List of Cutscenes in San Andreas

Cutscene	Description
bcesa4w
bcesa5w
bcesar2
bcesar4
bcesar5
bcras1
bcras2
bhill1
bhill2
bhill3a
bhill3b
bhill3c
bhill5a
bhill5b
cas6b_1
cas6b_2
cas_11a
cas_1a
cas_2
cas_3
cas_4a
cas_4b
cas_4c
cas_5a
cas_6a	The Meat Business mission cutscene
cas_7b	Fish in a barrel mission cutscene
cas_9a1
cas_9a2
cat_1
cat_2
cat_3
cat_4
cesar1a
crash1a
crash3a
crashv1
crashv2a
crashv2b
cuttest	a simple cutscene test, all you can see is a window moving
d10_alt
d8_alt
date1a
date1b
date2a
date2b
date3a
date3b
date4a
date4b
date5a
date5b
date6a
date6b
desert1
desert2
desert3
desert4
desert6
desert8
desert9
des_10a
des_10b
doc_2
epilog	the game's ending
farl_2a
farl_3a
farl_3b
farl_4a
farl_5a
final1a
final2a
final2b
garag1b
garag1c
garag3a
grove1a
grove1b
grove1c
grove2
heist1a
heist2a
heist4a
heist5a
heist6a
heist8a
intro1a
intro1b
intro2a
prolog1
prolog3
riot4e1
riot4e2
riot_1a
riot_1b
riot_2
riot_4a
riot_4b
riot_4c
riot_4d
ryder1a
ryder2a
ryder3a
scrash1
scrash2
smoke1a
smoke1b
smoke2a
smoke2b
smoke3a
smoke4a	Just Business mission cutscene
steal_1
steal_2
steal_4
steal_5
strap1a
strap2a
strap3a
strap4a
strp4b1
strp4b2
sweet1a
sweet1b
sweet1c
sweet2a
sweet2b
sweet3a
sweet3b
sweet4a
sweet5a
sweet6a
sweet6b
sweet7a
synd_2a
synd_2b
synd_3a
synd_4a
synd_4b
synd_7
truth_1
truth_2
w2_alt
woozi1a
woozi1b
woozie2
woozie4
zero_1
zero_2
zero_4

SCM (OpCodes)

• 0244 - SetsCutscenePosition
• 02E4 - LoadsCutsceneData
• 02E7 - StartsCutscene
• 02E8 - GetsCutsceneTime
• 02E9 - HasCutsceneReachedEnd
• 02EA - EndsCutscene
• 03B7 - ProcessCutsceneOnly
• 06B9 - IsCutsceneDataLoaded
• 08D0 - IsCutsceneSkipped
• 08F0 - SetsCutsceneModelTexture

GTA IV

GTA IV Cutscene are loading by .SCO scripts. .WAD file has information about ped movement and .CUT file contain sections [or Tag] with information about Peds that uses in this cutscene. Some sections like DRAW_DISTANCE, FLAGS, BLOCKING_BOUNDS, CAMCORDER and TEXT are not used within the sections.

Tags description

ID:0 - SECTION_START

The tag indicates the start of the section cutscene.

ID:0 - SECTION_END

The tag indicates the end of the section cutscene.

ID:1 - OFFSET

A point that defines the beginning of the coordinate system cutscene

float X, float Y, float Z

Example:

[OFFSET]
-109.416000 -265.023010 14.785000
[/OFFSET]

ID:2 - CUTSCENE_HEADER

Information about the range of the frames in this cutscene. How much frames it uses.

ID:3 - DURATION

determines the length of sections.

Example:

[DURATION]
45466.667969
[/DURATION]

ID:4 - ANIM

File Name of WAD, that contain animations for cutscene.

string WADName

Usually, this is <cutscene name>_<ID section>

Example:

[ANIM]
RB_1_1
[/ANIM]

ID:5 - MODELS

Contain info about subject, that are present in the cutscene, their models and animations.

int ID, string ModelName, string AnimName, string HeadAnimName, int Unknown

• ID - object identifier that can be used in other tags
• ModelName - model name (models for cutscene placed in cutsprops.img)
• AnimName - animation name for the subject from WAD file
• HeadAnimName - The name of the person's face animations from WAD file

One section in cutscene may to use 570 subjects.

Example:

[MODELS]
0 CS_Davethemate CS_Davethemate_0 Davethemate_head_0
1 player player_0 player_head_0
2 CS_Hossan CS_Hossan_0 cs_hossan_head_0 0
3 CS_WhippingGirl CS_WhippingGirl_0
4 csWhip csWhip_0
5 csToolBox csToolBox_0
[/MODELS]

ID:6 - VEHICLE_DETAILS

Assigns certain characteristics of transport.

int ID, int color1, int color2, int color3, int color4, int dirtLevel, int livery

• ID - Identifier subject (defined in the tag MODELS)
• color 1...4 - Identifier of colors (from carcols.dat)
• dirtLevel - Pollution level (0-15, standard - 0)
• livery - The type of used logotype (standard - 1) (for example: Enfoncer)

ID:7 - VEHICLE_REMOVAL

It is used to remove the detail from the car in cutscene.

Number, BoneID

Number - Serial number of the model, which is recorded in the tag [MODELS].

BoneID - Identifier bone.

Example:

[MODELS]
0 Banshee Banshee_0
[/MODELS]

[VEHICLE_REMOVAL]
0 15301
[/VEHICLE_REMOVAL]

ID:8 - CAMCORDER

Specifies the time the on/off "camera mode"

int StartTime, int EndTime

• StartTime - Time start of "camera mode"
• EndTime - Time end of "camera mode"

Maximum number of the string - 30

Example:

 [CAMCORDER]
14900 19666
24199 27833
31633 37600
64766 67533
72466 100233
[/CAMCORDER]

ID:11 - FIXUP

This section is unknown. Below you can see its structure:

unk float1, unk float2, unk float3, unk string, unk float4

ID:12 - CAMERA

Camera name in the .WAD file.

Example:

[CAMERA]
camera_0
[/CAMERA]

ID:13 - AUDIO

The tag is responsible for the use of an audio file of cutscene.

All audio files are placed for cutscene in this archive - cutscenes.rpf

Example:

[AUDIO]
myaudio
[/AUDIO]

ID:14 - TEXT

Displays text at the bottom of the screen.

starttime, length, gxt

• starttime - start time (in ms)
  
• length - duration (in ms)
  
• gxt - string name in gxt

Example:

[TEXT]
10817	683	MY_TEXT_1
12250	1033	MY_TEXT_2
15017	2033	MY_TEXT_3
[/TEXT]

ID:16 - PROPS

int ModelID, int index, int prop

• ModelID - ID of the model in MODELS section.

Max number of the strings - 50.

ID:17 - FLAGS

Section for flags. They sets some additional effects or parameters for cutscene.

Example:

[FLAG]
SHORT_FADE_OUT
[/FLAG]

LIST OF FLAGS

ID	Flag name	Description
1	FADE_BETWEEN_SECTION
2	NO_VEHICLE_LIGHTS	Vehicle light does not
4	SHORT_FADE_OUT
8	LONG_FADE_OUT
16
32	FLAG_DONT_FADE_IN_FROM_GAME
64	FLAG_USE_ONE_AUDIO
128	FLAG_MUTE_MUSIC_PLAYER
256	FLAG_LEAK_RADIO
512	FLAG_DONT_FADE_OUT
1024	NO_AMBIENT_LIGHTS	Ambient light does not
2048	FLAG_DONT_FADE_AUDIO_IN
4096	FLAG_DONT_FADE_AUDIO_OUT

ID:19 - DRAW_DISTANCE

Distance rendering of objects

int Time, int Unused, float DrawDistance, float Unknown

• Time - set draw distance time
• DrawDistance - distance of visibility

Max number of the string - 100

Example:

[DRAW_DISTANCE]
0 0 60.00000
5550 1 200.00000
8177 2 20.00000
[/DRAW_DISTANCE]

Note 1: Second value is ignored by the game, but it must be present (It maybe any integer value)

Note 2: If last value is absence, its equal to 0.05

ID:21 - BLOCKING_BOUNDS

Specifies the zone blocking (for peds / cars). used to ignore spawn peds/cars on current zone.

float CornerAA_x, float CornerAA_y, float CornerAA_z, float CornerAB_x, float CornerAB_y, float CornerAB_z, float CornerBA_x,
float CornerBA_y, float CornerBA_z, float CornerBB_x, float CornerBB_y, float CornerBB_z, float Height

• CornerAA, CornerAB, CornerBA, CornerBB - point of the quadrilateral
• Height - Zone's height

Max number of the string is - 24

Example:

[BLOCKING_BOUNDS]
-6.656193 3.182460 -1.100477 -3.160525 -2.872214 -1.100477 -0.601519 6.678128 -1.100477 2.894149 0.623454 -1.100477 6.991335
-9.463666 8.045147 -1.100477 -5.967999 1.990473 -1.100477 -3.408992 11.540814 -1.100477 0.086675 5.486141 -1.100477 6.991335
-12.252039 12.874750 -1.100477 -8.756371 6.820076 -1.100477 -6.197365 16.370419 -1.100477 -2.701697 10.315743 -1.100477 6.991335
-15.035851 17.696455 -1.100477 -11.540183 11.641781 -1.100477 -8.981177 21.192123 -1.100477 -5.485509 15.137448 -1.100477 6.991335
-17.831411 22.538509 -1.100477 -14.335744 16.483833 -1.100477 -11.776738 26.034176 -1.100477 -8.281070 19.979500 -1.100477 6.991335
-20.628733 27.383612 -1.100477 -17.133064 21.328936 -1.100477 -14.574059 30.879278 -1.100477 -11.078391 24.824604 -1.100477 6.991335
-3.858371 -1.663509 -1.100477 -0.362703 -7.718184 -1.100477 2.196303 1.832158 -1.100477 5.691970 -4.222516 -1.100477 6.991335
[/BLOCKING_BOUNDS]

ID:24 - EXTRA_ROOM

string Unknown

Note 1: Section is not used in original .cut files.

Note 2: The resulting value is ignored by the game.

ID:25 - MAX_PEDS

Determines the maximum number of peds in cutscene (not counting the peds involved in cutscene)

Example:

[MAX_PEDS]
5
[/MAX_PEDS]

ID:26 - MAX_CARS

Determines the maximum number of cars in cutscene (not counting the cars involved in cutscene)

Example:

[MAX_CARS]
2
[/MAX_CARS]

ID:27 - TIMECYCLE_MODIFIER_NAME

This section sets define modificator of Timecycle which gives some graphic effects (dark atmosphere, bright lights, etc). e2_int is used by the game. You can check the list of modifiers in this list or change some values in files timecyclemodifiers[1-4].dat.

Example:

[TIMECYCLE_MODIFIER_NAME]
fau3_a
[/TIMECYCLE_MODIFIER_NAME]

Sections, ignored by the game

ID:22 - PLAYER_START

ID:23 - MISSION_TEXT_NAME

Note: These two parameters uses only in .SCO.

ORIENT

TIME

ANIMRANGE

COMPRESSION

SCO (Native functions) for cutscenes

CLEAR_CUTSCENE

CLEAR_NAMED_CUTSCENE

EXPLODE_CAR_IN_CUTSCENE

EXPLODE_CAR_IN_CUTSCENE_SHAKE_AND_BIT

GET_CUTSCENE_TIME

GET_CUTSCENE_AUDIO_TIME_MS

GET_CUTSCENE_PED_POSITION

GET_CUTSCENE_SECTION_PLAYING

HIDE_CHAR_WEAPON_FOR_SCRIPTED_CUTSCENE

HAS_CUTSCENE_FINISHED

HAS_CUTSCENE_LOADED

INIT_CUTSCENE

IS_PED_IN_CUTSCENE_BLOCKING_BOUNDS

IS_PLAYER_READY_FOR_CUTSCENE

IS_POS_IN_CUTSCENE_BLOCKING_BOUNDS

MAKE_PLAYER_SAFE_FOR_CUTSCENE

SET_CAR_IN_CUTSCENE

SET_CHAR_IN_CUTSCENE

SET_CUTSCENE_EXTRA_ROOM_POS

SHAKE_PAD_IN_CUTSCENE

START_CUTSCENE_NOW

START_CUTSCENE - Don't used (?)

SET_CUTSCENE_EXTRA_ROOM_POS

WAS_CUTSCENE_SKIPPED

External link

• Cutscene decoding Thread in SannyBuilder Forums (SA)
• IV Structure of CCutscene
• Article about cutscene on gtamodding.ru