Development:Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (PlayStation, Windows, Dreamcast)/Storyboards & Early FMVs

This is a sub-page of Development:Frogger 2: Swampy's Revenge (PlayStation, Windows, Dreamcast).

This article is a work in progress. ...Well, all the articles here are, in a way. But this one moreso, and the article may contain incomplete information and editor's notes.

Introduction

Within the Frogger 2 development backups contained the development process of the game's storyline, everything from the initial storyboards to be sent out to animation studio Atomic Arts, as well as the resulting video files for the cutscenes sent back to Blitz to be given an audio track by the game's composer and sound designer Andy Morris. The media shown here is made playable from the material found on the CDs from this correspondence, as well as backups made by Blitz, with some audio restoration from accompanying Logic Audio Platinum project files for it's timeline.

Cutscene Drafts

The drafts of the FMVs were shipped back and forth between Atomic Arts and Blitz on multiple CDs containing video files in .MPG with no audio, and later dupes in a lower quality AVI format with some containing earlier audio drafts. For usage, audio from both the project files some of the AVI have been muxed with video of the draft .MPGs, and some audio tracks have been restored to fit certain cases which were incomplete.

As both a blessing and a curse, the repo also contains full quality AVI composites of the final FMVs in 640x480/25fps, and have been muxed with the stereo audio from the project files.

FMV #1 (Intro)

The intro cutscene has one early video draft titled [2000-07-29] cd-1--29-7.mpg. Compared to the final layout, the draft shows a different angle of Swampy driving the truck, as well as lacking some in-between shots. Placeholder sounds are used as well for Swampy's voice in the beginning. The draft also accompanies two alternate scores in audio found in [2000-08-03] intro.LSO, one orchestral composition (also found in [2000-08-03] part1 - sfx & orch.avi), and another Blues style composition restored from the project file utilizing the intended Yamaha EX5R synthesizer on it's MIDI data.

[2000-07-29] cd-1--29-7.mpg + Audio: [2000-08-02] part1 - sfx & music.avi	[2000-07-29] cd-1--29-7.mpg + Audio: [2000-08-03] part1 - sfx & orch.avi	[2000-07-29] cd-1--29-7.mpg + Audio: [2000-08-03] intro.LSO (Restored)
[2000-08-05] INTRO-640-480--5-8.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #2 (Baby Frog Rescue)

Two drafts for this cutscene exist, both with restored audio made from the final cutscene's Logic project file. The earliest, [2000-07-03] SB-2 COMP.MPG, is a very rough draft, showing plenty of unfinished animation, different camera angles, and even a derping Lilly.

The second, [2000-07-11] AB-2--10-7.mpg, is more polished, with more finished animation and angles and timing of shots are closer to the final draft. Notably, more frogs also drop out of Swampy's bag from the last draft, and especially compared to the final, each with different colors.

[2000-07-03] SB-2 COMP.MPG + Audio: [2000-07-21] part2.LSO (Restored)	[2000-07-11] AB-2--10-7.mpg + Audio: [2000-07-21] part2.LSO (Restored)	[2000-07-27] -2-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #3 (Separate Ways)

Like the last one, this FMV had two drafts included in the repo. The first one [2000-07-03] SB-3 COMP.MPG is a rough cut of the cutscene, showing fluctuating pacing between them, as well as the positions of both the Subterranean and Ancients levels inconsistently switched in some, with missing background foliage. There is also a pair of cut shots where it shows behind views of both Frogger and Lilly as they watch the baby frogs being thrown into the two level areas, rather than having the camera track the baby frogs. The audio for this draft was restored using an accompanying Logic project file [2000-07-10] part3.LSO.

The second draft [2000-07-10] AB-3--10-7.mpg, like with the previous FMV, is closer to the final, with the extra shots from the first draft cut out and added scenery, but differs slightly from the final draft in timing. The aforementioned Logic project is meant for this draft.

[2000-07-03] SB-3 COMP.MPG + Audio: [2000-07-10] part3.LSO (Restored)	[2000-07-11] AB-3--10-7.mpg + Audio: [2000-07-10] part3 - sfx.wav	[2000-07-27] -3-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #4 (Crocs Away!)

There are two drafts as with the previous two FMVs. [2000-06-28] SB-4-COMPLETE.MPG is a rough cut with fluctuating pacing and missing background foliage, as well as showing different angles of Swampy activating the buttons and the rocket taking off (with the door left behind), however the layout for the cutscene is mostly the same as the final otherwise. The audio for this draft is located in [2000-07-06] part4.LSO

The second draft [2000-07-07] AB-4--7-7.mpg has a more finished layout, with the only noticeable difference from the final being one angle of Swampy entering the rocket. The audio for this draft was restored using the project file [2000-07-14] part4.LSO.

[2000-06-28] SB-4-COMPLETE.MPG + Audio: [2000-07-06] part4.LSO	[2000-07-07] AB-4--7-7.mpg + Audio: [2000-07-14] part4.LSO (Restored)	[2000-07-27] -4-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #5 (Big Bad Bugs)

This cutscene also has two drafts, [2000-06-25] SB-5--26-06.MPG is an earlier draft that is close already to the final cutscene, however still with the usual unfinished quirks, like the lack of foliage and Lilly's legs being positioned oddly at times. However at the end, Lilly gives up and hops away from the scene instead of staying at the button. There are two accompanying audio projects for this, [2000-06-25] part5-1.LSO & [2000-07-06] part5.LSO, the latter being the same with added voices.

[2000-07-09] AB-5--9-7.mpg now has finalized shots and fixes Lilly's legs, only noticeably missing some background foliage compared to the final cutscene.

[2000-06-25] SB-5--26-06.MPG + Audio: [2000-06-25] part5-1.LSO	[2000-06-25] SB-5--26-06.MPG + Audio: [2000-07-06] part5.LSO	[2000-07-09] AB-5--9-7.mpg + Audio: [2000-07-06] part5.LSO
[2000-07-27] -5-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #6 (Toad Breaker)

Only one draft for this cutscene exists, [2000-06-25] SB-6--26-06.MPG, showing mostly the same animation as the final cutscene. However, there are different angles of Frogger hacking the computer, as well as Lilly leaving the area at instead of going to the control room, as it also wasn't implemented yet.

[2000-06-25] SB-6--26-06.MPG + Audio: [2000-07-06] part6.LSO	[2000-07-27] -6-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #7 (Frogs In Space)

Like with the previous, this FMV only has one draft. [2000-06-25] SB-7--26-06.MPG is mostly the same in layout as the final, but does not show Lilly pulling the switch in the control room to activate the rocket. There are also the usual unfinished animation quirks, such as the door of the rocket being left behind as it takes off, and overdoing the smoke effects.

[2000-06-25] SB-7--26-06.MPG + Audio: [2000-07-06] part7.LSO	[2000-07-27] -7-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #8 (Swampy's Revenge)

[2000-06-25] SB-8--26-06.MPG is virtually the same in layout with a few cosmetic differences, but despite this it's arguably more violent than how it turned out. The house that the camera zooms into in the final draft is instead shown just outside the area of the frogs watching it. The house itself also has an interior wallpaper, and although Swampy doesn't wear the headband in the draft, he still goes full Rambo having an actual gun shooting bullets at the baby frogs instead of darts.

[2000-06-25] SB-8--26-06.MPG + Audio: [2000-07-06] part8.LSO	[2000-07-27] -8-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #9 (Trail of Terror)

The draft [2000-06-26] SB-9--26-06.MPG largely stayed the same as the final, albeit with a bugged frozen shot of Swampy's checklist, and the portal behind him having a temp shader. Additionally the audio score in [2000-07-06] part9-1.LSO bears minor differences, but is also close to the final.

[2000-06-26] SB-9--26-06.MPG + [2000-07-06] part9-1.LSO	[2000-07-27] -9-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #10 (Swampy's Lair)

[2000-06-26] SB-10--26-06.MPG shows some differences to the final cutscene. Lilly's arm throughout is stuck in a point, alongside the door knocker on the mansion being lower and Frogger's leg twisted as he stands knocking on the door, but is otherwise the same as the final in layout.

[2000-06-26] SB-10--26-06.MPG + [2000-07-06] part10.LSO	[2000-07-27] -10-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #11 (The Good, the Tad, and the Ugly)

There are two drafts of this cutscene. [2000-06-19] sb-11-cropped.mpg shows an unfinished run-through of the cutscene, very rough animation, with the moat less decorated, the lantern has an improper texture, and Frogger falling into a void rather than a waterfall. Abruptly ending with an unfinished shot of Lilly in the cage. This draft does not have accompanying audio.

[2000-07-03] SB-11 TEST COMP.MPG shows a more finished draft, with a more visible waterfall as he is falling. The most jarring difference, when Frogger arrives at Swampy's lair, it shows him falling off of the log and hanging onto Lilly's cage, rather than helping himself in like in the final. We also get to see some overexaggerated faces from Swampy.

[2000-06-19] sb-11-cropped.mpg	[2000-07-03] SB-11 TEST COMP.MPG + Audio: [2000-07-13] part11 - sfx.wav	[2000-07-27] -11-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)

FMV #12 (Ending)

[2000-07-03] SB-12 COMP.MPG shows plenty of differences from the final cutscene. The draft shows a few different shots of the cage, in some odd orbiting angles around it. Swampy makes some more exaggerated facial expressions throughout as a single baby frog saves the day. And Swampy's house near the end combusts in less like an explosion and more like a fireworks show.

[2000-07-03] SB-12 COMP.MPG + [2000-07-06] part12.LSO	[2000-07-27] -12-FINAL-27-7-00.AVI (Final HQ)