How to play FVF files from 1990s?

[DragonQ]

I have an old game with FVF video files. After doing some digging, it looks like these are SoftVideo/ClearVideo/RealVideo-type files using fractal frame encoding. MPC-HC with RealVideo and RealAudio source filters enabled cannot play the files, nor can VLC or RAD Video Tools.

Is there any specialist software that can open this type of file? I'm not as interested in playing it as much as being able to convert it to an easily playable format.

I've uploaded such a file here (http://www.aotplaza.com/Files/warnshot.7z).

[LoRd_MuldeR]

Did you try FFmpeg/MPlayer? It has support even for some obscure formats like id Software's RoQ.

[DragonQ]

I use LAV Filters in MPC-HC, AFAIK that's based on ffmpeg and it doesn't recognise it.

EDIT: I just tried ffplay and it produces the error "Invalid data found when processing input".

[LoRd_MuldeR]

I use LAV Filters in MPC-HC, AFAIK that's based on ffmpeg and it doesn't recognise it.

LAV Filters makes use of the libavcodec and libavformat libraries (among others), which both are part of the FFmpeg project.

You can also think of LAV Filters as a DirectShow-wrapper around libavcodec/libavformat. However this does not mean the LAV Filters Video Decoder necessarily offers support any video format for which there exists a decoder in libavcodec, nor that the LAV Filters Splitter necessarily offers support for any container format for which there exists a splitters in libavformat - especially when it comes to exotic stuff.

I'd definitely give a plain FFmpeg (http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/win32/static/) a try:
ffmpeg.exe -i "C:\Some Folder\Input.foo" "C:\Some Folder\Output.mp4"

You can also try MPlayer (http://sourceforge.net/projects/mplayer-win32/files/MPlayer%20and%20MEncoder/r36349+gb24f15c/MPlayer-generic-r36349+gb24f15c.7z/download), which makes use of libavcodec/libavformat too, but not only! Try something like:
mplayer.exe -vo direct3d "C:\Some Folder\Input.foo"

[DragonQ]

I'd definitely give a plain FFmpeg (http://ffmpeg.zeranoe.com/builds/win32/static/) a try:
ffmpeg.exe -i "C:\Some Folder\Input.foo" "C:\Some Folder\Output.mp4"
As above, I get this error:

"Invalid data found when processing input".

You can also try MPlayer (http://sourceforge.net/projects/mplayer-win32/files/MPlayer%20and%20MEncoder/r36349+gb24f15c/MPlayer-generic-r36349+gb24f15c.7z/download), which makes use of libavcodec/libavformat too, but not only! Try something like:
mplayer.exe -vo direct3d "C:\Some Folder\Input.foo"
The output from mplayer is as follows:

Playing test.fvf.
libavformat version 55.9.100 (internal)


Exiting... (End of file)

Any other ideas? :confused:

[raffriff42]

RAD tools?
http://www.radgametools.com/binkhcon.htm

[DragonQ]

As I said in the first post, RAD Video Tools can't play the file either. I believe this type of fractal video file predates Bink.

[raffriff42]

Oh drat! In an attempt to partially redeem myself, did you know that the format is being resurrected?

TMMI Announces TRUDEF(TM) .FVF ('Fractal Video File') and .FIF ('Fractal Intra Frame') File Extensions (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/tmmi-announces-trudef-tm-fvf-143000686.html) TMM, Inc. (TMMI) is pleased to announce the reconstruction of the TRUDEF™ .FVF (''Fractal Video File'') and the .FIF (''Fractal Intra Frame'') file extensions. These file extensions are modernized versions of the original 1990''s fractal file extensions used in the initial development and the shipped commercial video products.

TRUDEF™ Fractal Video Compression (http://www.tmmi.us/?q=technology) TMMI is currently developing its own Microsoft Media Foundation 2012 library supporting TRUDEF™ Fractal Video Compression in Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows 8.No downloadable codecs yet, though...

[DragonQ]

That link is the only reason I know what FVF stands for. There is essentially nothing else on the internet about it. :(

[petran79]

what game is this?
perhaps asking in a retrogaming site would also be helpfull

[DragonQ]

Star Trek The Next Generation: A Final Unity, although I'm sure other games used this format too.