com.ix.ware (kom'iks'war) n. 1. An animated comix with editable and renewable contents. 2. An interactive story-telling application that integrates perpetual contents and proactive interactivity.

For easy analogy, Comixware can be seen as an interactive storytelling "machine". In such machine, contents are "fed" through its engine to create stories rather than "sealed" into an irreversible narrative block (like book or movie). Therefore additional contents can be fueled to this "machine" to expand and renew the existing story. The contents for this "machine" are made of modulated story clips that can be recomposed and reshuffled in a timeline in any order or fashion as user desires. Each of these clips is made of scene elements that can be edited and manipulated individually by user. This "machine" comprises of 5 sections: Read, Compose, Play, Save, and Gallery. Each in combination with others addresses the 3 main functions of Comixware: narrative, editing, and community.

 

This is the soul of Comixware, where the main storytelling engine and the "fuel tank" reside. All contents derive from here, the story, the characters, animation, music, SFX, etc. Currently, the Read section contends more than 500 animated scenes and elements, 12 originally composed music scores, countless graphics and backgrounds, voice-overs, SFXs, and much more. And all of these rich media contents can be expanded and upgraded in a later time.

This is the section where you, as a reader, have the chance to take on the story on your own terms, both as screenwriter and editor. That is, using the same scene elements as seen in Read section, you can recompose, rearrange and recreate the original story in whatever fashion you desire. You can also create your own story assets and customize the soundtrack for your story, including selection from your own MP3 library. Never before storytelling has empowered reader with such proactive role of creativity. The Compose section provides 3 easy to use tools:

Timeline - This is the centerpiece of editing tools that uses a straightforward filmstrip like interface with drag-and-drop ease for you to select and arrange your desired combination of clips (scenes) in a narrative strip of infinite span. Yes, this timeline is capable of holding your entire feature length work!

Asset Bin - This is where all the editing materials are stored. They include "movie clips", "composition objects", and "music tracks". You just drag and drop these elements where you want them, either in the timeline or on the Compose stage.

Preview and Compose window - This is both a preview screen and a composition canvas for individual scene. In the composition mode, you can add "composition objects" (dialog balloons, animated casts, static props, SFX) to your scenes. Of each of these objects, you have full control over its text content, position, size, rotation, and color. The creative possibility is infinite.

This is the "screening room" of Comixware, where you watch your edited movie with all your "composition objects" intact and music playing. You can also watch other users' Gallery pieces in here.

In this section you can:

a. Save your movies to your local computer for later use.

b. Recall the saved movies into the timeline for playback or further editing.

c. Post your movie to the Comixware Gallery to share it with other users on the Internet.

This is the "community" function of the main engine, where you can access and view a gallery of showcased works posted by other users as well as by yourself on the Internet. Each downloaded piece can be re-edited by local user and re-posted it to the Gallery as a new entry. In addition, a bulletin board service is linked to the Gallery to facilitate further communication among users.

Despite its complex functionality and long list of features, Comixware is extremely easy to use. The interface is intuitive and self-evident. The best way to get acquainted with Comixware and to understand its full potential is to use it.

Click here for an online demo of Comixware.
Click here for the feature list of Comixware 2.1.
Click here for Comixware FAQ.
Click here for detail instruction of using Comixware.