[Aggressnyak]

What is VoDSearch?
VoDSearch is a simple application that I created for searching the MLG VoD collection. It works with an (included) XML database that describes each VoD in a standard format. You can search for very basic gameplay attributes such as a certain player, team, opposing team, etc as well as more advanced attributes like gametype, map, game result (win/loss), player score, margin of victory, etc. Anyone who's ever scanned through the MLG VoD pages or attempted to use the existing search feature looking for specific VoDs can probably appreciate how this will be useful. The VoDSearch application and database are free to use.

Requirements
VoDSearch was written in Visual C# Express 2005 and therefore requires the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 or higher running on Windows XP or Vista. I haven't verified that it works correctly on Vista, so I'd like to hear some feedback about that. A monitor resolution setting of 1024x768 or higher is recommended because smaller resolutions tend to squish the search results list too much.

Status of the project
Currently, the database only includes events from the 2008 season. All Halo 3, Gears of War, and Rainbow six Vegas 2 gameplay from 2008 is covered, as well as all Rebroadcasts. Eventually I hope to add previous seasons, but creating the database is fairly time consuming so I'll probably wait and see how much interest there is.

Goals of the project
To save people time by making it easier to locate the VoD they want to watch. The best long term outcome I could hope for would be for MLG to incorporate a new search feature for VoD into their website. In the near future, an ambitious idea would be to make the search tool available as a Firefox add-on. If you have experience with Firefox extensions and XML, or are a JavaScript nerd interested in this project, post in this thread or PM me.

Where can I download VoDSearch?
EDIT - I will leave the desktop version of the program up on filefront (see below), but there is now a web version available at http://www.mlgvodsearch.com

The desktop application and database are available here as a ZIP archive from filefront. Just unzip to the desired location and click the VoDSearch.exe file to start searching. There is no installation procedure or auto-updates, and the application will only access the internet when you decide to view VoD at MLG's website.

Additional help
The application and database are explained in greater detail in the inlcuded Help files. Use Help->Help (for VoDSeach documetation) or Help->Database (for Database documentation) from the main menu. If you have questions that aren't covered in the Help files, feel free to post them in this thread.

Bug and database error reporting
If you encounter any bugs in the application or find an error in the database, post in this thread or e-mail VoDSearch@gmail.com. Be sure to include details so I know what the problem is and what video you're referring to (try the right-click -> Copy Database Entry feature of the search results list and paste that info here or into your e-mail message). Realize that it's not necessarily an error when the VoDSearch results don't match the game listing on the corresponding MLG VoD page. When creating the database it was attempted to correct any errors found in the MLG listings. However, please don't use this thread to whine about errors in the MLG listings or H3 theatre PoV switch glitches, there's already way too much of that in the VoD comments.

Searching
Step 1: In the Events section at the top, check the events you want to include in the search.
Step 2: After selecting the appropriate search tab (H3_4v4, GoW_4v4, R6V2_4v4, or Rebroadcast), fill in the desired search terms and click the SEARCH button.
Step 3: Scroll through the search results list at bottom and double-click (or right-click -> View VoD) the VoD you want to watch.




Tips

1. Make sure you have a persistent login setup at mlgpro.com or you'll be redirected to the login page when attempting to view VoD.
2. To activate the score searching features of the H3_4v4 tab, you must first select a GameType.
3. For H3_4v4, GoW_4v4, and R6V2_4v4 searches the Player, Team, and OppTeam (opposing team) comboboxes are filtered based on the Event selections. If you don't see a certain player or team listed, it means they didn't have any VoD for the selected events.
4. For Rebroadcast searches the Commentator combobox is filtered based on the Event and Game selections.
5. Save or Load searches from the File menu (File->Save, File->Load).
6. Select a specific web browser for VoD viewing through the Tools menu (Tools->Options)
7. When text in the search results list overhangs the cell boundary, hover over the cell of interest with the mouse to display its full contents in the textbox below the list.

[Aggressnyak]

Search Examples

-The VoD Classic (complete list of VoD from the selected game)




-Legit being an objective beast in Oddball (H3_4v4 Tab: Player = Legit, GameType = Oddball, GameResult = Win, PlayerGameScore >=100)




-Ambush upsetting a higher-rated opponent (H3_4v4 Tab: Team = Ambush, TeamColor = Blue, SeriesResult = Win)




-The Steaktacular (H3_4v4 Tab: GameType = Slayer, GameResult = Win, GameScoreMargin >= 20)




-The Nexy (Rebroadcast Tab: Game = Halo 3, Commentator = Nexy)

[Aggressnyak]

Known VoDSearch Issues

Description: "Failed to Initialize" error when launching VoDSearch.exe
Resolution: Upgrade to .NET Framework 2.0




Known Database Issues

Description: Missing a good number of Rebroadcasts from Vegas
Resolution:





Suggested Improvements

-Incorporate Player aliases (possibly also Team aliases) to handle name changes. For example, an "Include aliases in search results" feature could be added to display all matches for a player's current name and all previous names. A side note .... this idea came up on account of a Gears pro who seems absolutely insistent on using two different tags simultaneously (Amaze, Atmosfear).

[Aggressnyak]

Check out the web version of the program:
http://www.mlgvodsearch.com
This really isn't anything permanent, just the next step in the project.

Direct links to the different search sections:

Halo 3:
http://www.mlgvodsearch.com/vsh34v4.php

Gears of War:
http://www.mlgvodsearch.com/vsgow4v4.php

Rainbow Six Vegas 2:
http://www.mlgvodsearch.com/vsr6v24v4.php

Rebroadcast:
http://www.mlgvodsearch.com/vsrebroadcast.php



A few notes:
-To be able to scroll to the next table page when the number of matches is > 50, you must have cookies enabled (PHP session variables require cookies).
-The 'Clear' button resets the entire form, not just the search terms.
-There is no Player / Team combobox filtering or enabling / disabling of the game score comboboxes like there was in the desktop version of VoDSearch. It's pretty trivial to implement these features with JavaScript, but I decided to leave it as is for the moment.
-You can't bookmark the search results (I used POST rather than GET)


Screenshot of H3 section:

[.kiwi.]

So this would definitely not work on the Mac?

I'll give it a shot anyways

[ExpIicity]

Looks good, going to try it out soon.

+repped.

[Aggressnyak]

Originally Posted by -MonkeysOnIce-

So this would definitely not work on the Mac?

I'll give it a shot anyways

Sorry dude. I agree it would be nice to have it availabe in Java, but I can't see that happening, at least in the immediate future.

[_Yung-Gandhi_]

wow this is sick. thanks alot

[DeLaGeeZy-K9]

Jeez...this is honestly amazing. I know I'll be watching a lot of VOD this week :P

This is great for people who want to study specific game styles...for example, want to learn how/where to hold the ball in Guardian? Just search Guardian Ball - Player Gamescore 100+.

Greatest tool I've seen in this site. Big props.

[SenorStreaky]

Awesome! If I could give + rep i would.