The simplest way to control the pace of the animation is using the Speed multiplier parameter.

With it, we can slow down or speed up the velocity of the whole animation to easily create cool slow-motion or time-lapse effects.

For more complex time effects, it is possible to animate with keyframes the Time offset value in 3ds Max.

This allows the simulation playback to be modified at will, using standard keys and animation curves, which greatly expands the possibilities for creating original non-linear temporal effects.

For example, take a look at the scene animation created by the custom animation curve applied to the Time Offset in the previous screenshot:

The same Time offset animable parameter can be used to apparently “stop” the motion of the actors by applying an animation curve set to linear and defining a time offset progression equal to the inverse of the real playback progression from the time bar in 3ds Max.

For example, if we have a scene of 200 frames at 25 fps (8s), we should set a key at frame 0 with value 8 and another one at frame 200 with value 0.

This setup will make the animated time offset to go backwards at the exact same playback speed as the source anima scene is going forward, resulting in the render of the same frame of the simulation on the anima scene.

The effect is similar to setting up a playback speed of 0, with the important difference that the neighbour frames (before and after the current one) are still able to be evaluated by the rendere, provide a proper Motion Blur effect on the 4D models.

Take a look at the result in the following video:

Using this method, you can replicate the effect that was used in the promotion video.