Assassin's Creed: The Short Film Edition

[TrackZero]

It appears that Ubisoft is going to be developing small CGI films. Snagged from Siliconera (http://www.siliconera.com/index.php/2007/02/09/assassins-creed-short-flick-in-the-works/):

Ubisoft announced they are opening up a new CGI movie production studio inside Ubisoft Montreal. Instead of just working on cutscenes for games the new studio’s goal is to make short films based on existing Ubisoft properties. Their first project is making an eight minute short movie based on Assassin’s Creed. Ubisoft is investing heavily in the studio, they plan to add 1,000 additional positions by 2013 and 500 of them will be CGI specialists. Splinter Cell, Prince of Persia and Rayman films to follow?

Looks like all that government money is going to use.....I wonder where they plan to show off these movies?

[Ozena]

This has the potential to kick ass.

I imagine it'll be featured on some promo website or Ubisoft's site itself.

[NACIONAL]

I wonder where they plan to show off these movies?

I think it is great... but there is potential for this?, you know, how many of you buy short movies now?....

[if76]

It upsets me that Canada is giving so much money to Ubisoft that they're expanding into new territories. Couldn't they have given some of that digital media grant to some startups?

[Tyrant]

It upsets me that Canada is giving so much money to Ubisoft that they're expanding into new territories. Couldn't they have given some of that digital media grant to some startups?

By so much money, do you mean the $400+ million that was mis-reported, or the $18 million?

[TheBrainKills]

It upsets me that Canada is giving so much money to Ubisoft that they're expanding into new territories. Couldn't they have given some of that digital media grant to some startups?Nothing against startups, but I would rather my tax money go to an established firm that isn't going to vanish after buying hookers and blow.

[NeoSuplex]

Nothing against startups, but I would rather my tax money go to an established firm that isn't going to vanish after buying hookers and blow.

Which is worse though... the money going to startups, or the money going to EA 2.0?

[BigJonno]

Which is worse though... the money going to startups, or the money going to EA 2.0?

That's low. Ubisoft make good games.

[Rock Bandit]

Nothing against startups, but I would rather my tax money go to an established firm that isn't going to vanish after buying hookers and blow.
Yeah, now they can keep making good games and still afford the hookers and blow. It's win freakin' win.

[MrWonderstuff]

Related but a little off topic, it would be fab if Blizzard made a full length CGI film. Given their talent in that area over the years I'd queue up.

[TrackZero]

Related but a little off topic, it would be fab if Blizzard made a full length CGI film. Given their talent in that area over the years I'd queue up.

You and every WoW player on the planet.

[MrWonderstuff]

You and every WoW player on the planet.

Hopefully I'll go on night when they arent around ;-)

[Sandman]

I'm guessing these will show up on the Assassin's Creed Collector's Edition.

[Wombat]

I'm guessing these will show up on the Assassin's Creed Collector's Edition.

This would certainly make the special editions of their games a more worthwhile investment. I have a feeling these short films might essentially be practice for more ambitious projects.

[Ajguy]

With places like iTunes selling Pixar shorts, I can certainly see these films showing up there. Perhaps even as featurettes before a film.

And I too have been wishing that Blizzard would just make a CG film. Why the supposed Warcraft movie is live action is beyond me.

[flinxz]

So, you now get to buy the endings to the game you solved?

[saulob]

I will wait for the youtube version.

[archon]

For games whose stories I love, I'd gladly pay for official animation from the studios. I'm not sold on the Splinter Cell series specifically for this concept, but Assassins Creed might be a neat use of the CG. If it were Bungie I'd love to have Halo CG, especially if it was like the recent commercial.

[51|RandoM]

Nothing against startups, but I would rather my tax money go to an established firm that isn't going to vanish after buying hookers and blow.


no, we weren't going to buy hookers and blow, we were going for platinum Aerons and diamond mousepads.

[Loganrapp]

Which is worse though... the money going to startups, or the money going to EA 2.0?

You just woke up today and thought to yourself, "I really need to bitch about something, doesn't matter what," didn't you?

no, we weren't going to buy hookers and blow, we were going for platinum Aerons and diamond mousepads.

Hookers and blow is a much more noble endeavor.

[blackzc]

That's low. Ubisoft make good games.

not lately.

[flinxz]

For the past year or two Ubisoft is making more and more games like EA. Garbage that needs patched very badly at release. I have started calling them EA jr.

[DubiousQuality]

For the past year or two Ubisoft is making more and more games like EA. Garbage that needs patched very badly at release. I have started calling them EA jr.

I agree, and what people forget is that EA owns a bunch of Ubisoft shares these days. Coincidence? maybe but not likely.

This is something I always thought Blizzard's cinematic team should do. Since the only good thing about their games is the cinematics to begin with.

[Lizard Dude]

This is something I always thought Blizzard's cinematic team should do. Since the only good thing about their games is the cinematics to begin with.

:confused: Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay.

[flinxz]

I agree, and what people forget is that EA owns a bunch of Ubisoft shares these days. Coincidence? maybe but not likely.

This is something I always thought Blizzard's cinematic team should do. Since the only good thing about their games is the cinematics to begin with.

I agree with the new guy. Blizzard to me has always made "safe" polished games. Warcraft 2 is the best example.

[Xerxes]

Wait? What Ubi games have been sucking lately?

[TrackZero]

Wait? What Ubi games have been sucking lately?

They're referring to the numerous bugs with the last 2 Splinter Cell titles (which were eventually patched/fixed, but still....). Ubi released them both before they should have. Though I suppose you could point the blame at the specific sub-teams involved instead of just the whole company. Beyond Good and Evil was polished and essentially bug-free.

[flinxz]

They're referring to the numerous bugs with the last 2 Splinter Cell titles (which were eventually patched/fixed, but still....). Ubi released them both before they should have. Though I suppose you could point the blame at the specific sub-teams involved instead of just the whole company. Beyond Good and Evil was polished and essentially bug-free.

Lunar: Dragon Song, Heroes of Might and Magic V, King Kong, and Red fucking Steel come to mind as well.

[TrackZero]

Lunar: Dragon Song, Heroes of Might and Magic V, King Kong, and Red fucking Steel come to mind as well.

What was wrong with King Kong?

[score]

^ Wasn't there a darkness issue in Standard Def on a 360?

[flinxz]

I guess I can give you King Kong, but I kind of thought it to be garbage. I guess you cannot do better than the source material though. And what score said.

[H.Bogard]

That's low. Ubisoft make good games.

And basterdize them with sequels aimed for the mainstream market.

See : Far Cry and Prince of Persia.

[Captain Awesome]

Related but a little off topic, it would be fab if Blizzard made a full length CGI film. Given their talent in that area over the years I'd queue up.

They're the only company with an amazing CG house i'd trust to do just about anything. They easily outdo what Square does in terms of cinematics. Blizzard also tells "good" stories. Which is a plus, since it's rare to get that in this "CG everything we can." era.

I remember the long rumored project, that Blizzard was to work on a "Diablo" film. All done in-house by their own people. But since then it sort of just dissapeared off the map. While I think Pixar films makes amazing "kid" and "over-stylized" films. Blizzard excels at great details, great characters, art directions and the cool "grit" found in their own cinematics.

I'd love to see Blizzard do a whole CG film.

[bryan]

Blizzard would make incredible CGI films. I wonder why they don't? They got an established fanbase. Make Warcraft films and all the WOW zombies will eat it up. They can't lose!

[Crenor]

I personally am starting to hate CGI videos. They are not representative of gameplay AT ALL. They are usually outsourced like this so they have nothing to do with the game. I do LOVE them when in game, but I do not think they should be shown in advertising AT ALL. Too many times have we seen a CGI movie and been told it is gameplay when you most often NEVER even see the CGI in game at all, let alone the level of graphics.
NOW, if they use in game levels, and game models that is different. But when they just go all Hollywood, its a load of shit.

[Xerxes]

I guess I can give you King Kong, but I kind of thought it to be garbage. I guess you cannot do better than the source material though. And what score said.
I thought the game was just fine. Nice 6 hours romp. Good presentation overall.
^ Wasn't there a darkness issue in Standard Def on a 360?
I had a SD and didn't notice although I should boot it up on my new HDTV to see the difference. :cool:

As far as Ubi goes, what about Vegas and GRAW. I played some of the GRAW demo and that seemed like pure quality. I heard the Splinter Cell on xbox was the better of the two. I don't know. Compared to EA I still believe in Ubi. I mean look what EA did to Def Jam for crying outloud. :(

[TrackZero]

^ Wasn't there a darkness issue in Standard Def on a 360?

Hrm, true, I seem to recall hearing about that. I played it in HD, so I never ran into it.

[bryan]

I personally am starting to hate CGI videos. They are not representative of gameplay AT ALL. They are usually outsourced like this so they have nothing to do with the game. I do LOVE them when in game, but I do not think they should be shown in advertising AT ALL. Too many times have we seen a CGI movie and been told it is gameplay when you most often NEVER even see the CGI in game at all, let alone the level of graphics.
NOW, if they use in game levels, and game models that is different. But when they just go all Hollywood, its a load of shit.

I think you're over reacting. Aside from Sony's and EA's bullshit (Killzone 2 and I believe that Madden game respectively) I don't recall any other company claiming rendered as gameplay. Point some out to us?

[Chameleo]

the best ever blizzard CG was the starcraft movie. where that one terran soldier is being rushed by a thousand zergs...

that video - is one of the only videos i don't skip past whenever it runs... it kicks all sorts of ass.

forget about wanting blizz to do fantasy CG like WoW - more Starcraft CG please!!