In an unexpected surprise today, Ubisoft has dropped a tiny pebble onto the interweb which is quickly becoming a tidal wave! If you haven’t heard about, or come across, this little video yet be prepared to have your eyes AND mind impressed. Assassin’s Creed: Lineage – Part I. This first of a series of short films sets up the story for Ubisoft‘s upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed II. The game is highly anticipated by the gaming community and Ubisoft has pulled out all of the stops with this little advertising stunt.
As a film reviewer I could not help but notice how much effort and attention has been put into this project. The visual effects, CGI, stunt work, acting, costuming, camera technique, cinematography and musical score are all of blockbuster Hollywood quality. I was instantly drawn into the plot and subsequently invigorated by the anticipation which this first episode conjured within me. And, having only played through half of the first installment of the franchise, I can honestly say that my interest in the sequel has now been sparked from “It could be good” to a fiery asteroid sized ball of “Oh my god I want this now!” Hell, I’d even go see the film tomorrow if this was a trailer!
Below is the official press release sent out by Ubisoft regarding the episode. I suggest you watch the clip below before reading the press release as it contains some details I consider spoiler-ish.
Let us know how this little advertising project has affected your opinion of the hotly anticipated title by posting a comment or two below.
MEDIA ALERT: Ubisoft releases Assassin’s Creed: Lineage on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ct2kbLBuSOgMontreal, QUEBEC – October 27, 2009 – Today, Ubisoft® unveils the 1st of three episodes from the new Assassin’s Creed: Lineage film series on YouTube. For a period of 24 hours, YouTube will have the first episode of the film series on its homepage in eight countries throughout the world.
Developed by Ubisoft Digital Arts and Ubisoft’s Hybride Technologies (the visual effects studio behind 300 and Sin City), Assassin’s Creed: Lineage explores the events that happen just before the Assassin’s Creed II game starts, most specifically, the story of Giovanni Auditore da Firenze, Ezio’s (the main character) father. Combining live action and computer generated imagery (CGI), the films will give insight on the game’s back story and universe.
Assassin’s Creed: Lineage introduces some of the characters that players will meet in the game: foes and friends of the family, like Lorenzo de Medici, the Italian statesman and de facto ruler of the Florentine Republic during the Italian Renaissance period.
The film series will whet the appetite of players and fans in advance of the game’s release on November 17, 2009. The films series is distributed online to reach all Assassin’s Creed’s fans, but also audiences that are less familiar with the game but would be interested in discovering the Assassin’s Creed’s universe.
