Ubisoft Seeking Hollywood Licenses

[Dick Splash 23]

New game for Ubisoft, Hollywood

Ubisoft is actively seeking classic Hollywood licenses to turn into game properties as part of its expansion plans in the $25 billion global game market.

By John Gaudiosi

PARIS -- French videogame publisher Ubisoft has big plans involving Hollywood. The company, which is headquartered in Paris, but operates 13 studios with 3,200 employees around the globe, is actively seeking classic Hollywood licenses to turn into game properties as part of its expansion plans in the $25 billion global game market.

"We're looking at books, movies and TV shows that have strong characters from the past that we can take and build upon," said Ubisoft president Yves Guillemot, adding that Hollywood-inspired licensed games bring in 20% of his company's annual revenues.

That number is likely to rise this year with "King Kong." Ubisoft worked closely with director Peter Jackson in bringing the official game based on the Universal Pictures film to life.

"Peter Jackson's meetings with us during the creative process of developing the game were great," Guillemot said in an interview. "He worked closely with us to bring the emotional connection of the film to the games. It was a true collaboration. He gave us his ideas. We gave him our technological constraints. And we made a game that met both criteria."

Jackson is one of a growing number of Hollywood directors that Ubisoft has worked with over the past five years. Guillemot said that Ubisoft executives have met with key Hollywood talent at least once every two months to talk about the convergence of games and Hollywood.

Recent directors who have worked with Ubisoft on original games not tied to Hollywood properties include Andrew Davis ("The Fugitive"), Marco Brambilla ("Demolition Man"), John McTiernan ("Die Hard") and Matty Rich ("The Inkwell").

Guillemot says that by working with the top creators of movies, Ubisoft can improve in-game elements like camera perspectives and create more believable characters and more compelling stories.

"Hollywood directors are taking a more active role in games based on their films today," Guillemot said. "That will only increase. Games and movies will be more linked going forward. Eventually, the people managing the (intellectual property) will want everyone under the same roof."

Ubisoft is open to that type of business model. As next-generation consoles bring videogame graphics closer to the level of Hollywood CGI films.

"We're currently looking to see how we could do CGI movies because we know many of the techniques and currently use them to create games," Guillemot said.

Ubisoft's Montreal Studio is currently developing games based on Sony Pictures Animation's first two feature-length films, next September's "Open Season" and planned January 2007 release "Surf's Up."

These first two games, which will ship in conjunction with the theatrical releases, are part of a long-term agreement with Sony Pictures Animation. Guillemot said this agreement allows Ubisoft to be part of the creative process from the very beginning, working closely with the animators and directors on the vision and tone of the games.

"More games cost $30 million to make today," says Guillemot, who added that games are not pre-sold or insured like Hollywood films. "Every game we make is a total risk. We create a game, buy media to promote it, ship the product and if it doesn't sell, we take all the product back."

Guillemot said that creating and marketing games will soon reach the $45 million-$50 million range, which means game publishers can't afford to make mistakes.

"We're constantly meeting with Hollywood talent, meeting with lots of directors and writers to learn how to blend their knowledge, and what works in movies, with our game expertise, and what will transfer to the interactive entertainment medium," he said.

Courtesy of The Hollywood Reporter

[the.ronin 5]

Fantastic!!

Now we can expect even more entertainment masterpeices like that abortion Batman Begins!!!

[cobaka 0]

Or maybe some top quality game like Nemo Recon

[Sup 0]

Or maybe something like the excellent, original, and critically acclaimed King Kong (Xbox, Ps2, X360, PC, GCN)

[snared_gambit 0]

Fantastic!! 

Now we can expect even more entertainment masterpeices like that abortion Batman Begins!!! 

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Good movie. If you're drunk. I highly reccomend it after chugging a 40 of Olde English, brass-monkeyed of course. Nothing like driving for 30 minutes still rather drunk to see Batman Begins at midnight (bad decision in retrospect, but it seemed like the perfect idea at the time). After spending $40 on $3 cheeseburgers and making an ass out of yourselves on the highway.