Film the Future of Ubisoft?

During a keynote presentation at DIG London 2009- a video game developers conference in London, Ontario - Yannis Mallat gave an inside look at the inner workings of Ubisoft Montreal.  The speech covered both the past and the future of the gaming company, and how they will continue to shape the industry, but one point in particular went towards how Ubisoft may be shaping the future of film as well.  Using Assassins Creed: Lineage as the flagship for their success Mallat spoke of the breakthrough of convergence - the next step in reaching a truly immerse gaming experience.

Within 36 hours of its release Assassins Creed: Lineage (the short-movie prequel to Assassins Creed 2) garnered over 1.7 million views to become to second most watched video in gaming history. By using this film series as an opportunity to learn the film language Ubisoft hopes to refine their cinematography skills. The continued success of their film ventures could even lead to potential movie licenses, certainly a breakthrough in its own right.

The results of their experimentation have become very clear in the wake of Splinter Cell: Conviction's announcement. While still based upon the stealth gameplay that has defined the series, screenshots and videos of the latest instillation paint a more stylized picture. By minimizing the interface and creating a less intrusive means of updating objectives, the player is pulled into a deeper sense of immersion is crafted. If Assassins Creed 2 and Splinter Cell: Conviction are the successful results (sales pending) of this new film/gameplay blending, fans are sure to expect much more in the future.