MakingOf Provides a Sneak Peek at James Cameron's Avatar: The Game

Online, September 30, 2009 (Newswire.com) - Today MakingOf.com www.makingof.com, a behind-the-scenes Web destination founded by Natalie Portman and CEO Christine Aylward which provides an inside look into entertainment creation, features an exclusive look at James Cameron's Avatar: The Game.

In an interview with MakingOf -- http://makingof.com/filming_now/media/james-cameron-s-avatar-the-game/crafting-a-universe/130/425, Kevin Shortt of Ubisoft Montreal, the Lead Scriptwriter and Story Designer of Avatar: The Game, shares for the first time new information regarding the title's gameplay, the actors who participated in the project, and the intensive writing process.

"As with many popular films today, plans to release a companion video game also have been in development. In James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, however, Cameron stays true to his reputation as an innovator, taking a fresh approach to standard movie-based game making," explained Christine Aylward, Co-founder and CEO of MakingOf. "Most notably, James Cameron's Avatar: The Game will be released before the release of the movie, something unheard of when videogames and movies converge."

About James Cameron's Avatar: The Game:
Award-winning director James Cameron (The Abyss, Terminator, True Lies, Titanic) takes viewers to the world of Pandora on December 18th with his first live-action 3D film, Avatar. Originally envisioned more than 14 years ago, Cameron has shown patience in waiting for the technology to become available to fully execute his concept as an interactive experience.

Movie studios typically initiate discussions with a game studio when the movie is in the post-production stage, with game release set to either coincide with the film premier or to take place in the weeks that follow. In the case of James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, Cameron approached Ubisoft very early during pre-production, providing assets, production stills, and even a translation booklet of "Navi," the native language spoken by the indigenous people of Pandora, which gave the team the freedom to do their best work. With these resources and the extended development cycle, Ubisoft has created the game as a prequel that takes place 2 years before the events of the 3D film. The multi-platform title provides exceptional character and story progression, and allows players to fully immerse themselves in the world of Pandora, as well as choose between two main narratives.

Shortt also discusses the elusive 900 page game script, explaining the challenges of creating a game script which must include multiple paths and expanded characters while still fitting seamlessly into the canon of James Cameron's vision.

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About MakingOf:
MakingOf is a behind-the-scenes Web destination, founded by Natalie Portman http://makingof.com/insiders/artist/blog/natalie/portman/1 and Christine Aylward that provides an intimate, fresh look into the process of entertainment creation by the insiders themselves. MakingOf's mission is to champion the art and craft of entertainment creation. Since launch MakingOf has begun the process of moving beyond gossip to showcase premier, insider content that reveals the art, craft, heart and soul of moviemaking. MakingOf's content includes exclusive interviews with filmmakers, behind-the-scenes content, movie trailers, and an entertainment-focused community forum.

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