E3 2011 Fact Sheet and Q&A for Rayman Origins
Short Version: It’s a 2D reintroduction to Rayman. With 4 player Co-0p.
Full fact sheet and Q&A after the jump.
Product Description
Michel Ancel, celebrated creator of Rayman ®, Beyond Good & Evil ® and the Raving Rabbids ®returns to his roots to bring us Rayman ® Origins: a high-definition, 2D side-scrolling, platforming adventure in full 4-player co-op!
Play Rayman Origins and discover or rediscover the magical universe and legendary 2D gameplaythat captured the hearts of millions of fans…When the Glade of Dreams is overrun by “nefurrious”Darktoons, the Fairy Council hastily invokes Rayman to save the day; but the hero of light isn’t quite all there…To help him, Rayman teams up with his best friend, Globox, and two crafty wizards, the Teensies. Together, the world’s most hilarious team of heroes will need to restore peace to the Glade or watch as their beloved home vanishes like a bad dream…
Key Features
· Rebirth of a Platforming Legend: It’s been 15 years since the first launch of Rayman. Rayman Origins brings back many of the classic characters, revived in their original 2D form, as well as a whole new world of characters and environments. Discover the roots of Rayman by collecting pieces of the Glade’s history, and assemblethemto reveal the truth behind Rayman’s origins.
· 4-Player, Jump-In/Jump-Out, Co-op Gameplay: Play as Rayman in the solo campaign, or have up to threefriends jump in at any time to play as Globox or as one of thetwoTeensies. Players can leave at any time without affecting the others’ progression.
· Unique Approach to 2D Art: A rich world with over 100 characters and 12 unique environments created by some of the VG’s mostreputed artists and animators. This creative approach to 2D design will recapture the hearts of platformer fans and introduce a new generation to one of the industry’s best-loved characters in his original 2D form.
· A Vast Playground: Rayman Origins includes over 60 levelsof 2D platforming gameplay designed for all ages and playing styles. Unlock new abilities progressively and return toprevious levels to discover new paths and secrets.
· Variety of Gameplay: Rayman Origins is a platformer at its core, but it has elements of many game genres. Rayman, Globox and the Teensies gain unique abilities as they progress through the adventure, including swimming, diving and the sensational “HairlyCopter.” The game also features many elements of action, adventure and beat-’em-up gameplay.
· Epic Boss Fights: A giant pink monster withhundreds of eyes… A possessed, mountainous golem… An evil daisy-cum-carnivorous plant…Rayman Origins will put players to the test with these and many morechallenging boss battles!
· A Handful of Highly Talented Artists and Engineers: Rayman Origins wasdeveloped by theUBIartteam in Montpellier and is built on an open-source game engine—the UBIartFramework—designed by Michel Ancel to allow much smaller teams of artists and developers to produce incredibly high-quality graphics and gameplay quickly and efficiently. This garage-game approach has led to great strides in creativity and innovation.
Product Specifications:
Publisher: UBISOFT
Developer: UBIart Montpellier
Ship Date: Holiday 2011
Genre: Platformer, Action/Adventure
Platform: PlayStation®3 system, Xbox 360®, Wii™,
Rating: ESRB E
E3 Q&A
1. First, could you introduce yourself and explain your role in the Rayman’s Origins development?
Hi, I’m Gabrielle Shrager, Senior Game Writer / Lead Story Designer at Ubisoft Montpellier Studio. I joined Michel and the team to develop the backstory for Rayman Origins and write the origins’ tales. As we developed the universe, we told each other stories, imagined gags, wrote silly songs and recorded funny voices for characters, to help inspire the comical situations and gameplay metaphors, which are central to Rayman’s unique form of visual storytelling.
2. Tell us a bit about this new Rayman adventure: how did the project started and when?
Rayman Origins began 2 years ago with a garage-game attitude: a small team of artists and engineers supporting Michel Ancel’s vision for the rebirth of a character that holds special meaning for both Michel and Ubisoft, as Ubisoft celebrates its 25th anniversary this year at E3. Michel first drew Rayman when he was just 17—a limbless, yet limitless game character who would grow to become one of platforming’s most iconic, and Ubisoft’s mascot.
Michel’s initial focus was on the creation of the UbiArt Framework, a proprietary engine he conceived and developed with a highly flexible architecture, which proffers an amazing amount of creative freedom for game developers. The UbiArt Framework allows for iteration with high-definition graphics and gameplay assets in real-time; one of the major keys to emerging concepts and creative, innovative gameplay. The ability to use the gorgeous hand-drawn artwork of our artists directly in-game is one of the reasons Rayman Origins looks so fresh and different… As the engine and the technology came together, it became clear to Michel that this was the right approach and time for Rayman to make his comeback.
3. This new episode is called Rayman Origins, does it mean that Rayman come back to his roots technically, with the 2D platformer, or we will know more about his past and the beginning of his history?
Both! As we discussed, with UbiART Framework, the team was focused on inventing a more efficient, flexible and creative approach to building games, and the 2D platformer genre in particular. Michel marks the returns to his roots with this game; the purest expression of the 2D platforming fun of Rayman. The “Origins” name also refers to the backstory of the game. You can discover how the Glade of Dreams was created; unearth the roots of some of its iconic characters, and answer the question everyone is asking: Uh… Why is Globox blue?!
4. Last year the game was presented to be launched only on digital platforms but it seems it will finally be a full retail game. When did you decide to switch and why?
The episodic format and digital distribution were well-suited to the team size and ambition last year. But given the positive feedback from fans both in-house and out, the team realized that the timing is right for a Next-Gen platformer, and that the brand and the fans deserved a full-blown experience.
5. At E3 2010, we saw a bit of co-op mode with Globox, could tell us more about it? Will the game be full co-op or only some parts would playable with a partner?
We’re really excited about featuring full 4-player coop, which allows friends to join in and drop out on the fly. Rayman and his best friend Globox are joined by two crafty Teensy sidekicks in Rayman Origins, bringing a social dimension to game with both collaboration and “couch” competition. You will see all four characters interact with each other in a variety of ways; smacking each other into oblivion to get at a precious collectible first, or helping each other survive a challenging boss battle is all part of the fun.
6. Concerning the gameplay, will there be any new features (as the slapping thing shown during the E3 trailer…)?
Again, we’re looking forward to unveiling 4-Player Co-Op at E3. You can go solo or have friends jump-in and jump-out at any time without affecting progression, and experience the fun and comedy in a whole new way. There are other new features including secret passages, a variety of collectibles, and a cool approach to respawning in co-op—a simple mechanic that makes for a ton of fun. We’ll also show you some of the unlockable abilities that you gain as you progress through the game. With new skills like the dive and swim, we’ve introduced gorgeous underwater environments, while the new wall sprint power will allow our heroes to defy gravity…
7. Is this new Rayman only intended to reach old fans and platformer lovers or do you think that everybody could play?
Rayman Origins has something for everyone. It is a platformer at its core, but has elements of many classic game genres: action-adventure, beat-em-up…and even a shooter feature! One of the first things you will notice is how much you can interact with the environments. You “awaken” the world, create paths dynamically as you progress, cause enemies to change their state radically, making for huge and hilarious surprises and emerging gameplay. One example of this is when the enemies blow-up like helium-filled balloons and can be used as temporary floating bumpers. Rayman Origins also incorporates some beat-em-up elements, which while unusual in classic platformers, are a logical extension of Rayman’s innate combat abilities, like the famous throw-punch.
8. How do you feel about the difficulty? Did you try to make it playable for everyone?
We’ve focused a lot on accessibility. The game is easy to pick up and play for anyone, but difficult to master. You can play through most of the game with only a couple of buttons, like any classic platformer. However, if you want to get all of the collectibles and unlockables, it will take some skill. As you progress through the game it gets more and more challenging. While we’ve designed ways for less skilled players to plumb the depths of the game, we’re confident any hardcore gamer will have to bring their best to beat it.
9. Rayman and Globox are known to embody a friendly and fun spirit. Did you manage to make it last in this new opus, and if yes, how?
This positive vibe—a unique mix of marvels and mischief, serenity and slapstick—at the heart of the Rayman brand is sublimed here in Origins, which plays like an interactive cartoon paradise. Rayman’s unique sense of humor is present in the interaction between our joyous band of heroic misfits, and in every interaction you have with the world that springs to life with your every kick, smack, and bounce. Even when you are pulverizing enemies (and each other) the result is hilarious… Whether it’s the platforms, the characters, or even small decorative details in the background, you will find humor and hijinks abound.
10. What would you like to say to Rayman’s fans which are looking forward to play the game?
Welcome home. 😀
