Spent the last few days in the Sony Cinematics offices in San Diego. They are the group that does most of the movies for Sony games, along with mocap, behind the scenes footage, stuff for HOME, and all kinds of other cool, hi-tech stuff that I'm not allowed to share. But they're a cool bunch and always fun to visit with.
So the crew there is handling the flicks for our latest game. And as I've said in a previous blog post, a number of issues have cropped up in the last month (budget, timing, story telling syles) that have necessitated rewrites to the script. But production is so close to starting that we figured we'd skip the rewrite script phase and jump right into storyboards, adjusting (and in some cases out and out rewriting) the story as we boarded.
So that's what we did, and that's what I've been doing all week.
Super producer Nick Kononelos rolled white boards into his office and we had a big ol story telling/story boarding jam session as we worked thru all the shots and the story. It was fun! Check it out:
And here we have uber talented Mr. Steve High. Great artist, great visual storyteller.
Check out his cool stuff here!
Steve and Tony split up the work over the week so we could get the whole story banged out (and I still gotta go back on Monday to finish it up with them). THEN the Sony producers gotta take the new boards and run it thru the Dream Killing Machine (AKA the spreadsheet they use to estimate and calculate the budgets) and then we'll prob. have to make some more adjustments so we can afford to make these movies. And then- once that is all done (should be next week)- we can roll into production of the game's movies. Whew!
Ok, last 2-3 days have been all story telling, now it's time- thank God- to get my ass back to the gameplay! Gotta run- great weekend ya'll....who is going to see KICK ASS?!?!? I know I am!
Later!
David
ps. check it out- just got tickets to these two super cool events in LA this May!
Harrison Ford doing Q/A after a screening of Empire Strikes Back at the Arclight! And all the cash for tix goes to charity!
Can't wait! May's gonna rock!
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29 comments:
I'm gonna see kick ass tonight right after I get out of work. Any chance will see the game at E3 this summer? if not are you gonna be there cause I'd like to meet you and say hi.
I am not sure if I'm coming to E3 or not. I REALLY LOVED watching it live on the net last yea (thought the live gamespot coverage was really, really good). It was real cool having it on in the background while I worked on the game. It was kinda better than being there live, you know?
I heard last year's show was really great tho (just the right size) so I may drive up for a day just to check it out in person. If I do, I'll let ya'll know!
David
Seems pretty sweet! I do that sort of thing with my writer friends a good chunk of the time, and it always turns out to be fun and interesting.
Since you've been talking story for the last few days, I thought you might be interested in this blog o' mine. I deconstruct the stories of video games ('cause I love 'em so damn much, and because story is getting pretty important).
With God of War 3 out, I was reminded of how awesome the first game was. After a good surge of nostalgia, I decided to critique God of War as my first entry (no worries, it's pretty favorable).
I'm not sure if it's offensive to post the link here, so I'll hold back. If you are interested, it shouldn't be too hard to find. (just click on my name)
Anyway, good luck with the new game and everything. I'm sure it will all be sweet!
good stuff :-) i love to see the behind the scenes work! keep up the good work mate!
Don't let the dream killing machine win :P
Great look behind the scenes. I'd love to see the results as the process goes on but I don't think you'll be able to do that )=
Sony needs to let you announce the game already.
Anyways take care and keep up the good work.
Mr. Jaffe,
I got the God of War Collection for Christmas and this week I had the opportunity to play God of War for the first time ever, and I beat last night. Admittedly, I cursed you and your family during the vertical Styx Spinning-Teeth-of-Death-and-Questionable-Collision-Detection part, but aside from that the game is completely incredible. (I loved Twisted Metal so I have no idea why I never picked up GoW.)
After playing GoW, a five year old game, I have to say, I cannot wait to see what you have in store next on the almighty ps3.
Cheers and thanks,
Mike
Dude, Kick Ass is one of the best films I've seen in ages.
Nick Cage is perfect in this film and I usually think he's a bit of a crap actor.
Hope you enjoy it, I've been to see it two times already.
i know what the second story board pic is, i'm not going to write it on here because it'll be erased, lol cant wait tell E3 2010.
Thanks for the insight! There is a lot of helpful information within those links.
Best Attorney
Oh my goooshh..I can't belive you got tickets to teh Empire screening with Ford! DUUUUUUDE!! THATS SO FUCKING AWEESSOOOOMEE!!.....I'm so jealous..Maan..I bet you and Goldsmith will be there..and I'll be stuck at home. Arrghh...I would do ANYTHING to get there.
The Harrison Ford Q&A sounds awesome. I'd love to see Empire on the big screen again. I know I must've seen it when they were re-released in the late 90's, but I don't remember specifically going out to see it.
This is off topic, but were there any plastic God of War 7-11 cups made? I could only find paper ones.
I saw on your twitter that you had an ending in mind for GOW from the beginning. If you're allowed to, would you mind sharing how YOU'RE ending would have gone? I'd love to hear it! I was slightly disappointed with the 3rd games ending. Although it was a fantastic game!
I would love to share my take on how GOW would have ended (and what I woulda done with the story) but I don't know if that would be cool with Sony (maybe they will use it someday...heck, I'd like to do a comic book with my different take for Sony, kind of like a WHAT IF story, using the loom of fate to explain how there are many different ways the Titans Vs. Gods battle could have gone and here is another such way,etc)...but I will check with them let them know.
Not to take anything from GOW 3 as I've said many times, I simply loved it!
The first GoW was pretty damn good, I have to say. The story is pretty solid, and there's a lot of literary devices in use that many people may not have seen.
The second game really disappointed me, story-wise (and I kind of saw this coming, when I heard you weren't as involved, Mr. Jaffe). The third game tried to fix some of the second's mistakes, but couldn't move to much with the leash put on it by GoW 2.
What saddened me the most was how Kratos' character seemed to have been thrown out the window. In the first game, he's a plethora of emotion. The second took that away, as his unbridled rage was the selling point, I guess. I was warmed to see some of that emotional depth come back in 3.
Is that a "C" on the back of the dude on the second pic?
Come on, let us finally know what it is, I can't stand it anymore! :)
Could you see yourself working on a GOW game in the future David?
Sony' said it's not the end of the franchise it'd interesting to see your take on a future game with new characters.
Could you see yourself working on a GOW game in the future David?
Sony' said it's not the end of the franchise it'd interesting to see your take on a future game with new characters.
Oh ok. I guess it makes sense that Sony might not want your rendition of the story out there. BUT...if they DO allow it, make sure you put it on the blog :)
I check your blog everyday. I love seeing behind the scenes stuff of what goes on during the game making process. COMPLETELY looking forward to playing your next game. I own EVERY Twisted Metal game, Calling All Cars, AND God of War and you haven't disappointed me yet! Keep up the amazing work Jaffe!
David,
You blogged a while ago when you got to finish God of war 3 on the weekend before it hit the public, you would share more of your thoughts about the game. I'm sad that the series is over and still think that storywise, the 2nd game was the best. Do you think games that are part of a trilogy often suffer from the same problem like movies do (exceptions aside) where the 2nd seems to be the best and the 3rd was just done as a means to an end? (Spiderman 3, Xmen 3)I get the feeling that Sony would have a hard time topping Uncharted 2 and while God of War 3 was incredible - the story just left me wanting for more in the end. Kratos spent over two games worth just to kill Zeus
David,
Just wanted to stop by and say how much respect I have for you. You're definitely in my top 3 favorite devs of all time with Ted Price and Hideo Kojima. I just appreciate the honesty with which you present yourself and your games, no bullshit. I wish you nothing but the best with the new game man.(please be twisted metal lol)
Very Respectfully,
josh
Hi David,
Check out Ebert's latest anti-video game rant: http://tinyurl.com/y5265cw
Looks awesome, sir. Cannot wait for its unveiling! The more you keep talking about it, the more I really want to get my hands on it. I'll be there day 1!
I love violence!
Haha what kind of crazy game is going to come out of these storyboards. Movie making two months before E3 though, sounds like hope to me.
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