E3 2009: Avatar First Look
James Cameron's next film, spied in 3D videogame form.
June 2, 2009 - The hype around James Cameron's next film, Avatar, is astounding. Immense secrecy and a sterling track record have paved the way to Internet fervor. Though I've still yet to see any of Avatar the movie, I find myself feeling like one of the world's foremost authorities on the film outside of those associated with the product. That's thanks to the past 24 hours at the Electronic Entertainment Expo. During that time I spoke with James Cameron, Jon Landou and received an extended demo of the Ubisoft videogame that rests in the same world as the upcoming film.
The videogame demo was introduced by Jon Landau, the producer on both Cameron's Titanic and the upcoming Avatar. "This is the first time we're really showing the world of Avatar," he began. I glanced around the room. Concept art was hanging from the wall, showing off a few alien plants and animals. More art was scrolling on the massive 103 inch television being used to demo the game. This is a moment more than 14 years in the making. It was that long ago that Cameron first wrote the script for Avatar. With technology where it was, he decided to shelve it and wait for processing power to catch up to his movie's vision.
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Technology has exploded in the past decade, both in the high-end studios that create CG graphics and in home videogame consoles. When Cameron felt the time was right, he picked the project up again. "One of the first things we did," Landau claims, "is look for a videogame partner."
Avatar is set in the future. The movie begins on Earth, following the story of Jake Sully. This 20-something year old war veteran is paralyzed from the waist down. Landau described himself as a man who always wanted to fight for something but never had something worth fighting for. He finds his cause on a distant planet, Pandora. This lush, jungle planet is home to such amazements as floating mountains in the sky, vicious creatures such as the viper wolf, and 900 foot tall trees. It also happens to be the home of a superconductor mineral called Unobtanium that is valued at 20 million dollars an ounce. This is fueling a war amongst humans expanding into the area and the tribal natives, the Na'vi. The Na'vi happen to be 10 feet tall blue beings with tails.
Jake's consciousness is put into an Avatar, a hybrid creature that can breathe the Pandoran air. It isn't long before he falls in love with a Na'vi female and finds himself fighting against his fellow humans.
![[IMG]](http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/990/990212/avatar-the-game-20090602090258777-000.jpg)
Imagine this popping out of the screen at you.
Avatar the videogame takes place on Pandora in a time before the movie. The story is totally standalone, though those story tidbits are important to the game as well. You begin the game in the shoes of the RDA (Resources Development Administration) military and take up the fight against the Na'vi in a third-person shooter. And if you have a television capable of displaying it, you'll play the game with 3D stereoscopic visuals.
Ubisoft assured us that the game would look fine on any television, but the clear draw of both the movie and the game is the 3D immersive visuals. The videogame representation of Pandora is quite the looker in 3D. The world is vivid and bright. Pollen whisps through the air between you and the background. Your character pops out from the screen, running towards the horizon as he brushes though undergrowth. Bullets rip by -- literally over your shoulder -- from friendly fire while your shells spill out in front of the character. The most impressive visuals came when the scene shifted to night. Bioluminescence exists in every plant and animal causing the entire landscape to glow bright blues and purples. Plodding through a small pond at night splashes up violet water as glowing amphibians scurry under foot. If this is any indication, the movie is going to be stunning.
On Pandora, danger lurks around every corner with viper wolves roaming in packs, hellfire wasps, hammerhead creatures that look like rhinos crossed with hammerhead sharks. Thankfully, the humans have a few tricks up their sleeves as well. Personal choppers called Samsons and huge mechs can be used for extra firepower and mobility. As you progress through the game, you'll grab EP (effort points) that can be used to unlock new powers and equipment.
I got to see a few of these powers. An active camouflage can be turned on to blend in with the jungle surroundings. There's also an air strike that can be called in if you find yourself swarmed by viper wolves. Other skills include a quick dash, a repulsion power that fends off alien life momentarily and a scan that will give you the stats on the local fauna.
![[IMG]](http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/990/990212/avatar-the-game-20090602090243277-000.jpg)
It's a third-person shooter, and there is no shortage of heavy machinary.
EP is also used to determine which faction controls the numerous sectors of the Pandora world. You see, mid way through Avatar you're given the choice to continue fighting for the RDA or switching sides and taking on the role of an Avatar to fight for the natives.
If you choose to fight for the Na'vi, you'll be put in the shoes of a 10 foot jolly blue giant. As a child of the jungle, the wildlife is largely friendly. I got a look at the player riding atop a massive winged creature called a leonoptrix, soaring through the sky amidst the floating mountains. The Na'vi fight with spiked staffs and massive arrows that can split a human head in two. And they're really, really strong. This makes for a pretty fair fight against the technologically advanced humans.
![[IMG]](http://xbox360media.ign.com/xbox360/image/article/990/990212/avatar-the-game-20090602090241590-000.jpg)
The leonoptrix is big enough to take down a copter.
Seeing a wonderfully vivid world brought to life in 3D is quite a treat. The game itself looked pretty fun, too, with a feel that was a bit reminiscent of a smoother and more fluid Lost Planet. If nothing else, it got me excited for the movie which is far more than most movie tie-in games can say. If you're looking for an early look at the Avatar world of James Cameron, the game is your best bet. It's coming later this year and is due out in stores just before the movie.
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