Rayman Origins

[NotaKuroi]

Founded gameplay in HD!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQX_6ovlPdU

[CheatCat]

We already know that.

I want to see that Mr Caffeine hanged down a tree, seriously.

Still, lol @ I'm not afraid of a few dick jokes.

As concerns Origins, I was really impressed by the Moody Clouds section, you guys noticed the tiny mosquito carrying Globox? Not to mention the warship which happens to be quite reminiscent of Rayman 2... The Tetris part in the food world was damn awesome as well, I simply hope the rest of the game will be as good as the demo! Last but not least, I was glad to see how much importance the game was given.

Edit: now that's an awesome trailer!

It looked more that globox was carrying the tiny mosquito.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FT4rDaY3AU

It's private.

[AJack]

Can't wait to get this in my Playstation. The e3 trailer (not the gameplay one) is a riot - it looks and sounds amazing.

[Hunchman801]

Did you guys notice the red Globoxes at the very beginning of the water level?

I watched the trailer again, and I just hope Mr Dark won't turn out to be a Teensie... or three of them!

[Paradigm]

Michael Ancel looks like a young Gary Numan.

[Lianna]

Watched the gameplay.

[Hunchman801]

I have added a couple entries about Origins on the portal, and a real big article should be coming soon. At least it's gonna look like we're alive to newcomers

[spiraldoor]

Did you guys notice the red Globoxes at the very beginning of the water level?

Yes, I think the area with the buildings on stilts is some sort of Globox village.

I watched the trailer again, and I just hope Mr Dark won't turn out to be a Teensie... or three of them!

Perhaps the game will end with Mr Dark getting locked in a cage with the King of the Teensies...

[Hunchman801]

New pictures are available here.

Well, nothing new for those who have seen the gameplay video but at least we have them in high quality.

[Danone]

This game will available for Wii?

[AJack]

This game will available for Wii?

[Haruka]

Did you guys had difficulties to sleep today after watching the conference? I did.

I even doodled this at school in this morning: http://haruka-tavares.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d3i9qo8

Yeah, I also found the trailer excelent, aswell the gameplay footage. I also noticed the red Globox in the beggining of the water level.

Whoa, well the "three-heads" might be just grey hair and a single Teensie head. But who knows?

Apparently Mr. Dark is a Teensie afterall? No one speculated this before, neither me.

I also believe that we have a more extended world of RRR's GBA version food/deserts world in Rayman Origins, by have looked to the orange slice.

[NotaKuroi]

Guys, maybe we write petition to developers about PC-release Rayman Origins???

[Matyuv]

Whoa, well the "three-heads" might be just grey hair

Since they wave in the wind, I believe that is correct.

[Hunchman801]

In fact, this scene was not shown in the videos:

[NotaKuroi]

In fact, this scene was not shown in the videos:

Where you found it??

[Haruka]

In fact, this scene was not shown in the videos:

That quite reminds me the Rayman 2's skeleton arms that appeared in the Cave of Bad Dreams and the Tomb of the Ancients. I speculate that those arms in the picture might be actually the arms of the owning creatures before getting without skin, for some kind of reason. (Time passage?)

Speaking about the Cave of Bad Dreams, I wonder if Jano will make an appearance in the ending of the game. If I remember well, Jano is the Guardian of the Cave of Bad Dreams, whose job was to imprison all the Polokus' nightmares in it.

[Matyuv]

An interview with Gabrielle Shrager, Rayman Origins lead story writer, here (French), together with some more pictures.

edit: Hunch posted the interview in English in the next post.

[Hunchman801]

@NotaKuroi: Read the above posts and you'll find out

Also, the article from jeuxvideo.com says that all beaten enemies will turn into balloons (like the playable characters) for a very short while, during which it will be possible to use them as platforms.

ORSUM FOLLOWS:

I got the official E3 package from a colleague who has access to such data for professional reasons, and the interview of Gabrielle Shrager is available in six languages. Here it is in English:

Question Q&A Rayman Origins

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.

There's also a couple new pictures, I'll post them later (I'm at work after all ).

[Matyuv]

Ah, thank you. What a relief to read it in proper English instead of Google Translate.