Wii Gameplay Q&A with Daniel Bisson, Creative Director

1.    Can you tell us what your goal was when developing Avatar on the Wii ?
The first goal was to not make a direct adaptation of the movie, but to expand upon it.  When we first saw the concept of Avatar (the movie) we immediately knew that the potential was there to create something awesome around it.  Most of the members of the team had worked on some great titles here at Ubisoft, such as Assassin’s Creed, Tom Clancy games and Prince of Persia.  They all really wanted to take advantage of this experience to create a unique Wii storyline based on the beautiful and rich world of Avatar.
The second goal was to push the envelope in terms of the game experience.  We were inspired by James Cameron’s vision (using the latest technologies to bring to life a world that existed purely in his mind, stereoscopic 3D that would push the envelope on the film-going experience, etc…).  We knew that in order to achieve an equally lofty goal, we needed to push the limit of the graphics available to us on the Wii to a whole new level.  James Cameron’s world is lush, rich, and full of life.  We knew from the start that recreating his vision would be our greatest challenge considering the constraints of the hardware. We also knew that we wouldn’t be able to support stereoscopic 3D in a satisfying way, but that by fully using the strengths of the Wii, we would be able to reach a unique level of interactivity.

2.    Is the storyline the same as on NG consoles?
The two stories are totally different.  In the Wii version, we see the world through the eyes of a Na’vi.  On the Next-Gen title, we either choose to play as an Avatar or a Corporation Soldier.

3.    Are you taking advantage of the accessories of the Wii?  In which ways?  Are they essential to enjoying the game?
We are supporting both the Wii Balance Board and the Wii Motion Plus peripherals. In the Wii version, you play as a Na’vi warrior that connects symbiotically with his environment, like all Na’vis can. To recreate the experience of connection in a unique way, we recreated this connection, or interface by squeezing the very best of the Wii peripherals. For example in the game, you’ll get to fly on the back of the mighty Banshee, a large flying creature.   You can actually do it by hopping up on your Wii Balance Board and shifting your weight to direct your mount, much like how a Na’vi would subtly influence the flight of his Banshee in the film.  In another instance, you’ll take control of a large stinging insect, which you can accomplish by tilting the Wii Motion Plus in all three axes.  The insect will mimic your movements exactly.  The use of all of the peripherals is there only to help create an additional level of depth and immersion into the game experience; they are not mandatory to enjoy the game.

4.    The Nintendo Wii is known as a “social” console.  How do you hope to appeal to both frequent gamers and more casual gamers?
We knew that by developing a game on the Wii, we had to develop it with the potential for engaging in a social experience (i.e. sharing it with your friends!).  We also knew that the gameplay style, what we refer to as our “predator gameplay” would be way more fun to play with a partner, so we decided to add a co-operative “jump-in/jump-out” gameplay feature.   It’s kind of like watching a pair of wolves working together to hunt and take down their prey.  We also wanted to reinforce the cooperation between the two players by offering a shared experience on a single screen.  Both players would see each other in all situations, making it easier to develop coop tactics, like setting an ambush or creating a diversion.

5.    Can you tell us a bit more about the variety of missions?
A point that was important for us was to provide a great variety of missions where the player would be able to discover the universe of Avatar in number of unique ways.  As a Na’vi, you’ll fight the human invaders in the deep forest where you’ll use your environment to your advantage, you will travel through Corporation settlements where you’ll adapt to survive, you’ll ride your Banshee among the floating mountains, you’ll escort and protect a Hammerhead, you’ll infiltrate hi-tech Corporation compounds protected by surveillance devices, and flee from helicopters in hot pursuit.  The experience should be a blockbuster ride from your first encounter with the Corporation, to the very end of this epic adventure.

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