News - Lionhead: Lionhead: Weiteres unbekanntes Projekt in der Entwicklung?

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Microsoft and Lionhead will announce a revision of 2005 Lionhead's The
Movies for Natal and the avatars, with Xbox Live compatibility.


- Staging Xbox 360 avatars instead of the original models from 2005
Lionhead's The Movies,
- Ability to start shooting via the vocal command "Action !", thanks
to the Project Natal,
- Management of the studio is mainly handled via a solid controller,
- Shooting and post-production processes are mainly handled via the
Project Natal,
- The clothes purchased by users through Xbox Live Market Place for
their avatar can be freely used as costumes (Halo, Dead Space T-shirt,
etc..) into the game with no dispute on the copyrights,
- The cars purchased or customized, bound to the user's Xbox Live
racing game Joy Ride account, can be used,
- Access to movie upload is only granted to Xbox Live Gold subscribers
(hence the need to promote a solo game with studio management),
- Movies can be shared beyond the Xbox Live Gold section (ex: Zune HD,
Xbox Live Silver subscribers, Live Anywhere, etc.),
- Downloadable Content primarily focuses on new props to decorate the
sets, new sets/FX, after user's votes,
- Real trademarks from various companies can appear on billboards
during the game,
- The cast for each movie can be done among the avatars of Xbox Live
user's friends,
- Setting an event like the Xbox Live Oscar / Golden Globes ceremony
with a meeting of subscribers and awards, inspired by 1 versus 100.

The benefits for Microsoft to bring the Movies on Xbox Live are :

- To provide Downloadable Content on a regular basis with no negative
impact on the image of the product (as it's only decoration that does
not interfere with the meaning of the movie),
- To drag people, via the popular phenomenon of User Generated
Content, into the Xbox Live Gold section,
- To ensure non-stop advertisement of strong Xbox licenses (one can
imagine that many Halo or Gears of War movies created by users will
pop up and be shared through many networks),
- To demonstrate the simplified use via Natal,
- To capitalize on the success of avatars,
- To get contracts with various companies (the in game billboard concept),
- To strengthen the commitment of the user to his gamertag thus to the
Xbox (or Live Anywhere) brand.


However the difficulties for the studio Lionhead are currently as follows :

- Most of the ressources (production & post-production) are focused on
Milo & Kate and Fable III until mid-2010,
- Need to re-work on scales as the avatars are slightly deformed characters,
- Collaboration with the studio Rare (avatars, of course, but Lionhead
really needs to simplify the studio management part and make it
playable via a joystick ; the experience of Viva Pinata could serve
them well),
- Possible need for an artistic overhaul,
- Adapt command to the Project Natal,
- Hard drive required for the user,
- Unexpected marketing decisions from Microsoft.

Now that a Lionhead's The Movies project can arise as part of the
means of expression of an already established community like the Xbox
Live (or Live Anywhere) community, should guarantee it a profound
success until long-term (very low entry cost for a brand new user ;
success based on an ex anté community).