Hey Ubisoft, we'd really love it if you could work out some arrangement that lets, say, Australian and Japanese Steam members have access to the game via the service. Just a polite request!

Far Cry Movie Premieres Oct 2 in Germany [Big Download]

Very early on we knew that we wanted to go a completely different direction. Instead of going for the tropical island and trying to go for hyper realism, we changed the setting. First of all we wanted to have a really, really credible environment, but we didn't want to replicate anybody's vacation photos.

Probably smart. Who wants to play somebody's vacation photos anyway?

Far Cry 2 Different [Ubisoft] [Pic]

The three titles are called Rapid Onset, Sudden Thrust and Vital Passage, which is a Freudian trilogy if I've ever heard one. Seriously, the DIA's Bruce Bennet told Wired that the games are more effective than daylong powerpoint torture sessions at getting training and a message across. And I can dig that.

DIA aren't the only ones using video games to train analysts. The Army has a game training interrogators that is entitled "Intelligence and Electronic Warfare Tactical Proficiency Trainer Human Intelligence Control Cell," which is based on Far Cry's architecture.

Fascinating and enjoyable read, of course. And, ulterior motive, I know someone who also might kinda sorta do spooky intelligence shit and that person's monitored my Interwebs traffic before, so I'm wondering how soon after I post this that I'll get an email from ... oh Holy Jesus that was fast.

US Spies Use Custom Video Games to Learn How to Think [Wired]

This trailer for Uwe Boll's film adaptation of Far Cry is sure to put asses in movie theater seats. Snappy catchphrases in the making like "I haven't said anything about being simple" and the gleaming star power of Til Schweiger are going to go a long way to ensuring that Crytek's game becomes a massive blockbuster. Is it me or is there an out of place punch-in-the-face sound effect near the end?

By John Gaudiosi

MONTE CARLO—Cevat Yerli, co-founder, president and CEO of German game developer Crytek, recently was a featured speaker (for the second year running) at Imagina 2008, the annual 3D technology conference in Monaco. Following his discussion on the lessons learned from developing Far Cry and Crysis on CryENGINE and CryENGINE 2, he spoke about the changing face of game development.

Today's landscape has fewer independent game studios, especially on the heels of Electronic Arts acquisition of Bioware and Pandemic. Along with Epic Games and id Software, CryTek remains one of the top independent game makers in the world today.

"The challenge is in the balance of creativity versus funding," said Yerli. "The increasing budgets, more demanding platforms and customer behavior makes it difficult to sustain as an independent company. However, at the same time, new opportunities arise such as in casual online games, but also on games that are on simpler platforms such as Nintendo Wii, Xbox Live or Playstation Networks in the form of smaller game experiences, including but not limited to arcade experiences. I believe (digital distribution) is an opportunity to sustain independence and successful titles through these channels may even be more commercially lucrative than titles released through traditional retail business."

Other opportunities for development include mobile platforms and the professional modding communities. Yerli said the mod community for Crysis (www.crymod.com) is quite active. He added that "if a team would excel with a certain quality development, we would consider it as a professional product."

The advantages of being independent in today's game world is having full creative ownership of one's intellectual properties and the ability to be flexible with which direction to explore next, according to Yerli.

When asked if Crytek would be open to being acquired by a big publisher one day, he responded, "If it were a cultural fit, yes, but we would have strong requirements in addition."

But at this stage, having founded the studio in 1997, Yerli said he doesn't really think about leaving his independent state, although the studio has been approached numerous times since releasing the hits Far Cry and Crysis.

In addition to creating original IP, Crytek is building a business around its technology, but at a slower pace, at least for now, than companies like Epic Games and id Software.

"CryEngine 2 is actively being licensed, but at a lower frequency, intentionally, to fulfill our obligations, to learn from this and to sustain a qualitative landscape," said Yerli. "With GDC we will start looking into a multi-platform offering of CryEngine 2, which was the biggest demand so far and the single biggest difference between us and the competition. With CryEngine 2 now running on multiplatform, we offer the most complete 3D engine qualitatively and productively."

After spending three years developing Far Cry and learning a lot from the process, Yerli is looking forward to the new game from Ubisoft, which is being developed in Montreal.

"I honestly love the game Far Cry 2 and its development, even though the only relevance from Far Cry to Far Cry 2 is its name," said Yerli, referring to the new game's realistic setting in Africa and the absence of any sci-fi elements. "Everything else seems to be a new game, which I am looking forward to play."

Far Cry will also be heading to movie theaters—likely in 2009. Controversial film director Uwe Boll has wrapped the film version of Crytek's original game. Yerli said that licensing the film rights to fellow German Boll was the right business decision at the right time and they had good talks with the director.

"Unfortunately, we have not been involved in the film since very early when it was a script," said Yerli. "However, I think the script changed and improved radically since then, at least I hope it has, since I can't wait to see the movie. It will be so exciting to watch the Far Cry movie."

When asked about Boll's other videogame adaptations, Yerli said he has mixed opinions.

"Most importantly, I would say he is financially successful," said Yerli. "Critically, sure, they're not the best movies, but he knows that, too."

Since story was such a strong part of the development of Crysis—something Yerli admitted was not the case for Far Cry, which he said had a B-movie story line, the translation of Crysis to the big screen should be easier.

"A Crysis movie is definitely planned," said Yerli. "We are in active talks already. I think we will close this topic before the end of this year."

As a developer, Yerli said the goal is to mature into a multi-team studio with innovation and quality at its core. Currently, the team is looking into new challenges and also is evaluating Crysis 2, but nothing can be said and announced officially.

Given the fact that Far Cry took three years to make and Crysis four years, Yerli joked that the next game from the studio will be released in five years.

"No seriously, the biggest lessen learned from our previous games is to focus on efficiency in your organization," said Yerli. "The deployment of this efficiency is critical. I believe we will release our next game quicker than Crysis, so I estimate a two to three year cycle."

We have Wii development but it's very small, it's more like testing ideas. We don't have a project at this stage... Nintendo Wii is certainly on the radar, we will do something for Nintendo Wii — the question is when. I think some time maybe in three or four years, but nobody knows when.

"Everything's just bigger. From a business point of view, we have more support from EA and superior distribution and marketing power behind us, more freedom," Yerli said.

Like any failed relationship, it all comes down to one thing. Trust.

"There were too many emotions involved back then, it was very passionate... It worked out, but it drained on the level of trust between us," Yerli revealed.

EA offers more support than Ubisoft, says Crytek boss [GamesIndustry.biz]

We'll leave it to the hardcore Far Cry fans to let us know about any bombshells in the group that we didn't notice. Because as of right now, we're thinking it's a lot of pretty concept art— pretty, forbidden concept art.

16 Far Cry 2 Images Leaked [cvg]

We're not gonna lie... it's pretty boring sitting here waiting for our turn but regardless we are having an AWESOME time thanks to you! You will notice from this first batch of pics that Handsome Tom is no longer a scientist as we originally were told. He is now a mercenary. You will also notice that I am no longer a scientist. I am now an EVIL scientist (at least in my mind).

The GameTap client for Macintosh will rely on Cider, the "wrapper" that allows Windows-based games to play on Mac OSX. That means some of GameTap's offerings won't be immediately available to Mac gamers, including releases like Sam & Max, Tomb Raider: Anniversary and Far Cry.

GameTap for Mac users will, however, have access to over 500 classic games, including titles released for the Sega Saturn and Dreamcast when the full service is launched. Michael McWhertor

GameTap to bring classic gaming service for Mac [MacWorld]

Poor Uwe Boll. Not only is he unnaturally short, he is also a rotten filmmaker. The "director" recently try to eBay a role in his Far Cry adaptation. Bidding started at €2,498 (US $3,360). Not did the winner get five days on the set with Uwe, he or she would also have to cover things like the flight and the hotel. Any takers? No, it seems. The idea that Uwe thinks people would pay to be in his movies, let alone watch them, is HILARIOUS. Brian Ashcraft

Boll's Aution [eBay Thanks, Sebastian!]

Another year brings more Uwe Boll cinematic shitty. The chowderheaded filmmaker talks about his upcoming Far Cry film:

Every other game I did so far, the game makers were happy I did a movie to support their franchise. With Far Cry, Ubisoft wants me to make a good movie because this is already a big franchise for them and they want to keep it going. I think they will be more involved in the whole process than the other companies before. We always want to make a good movie. In the past, the game companies never co-promoted the movie or even had a new game come out with the movie.

You know, if Ubisoft really wanted to make a good movie, they would've hired a good director. Baffling on why Ubisoft roped in the German director, infamous for making craptacular game movies. My take: Uwe Boll must be the greatest sweet talker on Earth. Brian Ashcraft

Uwe Boll's 2007 [1Up]

If only all game trailers could be this clever. Flynn De Marco

Visuals were posted for the following upcoming games:

Assassins Creed
Far Cry 2
Far Cry PSP
Far Cry Wii
Lost
Naruto 360
Open Season
Prince of Persia 4
Rainbow 6: Vegas
Rocky PSP
Splinter Cell Conviction
Surf's Up
Star Wars PSP
Shaun White Snowboarding
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles GBA

The file containing the goods has already been removed, but not before a number of GAFers snagged it and uploaded dozens of screens and pieces of concept art to ImageShack. Since there is just so much to look at, we'll just direct you to the thread that started it all. Michael McWhertor

another ubi f*ck up: 2 GB rar with concept art for unannounced games on FTP [NeoGAF]

GoNintendo is speculating that Far Cry — the shooter that makes even top-of-the-line systems shudder and weep — is coming to the Wii, a console that is basically an overclocked Gamecube with a magic wand attached. Their proof? A screenshot from Amazon.ca, which calls the game Far Cry Nintendo Wii but doesn't know what platform it's for.

Take with a grain of salt, not just because of the retail source, but the fact that you'd have to link a hundred Wiis together into a sort of supercomputer cluster to get it to render a single, sparsely-foliaged Far Cry jungle. Florian Eckhardt

*RUMOR* Far Cry Wii confirmation? [Go Nintendo]

Under the terms of the new deal with Crytek, Ubisoft will take ownership of all the existing Far Cry IP, as well as a perpetual license to use the version of the CryENGINE technology implemented in Far Cry.

The agreement means that Ubisoft will be able to develop sequels in the franchise - which has become a major property for the French publisher, with Far Cry Instincts Evolution (Xbox) and Far Cry Instincts Predator (Xbox 360) both shipping this week.

It also grants Ubisoft and its studios the ability to use the Far Cry engine to develop other titles, which is another string to the company's bow in development terms - with a statement this morning outlining the firm's enthusiasm about taking the engine "to the next level."

I'm sure Ubi broke out in a cold sweat when they heard Cry was working on a title for Electronic Arts, this should help some of their execs sleep better at night.

Far Cry Gets Pwned [Blue's News]

Crysis just went on our must-have list for when it's released in Q4 this year.

Crysis by Crytek [YouTube]

Using the Crytek engine (which also seems to mandate that each game incorporate "Cry" into the title), EA announced Crysis, a brand new addition to the FPS family. The game will feature weapon and armor customization, but hopefully no more uses of the word "Cry."

Electronic Arts, Crytek Announce Crysis [GamaSutra]

While Far Cry Instincts bears the name of its PC predecessor, the content is supposed to be all new. Instead of simply releasing a port of the superb Far Cry, Ubi Soft Montreal made Instincts' gameplay a new experience. While the storyline of Instincts is a retelling of the original, the game tries to flesh out some plot details all while offering more of that hot gun porn I can't seem to get enough of.