Comic-Con 2009 Panel Recaps

Assassin's Creed II: Video Games and Hollywood Converge - Yannis Mallat (CEO, Ubisoft Montreal), Pierre Raymond (president & head of operations, HYBRIDE Technologies, a VFX studio involved on 300, Sin City), and key team members discuss the convergence between Hollywood and video games, featuring the fastest-selling new franchise in video game history: Assassin's Creed. This session touches on the evolution of creating and distributing content while highlighting the bridge between two different spheres--gaming and entertainment--to create the Assassins Creed II universe. Plus, panelists reveal new information on the new Assassin's Creed II series coming out this fall.

The Halo Franchise: What's Next - Frank O'Connor (franchise development director for Halo) will be joined by a number of special guests to discuss how Halo is evolving into a robust entertainment franchise and what's coming in the future.

Writing for the Computer Gaming Industry - Great storytelling forms the foundation for immersive games that emotionally draw players into a gaming universe. Veteran game writers Neal Hallford (Betrayal at Krondor, Dungeon Siege), Chris Avellone (Knights of the Old Republic, Neverwinter Nights II), Anne Toole (The Witcher), Wynne McLaughlin (Star Wars: The Old Republic, Command & Conquer: Renegade), Haris Orkin (Call of Juarez 2: Bound in Blood), and John Zuur Platten (F.E.A.R 2: Project Origin, Ghostbusters) engage in a lively discussion of their art. Moderated by Jana Hallford (co-author of Swords & Circuitry: A Designer's Guide to Computer Role-Playing Games).

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves: The First Active Cinematic Videogame - Representatives from Naughty Dog, the premiere Playstation 3 developer, discuss how they utilize the Naughty Dog 2.0 engine to hit a turning point in technology innovation by re-creating reality and capturing human emotion. Creative director Amy Hennig and various cast members of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves discuss how for the first time, through high-quality cinematic presentation of scenes, characters, and dialogue, players become an active participant in the cinematic experience.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - This look at the whole spectrum of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (from comics to toys to TV to movies to video games) celebrates the 25th anniversary of the world-famous brand. Moderator Gary Richardson (CEO, Mirage Studios) discusses the evolution of the Turtles with those people instrumental in the characters' incredible success. Panelists include Kevin Eastman (co-creator of TMNT), Lloyd Goldfine (supervising producer, 4Kids Productions), Steve Barron (director of the original TMNT movie), Karl Aaronian (senior VP of marketing, Giochi Preziosi U.S.A.), Matt Leunig (associate producer, Ubisoft), and Galen Walker (producer of new TMNT movie slated for 2011).

Dead Space Extraction - Glen Schofield, GM of Visceral Games and the creator of the award-winning Dead Space, and Antony Johnston, Dead Space comic writer, will discuss utilizing interactive gaming medium to portray emotion of story in ways that books & film traditionally display. Voice actors from the game discuss their craft and the unique talents required to adapt their presence into Dead Space Extraction. Visceral Games' executive producer Steve Papoutsis discusses the implementation of story and talent into games and the art of crafting a believable, epic story into this fall's Wii exclusive Dead Space Extraction.

SEGA/Platinum Games: The Making of Bayonetta - Famed director Hideki Kamiya and producer Yusuke Hashimoto provide an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of Bayonetta, a visually unparalleled action game that combines unique visual aesthetics with supernatural combat. In this war between angels and a heat-packing, hair-manipulating witch, it introduces--literally and figuratively--a new breed of video game heroine. Developed by PlatinumGames for SEGA, this is their next big project on the heels of MadWorld, one of the most lauded games for its groundbreaking innovation. Audience members will be able to participate in a Q&A session with some other surprises in the works.

The Stories of DC Universe Online featuring Jim Lee and Marv Wolfman - Jim Lee (Batman: Hush) and Marv Wolfman (The New Teen Titans) have joined forces to help create DC Universe Online. Jim, Marv, and key members of the development team from Sony Online Entertainment talk about how storylines are being built into this upcoming online action game at every level.

Activision/Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2 - Marvel and Activision have a long history of bringing some of the world's most popular and beloved comic book storylines to video games and their fans. That pedigree will continue with a number of Stan Lee's famed Marvel characters inspired by Mark Millar's Civil War storyline, brought to life in Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2. Learn firsthand the various facets that go into transforming a comic book's storyline into a captivating video game, including voice work, writing, development, and creativity, all the while evolving with the high-definition environment of the gaming world. Join Stan Lee, game voice-over actors Armin Shimmerman and Fred Tatasciore, and members from Activision's development studio, Vicarious Visions, to gain insight and a preview of the imagination, creative process and technology used to develop some of the most advanced superhero games ever.

From Chainsaws to Renegade Spies: 101 Ways to Save the Universe Only on Xbox 360 - Xbox 360 has established itself as the home of the best action games in the industry, bar none. Join the creative teams behind Ubisoft's Splinter Cell: Conviction, Valve's Left 4 Dead 2, BioWare's Mass Effect 2, Bungie's Halo 3 ODST, and Epic's Cliff Bleszinski (Gears of War) as they discuss developing their blockbuster franchises exclusively on Xbox 360.

Save South Park One Snowball at a Time - South Park has a new video game coming out this fall that's chock full of comic violence and foul language, and it's being made by Microsoft, that crazy little band of outlaws who brought you hilarious products like Microsoft SQL Server Management Express 2008 Service Pack 1. Is this a sign of the apocalypse? Come find out as South Park Studios and Microsoft Game Studios talk about what it's like sharing the same bed!

Gears of War: The Gearsiverse - Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski, Gears of War movie scriptwriter Chris Morgan, Gears of War comic book author and Gears of War 2 scriptwriter Joshua Ortega, and Gears of War movie director Len Wiseman present a preview of what's next in the 11 million–selling Gears of War franchise. Get in on all the action, including an exclusive sneak peek at the deleted scene from Gears of War 2: All Fronts Collection as well as an insider's glimpse into the highly anticipated Gears of War motion picture. Whether you play the games, read the books, or have a Crimson Omen tattoo, this star-studded meeting of the minds is too exciting to miss!

Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time Panel and Q&A - Insomniac Games, creators of the bestselling Ratchet & Clank franchise, are on hand to reveal behind-the-scenes stories about the development of this fall's Playstation 3 blockbuster, Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time. Creative director Brian Allgeier and other team members, including voice talent, will reveal new scenes from the game, the latest trailer, and a new weapon feature. In addition, get a first look at Clank's new gameplay, and ask your questions during a Q&A.