Iron Man game designers using ILM model

50 Comments by Ross Miller Oct 30th 2007 12:57AM
Filed under: Nintendo DS, PC, Sony PlayStation 2, Sony PlayStation 3, Sony PSP, Microsoft Xbox 360

The Iron Man video game has two strikes against it, by merit of being (1) a licensed product and (2) poised to be released alongside a movie. However, there are some benefits to the movie connection. Speaking to USA Today, Sega of America Senior Producer Mike McHale revealed that they had received the CG model for Iron Man himself created by Industrial Light & Magic for use in the film.

The game, according to McHale, will extend beyond the movie's storyline and also include classic villains from the comics. Whether or not this game succumbs the fate of most licensed titles remains to be seen. Iron Man, the game, is set for release "just before the film arrives in theaters May 2."

Tags: iron-man, marvel, sega

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Tyrus: Oct 30th 2007; 1:09AM

I know the main character's always going to get the most graphical love, but Iron Man really does look dramatically better than a lot of the background imagery in these screens.

ILM's model looks terrific, for sure, but one model by itself isn't enough to change an entire game's art direction. When you've got that level of detail in a character and the backgrounds are that empty, it tends to be noticed.

elmersglue: Oct 30th 2007; 3:08AM

what the hell are you talking about? The environments actually look damn crisp. Maybe a little empty, but almost photorealistic.

gonk: Oct 30th 2007; 1:24AM

didn't know there was a movie comin out

probably both will be mediocre

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 30th 2007; 8:20AM

Dude, it has Robert Downey Jr. playing as Tony Stark. That's pretty above average in my book.

Freelance: Oct 30th 2007; 10:02AM

Yeah, Well a dope-fiend has been (not even a has been really) doesn't raise any points in most people books.

AirIntake: Oct 30th 2007; 10:14AM

Are you saying that Robert Downey Jr., as an alcoholic drug addict, is a bad choice to play Tony Stark, an alcoholic drug addict?
I think he'll fit the part perfectly.

Sean: Oct 30th 2007; 11:41AM

This movie will rule.

Robert Downey Jr.
Terrence Howard
Jeff Bridges
Gwyneth Paltrow
Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury.

Not to mention John Favreau is directing, and he has been taking input from the fans through the movie's myspace and whatnot.

Oh well, enough ranting. I am stoked though.

cwolf267: Oct 30th 2007; 1:46AM

It looks alot like Ace Combat, you control gorgeous characters in a drab, uninspired environment.

elmersglue: Oct 30th 2007; 3:12AM

Dude, you're in a jet going 800 mph... what do you expect them to do for the background? model thousands of structures in detail that you'd be flying over at that sort of speed? Graphics are fantastic for what the game is supposed to do.

ScreamingSkull: Oct 30th 2007; 6:49AM

I think that's the cry of flight sims since the days when the only buildings that got rendered you had to buy in an expansion pack.. Yes all the elements of a game should look good.

d-pad: Oct 30th 2007; 8:59AM

Are you high?

The environment in Ace Combat 6 is bloody gorgeous.

Sure, the textures are a bit pixelated at 50 feet, but saying the environment looks drab is just ignorant.

Blast Processing Megadrive: Oct 30th 2007; 2:22AM

Translation: We were too lazy to make our own model, so we bummed off ILM's version.

ThornedVenom: Oct 30th 2007; 3:40AM

I just think that they're just boasting about how much technology and horsepower they have.

Like Blast Processing.

Blast Processing Megadrive: Oct 30th 2007; 3:43AM

I see what you did there.

Amos: Oct 30th 2007; 2:58AM

Why Blast, thanks for that horribly insightful translation. I'm sure the next developement team with access to excellent CG models from a tie-in movie will know better and design their own, lesser versions with more limited timeframes and budgets to please thee and other standup fans of the industry.

The Iron Man movie trailer made it look either horribly cheesy, hilariously awesome, or both. Cautiously Optimistic. The game? Who knows. Wait for the reviews. The Hulk and Spider-Man had some surprises, so eh.

ill trooper: Oct 30th 2007; 3:02AM

Well, that should shave a week off of some modeler's tasks to complete before trying to meet the movie's release date. I remain skeptical of movie tie-in games and their 'tied-in' release dates forcing developers to attempt miracles...

But I suppose at least having it 'look right' is key for that quickstrike before the metareviews hit the web if the gameplay's not up to snuff.

KiraXD: Oct 30th 2007; 3:34AM

ehhhhh am i the only one who thought that opening picture they used was actually a shot from the movie? (saying it looks great btw)

im sorry but the movie is gonna be the greatest movie ever (i have super high hopes for it... plus RDJr. is an amazing actor)

ThornedVenom: Oct 30th 2007; 3:42AM

That's a cool detail, but I hope that they don't get too carried away with it, and still realize that they're still making a game, and that it still has to be fun after all.

A videogame based on a movie is still suffering from quality standards.

Hobo Joe: Oct 30th 2007; 4:45AM

Looking at it (extremely) optimistically, at least they've got five or so months left.

Extremely optimistically.

Timo710: Oct 30th 2007; 4:56AM

Yeah, and the only thing they got right now is about 1 stage, looking at the screens.

The model looks great though, I mean, this actually means a game will have the same graphics as a movie, how cool is that.

Poisoned Al: Oct 30th 2007; 7:31AM

Duuunnnn, duuuunnnnn, dun, dun, dah!
Dananananananana, na, na!

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 30th 2007; 8:24AM

....

I see what you did there.

FOXHOUND: Oct 30th 2007; 7:47AM

Unless this game/movie has a Taco Bell-tie in, it should be decent.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 30th 2007; 8:23AM

hmmmmmm, I hope I don't have to REGISTER to play this game.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 30th 2007; 8:23AM

Yeah that was lame.

RogueJedi86: Oct 30th 2007; 8:37AM

Of course those images are released by SEGA specifically, so they most likely chose the images of the game that look the best. The game itself may end up almost never looking as good as those screenshots. For all we know, those screenshots are specifically from cutscenes with no enemies, for the best rendering. Something could be said of how every screenshot has just Iron Man and minimal background elements.

James: Oct 30th 2007; 8:46AM

I don't know who or what Iron man is. What's his power? That he's made out of a ferromagnetic material that rusts?

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 30th 2007; 8:54AM

Ok let me break it down to you (though I'm not that knowledgable about Iron Man myself) IM is Tony Stark, an incredibly wealthy arms dealer. Somewhere down the line(don't remember the reasons), he decides he needs to become Iron Man and fight evil. Of course what separates Iron Man from most other super heroes is that he has a bit of a drinking problem, and when i say a bit I really mean he just loves to drown himself in alcohol(that's where the source of his powers is). While he's managed to stay sober recently, he's still a douchebag in the eyes of comic book readers. If you know anything about comics, you would have heard something about Civil War, which was a major event where Tony Stark let a witch hunt to arrest Heroes who refused to register with the government. So not only did he imprison thousands of Heroes, he also (and apparently this takes no skill what so ever) managed to fuck up Peter Parker's life even more by getting him to reveal his identity to the world, which caused lots of problems eventually getting Aunt May shot.

So that's all I really know about Iron Man. I suggest you go do some research yourself (like read some comics)

Zertoss: Oct 30th 2007; 9:41AM

Iron Man! Iron Man!
Does whatever iron can!
Having sex and lots of hoots!
He's chargin' his lazer! SHOOP DA WOOP!
Look out! He is the Iron Man!

KiraXD: Oct 30th 2007; 1:43PM

he doesnt "DECIDE" to become iron man... there was an explosion and shrapnel was embedded in his body and heart. The Iron Man suit acts as a life support. so basically it keeps him alive... (dont know if thats how they gonna portray it in the movie though... well see)

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 30th 2007; 3:01PM

blah. As I said, I don't really know alot about Iron Man.

Gangsta Smurf: Oct 30th 2007; 9:34AM

Damn I can't wait to download this movie.

CrazySteve88: Oct 30th 2007; 9:53AM

I don't dig the graphics or the way the game plays. I give it a 7 out of 10 already and thats because its the only 3d iron man game out.

T-Roy: Oct 30th 2007; 10:32AM

UNI-BEAM!!
UNI-BEAM!!
REPULSOR BLAST!!
UNI-BEAM!!

Sean: Oct 30th 2007; 11:43AM

PROTON CANNON!

Blue Balloon: Oct 30th 2007; 10:59AM

awesome. I thought it was movie. Wow

samfish (MSDF- Nurse Outfit!): Oct 30th 2007; 12:19PM

I like the Cardigans cover of Iron Man far, far more than the original version.

Sean: Oct 30th 2007; 3:24PM

I love to dance around in the buff to "Lovefool."

Batzarro: Oct 30th 2007; 12:20PM

Well, In the story, he was trapped, in a war or sumthing, and he builds his armor to avoid getting his ass shot down. I think It was in an Asian country, but the movie changed it to(drumroll) A DESERTIC WAR! I hope it doesn't pull a Transformers and has a character go: "WE NEED THE AIR FORCE!, WE CAN'T DO THIS WITHOUT THE AIRFORCE! JOIN THE AIRFORCE!"

Uh...Looks kinda cool. Might make a half good game.

Joshua: Oct 30th 2007; 1:05PM

Yeah...like when Sector 7 and the Marines go into a standoff about letting Bumblebee go and Jon Voight's character says "Do what they say! These guys don't know how to lose!"

Subtle...very subtle

ill trooper: Oct 30th 2007; 2:06PM

You sorta got it right...

He's a wealthy inventor/arms mogul, gets injured in a I.E.D. attack, is captured by afghani insurgents (originally a booby-trap in Vietnam, but that was back in the mid 60's; the movie now has updated that locale to go with the times) and is going to die due to some shrapnel lodged very near his heart - another captured scientist/doctor helps him by building a magetic device that holds the shrapnel in place, allowing him to live - only to be told that he needs to build a super-weapon ('Fix the missle' in the movie) for his captors or he will be killed. Under the guise of building the weapon, he actually builds a suit to facilitate his escape, known as the 'Mark I' suit, what becomes the first of many revisions. He does escape, returns to the US and continues developing the armored suits, as well as battling the demons of addiction. Stark is a bad-ass!

This movie has a lot of potential in my eyes, as I love things like Batman and Ironman, where there really are no 'super powers,' only money, technology (Ayo!) and ingenuity.

Optimus Prime: Oct 30th 2007; 12:48PM

Oh yeah..game is looking good at least :D

Optimus Prime: Oct 30th 2007; 12:57PM

Did someone say "Samuel L. Jackson" as Nick Fury????
That BETTER be a joke...FYI Fury is an old white dude with an eyepatch. They did that same shit with Kingpin(not that Daredevil was worth watching anyway)
And Spider-man DOES NOT shoot webbing from his goddamn VEINS!
I won't even start on Mr. Bay and the godAWFUL Transformers shitfest...Hollywood IS great at one thing, crapping on my childhood memories.

Jamesonite: Oct 30th 2007; 8:04PM

Well Sam Jackson is being used as the Ultmate Nick Fury which he is the model of.

Meh the spider man webbing thing annoyed me at first but big deal.

For the person earlier who didn't know who Ironman was,Tony Stark is a super genious who gets captured by a warlord (originally in Vietnam, but do to Mavel's sliding scale time line modern day Tony Stark was in the mideast). The trap used to capture Stark leaves shrapnel in his heart pushing him near death. He is forced to build a weapon, instead he developes the Iron Man armor. Iron Man is made to be Starks bodyguard.

Wright: Oct 30th 2007; 1:40PM

In the ultimate universe, Nick Fury is Black.

Read some damn comics.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 30th 2007; 3:02PM

mhm. The marvel movies have been mixing stuff from both Ultimate and regular universe. But I mean come on, Samuel L. Jackson screams Nick Fury.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo): Oct 30th 2007; 3:05PM

I read your post fully this time. Jesus christ you need to read some comics. There are a lot of different interpretations of the marvel characters. Also you need to keep in mind that the movie versions act as a different universe from the regular Marvel universe, so it's understandable that there is some changes.

Also personally, I think it makes sense for Peter to be able to shoot webbing from his veins. I mean if he can crawl on walls like a spider, than he might as well be able to shoot webs (with out any help from a machine) like a spider.

Defenestrator2.0: Oct 30th 2007; 3:54PM

He looks like the "new and improved" bomberman.

Balius: Oct 30th 2007; 7:44PM

Meh, the only interesting thing Iron Man has done in his entire career was become the poster-boy for the registrationist side of the Civil War story arc. Using his classic comic enemies is more a threat than a promise.

The best they can hope to offer in this movie, or the game based on it, is to play up the alcoholic angle and downplay the fact that the bad guy just wears a lot of magic rings...

FOXHOUND: Oct 31st 2007; 7:51AM

If the movie refers to the Mandarin's rings as "bling" in any way, shape, or form... I damn this movie to the same tasteless trash pit that MORTAL KOMBAT ANNIHILATION resides in and festers.

Shao Kahn: You should have killed me... when you had the chance... brother.
Raiden: My brother died a long time ago. His heart, anyway.

...yep.