New Velvet Assassin trailer misappropriates Churchill's famous speech
by Ben Gilbert 
on Mar 17th 2009 6:00AM
35
Velvet Assassin has been tasked with performing something rarely possible in games centered on WWII-era events: Basing the story on a real person and keeping things classy. Take, for example, the new trailer the game's publisher, SouthPeak, dropped on us today. Employing one of the most powerful and moving speeches ever given by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, we don't exactly consider the modern rock ending on this trailer keeping anything classy.
Though our time spent with the game at the New York Comic Con last month left us feeling a bit less than ecstatic for the game's impending "April release window," we remain intrigued by Velvet Assassin -- even if the trailer misappropriates one of the most famous speeches in all of history.
Reader Comments (35)
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 6:06AM (Unverified) said
I though it was pretty good.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 1:18PM (Unverified) said
Fun Fact! The rock song at the end was one of the 20 Free DLC songs that came with RB 2. The drums are a blast to play on expert!
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Posted: Mar 17th 2009 6:13AM (Unverified) said
I might rent it, it might fix my splinter cell addiction for a little while.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 1:15PM (Unverified) said
Damn Ubisoft. lol. Splinter Cell Chaos Theory was way ahead of it's gen in my opinion, and then they go and give us this whole moral decision making BS in Double Agent. Atleast the MP double agent is way more fun than the past ones. Ubisoft Montreal (The original splinter cell, Chaos Theory) still makes better splinter cell games though. Although Ubisoft Shangai takes more risks (Pandora Tommorow and Double Agent).
Although, Montreal was taking one hell of a risk with conviction. Thank god they delayed it.
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Although, Montreal was taking one hell of a risk with conviction. Thank god they delayed it.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 6:48AM Volcom Guy992 said
I think the game looks pretty fun, I don't see the music really "misappropriates". Not sure if you meant the S but that's not a real word. Sorry I'm a grammar and spelling fanatic, it bothers me when people misspell and what not.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 7:03AM (Unverified) said
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 7:06AM chdude3 said
Better head back to school then, fanatic. I don't see anything wrong with their usage. "... even if the trailer misappropriates one of the most famous speeches in all of history." Joystiq is arguing that the trailer puts the speech to wrong use. Is it the final "s" you have a problem with? Because if we can have misappropriated or misappropriating, there's no question we can have misappropriates. It does happen to be in the dictionary as well - it's a real word.
Thanks for trying?
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Thanks for trying?
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 5:04PM (Unverified) said
Also, I think you're referring to "inappropriate". BTW, also a real word.
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Posted: Mar 17th 2009 7:03AM KarlW said
Look where we've gone - from this to mouthing the word "sorry" when someone swears on TV. I ask you...
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 7:29AM LarZen said
I liked the trailer and cant wait to kill some nazi pigs.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 8:04AM (Unverified) said
I don't know what you're talking about.
I liked the rock ending and it felt... bigger than life in a trailish kind of way.
The game looks so so though :)
I liked the rock ending and it felt... bigger than life in a trailish kind of way.
The game looks so so though :)
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 8:12AM Miketor said
That dress was pretty... uhhh.... "tactical."
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 8:26AM (Unverified) said
Looks like complete crap.... A bloodrayne ripoff without the vampires?
It's a real shame SouthPeak can't seem to pull a decent game out of their asses.
Hopefully the clownshoes of gaming goes out of business soon for their horrible crimes like "Hail to the chimp".
It's a real shame SouthPeak can't seem to pull a decent game out of their asses.
Hopefully the clownshoes of gaming goes out of business soon for their horrible crimes like "Hail to the chimp".
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 8:54AM Negatron said
LoL harsh man, but i agree.
I am not feeling the stealthy female, Nazi killer...I think WW2 is the wrong setting for this character.Does her hair-do even coincide with the time line? We all can sit back and nitpick any game apart but little things like "character design" can really make or break a game IMO
Anyone else see a bad attempt at ripping portions of Metal Gear?
Velvet Assassin is too smooth for me.
:P
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I am not feeling the stealthy female, Nazi killer...I think WW2 is the wrong setting for this character.Does her hair-do even coincide with the time line? We all can sit back and nitpick any game apart but little things like "character design" can really make or break a game IMO
Anyone else see a bad attempt at ripping portions of Metal Gear?
Velvet Assassin is too smooth for me.
:P
Posted: Mar 18th 2009 11:04AM aristokrat said
Yeah, what was this lady thinking? She definitely should have birthed herself in the 21st century.
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Posted: Mar 17th 2009 8:31AM matthew2718 said
Perhaps the character is simply repeating the speech, or taking it to heart.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 9:16AM fanchax said
super cheesy.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 9:19AM ae86takumi said
uhmm...where is the Cobra unit?? ripping off the idea of The Boss from MGS...very classic
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 9:25AM (Unverified) said
The game looks okay, but from the looks of the trailer there doesn't seem to be much a unified style in the game. The actual gameplay looks like a modified Medal of Honor while the style guide used in the title close used Euro rock from Mirror's Edge with either steam punk or craft work clouds. Which direction is this game going?
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 10:32AM YouForgotPoland said
I don't think it's fair to say that any woman involved in WWII is ripping off The Boss.
That said, did anyone else find it hilarious when the trailer - and remember, the purpose of the trailer is to make the game look good and realistic - featured the protagonist in her nightie, charging an enemy who was shooting at her bare skin from point-blank range to no effect?
"I'M THE JUGGERNAUT, BITCH!!"
That said, did anyone else find it hilarious when the trailer - and remember, the purpose of the trailer is to make the game look good and realistic - featured the protagonist in her nightie, charging an enemy who was shooting at her bare skin from point-blank range to no effect?
"I'M THE JUGGERNAUT, BITCH!!"
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 10:44AM koehler83 said
Imminent lawsuit from the Church of England.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 11:02AM (Unverified) said
I just don't get why they have the main character, who is apparently a woman assassin (in WWII? Really?), quoting Churchill's most famous speech from WWII. Did she ghostwrite the speech for him or something? It'd be about 1000 times better if the creative team had given her her own unique speech that echoed the sentiments of Churchill's speech, or even better if they had gotten a recording of Churchill's original speech and dubbed it over the trailer.
I just don't get it. Why is this woman quoting Churchill word for word? Is she not original enough to say something else equally badass?
I just don't get it. Why is this woman quoting Churchill word for word? Is she not original enough to say something else equally badass?
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 11:17AM Benjamin Gilbert said
"I just don't get why they have the main character, who is apparently a woman assassin (in WWII? Really?)"
I'm sorry to do this to you sir, but Violette Summer from Velvet Assassin is actually based on a real-life female assassin during WWII. Her name is Violette Szabo and more info on her can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violette_Szabo
If anything, I wish Velvet Assassin were sticking more to the original (and ridiculously interesting) story of Ms. Szabo rather than taking so many liberties. I s'pose for the sake of the game, they must. Oh well!
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I'm sorry to do this to you sir, but Violette Summer from Velvet Assassin is actually based on a real-life female assassin during WWII. Her name is Violette Szabo and more info on her can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violette_Szabo
If anything, I wish Velvet Assassin were sticking more to the original (and ridiculously interesting) story of Ms. Szabo rather than taking so many liberties. I s'pose for the sake of the game, they must. Oh well!
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 11:17AM (Unverified) said
It's loosely based on a true story.
She wasn't really an assassin, more like a secret agent.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violette_Szabo
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She wasn't really an assassin, more like a secret agent.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violette_Szabo
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 11:06AM (Unverified) said
Ugh. What a horrible line reading. You can tell she didn't feel the conviction of what she was saying. Or maybe they made the voice actress wear the nightie in the recording booth - too get her into character - so she was too busy shivering.
Give her a cigar and a stiff drink and get her to do the lines again.
Give her a cigar and a stiff drink and get her to do the lines again.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 11:15AM (Unverified) said
If you're familiar with the song, it's not too much of a stretch. Churchill's speech repeats the phrase "We shall fight", while the song has the lyrics:
"We will fight, or we will fall, 'til the angels save us all"
Could have been a perfect transition from speech to music, however with that lyric available it does seem like an odd choice to keep it instrumental.
"We will fight, or we will fall, 'til the angels save us all"
Could have been a perfect transition from speech to music, however with that lyric available it does seem like an odd choice to keep it instrumental.
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 11:44AM (Unverified) said
it look to me more like a fragmovie than a gametrailer
Posted: Mar 17th 2009 5:06PM (Unverified) said
thats hollywood undead!!!!! theyre so amazing. i went to their show last week in nyc. now i have to get this game lol
Posted: Mar 18th 2009 1:23PM Bobulous said
Looked ok to me. Anyone who kills evil Nazis while quoting one of the greatest and most inspiring speeches ever written is ok in my book.
Damn you, evil Nazis.
Damn you, evil Nazis.
