Intel ® Visual

Chargin said working with a video game engine
saved time in editing and allowed the team,
which started with a core group of 10 and went
as high as 200, to avoid storyboarding and
instead focus their efforts on creating dynamic
content during production. Game developers such
as Epic Games, which is using Unreal for Gears
of War* 3, and BioWare, which is employing the
game engine for Mass Effect* 3, already know
this. Hollywood is now catching on.
“In terms of its value over traditional CG, the
render times are cut down exponentially which
allows for softer deadlines,” said Chargin. “We
can turn out a better product in a fraction of the
time. Because this has never been done we did
not have a template, but with those challenges
comes even greater excitement and reward.”
Chargin explained that TV production is a fast-
paced avalanche of work where turnaround times
for visual effects run anywhere from seven to
11 days. For the most part, he said, a bunch of
talented people are pouring their collective hearts
and souls into making compelling visuals under
crazy deadlines.
“Game engines are not the silver bullet in beating
the curve for traditional TV work, but used
judiciously with skill and foresight, the game
engine can cut out a ton of pre-viz, pre-, pro-,
and post-production time,” Chargin said. “At the
heart of beating this curve is the engine’s ability
to render exponentially faster than off-the-shelf
software solutions and banks of processors.”
An All-Star Debut
On January 30, viewers of the NHL All-Star Game,
watching live or on TV, got an early taste of what
Unreal can achieve. The team went to Raleigh,
which is the home of Epic Games, to capture
live footage at the RBC Center and surrounding
area. They created a video short, combining CG
characters with live action footage, to introduce
the cast of superheroes to the hockey audience.
The Guardians were individually introduced
throughout January using an elaborate social
media campaign promoted with broadcast and
in-arena marketing support. The culmination of
this campaign came during the NHL All-Star Game
when HOM’s animated short was presented
during intermission and shown on both the
Versus and CBC networks. The film spotlights the
new superheroes as they battle villain Deven
Dark when he attempts to take over the RBC
Center stadium. A battle of good versus evil
ensued as the 30 superheroes leapt into action,
with the Carolina Hurricane saving the fans, the
Guardians, and ultimately the RBC Center from
utter ruin.
The team is currently focused on creating digital
assets for a Hollywood CG television series
featuring the Guardians. These assets can also be
used for the new online game that lets players
choose a Guardian and engage in fighting amidst
the environments of each superhero. This is a
variation of the fighting allowed in the NHL, but
with a superhero twist. Fans of a team such as
the Montreal Canadiens can log in and duke it out
with their archrival, the Boston Bruins, using the
Guardians for each of those cities.
“The game will allow users to immerse themselves
in the Guardian world,” said Chargin. “More
specifically, they’ll put themselves in Mike Mason’s
shoes, the human who controls the Guardians, as
they fight against Deven Dark. They’ll be forced
to develop their own bond with each of the
Guardians. Additionally they’ll need a detailed
intel visual adrenaline no. 10, 2011 5