Stars feed EA's 'Need'

Ea put a person discuss 'Need for Speed' with motion-capture tech and thesps Christina Hendricks and Sean Faris. Hendricks Faris After 17 games, Apple Something Ea "Requirement of Speed" isn't showing signs and signs and symptoms of slowing down lower lower. But to resume its racing series and gamers interested, the business went Hollywood, developing a plot and employing stars.In the first for your franchise, Sean Faris ("Never Lower Again") and Christina Hendricks ("Mad Males") play in the lead roles in "Requirement of Speed: The Run," which concentrates on a hard race from San Francisco Bay Area to NY City. The sport hits store shelves November. 15. Where previous obligations revolved around realistic renderings of sports cars and races, EA added figures to "The Run," created by Black Box Studio, to supply players a "reason they're racing the automobile,Inch mentioned Jason DeLong, professional producer in the title. "It's a different direction. The first time inside the franchise, you actually see and control the motive pressure.InchClearly, the initial priority is by using an incredible driving experience, only one factor our fans have told us is always that motivation isalso vital,Inch he mentioned. "We desired to utilize Hollywood talent and tell a great story that may serve as the punctuation mark to obtain the player active in the growth of the knowledge.In . In the sport, Faris plays a cocky wheelman services who'll enter danger while using mob and really should win the dangerous mix-country race to live. Hendricks can be a manager of street racers and ponies within the money for Faris' driver to compete for your $25 million prize and may serve as his eyes and ears in route.Every thesps had never carried out employment in the vidgame before "The Run.""It's been fantastic fun to behave so various and also to exhibit another side of myself too,Inch Hendricks mentioned.EA offers a great deal riding on "The Run." Since 1994, the "Requirement of Speed" games have created greater than $100 million for that organization, with consoles boasting greater-finish graphics, EA happen to be trying to find new techniques and also hardwearing . series running.Furthermore to adding a tale and stars, it's also beginning a completely new merchandise line including 50 pairs of exclusive edition Adidas-high quality "Requirement of Speed: The Run" running shoes."Our goal with 'Need for Speed' is going to be not just a videogame franchise, after we view ourselves just like a leader in youth and automotive culture too,Inch mentioned EA senior marketing director Kevin Maher. For "The Run," EA switched to support of Moves, the motion capture house whose credits include "Tron: Legacy," "Super 8" and blockbuster games "Cod: Black Procedures" and "Gears of War 3."The business produced a brand new motion-capture technology referred to as "electrooculagraphy," initially created for that healthcare industry, that tracks the electronic impulses concerning the eyes to supply digital figures really a soul by re-creating realistic facial and eye actions.For example, 90 sensors were situated around the actors' faces, where 60 are often used."Our innovative, all-new performance capture technology pushes the restrictions of character animation, enabling us to perfectly capture Christina and Sean's likeness resulting in an engaging narrative experience coupled with top-notch racing," DeLong mentioned. It's the first time the technology was used for just about any videogame, but because House of Moves also works well with film productions, it's only determined by time just before the tech is needed for just about any tentpole. Compared to many Tv shows, which take eight 16-hour days to film, the story mode of "The Run" needed four days for Faris and Hendricks to shoot. The sequences participate in like small-movies between your racing action."You must do three takes and you're simply to another factor, Faris told Variety. "You will discover lots of cameras throughout taking every possible position everything can get shot concurrently.Inch Nevertheless the finish result "is me," he added. "It's my figure, my actions, the means by which I did so it. It's just a glossed-over me in animated form. My cousins is going to be playing me. I'm a videogame character. That's awesome.."Faris, who recently wrapped Dark Castle's thriller "Stash House," in contrast the understanding to "like a 5-year-old playing in the sandbox or perhaps the playground getting a sword or possibly a gun." "You're in the room ornamented by cameras those. People say, 'There's a wall the following or possibly an automobile over there' and you're simply just searching within an apple box. It's all about utilizing your imagination." Not used to undertaking stunts on sets like "Never Lower Again" and "Freerunner," Faris found developing a videogame much like physical. "Wherever the truth is the level of smoothness jumping and running across building gaps, that was me accumulating some boxes stacked five to six foot high," mentioned Faris, who had no time before done a videogame. "There's plenty of running, jumping, falling, twisting, turning, fighting -- all must be shot in some manner. I used to be worn-in the conclusion of each and every day."Faris already is attempting to return for an additional "Requirement of Speed" follow-up and continue racing, should EA invite him back."As soon as I obtained the phone call, I mentioned, 'Yes," Faris mentioned. "I'm an actress to ensure that as extended after i get moving and feel happier about the project, I'll take action. It was not anyone to settle the financial obligations. It had been one I used to be excited to accomplish.In . Contact Marc Graser at marc.graser@variety.com