GAMEHOTEL REPLAY

The series invites you to temporarily escape the fast pace of current game industry development, and frame interactive entertainment within a larger perspective. High-profile guest commentators look at genre-defining titles, ground-breaking technologies, and key moments in the evolution of video gaming.

The multifaceted relationship between creativity and technological innovation was the focus of the series' initial SEASON THREE editions. With the much-awaited next generation console gaming hardware just around the corner, GAMEHOTEL REPLAY guest commentator Julien Merceron, Ubisoft's worldwide technical director, looked at how new technology has affected innovation and creativity in game design in recent years.

Merceron replayed what many consider to be one of the most emotional moments in gaming history, the unexpected death of Aerith in Squaresoft's Final Fantasy VII. "Many players have cried during this scene," he said, and showed how the developers of Final Fantasy VII have used the potential of the then new PlayStation One to offer the players a new degree of immersion and emotional implication thanks to integrated cinematics, 3D characters, and smart emotion management.

In a follow-up edition he showed how the creators of key titles of past years, such as Banjo Kazooie, Phantasy Star Online, Metal Gear Solid 2, GTA San Andreas, and Halo, have taken advantage of the new technological potential provided by Nintendo 64, Sega's Dreamcast, Sony's PS2, and Microsoft's Xbox, to change our way of gaming.