This year marks the second time that Ubisoft has set up an Assassin's Creed obstacle course at San Diego International Comic-Con. These courses are created to test the skills of anyone who sets foot in the arena, but they pale in comparison to the real workout that the protagonists of the games endure on a regular basis. I was curious about the course, so I took a few moments to interview the director of marketing at Ubisoft, Matthew Wyson.
GameRevolution: What kind of response have you had from participants and viewers of this year's course because it looks more complex than last year's course?
Matthew Wyson: This is the second year of the Assassin's Creed experience. The first year was really a trial run based off of the success we had with Assassin's Creed: Black Flag where we had a real pirate ship in the San Diego harbor and we allowed fans to get hands-on with the game. We thought, “What would be the most fun things we could provide for our fans and let them live the life of an assassin?”
GR: Is there a competition aspect or does it focus more on simply completing the course?
Matthew: Everyone who participates gets a free Rooks initiation kit. The Rooks are the gang of Jacob and Evie Frye. So you get brass knuckles, a set of tattoos, you get your own top hat. It's really meant to be inclusive, and not meant to be competitive.
GR: What are the limitations for someone entering the course?
Matthew: The great thing about the course, I mean, it looks very intense and challenging, but it's designed to be approachable. For example, our first challenge is an inclined wall. One side is a vertical slope that's more for athletic types, but the other side has an incline with a rope to make it easier. If one of the obstacles is too much of a physical challenge, there's an alternate path.
GR: How much of a fan are you of American Ninja Warrior because I see a few elements of that show in this course?
Matthew: I watch American Ninja Warrior, I watch Wipe Out. You could say that, yes, those both serve as inspiration for it. People see those shows on TV and there's really no way for the common fan to participate. That's why it's really fun for us because it's totally open to the public; you don't have to pre-register, and it's free for everyone to participate (you have to be 16 or older).
GR: Do participants have to sign a liability waiver?
Matthew: Everybody does need to sign a waiver, but at the same time, it has been designed to be safe and approachable, with padding for every one of the obstacles. We also learned a lot from last year, so the course is designed so you can not fail…People love the spectacle of seeing other people struggle to complete challenges…but no matter who you are and what your athletic ability is, you will be able to make your way through the course and have a good experience. Each one of the challenges in the course are built around gameplay challenges…Last year, we didn't have the zip line experience, which is one of the key new elements of Assassin's Creed Syndicate, and now you can experience that for yourself.
GR: Will there be a course set up at Comic-Con next year?
Matthew: …Given the reception that we've had the last two years, it's definitely something we're looking forward to. And we want to replicate the Assassin's Creed experience, but we don't have anything officially announced.
