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'1666 Amsterdam' is back in 'Assassin's Creed' creator's hands
Ubisoft and Patrice Désilets, the creative director of Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed 2, have reached an agreement that gives Désilets ownership of a mysterious original IP, 1666 Amsterdam. Désilets and Ubisoft have a rocky, winding history: Désilets is recognized as the creator of the studio's most famous franchise, Assassin's Creed, but he left the company in 2010. Désilets joined THQ Montreal in 2011 where he started work on an original franchise that turned out to be 1666 Amsterdam. However, THQ famously went under in 2012 and sold off its assets in January 2013. The Montreal studio -- complete with 1666, Désilets and all -- was picked up by Ubisoft for $2.5 million. Désilets was right back where he started, but he didn't stay long.
Report: Patrice Desilets suing Ubisoft for $400,000, option to buy 1666 rights
Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed 2 creative director Patrice Desilets, formerly of Ubisoft, THQ and then Ubisoft again, has filed suit against Ubisoft seeking back pay, damages and the opportunity to buy the rights to 1666, according to a report by Canadian outlet La Presse. Desilets is looking for a grand total of $400,000 from Ubisoft, which breaks down into $250,000 worth of salary, $100,000 worth of damages, $35,000 in expense reimbursement and $25,000 in severance. Desilets is also attempting to make use of a clause in his contract with THQ (which Ubisoft subsumed upon their purchase of its assets) that allows him the option of acquiring the rights to 1666, as well as the materials and assets created during development. Desilets' termination from Ubisoft last May was reportedly the result of Ubisoft enacting a non-compliance clause in his contract, which mandated that Desilets deliver an "acceptable prototype" before July 30, 2012. Desilets maintains that, not only was the prototype delivered on time, but that continued development on the project leading up to his departure is evidence enough of its acceptableness, according to La Presse.
Desilets' 1666 'suspended' by Ubisoft following firing
The creative director on Assassin's Creed and Assassin's Creed 2, Patrice Desilets, was fired by Ubisoft last week and now 1666 is also on the outs. Desilets began working on 1666 at THQ, which Ubisoft acquired as part of the THQ asset auction earlier this year. "After more than two months of discussions with [Patrice], we couldn't align our vision both on the project development and the team management," said Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot during the company's year-end financial call today. "So, consequently, our collaboration has ended, and we have suspended 1666 for an undisclosed period of time." Desilets took a job at THQ and began work on 1666 after his Ubisoft non-compete expired in 2011. [Image: Alexey L via Shutterstock]
Ubisoft mum on THQ Montreal plans, 'looking forward' to working with Patrice Desilets
The dust is beginning to settle after the pieces of THQ were sold off one-by-one last week. Among those pieces is THQ Montreal, which was acquired by Ubisoft. CEO of Ubisoft Montreal and head of Ubisoft Canada, Yannis Mallat, spoke to the Financial Post about the publisher's plans for the studio. First of all, regarding the two IPs acquired in the sale, 1666 and Underdog, Mallat didn't offer concrete details, saying that both are still unannounced projects and "we don't talk about that." For now, Ubisoft is conducting a "thorough analysis" of the studio in order to decide what to do with it going forward.Mallat said that Ubisoft plans to keep the existing studio space, as well as the "possibility" for existing employees to stay with the studio. When asked explicitly whether any staff would be let go, Mallat said only "we had and we still have very ambitious plans in terms of growth even before this acquisition," adding that Ubisoft is "thrilled" to be working with the studio on future projects.Of course, one of the most interesting notes of the sale is that THQ Montreal's creative director is none other than Patrice Desilets, who previously served as creative director on both Assassin's Creed and its fantastically received follow-up, Assassin's Creed 2 (pictured). Desilets left Ubisoft in 2010, later signing on with THQ in 2011. "I've known Patrice for 13 years and I know him very well, he's a great talent and I respect him as a creator," said Mallat, though he did not directly confirm whether Desilets will remain with the studio. Mallat did note, however, that the team is "very happy to look forward to working with him again" and that there are "definitely" plans to discuss Desilets' return to Ubisoft.
THQ files '1666' trademark
THQ has filed a request for "1666" with the US Patent and Trademark Office. Gamespot dug up the trademark, which the site speculates could be in reference to the Great Fire of London.Of course, other events occurred in 1666, including the Four Days' Battle, one of the longest naval engagements in history. Plus, we could totally go for a fresh take on The Ancient Art of War at Sea.We were also curious if it's even kosher to trademark a number:"Why yes, you can. The mark just has to be attached to a product, so even a number can be a mark. It happens all the time with cars (F150, 328i, M3, e55, A4, IS350, etc.) and often with other 'model number' kinds of instances," former Law of the Game columnist and actual lawyer Mark Methenitis explained."The important thing to remember is the mark only applies to the list of goods (in the case of 1666, the list is more or less "video games"), so while I couldn't make another game named 1666, I might be able to make a movie and I would certainly be able to make a set of kitchen utensils or a perfume called 1666. Those are a completely different kind of good unlikely to be confused with the game -- or at least I would assume; if the game is about a chef with a perfume fetish, maybe not."This is the second time a trademark filling by the financially troubled publisher has popped up in recent memory, with "Evolve" showing up a couple weeks ago.
