EA - Need For Speed 'Hot Pursuit'

Framestore's, David Mellor has directed an action packed full CG trailer with world class supercars on a high speed chase for EA's Need for Speed Hot Pursuit, set for release this November. The trailer opened the EA press conference during the E3 Game Expo 2010 in LA.

The brief was to create a dynamic, cinematic, classic car chase where both sides, cop or racer could outsmart each other. EA wanted to illustrate key aspects of the game such as the player choosing any supercar to be either cop or racer.

The trailer shows off a Bugatti Veyron cop ramming the rear of a Koenigsegg CCX racer and a tussle between the supercars begin. They are joined by a Zonda Cinque sliding into action as a sexy slomo shot and they continue the chase through the forest into the desert whilst being harassed by chopper cops.The finale sees our hero Lamborghini Reventon cop at full pelt through the heat haze, slip streaming through the other supercars, knocking the McLaren MP4-12C off the road with a PIT maneuver.

Framestore's team was faced with the challenge of generating vehicles and environments; dust to debris. The animation team choreographed every shot with precision and realism, maintaining the dynamics and weight of how the supercars would move.

"The biggest challenge for the project was animation. We didn't have time to fully develop a simulation system for the cars, so most of the subtle control was actually key-framed. We would watch specific supercar videos over and over again to understand the minute details of chassis movement and the characteristics of each individual car. We would then run scripts to fix tyres to the road, add in additional dynamic suspension/chassis reaction and also wheel spin. The result is a real testament to the skill and patience of the animation and rigging team." said Mellor.

Raul Ortego and Maryanne Butler, senior Flames artists,  experimented with various grades before settling with a more game like look. The Flame team composited all the CG, adding atmospherics, lens flares, debris, heat haze during an intense week.

"Working on the sound was an incredible amount of fun. Bill at Henryboy and I were like kids in a toy shop. We were both on the same wave length, and wanted to create something that was more an audio-visual experience than merely a trailer. We tried to use the exact car sounds were possible, but ultimately had to construct some for ourselves. The blend between screaming cars and environmental wind rush helps to bring highs and lows to the whole spot." said Mellor.