Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot on buying the Tom Clancy name forever

My story about Ubisoft buying the Tom Clancy license in perpetuity for videogames, as well as any other media based on those videogame properties, is already online, so I recommend getting all the details by reading it.

However, my interview with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot (right) about the deal produced a lot more interesting information than I could fit in the article. So Cut Scene readers get the extended version, with everything of interest Guillemot had to say (and then some):

-[Explaining the deal] We just acquired the name "Tom Clancy" for videogames movies and books and all ancillary products can be done based on those games. This gives us the opportunity to create, at the same time as the game, linear entertainment for it that can be launched at the same time time as the game.

-[What does this do for Ubisoft?] It allows us to be more of an entertainment companies. We're not just creating games, we're creating stories, books and characters.

-[When asked for more information about the terms of the deal] We used to just have the videogame rights for Tom Clancy for a certain amount of time. Now we have the game rights in perpetuity, royalty free. We bought them outright. [Guillemot then confirmed that Ubisoft paid a lump sum for the rights, though he wouldn't comment on the cost, though he did note that it's a "substantial" deal for his company.]

-[Explaining the benefits for Ubisoft] We're extending the videogame rights forever and getting complete freedom to complete all other projects. We don't have the rights for a "Rainbow 6" movie, however. Those aren't part of this deal. We do have it for any new properties we create... We'll make products within the limit of our know-how and ability to perform. We will also work with partners [to make licensed products]... That will vary depending on the power of any project. The goal each time is to make sure that the experience comes in many formats.

-[What can we expect to see as a result of this deal] At the moment there is nothing in development... What we have to do now in videogames, because next-gen consoles are more powerful, is create games that will be as well defined and expressive as a CGI movie. All this helps us create better characters, backgrounds, and stories and improve the emotions we have in games... Step by step we have to learn how to give more emotions to our consumers. This will help us get closer and closer to creating movies or Internet products that will entertain... A  year ago we started to create Ubisoft Digital Arts in Montreal so we can have  a group capable of creating animations and movies in the future.

-[What about working with Hollywood on live action movies?] We are open to that because we don't have that kind of know how... In the future we plan to work on them at the same time as games... This is a substantial deal when you look at the power of the brand already in games and books and in past movies. The four [Clancy] movies [grossed] more than $1 billion.

-[How important is this to you?] It's a big event for us. Creating the Clancy name in the videogame industry 10 years ago was a major step for us. We think this is the same thing.