Assassin’s Creed Mirage is due to be released in October. Photo: Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is due to be released in October. Photo: Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is due to be released in October. Photo: Ubisoft
Assassin’s Creed Mirage is due to be released in October. Photo: Ubisoft

Abbasid architecture to the fore in new Assassin’s Creed Mirage video game


Nicky Harley
  • English
  • Arabic

An Islamic art historian in the UK has helped game developers recreate the Abbasid Caliphate in the latest Assassin’s Creed instalment.

Dr Glaire Anderson, an award-winning author and expert in Islamic architecture, art and history of the caliphal period (650-1250), worked with Ubisoft on Assassin’s Creed Mirage, using her knowledge to help the developer build the immersive digital world of ninth-century Baghdad.

The University of Edinburgh art historian originally began using video game engines as part of her research to visualise historical environments and architecture, but it was her 11-year-old son who informed her of Assassin's Creed, whose creators work with experts to recreate places in the games.

“I showed my work to my son and he said, ‘Oh, mum, if you’re interested in that kind of stuff, you should check out Assassin’s Creed!’ I did and I loved how they were visualising medieval Islamic monuments and urban environments,” she said.

“Then, when I learnt they were engaging with museums and academics to enhance the educational aspects of their games, I reached out to Ubisoft’s head of world-building, historian Maxime Durand.

“The university’s commercialisation service, Edinburgh Innovations, helped me formalise the relationship.”

She described the effect on her work as “dramatic”.

Dr Glaire Anderson. Photo: University of Edinburgh
Dr Glaire Anderson. Photo: University of Edinburgh

“Collaborating with Ubisoft has allowed me to bring my work out of the university and share it with a broader audience of people of all ages who play video games,” she said.

“I respect what Ubisoft have achieved and how they are helping people engage with history.”

Since it first launched in 2007, the Assassin's Creed series has sold more than 200 million games worldwide and has become known for having some of the most engrossing storytelling in the industry.

The latest instalment of the video game franchise, due for release in October, follows the early years of protagonist Basim Ibn Is’haq in the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.

It will have a new educational feature called History of Baghdad, which offers players an interactive way to learn more about the game’s rich setting.

“The History of Baghdad is our new historical codex feature – information that players can find in the world, telling them about the culture, tradition and daily life of ninth-century Baghdad,” said Stephane Boudon, creative director for Assassin’s Creed Mirage at Ubisoft Bordeaux.

Character Basim facing one of the 66 historical sites featured in the world of Assassin's Creed Mirage. Photo: Ubisoft
Character Basim facing one of the 66 historical sites featured in the world of Assassin's Creed Mirage. Photo: Ubisoft

“In addition to providing intensive seminars on medieval Islamic art to the Ubisoft in-house history team, Glaire and her students contributed directly to this feature, reviewing texts written by our in-house historian Raphael Weyland, and suggesting illustrations from museum collections.”

Dr Anderson was one of four key advisers on the development, alongside Vanessa Van Renterghem, specialist of medieval Baghdad, as well as Dr Weyland and Ali Olomi, who both focus on Islamic history.

Two postgraduate researchers also worked with Dr Anderson as part of the University of Edinburgh’s Digital Lab for Islamic Visual Culture and Collections, and their research was supported by grants from the Economic and Social Research Council and the Barakat Trust.

“I've taught approximately 4,000 university students in the US and the UK about the architecture, art and history of the caliphal period over the course of my career,” Dr Anderson said.

“That's ordinary impact. Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed games have introduced millions of players of all ages around the globe to medieval Islamic art, architecture and history. That's extraordinary impact.”

Players can discover 66 historical sites throughout the in-game world of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, each serving as a portal to insights into the era, divided into five categories: Art and Science; Beliefs and Daily Life; Court Life; Economy; and Government.

  • An Assassin's Creed game still featuring a Mamluk pilgrim's flask from North Africa. Courtesy Institut du monde arabe & the Furusiyya Art Foundation Collection/Ubisoft
    An Assassin's Creed game still featuring a Mamluk pilgrim's flask from North Africa. Courtesy Institut du monde arabe & the Furusiyya Art Foundation Collection/Ubisoft
  • Statuette of camel and rider, eighth-ninth century, Iraq. Courtesy The Khalili Collections/Ubisoft
    Statuette of camel and rider, eighth-ninth century, Iraq. Courtesy The Khalili Collections/Ubisoft
  • A ninth-century astrolabe. Courtesy The Khalili Collections/Ubisoft
    A ninth-century astrolabe. Courtesy The Khalili Collections/Ubisoft
  • Twelve-sided bronze mortar. Courtesy Shangri La Museum and Institut du monde Arabe/Ubisoft
    Twelve-sided bronze mortar. Courtesy Shangri La Museum and Institut du monde Arabe/Ubisoft
  • Blown glass jar with trailed zigzag decoration. Courtesy Shangri La Museum/Ubisoft
    Blown glass jar with trailed zigzag decoration. Courtesy Shangri La Museum/Ubisoft
  • Beaker in colourless glass, ninth-century Syria, Iraq or Iran. Courtesy The David Collection/Ubisoft
    Beaker in colourless glass, ninth-century Syria, Iraq or Iran. Courtesy The David Collection/Ubisoft

Each entry has been crafted in collaboration with historians and expert advisers and is illustrated by images carefully selected among the collections of eminent museums and institutions, including: the David Collection in Copenhagen, the Institut du monde arabe in Paris, the Khalili Collections that have been exhibited worldwide; and Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture and Design at the centre of the Doris Duke Foundation in Honolulu.

Thierry Noel, head of Ubisoft’s humanities and inspiration department, said: “Assassin’s Creed always strives to be a gateway for players to discover more about the fascinating historical setting and eras it explores.

“With information curated by experts, History of Baghdad offers a research-based perspective over ninth-century Baghdad and the Abbasid Empire, tackling preconceptions and cliches often associated with them.

“Our collaboration with esteemed partners and experts to bring this feature to life in Assassin's Creed Mirage further highlights the commitment to authenticity and accuracy that is a hallmark of the series.”

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Two-step truce

The UN-brokered ceasefire deal for Hodeidah will be implemented in two stages, with the first to be completed before the New Year begins, according to the Arab Coalition supporting the Yemeni government.

By midnight on December 31, the Houthi rebels will have to withdraw from the ports of Hodeidah, Ras Issa and Al Saqef, coalition officials told The National. 

The second stage will be the complete withdrawal of all pro-government forces and rebels from Hodeidah city, to be completed by midnight on January 7.

The process is to be overseen by a Redeployment Co-ordination Committee (RCC) comprising UN monitors and representatives of the government and the rebels.

The agreement also calls the deployment of UN-supervised neutral forces in the city and the establishment of humanitarian corridors to ensure distribution of aid across the country.

It Was Just an Accident

Director: Jafar Panahi

Stars: Vahid Mobasseri, Mariam Afshari, Ebrahim Azizi, Hadis Pakbaten, Majid Panahi, Mohamad Ali Elyasmehr

Rating: 4/5

Related
QUALIFYING RESULTS

1. Max Verstappen, Netherlands, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1 minute, 35.246 seconds.
2. Valtteri Bottas, Finland, Mercedes, 1:35.271.
3. Lewis Hamilton, Great Britain, Mercedes, 1:35.332.
4. Lando Norris, Great Britain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.497.
5. Alexander Albon, Thailand, Red Bull Racing Honda, 1:35.571.
6. Carlos Sainz Jr, Spain, McLaren Renault, 1:35.815.
7. Daniil Kvyat, Russia, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:35.963.
8. Lance Stroll, Canada, Racing Point BWT Mercedes, 1:36.046.
9. Charles Leclerc, Monaco, Ferrari, 1:36.065.
10. Pierre Gasly, France, Scuderia Toro Rosso Honda, 1:36.242.

Eliminated after second session

11. Esteban Ocon, France, Renault, 1:36.359.
12. Daniel Ricciardo, Australia, Renault, 1:36.406.
13. Sebastian Vettel, Germany, Ferrari, 1:36.631.
14. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:38.248.

Eliminated after first session

15. Antonio Giovinazzi, Italy, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.075.
16. Kimi Raikkonen, Finland, Alfa Romeo Racing Ferrari, 1:37.555.
17. Kevin Magnussen, Denmark, Haas Ferrari, 1:37.863.
18. George Russell, Great Britain, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.045.
19. Pietro Fittipaldi, Brazil, Haas Ferrari, 1:38.173.
20. Nicholas Latifi, Canada, Williams Mercedes, 1:38.443.

Miguel Cotto world titles:

WBO Light Welterweight champion - 2004-06
WBA Welterweight champion – 2006-08
WBO Welterweight champion – Feb 2009-Nov 2009
WBA Light Middleweight champion – 2010-12
WBC Middleweight champion – 2014-15
WBO Light Middleweight champion – Aug 2017-Dec 2017

THE BIO

Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking

if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

Results:

5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1.400m | Winner: AF Mouthirah, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige Dh 110,000 1,400m | Winner: AF Saab, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel

6pm: Maiden (PA) Dh 80,000 1,600m | Winner: Majd Al Gharbia, Saif Al Balushi, Ridha ben Attia

6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed Dh 180,000 1,600m | Winner: RB Money To Burn, Pat Cosgrave, Eric Lemartinel

7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap Dh 70,000 2,200m | Winner: AF Kafu, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel

7.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 100,000 2,400m | Winner: Brass Ring, Fabrice Veron, Ismail Mohammed

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 290hp

Torque: 340Nm

Price: Dh155,800

On sale: now

If you go

The flights
Return flights from Dubai to Santiago, via Sao Paolo cost from Dh5,295 with Emirates


The trip
A five-day trip (not including two days of flight travel) was split between Santiago and in Puerto Varas, with more time spent in the later where excursions were organised by TurisTour.
 

When to go
The summer months, from December to February are best though there is beauty in each season

Avatar: Fire and Ash

Director: James Cameron

Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana

Rating: 4.5/5

Kandahar%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ric%20Roman%20Waugh%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%C2%A0%3C%2Fstrong%3EGerard%20Butler%2C%20Navid%20Negahban%2C%20Ali%20Fazal%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre, 4-cylinder turbo

Transmission: CVT

Power: 170bhp

Torque: 220Nm

Price: Dh98,900

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

The National's picks

4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young

Joker: Folie a Deux

Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson

Director: Todd Phillips 

Rating: 2/5

Updated: July 05, 2023, 9:10 PM