February 7, 2008 - Update by VoldigarWe've received a lot of email lately asking if we or the project are dead. Forgive me that the press of time prevents me from sending out individual responses. I will respond here.
1. None of us are dead. So far so good.
2. The Project is not dead. After viewing a recent EXCELLENT machinima feature that will remain nameless save for the fact that its initials are "Tales of the Past 3", we are in fact compelled into contemplating what it would take to make a the next installment of Return into a feature. The bar is obviously set a little higher now, and it has put our ponderous ponderers upon us.
March 28, 2007 - Update by Voldigar
Simply put, there's been a lot of secrecy about Return 2 and especially what on earth could possibly have delayed things this long. We finally decided to pull the curtain back and share the whole epic tale. Please, read on...
CLICK HERE to read the Return Manifesto.
November 27, 2006 - Update by Liadov
Happy Holidays from Rufus Cubed!
I'd like to take this moment to do some well-deserved shoutouts:
- Congratulations to Jason Choi and Riot Films for their fantastic success in bringing home two Machinima Film Festival Awards for their stunning work on Edge of Remorse. If you haven't seen it, go now!
- My gratitude goes out to the brothers of Red Sky Foundry, Oxhorn, Jason Choi, and everybody who made the Machinima Festival a sociable, memorable experience. The men behind the Warcraft Machinima works out there are awesome, should you ever be so lucky as to meet them in real life.
- Craftingworlds.com has launched a new site dedicated to the craft of Warcraft Machinima, and aims to bring some new perspectives and helpful information to the community. It's all being put together for you, the independent artist, so check it out!
- Myndflame recently released a commercial commissioned by Xfire which is definitely worth noting, check it out on their web site.
As for Rufus Cubed, we're currently working very hard on our next release. There is currently a lot of parts moving under the hood of this machine, and we hope to share more tangible glimpses into our endeavors soon.
Thank you all for your continued support of Rufus Cubed as we move toward 2007.
-Terran
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November 18, 2006 - Update by Voldigar
A video went up for the Stanford Machinima Event with some great quotes, some Return homage, and even a little cameo from Terran if you watch closely...
Check it out here.
In other news, we're not dead. In fact everyone in Rufus Cubed is currently quite active (gasp!) and working feverishly towards our next release. Plenty in the pipe and more news soooooon...
October 13, 2006 - Update by Voldigar
October 26th between 6:00PM and 9:00PM at Stanford University, I will be speaking as a panelist in the "Machinima: A New Future for Cinema" discussion for the Xfire Machinima Event at Stanford University.
This will rock. Be there.
Check it all out here:
http://www.xfire.com/cms/stanford
October 12, 2006 - Update by Voldigar
Mickey C and TheErik of Warcraft Radio interviewed Ezra and Johnny of Rufus Cubed Productions! Catch it all here:
Warcraft Radio Interviews Rufus Cubed!
And don't forget to listen in to the exciting 20 minute Deckard Caine impression at the the end. Truly a riot.
August 23, 2006 - Update by Liadov
Crossposted on Rufuscubed.com/Craftingworlds.com
Fans, Comrades, and Paparazzi,
For a few weeks, rumors have been circulating on the World of Warcraft forums and WarcraftMovies.com that Tristan of CraftingWorlds.com and Terran of RufusCubed.com have been hired to create game play videos for the big blue B.
The speculation was correct, and both individuals have been hired as Associate Video Editors.
The Eastern Plaguelands PvP trailer released Wednesday is the first product of the department we are now working in. It was our shared goal when first participating in this new art form to create great fan films and push Machinima to new heights. We hope to stay true to these “grass roots” moving forward.
Terran and Tristan have assumed a tremendous amount of responsibility with these new positions, and even more so by letting the cat out of the bag, so to speak. We hope this information only serves to promote and inspire Machinima in the community, and not to create contention.
Both Rufus Cubed and Crafting Worlds plan to continue projects as time permits (which may be limited), and contribute to the community within the parameters we are allowed. Projects released by these two groups are just as they always were: unofficial, fan-based creations, and should hold no more intrinsic weight than any other Machinima artist’s work.
Feel free to continue e-mailing us with questions regarding our unofficial fan projects, or for advice on your own pieces, but unfortunately we will be unable to respond to any questions regarding our employment or the game <3.
Finally we’d like to offer our undying gratitude to the fans who have supported our films since the release of the game that started this escapade, your role in this journey has been 40-man epic.
Sincerely,
Terran and Ezra of Rufus Cubed
Tristan of Crafting Worlds
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the author and are not necessarily those of their employer or any other party.
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August 15, 2006 - Update by Voldigar
Greetings Cubites, fans, angry hordes, and the otherwise curious. Firstly Rufus Cubed would like to offer a hearty congratulations to Johnny Voruz (the newest Cubite) on his engagement to be married. May all the best come to you and the lady.
Secondly and also of high magnitude, Terran, our intrepid adventurer and co-creator of Return has finally settled down in Southern California and is ready to engage the march towards the completion of Return 2 as time allows. Finishing Return 2 is the highest priority of Rufus Cubed. It is unfortunate (though worth it) that career priorities have delayed the release this long, but it remains our highest aspiration to bring Episode 2 and beyond to realization.
Be it known that the deadline for the 2006 Machinima Film Festival is September 22nd, corresponding quite nicely with the September 23rd 2005 release of the original Return Episode 1. If it can happen, an anniversary release would be both outstanding and righteous.
While we can make no promises at this time, and a late September release is extremely aggressive, we've set our will towards this end.
After a long and arduous hiatus, the Return machine is being brought up to full capacity.
In the mean time, hold yourselves over with some other excellent Warcraft Movies. These top notch productions are certainly encouraging us to get our next installment out in the world. Take a look:
Illegal Danish 2: Escape from Orgrimmar Trailer
Tales of the Past 2
Rise of the Living Dead 3: The Turning
Enjoy, and please check back here on September 1st for an update on our progress.
July 13, 2006 - Update by Voldigar
Our short piece "The Game Makers", has won one of three $1000 honorable mention prizes in the "Axe Machinima Contest" hosted by Xfire. The contest was to take the "Game Killers" theme created by the Axe Deoderant guys and translate it into Machinima. We pumped something out in the midst of our other frantic activities, and what do you know: won a cash prize in the process. Dare I say again that Rufus Cubed rocks? Yes, Rufus Cubed rocks.
June 30, 2006 - Update by Voldigar
We'll give it to you straight: Return 2 is unfortunately not done. Not for lack of want, but allow us to explain...
Around the time of the release of the trailer a world of professional film/video opportunities opened up to Terran and myself that were completely unexpected and entirely overwhelming. Huge possibilities awaited and we had to pursue them with all our efforts for the chance to become motion picture professionals.
The good news is: Success... in part. One member thus far has succesfully broken into the entertainment industry and is being hired by an extremely influential company as a video editor. The rest of us will hopefully be following soon after.
We're dissappointed to not have it ready yet, but Return 2 had to step aside for a moment to give us the chance to become industry pros. The fact that we've been met with a great deal of success spells good things for Return, so we believe.
We are very much still prepared to complete the project and will bend our new powers in whatever direction we can to make it happen at an even higher level.
Thank you for all your support of Rufus Cubed and the Return Series. We owe the fans a great debt for the encouragement and enthusiasm we've been shown since this journey began.
-Ezra and Terran
Rufus Cubed Productions
