Ok... Ubisoft used this as part of their game development campaign to check users reactions to the look and feel of the game before all gameplay is locked. This is the kind of look to be expected from an 8-week rush for 23 shots... pretty good... although when set next to their 7 month, $1.5-2 million budget Assassins Creed cinematics... it looks positively dated. 3dsmax + FinalRender and Combustion to comp. These were some of my favorite shots from the piece.
Credit to Alessandro Cangelosi for his cool FumeFX/Krakatoa sand creature effects.