Screen shot from debut trailer of “Assassin’s Creed I,” set in London. (Ubisoft)

It suddenly occurred to me that, having done a post on the beautiful Renaissance digital imagery of the video game “Assassin’s Creed II” – it was called “Gaming the Renaissance” – I should check out “Assassin’s Creed I.” I just did. Get ready. It is hot. Here is London in the full glory and grit of the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.

I am still ill, but this perked me up a bit, even though the story played in “Assassin’s Creed I” is dark. The action takes place in, my guess, 1850. Look at the video, linked below, and maybe you can make a better guess based on the buildings on the London skyline. (Looking again, it says “London: 1868.”) Here is the YouTube description of the original trailer, released last May 15:

“You play Jacob Frye, a gangster assassin fighting for justice on behalf of London’s enslaved working class. Watch as Jacob rallies his gang to break the corrupt stranglehold on London and bring the working class a brighter future.”

Well, maybe not so dark, but still gritty. I wonder whether Ubisoft, creator of the game, had to hire an architectural historian to get the details right, as it did for “Assassin’s Creed II” – a video of the game displaying some of the results of her work is the central feature of “Gaming the Renaissance.” The video here of “Assassin’s Creed I” introduces game fans to the concept. Very, very interesting!

Screenshot from “Assassin’s Creed I” debut trailer. (Ubisoft)