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Boy, that Ubisoft sure can be stubborn! For those owning either the Xbox 360 or Playstation 3, or both (in which case, I must come to your house and claim thy riches) - you may well be aware that some of Ubi-baby’s published goods haven’t set a single foot on these platforms in any retail store in India. Any specific reason? When I last spoke with Mohit Anand, he told me the problem was Ubisoft. Oh snaps, you just know there’s some mama-drama going on behind the scenes when you get a reply like that!
But just today, Tech2’s Avinash Bali reports that we shouldn’t get our a panties in a bunch over it. It looks like e-Xpress Interactive will be distributing Assassin’s Creed (you know, the game that can’t have a downloadable demo because it’s too sandy) on all platforms, including the PC version as well. No comment on the pricing for the console ones, but you can expect the PC version to retail for about Rs. 1299. Expect it to arrive sometime in December, and with any luck, maybe see a few more titles down the road that become officially released.
Speaking of which, the game has already gone gold and will be releasing on November 16th in all of Europa . Hit the jump for the full press release.
Update: It seems the PC version has been delayed to Early 2008, which means mostly likely e-Xpress Interactive will just have the console versions ready for us. We’ll keep you posted! Thanks to Thunderbird for the correction.
(Source:Tech2.com India)
No, this isn’t a spambot, nor is it an ad for that matter. You heard the topic right - there’s free stuff to be found on the internets, and now with 150% more legal awesome!
What I’m referring to, of course, is the announcements from both Ubisoft and EA, releasing some of their games to the public for FREE! That’s right, you heard it. FREE! (oh God was there ever a more glorious word?!)
To be more specific, EA has announced that the Windows XP version of Command & Conquer: Tiberium Dawn (the same one found in their C&C Pack, “The First Decade”) is now freeware, and is available for download in celebration of the 12th anniversary of the series. More details and download links can be found here.
This is a higly welcomed move - C&C Tiberium Dawn was pretty much what pushed the modern RTS era into what it is today. While older veterans may know that the system actually originated from the old Dune 2 games, C&C is pretty much what made it the standard. To see it free and legal - and most importantly working in xp - really brings about a tear to this old retro fool.
However, its not the only game that’s gone freeware. Ubisoft has also released three of their titles - albiet, ad-supported - on FilePlanet for subscribers. The ads are supposedly given only on loading and menu screens, but it may depend from game to game. The three games in this case are Far Cry, Raving Rabbids and Prince of Persia: The Sands of time. You can find the article on it here.
The direct download links to the files can be found here:
Raving Rabbids
Farcry
Prince of Persia
And to clarify: from the looks of it, you need just a basic account on FilePlanet to download PoP and Farcry, while Raving Rabbids doesn’t seem to have public servers (just yet anyway). With a little bit of searching, one may be able to find mirrors for the games as well. Or you could just them get them off the torrents at GameUpdates.org.
Well, welly, well, it looks like someone DID figure out the passcode to enter the JSF site after all! In more EndWar news, logging in to the JSF site (which can also be accessed from Rev64.com via the ads on the Ubisoft Tom Clancy site) with the password s9p1z6 gives you access to the site, where a woman talks about how the EndWar came about. Apparently, in 2014, the United States and a unified Europe pool together their strategic arms and build a global missile defense system, but when Russia discovers new sources of oil, it monopolizes it, and uses the money to further its defensive and offensive capabilities, dawning a new Cold War. When the United States’ space-based weapons delivery system is destroyed in a terrorist attack, conflict exaggerates, leading to the EndWar.
The page has a couple of links to the forum as well as a registration page that allows you to get more information as and when it becomes available, but the most interesting parts of the website are the flashing pieces of text reading EGM216 (a reference to the upcoming world-exclusive preview of the game on EGM) and two little yellow dots on the bottom left corner, which show a GRAW-like soldier on a future battlefield and another video of an extremely fast aircraft diving towards a city to drop off a bomb. Looks like we finally do have a WW3 based RTS game on our hands, now that Company of Heroes has satisfied our itch for a WW2 based one!
After days of going through the same Flash files over and over again, and with no end to theories in sight, it looks like Ubisoft’s viral website for the JSF (covered here and here) may be nothing more than the announcement of their new Console-RTS, EndWar.
In a press release issued today, Ubisoft has written that Tom Clancy’S EndWar, is being developed by Michael de Plater at Ubisoft Shanghai for all next generation consoles, but we’re probably just going to assume it’s not going to include the hapless Wii. Like we had guessed at the blog here (all hail our “133t” internet detective skillz) the game takes place after World War III has broken out in full force and will “push the envelope of technology, showcasing artificial intelligence, graphics, physics and animations that were not possible prior to the launch of the new hardware systems.” Calling it a “strategy game like no other” Ubisoft has said that EndWar will allow gamers “to lead their own armies against hundreds of others online in real global locations on the massive battlefields of World War III.”
Expect a world-exclusive first look of EndWar in the June issue of Electronic Gaming Monthly on May 8. And if that’s not enough, head on over to the JSF forums and see what’s unfolding up there. We don’t know what’s going on, since the site is now asking us for a passcode to enter, but we’re sure one of you will break through any time soon. But jeez, Console exclusive RTS? First Halo: Wars and now this? Looks like PC gamers are being shown the door yet again! And what the heck is up with all console RTS games ending with some Wars or the other?
Clover Studios developed great games like God Hand and Okami. Next thing we know Capcom was closing them down and Keiji Inafune (of Lost Planet fame) comments that just getting good reviews does not equal success. Critically acclaimed games like Viva Pinata and Kameo: Elements of Power from Rare Studios ended up losing in the sales race. Beyond Good and Evil by Ubisoft was cursed with the same fate inspite of being a great piece of interactive entertainment. I know it’s sad but thats exactly the state of the game industry today. Fewer developers take risks with innovation and games that are out of the ordinary. In fact, developers do love to make games that have never-before-seen gameplay and a completely new feel to how a game plays out, but it’s the cut-throat producers and publishing companies that dont want the developers to take risks. For the publishers, games should ALWAYS equal to loads of green or there is no freaking point in publishing it.
That is the reason why we see loads of crappy games in the market that sell well just because they are related to some blockbuster movie or in some cases a famous celebrity. For example 50 cent Bulletproof was a disaster of a game but was on the best seller list. Publishers know that if they push developers to make games based on the next Disney movie, they are sure to sell a hundred thousand copies without any effort at all. The consumers are suckers for anything that is mass market. The game may be crap and have horrible gameplay but if it has a lead character that resembles THE ROCK JOHNSON…SOLD OUT!
It seems another viral site from our friends at Ubisoft has just sprung up,this time it’s for the once-dubbed “Crysis killer”, HAZE. The website www.mantelglobalindustries.com has a video of the person we see in the trailer (now identified as Mr. David Bloomfield) speaking about how Mantel Corp. has changed the way of life and a lot of PR bullplop how the company is making a difference. On the left hand side we see various clickeys, and while the product page is restricted, you can take a look at what Mantel is all about. One interesting information I got was about “NECTAR”.
Excerpts from the site:
A zoom on Mantel’s best: the Nectar. From the groundbreaking researchers who brought you the Endone (200,000,000 pills sold each month) and the Aracmen revolution, comes Mantel Health’s latest medical innovation: the Nova-Keto-Thyrazine - also called NECTAR. The result of more than ten years of the most advanced research in both human therapeutic antibodies and neuronal genetic engineering, the Nectar was originally conceived as a support treatment for Mantel Military’s field employees: “Join the team!” A closely kept secret, its formula allows better recovery from both physical and mental efforts on the field. In addition, it regulates the adrenaline rush that has previously led to tragic accidents (amongst which the infamous “Blue on Blue”), thus ensuring our boys stay 200 percent focused on their mission and objective. The military-grade version of NECTAR is of course strictly regulated and only used on-field after a thorough medical exam of each field operative. At Mantel, we are aware that life can be a daily battle. Feeling depressed, overwhelmed by having to juggle your job, the kids, errands, your social life? We have the solution: direct from Mantel Health, we are proud to introduce the public version of NECTAR. Already more than 150 million people around the world use it everyday. You too can regain control of your life, starting today! Simply contact your nearest local Mantel Health or Mantel Care retailer, who will be more than happy to guide you.
Mantel Health has also created a brand new vitamin- and protein-rich beverage in order for kids to take full advantage of NECTAR’s benefits in complete safety. Ask for Nectar-In at your nearest retailer to make your children both happier and saner! Nectar-In is also delivered free to all participating schools as part of the Children Priority Mission Nutrition Program. Ask your children’s school’s parental committee or your nearest Mantel Care or Mantel Health retailer directly, who will be more than happy to guide you.
Hmm, theraputic antibodies and neuronal genetic enginnering. Oh yeah. some real bad shit is gonna hit the fan here!!