We don't typically like to register our video game consoles with game publishers. After watching
Enemy of the State, we like to stay off the grid, even if we don't exactly understand what the grid is or why it should be avoided. This may just be enough to turn us though: Ubisoft says that those who register their Gamertags or PSN IDs with Ubisoft.com will be able to download a free Altair skin to use in
Prince of Persia. Or, if you demand a princely protagonist, you can download the hero from
Sands of Time.
Is it a classic example of brand dilution? Sure! But is it a cool enough case of brand dilution to make us ignore that?
Absolutely.
{ Nov 21st 2008 at 9:15AM } 
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
SuperAfroBoy @ Nov 21st 2008 9:23AM
I would like to see this happen with more games, like what Microsoft did with the Master Chief suit in Fable.
Nick @ Nov 21st 2008 9:33AM
It's been done. Altair was also available in Metal Gear Solid 4.
Assassin's Creed is now on par with Halo for game cameos.
Altairio @ Nov 21st 2008 9:56AM
Ooh look, an Altair skin. Totally lame. Wait...
WiredKnight @ Dec 2nd 2008 10:27PM
@Nick
Actually, A Spartan appears in DOA 4 as well, so Halo's winning that particular battle.
Wiinterfang @ Nov 21st 2008 9:26AM
Give me a Lara Croft or Werehog now :D.
Daniel @ Nov 21st 2008 9:31AM
I applaud this, I've always taken the time to register my games, so why not get something back out of it?
Rollins @ Nov 21st 2008 9:32AM
So I'll be able to play as Kain in the Tomb Raider games next, right? Right?!
I suppose Raziel wouldn't be bad either.
Jakka ( The Order of Haters of Balance) @ Nov 21st 2008 10:39AM
If only LoK wasn't a dead series...
Pity, as it was amongst the rare breed of great original games.So far the only games that tried to revive this genre were last-years BioShock and Portal.Don't see any contenders this year...at least not story-wise...
If Crystal Dynamics gives Tomb Raider a break, we can at least hope for a remake of at least the first LoK and SR games.
Megadanxzero @ Nov 21st 2008 2:24PM
I wuv you guys! ;^;
I'm all for a bit of Altair-ing in Persia. The free-ness just sweetens the deal, though now that it's been mentioned I can't help wanting a dead blue guy with a glowing sword for an arm...
NaeemTHM @ Nov 21st 2008 9:34AM
SWEET! I was one of the rare people that liked Assassin's Creed so this is a nice bonus.
Hopefully the sequel won't be as repetitive. I absolutely LOVED the build up to every assassination. Getting the right information, pick pocketing, escaping the fuzz; it was all so exhilarating...the first time. The 8th time not so much.
ExMcCloud @ Nov 21st 2008 9:40AM
I thought everyone liked AC yeah it was repetative but it was fun and very very pretty
FlamingEffigy @ Nov 21st 2008 12:01PM
It wasnt that repetitive. After all you only had to do 3 missions each time. Not exactly a huge amount when you compare it to something like GTAIV. Besides i personally found the simple mechanic of movement and combat to be so much fun i did every side mission in the game and got most of the flags and still wasnt bored...
Cant wait for PoP, looks like game of the year from what iv seen, plus as soon they've released i can start looking forward to AC2.
infernus @ Nov 21st 2008 10:02AM
AWESOME. Same voice actor too, so they're even more interchangeable.
Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 21st 2008 6:17PM
sweet Keanu Reeves is in this game too?
Superstar90 @ Nov 21st 2008 10:08AM
It's like their saying "we know you will buy it, but just to be 110% sure... have this for free!"
Mike @ Nov 21st 2008 10:17AM
It seems kind of odd to me that they would do this..."here's a game character and model our developers have spent months creating - and if you register you can replace him with a character from a game you've already played!"
DemonGSides @ Nov 21st 2008 10:48AM
Maybe I hate the Prince's normal looks *(I don't, just hypothetical)* but love Altair. This guarantees a sale. Anything for a sale.
jumpshot @ Nov 21st 2008 12:06PM
This is pretty sick. The next step might be to make myself a real Altair costume and walk around shoving beggars out of my way.
*blends*
jumpshot @ Nov 21st 2008 12:08PM
Hey, where did my profile go? I didnt mean to hit the "blend" buttun!
jumpshot @ Nov 21st 2008 12:09PM
Oh, it's back. Sorry for the triple post, but apparently I can't spell button. Also, I'm trying to stay on the grid.
Gehodra @ Nov 21st 2008 4:28PM
Who the hell are you?
Rhamsey @ Nov 21st 2008 2:22PM
screw altair, im going with the original prince of persia.
tmacairjordan87 @ Nov 21st 2008 3:53PM
You got prince of persia in my uhhh...prince of persia?
JawKnee @ Nov 21st 2008 3:26PM
I hope this isn't what they meant by 'teaching Altair to swim'
bmcclure @ Nov 21st 2008 5:12PM
This trend is terrible. It's like an artist having a Timberland beat
because his vocals are sub par, or an artist having another artist on
their song to appeal to a market not normally there own, ie Ludacris
with whatever R&B singer. Its a ploy, and like Mike said "here's a
game character and model our developers have spent months creating -
and if you register you can replace him with a character from a game
you've already played!". If your MAIN CHARACTER is that
interchangable then your story must not be that strong. You couldn'y
put Altair in GoW for instance.
And if this character swayed you to buy the game, and not the game
itself then the designers did a horrible job and should have just
made AC2.
aj @ Nov 22nd 2008 3:45AM
Yes, this trend is terrible, but people are stupid and businesses like to try to get money from stupid people. So what can you do?
I just don't buy it.
Deaddy @ Nov 21st 2008 10:52PM
This article suggests that you can get either skin on the website for free, but the original source (IGN) states that you have to pre-order at Gamestop to get the "classic" skin.
t_m @ Nov 22nd 2008 5:02AM
Seems like a good idea. And i like the fact that they are actually fitting.
While it can be cool to have a spiderman skin in Tony Hawk, for example, its particularly cool if they fit the situation.
Plus, classic prince is AWESOME. He should be available in every game!
Ubusunagami @ Nov 23rd 2008 11:21PM
So, no special costume for the PC version of the game? Is this the new trend? I didn't see any special costumes for the PC version of Dead Space either.