Assassin's Creed 2, Red Steel 2, Splinter Cell Conviction, Ghost Recon coming by March 2010
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jan 22nd 2009 at 12:59PM } 
Ubi's forecasting for its 2009 fiscal year – running from April 2009 through March 2010 – takes "into account ... 7 franchise titles" including Assassin's Creed 2, the mysterious (still Xbox exclusive?) Splinter Cell Conviction, and Ghost Recon. Some quick finger-based math tells us that leaves four unannounced "franchise titles." Beyond Good and Evil 2, maybe?
Update: Ubi's CEO Yves Guillemot "mentioned a game that [he] wasn't supposed to mention" during today's conference call. Guillemot blurted out, "We have lots of products coming for the Wii next [fiscal] year. We have Red Steel" before apologizing for his indiscretion. We imagine a room full of PR reps rolling their eyes. Sacrebleu!
PDF – Ubisoft Q308 earnings report
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Neil @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:05PM
I hope they take a bit more time in making a great game and not just a beautiful one. With the first game you more or less saw all there was to it in the first hour and after that it was very repetitive.
Heh @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:29PM
Exactly. Loved AC but couldn't bring myself to finish the bloody thing.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:01PM
Allow me to spoil you AC.
"Buy Ac2"
Ac2 ending is probably buy Ac3:Finish the fight.
jorojoserojas @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:07PM
Y'know, I never played the first one. Every time I was close to buying it, I put it off for some reason or another.
So, quick question, and hopefully I get a spoiler-free answer: does Assassin's Creed end on a cliffhanger? Would it be necessary to play through that game before I jump into 2?
Alien Lord @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:10PM
It's not a cliffhanger ending but it does present a new set of problems for the protagonist but I'd say you can play the second without playing the first but it probably will make reference to the first.
WRE @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:11PM
Totally ends on a cliffhanger and totally worth playing the first one...that is, if you like pushing people off of cliffs and rooftops (which I do).
jorojoserojas @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:15PM
Well, to be honest WRE, I don't think I see myself playing the first one, despite really wanting to. My backlog of games is tremendous, and I have about 4 games on my shelf that haven't even been opened.
Well, answer me this, then. How long does it take to play through the first one?
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:19PM
I'd say as long as you dont get lost in the big ass open space like most people do.......then you can prolly beat it in like 10 hours....
Kevin949 @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:20PM
if you didn't try to do everything, you could beat the game in about 2 or 3 sit down sessions on days off from work.
Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:21PM
Assassin's Creed is filled with a ton of repetitive tasks that you have the option of finishing. If you opt to do the minimum amount of those, you can go through the game fairly quickly. 6-9 hours seems like a good estimate to me.
AC, for me, suffered from a lot of what the recent Ubi games suffer from; an over abundance of repetitive tasks (like climbing the same tower model over and over again, or saving a citizen in the exact same way multiple times in a single "mission"), which always make the game feel more like work than anything else. If you can ignore these things, you'll definitely have a good time with the game.
Its not necessary to play the first to know whats going on with the second, but the game is worth renting or buying for a cheap price because its a pretty solid gameplay experience. Its not a game you would play more than once though.
If you're just in it for only the story, check out you tube videos or a wikipedia page.
xFenixKnightx @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:44PM
Play it, jjj.
It's great and it doesn't take that long to get into or finish. It's a great rental for a weekend for sure. The fact that its gorgeous also helps.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:08PM
Avoid it like the plague or rent it for a day.
If you buy it I hope you enjoy the first 2 missions because you will be doing that quite a lot. Oh yeah the LE sucks pretty hard.
But honestly is a good game if you don't have any expectative, if you think you are about to play a dull Prince of Persia Clon you are going to have some fun but I warn you don’t expect anything good about the story otherwise you’ll receive a b*tch slap by the end.
There are moments I find my self being intrigued by the story but Ubi pretty much shot it in the face in order to bring a sequel.
WRE @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:07PM
Oh FUCK YEAH!!!!!!
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:08PM
isn't that what was written on the wall tho???
or did that say something about 2012??
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:18PM
found a video.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoLUklf1NLc
it says 2012.....more specifically 12/21/20012......real fuckin nice....
well at least we can play it b4 the world ends......lol
Daniel @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:38PM
*Mild spoiler alert*
I believe that date is when the Azteks predicted the world would end. (someone correct me if I'm wrong).
That would fit in with the other things on the wall, all of which revolved around different religion's depictions of the end of the world.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:51PM
Game_playa:
You gonna follow me around and say that EVERYwhere?!?!?
You said the Same shit On Engadget & EngadetHD......no here........fuck outta her with that shit..
Daniel: yea it is.....that was why I said at leat we get to play the sequel b4 the end of the world...lol
Daniel @ Jan 22nd 2009 3:42PM
Didn't see that, I fail at reading comments.
Good joke, too. My bad.
Alien Lord @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:08PM
I'm so getting this the first was an awesome game. My sister in law loves it too.
el serpiente @ Jan 22nd 2009 8:00PM
My uncle's neighbor's 2nd cousin really enjoyed it.
Knight Marquise @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:10PM
I guess I was one of the few who was tremendously dissappointed in Assassins Creed (gameplay wise). I don't plan on picking up that sequel.
Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell, OTOH, I am very excited for, I just wish at least one of those two games would have dropped this year.
Isaac @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:13PM
Assassins Creed 2: Medieval building climbing
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:17PM
ummmmmm that was the first.....
now that he is back in normal time and somewhat knows the truth then he has to climb buildings in TODAYS time......and The Illuminaty must be destroyed....so I thing it would be "Assasins's Creed 2: Modern Building Climbing"
Kevin949 @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:23PM
nope, asian theme. ninjas. I hope.
wonderweazel @ Jan 22nd 2009 8:56PM
I just want to know what he is gonna jump into when he jumps of a building.
Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:15PM
All games I've been looking forward to checking out.
Assassin's Creed was a good game but definitely had room for improvement.
Splinter Cell is just a good franchise
Hopefully Ubi will also release a new GRAW on the PC. That's the best way to experience the franchise in my opinion.
Jtenma @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:19PM
It's a shame, I'm going to buy them ALL! (again)
GundamWingEW @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:20PM
LOVED Assassin's Creed. Can't wait for sequel.
And yeah for more Splinter Cell!
jsutcliffe @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:21PM
I didn't really buy into AC's mythology, but it would be fun to transpose the basic idea into other periods in history. A 17th century assassin in France, for example, getting all Dumas on everyone.
PSN: Aggie_CEO @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:29PM
that was Mythology??
RIP R.L. Causton - YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MISSED (PSN johnnynumber5) @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:35PM
I will be honest here and say that Assassins Creed didn't resonate with me like I thought it would have. The whole futuristic/techno theme kind of left me with a bad taste. I would have preffered just a straight up period piece. I was one of the 6 million who bought the original but I won't be buying the sequel. The game was way to repetitive and tedious after a while. However, I really like the main character Altair.
I thought Splinter Cell Double Agent was weak as hell. I liked all the games that came before it (splinter cell, chaos theory & pandora tomorrow) so I won't write the series off just yet. Convinction has seemed like vaporware for a while now.
As for GRAW goes I have never really played them before. I can't say whether it's good or bad because I never tried one. I'm not a big Ubisoft fan for the most part.
Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:41PM
I promote GRAW 2 on PC as much as possible. I love the game.
Its probably the closes you can get to the Rainbow 6 series before it became the Vegas franchise.
Its first person, tactical and methodical.
If you have a PC that can handle the game, definitely check out the demo. You can find it on steam
Professor Lario @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:58PM
@Strategy - you mentioned GRAW2 being first person. I played through the first GRAW, but just never really got comfortable with the controls - too slow and clunky. That said, I love the RB6 series. Would GRAW2 be worth a pickup based on my dislike of the controls in GRAW1?
Strategy_Panda (Pot & Spoon 4 Life) @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:16PM
Just to be clear, were talking about the PC version.
The characters move somewhat slowly compared to other FPS games... more like the original R6 games than anything else.
I never really had a problem with the controls though, and didn't find them impeding me plans or progress in any way. The controls just forced me to be extra cautious, and think a few steps ahead.
I liken it to the earlier R6 games because you can create highly choreographed attack plans (in real time now instead of in a pre-planning stage like the old R6 games). Like having one team fire at an enemy and draw attention, while another moves behind them.
I found the waypoint, overview and movement/fire commands to be very well thought out in this regard.
Again, you can check out a demo to find out for yourself.
Professor Lario @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:18PM
Thanks Panda!
xGeneral DEATHx @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:36PM
I agree with Johnny5 on Double Agent...what a disappointment! As far as AC, I was disappointed, to say the least, but I may pick it up for $10 sometime on PS3 and give it another shot, since PS3 seems to be my "Single Player" machine. GRAW seemed to take a lot of the fun out of the series by painting a vivid picture of every enemy combatant in hiding when you used the UAV, so for the most part I could easily march through most of the co-op missions with my buddies in one or two play-through's.
lbrislai @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:35PM
My guess for a few of the franchises:
-Rayman Raving Rabbids
-Petz
-Farcry 3
-?
Travis @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:29PM
Finally. I've been waiting for that Splinter Cell game for a while. It looks amazing, I like the concept more than the other Splinter Cell games (In a way it looks like a modern AC, hopefully without the repitive quests)
I also am glad they are making a new AC. The first one wasn't perfect, but I still loved it. If they fixed some of the problems (More ways to obtain info please) then it could be amazing.
Professor Lario @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:45PM
I would love word about the next Rainbow Six as well. Thank you.
DangerMouse @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:49PM
Isn't Beyond Good and Evil an Ubisoft title? That should be due for an end of year release.
sodders @ Jan 22nd 2009 1:53PM
I hope maybe another Rainbow Six?
LordChimp @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:07PM
I am probably one of the few that really liked the first Red Steel and can't wait for the sequel.
J-Link @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:10PM
Multipayer with 4 people was pretty good. I always liked to be magic girl.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:12PM
To be honest I would like to play it as well (At leastmore than AC2 that is for sure) if they manage to get the controls right this time.
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:16PM
Ac2 Um Las cucarachas entran pero no pueden salir.
Translation:No sir,he doesn't like it.
I'm more interested in the new Naruto game for the x360.Weird that no one mentions them and they are pretty good.
Game_playa @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:44PM
The PS3 ones are soooo much better that I find it a shame to even talk about the LOW-RES 360 version, The gameplay sucks too
Dr Jeckyl and Mr ESC. @ Jan 22nd 2009 3:25PM
…your mom sucked me good last night.
The gameplay for all naruto games is essentially the same (TAG system FTW) also the only difference is the cream/daylight filter.
I haven’t played Storm or Broken Bond except for the demos but still those are still too damn expensive, I’ll grab it when it reaches 40/50$ here.
Deck @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:26PM
I loved Assassin's Creed.. was a good 14 hours or so for me. But after that, it was done.
I hope the second has more depth though in regard to their side missions and investigation quests. It does need some work.
LordChimp @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:27PM
Yeah, I liked the first one as well but they need to change up the missions or quests in each town.
Mr Khan @ Jan 22nd 2009 2:33PM
To be sure, Red Steel 2 will benefit tremendously from the advances in Wii development: better graphics (hell, screens from the latest Petz Wii titles look pretty good from a technical standpoint, so someone over in Ubisoft has figured out TEV), Motion plus (for the kind of sword-play the original promised), better IR gunplay (following the examples of Metroid Prime 3, The Conduit, CoD:W@W, and MoH:H2), and online play (yes, it'll be sucky online, but it will be there, which is more than was available at launch)
The original was hindered by the basic bugginess of launch-era IR, the faults of waggle, the fact that some rooms looked like they were designed by a top-tier team, and the rest of it designed by one frazzled intern in his spare time, and the unavailability of WFC for Wii titles at the time. In short, it was mostly technical faults that kept it from succeeding (story was so-so, but the combat was satisfying, and the multiplayer was even better)