Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[PS3 Essentials announced for European PlayStation Network]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/ps3-essentials-announced-for-PSN/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/ps3-essentials-announced-for-PSN/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/09/26/ps3-essentials-announced-for-PSN/#comments PS3 Essentials coming to PSN EuropeSony announced the "PlayStation Essentials" program this morning for Europe, hot on the heels of yesterday's "PSN Day 1 Digital" program. The difference between the two PlayStation Network initiatives is that while Day 1 Digital is all launch titles, Essentials covers the classics - well, some are classics, others are just old and tired.

Highlights of the of program include the first three Assassin's Creed, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Far Cry 2 and Infamous. The prices begin at £9.99/€14.99, which may be a tough sell as a "bargain," since you can pick up many of these games for less by walking (ew, who wants to do that?) to the store. The main point here is that Sony continues drawing attention to its digital distribution of full games.

Check out the full list on the PlayStation EU blog, more games will be added this year to the current offerings.

JoystiqPS3 Essentials announced for European PlayStation Network originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 26 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermoveplaystationplaystation-essentialsPlayStation-Networkps3PS3-EssentialspsnWed, 26 Sep 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood stealthily reduced to $25 on Amazon today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/assassins-creed-brotherhood-stealthily-reduced-to-25-on-amazo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/assassins-creed-brotherhood-stealthily-reduced-to-25-on-amazo/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/assassins-creed-brotherhood-stealthily-reduced-to-25-on-amazo/#comments Stab stab If you've yet to partake in some of the most interesting multiplayer of 2010, you can now snag (and stab) Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood for a mere $25 on PS3 or 360 (today only). We're not sure how many Florins $25 is, but it can't be much.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood stealthily reduced to $25 on Amazon today

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood stealthily reduced to $25 on Amazon today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftplaystationps3xboxTue, 27 Sep 2011 13:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Amazon Lightning Deals get grounded today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/amazon-lightning-deals-get-grounded-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/amazon-lightning-deals-get-grounded-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/09/02/amazon-lightning-deals-get-grounded-today/#comments Amazon's Lightning Deals are generally super-effective, and today looks like no exception. Amazon has some some smokin'-hot goodies up for grabs this afternoon, including what appears to be the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Collector's Edition. Check out the schedule of game deals below, along with our interpretations of Amazon's oh-so-sneaky clues:

JoystiqAmazon Lightning Deals get grounded today originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazonAssassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerlightning-dealsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Steam Summer Camp Sale ends today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/psa-steam-summer-camp-sale-ends-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/psa-steam-summer-camp-sale-ends-today/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/10/psa-steam-summer-camp-sale-ends-today/#comments It's time to strip down your bunks, throw your macaroni necklaces in a suitcase and get back to town -- it's the final day of the Steam Summer Camp Sale. Today Steam is featuring some of the sale's biggest titles (which means you probably already have them), including franchise deals on Fallout, Battlefield, Borderlands, Just Cause and Assassin's Creed.

One game you may not have bought yet, Terraria, is also 50 percent off today. If there's a better way of forming one last Summer Camp memory than a 2D, Minecraft-inspired sidescrolling goldmine of fun, we can't think of it.

JoystiqPSA: Steam Summer Camp Sale ends today originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 10 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-MultiplayerBattlefield-Bad-Company-2BorderlandsBorderlands Game of the Year EditionFallout-New-VegasJust-Cause-2pcsteam-summer-sale-2011terrariaSun, 10 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA['UbiCollectibles' shop offers exclusive Assassin's Creed, Might & Magic swag]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/ubicollectibles-shop-offers-exclusive-assassins-creed-might/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/ubicollectibles-shop-offers-exclusive-assassins-creed-might/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/ubicollectibles-shop-offers-exclusive-assassins-creed-might/#comments For die-hard fans of Ubisoft's major franchises, the company offers a new way to own physical totems of those fandoms. It just launched a line of exclusive "UbiCollectibles" available exclusively through its online shop (and, at the moment, exclusively in Europe).

For those of us outside of Europe who get redirected out of that region's online shop, Ubiworkshop posted images of two of the first offerings: an Assassin's Creed Brotherhood "Ezio's Fury" statue, limited to 2,000 units, that depicts Ezio furiously skipping on some broken columns, and a statue of Might & Magic Heroes VI's Archangel Michael, limited to 500. The shop will also sell Ghost Recon "Production Team" t-shirts, as seen on ... the Ghost Recon production team at E3.

Gallery: Ubicollectibles

Joystiq'UbiCollectibles' shop offers exclusive Assassin's Creed, Might & Magic swag originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayercollectibleseuropeghost-reconmicrosoftmight-and-magic-heroes-6pcplaystationps3ubicollectiblesubishopubisoftxboxFri, 01 Jul 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: Designing the Considerate Kill]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/assassins-creed-brotherhood-designing-the-considerate-kill/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/assassins-creed-brotherhood-designing-the-considerate-kill/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/06/06/assassins-creed-brotherhood-designing-the-considerate-kill/#comments
Before playing the upcoming Assassin's Creed: Revelations, Joystiq looks back at the creation of the franchise's first multiplayer installment, Brotherhood.

"It was a very difficult game to design, and making it accessible was even harder. We were starting from scratch, with no benchmarks. It's not like a shooter where all you need to know is how to shoot the bad guys."

If there's one thing we get, in every way that anything can possibly be gotten, it's the shooting of the bad guys. Games don't even bother to include tutorials for that part anymore, and reviewers treat it as a begrudging axiom when they have to differentiate between the year's big multiplayer offerings.

When Damien Kieken, multiplayer game director for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, says it was difficult to make the game -- and then to make it accessible -- he's speaking to a peculiar and notable absence. If you're shooting the bad guys in Assassin's Creed, you're doing it a bit wrong.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed Brotherhood: Designing the Considerate Kill

JoystiqAssassin's Creed Brotherhood: Designing the Considerate Kill originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 06 Jun 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayeraymar-azaiziadamien-kiekenmicrosoftpcplaystationps3ubisoftubisoft-annecyubisoft-montrealxboxMon, 06 Jun 2011 06:30:00 EST<![CDATA[AC: Brotherhood 'Da Vinci Disappearance' DLC preview: Art snob]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/ac-brotherhood-da-vinci-disappearance-dlc-preview-art-snob/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/ac-brotherhood-da-vinci-disappearance-dlc-preview-art-snob/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/24/ac-brotherhood-da-vinci-disappearance-dlc-preview-art-snob/#comments The Da Vinci Disappearance is an ambitious piece of DLC for Ubisoft, granting players access to a large chunk of single-player content, but also some new modes, skins and a map for the multipayler side. At the February Games Showcase in San Francisco, I was able to play through two missions in an Xbox 360 build.

Gallery: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood -- The Da Vinci Disappearance (2/24/11)

Continue reading AC: Brotherhood 'Da Vinci Disappearance' DLC preview: Art snob

JoystiqAC: Brotherhood 'Da Vinci Disappearance' DLC preview: Art snob originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftmicrosoft-february-showcase-2011pcplaystationps3release-dateubisoftUbisoft-MontrealxboxThu, 24 Feb 2011 19:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Black Ops rack up BAFTA nominations]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/assassins-creed-brotherhood-black-ops-rack-up-bafta-nomination/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/assassins-creed-brotherhood-black-ops-rack-up-bafta-nomination/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/16/assassins-creed-brotherhood-black-ops-rack-up-bafta-nomination/#commentsThe British Academy of Film and Television Arts has announced the nominees for its GAME British Academy Video Games Awards, which manage to be prestigious despite the inclusion of a sponsor's name in the title. Even before any winners are announced, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is representing well, with nominations in seven categories including Action, Artistic Achievement, Gameplay, Multiplayer, Technical Innovation, and, of course, Best Game. Call of Duty: Black Ops is also nominated in seven separate categories.

Other nominees include Heavy Rain (six nominations), Mass Effect 2 (five), and XBLA favorite Limbo, receiving nods for Audio and Artistic Achievement. Best Game nominee Super Mario Galaxy 2 is also nominated for Technical Innovation, an area in which that game is not typically lauded. In addition, the first Social Network Game award includes Bejeweled Blitz, Farmerama, FIFA Superstars, My Empire, Zoo Mumba, and Zuma Blitz as nominees.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony on March 16. Until then, you can vote for the GAME Award winner online.

JoystiqAssassin's Creed Brotherhood, Black Ops rack up BAFTA nominations originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-brotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerbaftabaftas-2011dsgame-british-academy-video-game-awardsmass-effect-2microsoftnintendopcplaystationps3pspsonywiixboxWed, 16 Feb 2011 09:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood reaches 6.5 million shipped]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/assassins-creed-brotherhood-reaches-6-5-million-shipped/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/assassins-creed-brotherhood-reaches-6-5-million-shipped/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/14/assassins-creed-brotherhood-reaches-6-5-million-shipped/#comments Ubisoft announced that it has surpassed its projected third-quarter sales performance -- partially due to its uber successful dancing-centric games, which sold-in a collective 10.5 million units in this past quarter alone, but also due to the strong performance of its historical murder title, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. According to the company's latest financial report, the game has reached 6.5 million units shipped to various and sundry retailers across the globe.

Time will tell how many of those units will be sold-through to consumers, but we don't foresee sneaky stabbings going out of style any time soon. Nor do we see random spurts of la bella, la lingua ricca d'Italia becoming any less fashionable.

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood reaches 6.5 million shipped originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftpcplaystationps3salesubisoftubisoft-montrealxboxMon, 14 Feb 2011 13:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Jade Raymond optimistic of new studios, IP development]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/jade-raymond-optimistic-of-new-studios-ip-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/jade-raymond-optimistic-of-new-studios-ip-development/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/13/jade-raymond-optimistic-of-new-studios-ip-development/#comments Ubisoft Toronto Managing Director Jade Raymond's presentation at DICE expressed her belief that despite the current upheaval in the industry, she believes now is a great time to start a studio. Referencing EA Sports boss Peter Moore's speech about the industry being on a "burning oil platform" -- the idea being that it only changes when it has to -- Raymond believes it's more like a burning oil tanker that can course correct. One would hope she'd be optimistic about current core development being viable, considering she manages, what will become in time, one of the biggest studios in the industry.

In terms of IP development, she explained that the Ubisoft team spent a year of pre-production building the foundations of the Assassin's Creed franchise. "We spent quite a bit of time during conception thinking about the franchise metastory and story arc. And, most importantly, thinking of how to make sandboxes that future game teams and future teams in other media would be able to experiment and come up with their own stuff in this franchise." Regarding the ability to do Assassin's Creed comics, TV or a movie down the road, "You'll never get the best out of people if you just hand them this stone tablet."

Clearly showing her roots working on The Sims Online, it's quite obvious Raymond is a disciple of Will Wright's ideas about fan involvement in franchises. "I think you need to rely on fans," believing that the fan community will identify the best ideas to work from. She Iterated a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson for the video game industry: Foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small franchises.

Raymond made clear that Assassin's Creed was designed as a franchise that could be handed over to professionals to expand the world, she said that the next IP Ubisoft is creating in Toronto will hopefully be "handed over to fans."

JoystiqJade Raymond optimistic of new studios, IP development originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 13 Feb 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creedassassins-creed-2Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-MultiplayerJade-Raymondmicrosoftpcplaystationps3UbisoftxboxSun, 13 Feb 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: The Fall comic issue three is out]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/assassins-creed-the-fall-comic-issue-three-is-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/assassins-creed-the-fall-comic-issue-three-is-out/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/11/assassins-creed-the-fall-comic-issue-three-is-out/#comments The third issue of Assassin's Creed: The Fall concludes the story arc and is now available in stores and on Ubisoft's website for $5. What will become of Daniel Cross? And of the results of the Tunguska event? We're not telling! We do have a pretty image from it after the break for you, though.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed: The Fall comic issue three is out

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: The Fall comic issue three is out originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 11 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerassassins-creed-the-fallcomicubisoftFri, 11 Feb 2011 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood wins Writers Guild award]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/assassins-creed-brotherhood-wins-writers-guild-award/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/assassins-creed-brotherhood-wins-writers-guild-award/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/07/assassins-creed-brotherhood-wins-writers-guild-award/#comments The Writers Guild of America awarded Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood with the 2011 award for best video game writing -- which you may or may not agree with, but considering the nominees, at least Star Wars: The Force Unleashed 2 didn't win. The prize was given to Ethan Petty, Nicholas Grimwood and Matt Turner for Script Writing; and Jeffrey Yohalem, Corey May and Patrice Desilets for the story (hopefully someone at Ubisoft has Desilets' forwarding address over at THQ).

Past years' winners were Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Uncharted 2. The WGA stood up for itself this year regarding its nomination process, saying it can't nominate writers if a developer doesn't bother putting a name to a script. Hopefully we'll see more publishers and developers giving their game writers credit, so future nominees won't have us scratching our heads in utter befuddlement.

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood wins Writers Guild award originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftplaystationps3UbisoftWGAWriters-Guild-of-AmericaxboxMon, 07 Feb 2011 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood multiplayer map when Facebook page hits 1m fans]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/free-assassins-creed-brotherhood-multiplayer-map/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/free-assassins-creed-brotherhood-multiplayer-map/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/02/06/free-assassins-creed-brotherhood-multiplayer-map/#commentsAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood DLC Accept enough charity and, eventually, you're going to be asked for a favor. After handing out two free DLC packs in the forms of Animus Project Update 1.0 and Animus Project Update 2.0, Ubisoft is asking fans to give something back if they want another new multiplayer map in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood: simply "Like" the official Assassin's Creed Facebook page. Once it hits 1 million Facebook fans, Ubi will release a new t-shirt to "commemorate the event"; share a "THANK YOU" all-caps video, featuring AssCreedBroHo devs; honor a 24-hour, 15% discount at UbiWorkshop; conduct special giveaways on the Facebook page; and (finally!) release a new multiplayer map titled "Venezia by Night."

Right now, the Assassin's Creed series Facebook page has 952,177 fans. If you're not mathematically inclined, we'll do the hard work for you: 47,823 of you need to head to Facebook and give that Like button a real working over. Or don't. Simply take and take and take and never give anything back. Is that how you want people to think of you?

[Thanks, Josh]

JoystiqFree Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood multiplayer map when Facebook page hits 1m fans originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 06 Feb 2011 22:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-MultiplayerDLCFacebookmicrosoftplaystationps3Venezia-by-NightxboxSun, 06 Feb 2011 22:17:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 'Animus Project Update 2.0' coming today]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/assassins-creed-brotherhood-animus-project-update-2-0-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/assassins-creed-brotherhood-animus-project-update-2-0-coming/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/18/assassins-creed-brotherhood-animus-project-update-2-0-coming/#comments Despite some recent hiccups in the multiplayer service for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, we have quite a serious crush on the game (as evidenced by our nod to it in 2010's GOTY list). And that's why we're so glad to hear of today's impending "Animus Project Update 2.0," said to add a new team-based multiplayer mode ("Chest Capture") and the Pienza map.

It appears that the free download isn't available just yet, but should be popping up on XBLM and PSN in the coming hours. In the meantime, we've got a trailer of the update's content in action. Join us just after the break ... but watch your back!

Continue reading Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood 'Animus Project Update 2.0' coming today

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood 'Animus Project Update 2.0' coming today originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animus-project-update-2.0Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerdlcfreemicrosoftplaystationplaystation-networkps3psnubisoftxblmxboxxbox-live-marketplaceTue, 18 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Xbox update glitch fixed [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/assassins-creed-brotherhood-xbox-update-kills-the-online-multi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/assassins-creed-brotherhood-xbox-update-kills-the-online-multi/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/17/assassins-creed-brotherhood-xbox-update-kills-the-online-multi/#comments Good news, Abstergo Agents -- you've got the day off! Your rigorous training exercises on the online multiplayer portion of the Xbox 360 version of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood have been interrupted. That's not due to the current national holiday; rather, it's because some players seem to be having trouble downloading the game's latest title update, locking them out of any and all of Brotherhood's online offerings.

Ubisoft has acknowledged the error, and is currently working to repair the damage. We'll let you know when you can get back to your regularly scheduled murder and stuff.

Update: Whatever was causing the update hiccup has been remedied, according to Ubisoft. We just downloaded the patch with no problem, and would wager that you can now do the same.

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood Xbox update glitch fixed [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftmultiplayertitle-updateubisoftxboxMon, 17 Jan 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Joystiq Top 10 of 2010: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/best-games-2010-assassins-creed-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/best-games-2010-assassins-creed-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/31/best-games-2010-assassins-creed-brotherhood/#comments Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood took the single-player mechanics of one of our top games for 2009, Assassin's Creed 2, and sharpened them to a fine point; but that's not why Brotherhood clambered so high on our best of 2010 tower. The sequel is here for blindsiding us with a panic-fueled, engrossing multiplayer component.

Like many of you, we've grown cynical watching companies cram unnecessary multiplayer into games with solid single-player experiences. Upon its announcement, that's exactly what Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood's stab-or-be-stabbed multiplayer sounded like: typical padding to a cash-in sequel, still riding high on the last game's wave of success. Wrong. Not only did Brotherhood's single-player campaign offer a focused, distilled romp through Rome, but its multiplayer gave us a unique experience that, refreshingly, didn't have shooting at its heart.

Continue reading Joystiq Top 10 of 2010: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood

JoystiqJoystiq Top 10 of 2010: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 31 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerjoystiq-best-of-2010microsoftpcplaystationps3ubisoftubisoft-annecyubisoft-montrealxboxFri, 31 Dec 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood patch to correct 'Animus bug']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/assassins-creed-brotherhood-patch-to-correct-animus-bug/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/assassins-creed-brotherhood-patch-to-correct-animus-bug/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/21/assassins-creed-brotherhood-patch-to-correct-animus-bug/#comments Ubisoft has announced an upcoming title update for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood that should spur stalled multiplayer matchmaking, restore PlayStation 3 Trophy acquisition and give the notorious Animus bug the boot. And that one's a detrimental glitch, mind you. If you've played Brotherhood's online component, you'll know that a lot of the bugs, cheats and exploits used by Abstergo employees in Animus simulations are features, first and foremost.

Due to arrive "very soon," Title Update 3 aims to free players who get stuck either during the match search process, or in the Animus seat when they visit the 2012 timeline in the single-player campaign. It'll also address a fast travel glitch in Rome and a bug that can prevent PS3 players from unlocking further trophies after a certain point in the game.

You can see a more detailed list of fixes after the break. We'll let you know as soon as the update becomes available on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood patch to correct 'Animus bug'

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood patch to correct 'Animus bug' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftpatchplaystationps3psnubisoftubisoft-annecyubisoft-montrealxboxxbox-liveTue, 21 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood bonus mission free to European Uplay users [update]]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/assassins-creed-brotherhood-bonus-mission-free-to-uplay-users/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/assassins-creed-brotherhood-bonus-mission-free-to-uplay-users/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/20/assassins-creed-brotherhood-bonus-mission-free-to-uplay-users/#comments
Launched last year with Assassin's Creed 2, Ubisoft's Uplay has served as an in-game rewards system on top of Xbox Live's Achievements and PlayStation Network's Trophies, letting those who sign up for it unlock bonus items using accrued points across supported games. Recently, these same folks got an email offering them a free bonus mission in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood called "The Trajan Market." The mission was originally available as part of the game's "Codex Edition" and sends Ezio into a marketplace in the middle of Rome, where he fights Borgia guards and discovers a treasure hidden in a ruined tower.

As you can see in the screen grab above, the code was even sent out to Uplay members who don't own the game. If you're not yet a Uplay member, you can sign up on the official site. Also, you didn't tell us there'd be free stuff, Ubisoft! Oh wait, maybe you did.

Update: Ubisoft has clarified that this offer is for European Uplay members.

[Thanks, RobLink and Jason]

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood bonus mission free to European Uplay users [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermembershipmicrosoftplaystationps3the-trajan-marketubisoftuplayxboxMon, 20 Dec 2010 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: The Fall comic #2 out now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/assassins-creed-the-fall-comic-2-out-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/assassins-creed-the-fall-comic-2-out-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/16/assassins-creed-the-fall-comic-2-out-now/#commentsGood news for fans of stabbing and comic books (a bigger audience than you might think): Assassin's Creed: The Fall issue two is now available in comic shops.

Lest you haven't been keeping up, The Fall tells the story of mustachioed assassin Nikolai Orelov, who operates during the Russian revolution. Look out -- he'll stab you right in your warm, furry hat.

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: The Fall comic #2 out now originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-CreedAssassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerassassins-creed-the-fallcomicsdcdc-comicsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3ubisoftxboxThu, 16 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed Brotherhood adds more free DLC in January with 'Animus Project Update 2.0']]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/assassins-creed-brotherhood-adds-more-free-dlc-in-january-with/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/assassins-creed-brotherhood-adds-more-free-dlc-in-january-with/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/14/assassins-creed-brotherhood-adds-more-free-dlc-in-january-with/#comments Ubisoft, you're doing this wrong! If you want to squeeze more money out of Assassin's Creed, you'd best charge for these frequent updates to Brotherhood's multiplayer mode. Animus Project Update 1.0 launches today, augmenting the game with a new "Advanced Alliance" mode and the Mont Saint-Michel map, for free.

The predictably-named Animus Project Update 2.0 will be available in January and, like its predecessor, will add yet another map and mode into the mix: the Pienza Map and a new "Chest Capture" team mode. Once again, Ubisoft is releasing this pack for free -- earning useless things like "fan appreciation" and "loyalty" instead of what really matters: cash money.

Check out a not-so-stealthy preview of the Advanced Alliance mode in a new trailer, after the break.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed Brotherhood adds more free DLC in January with 'Animus Project Update 2.0'

JoystiqAssassin's Creed Brotherhood adds more free DLC in January with 'Animus Project Update 2.0' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 12:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerdlcmicrosoftplaystationps3ubisoftxboxTue, 14 Dec 2010 12:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed 'Beautiful Lies' music video loves its lineage]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/assassins-creed-beautiful-lies-music-video-loves-its-lineage/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/assassins-creed-beautiful-lies-music-video-loves-its-lineage/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/assassins-creed-beautiful-lies-music-video-loves-its-lineage/#comments The case for Desmond, Altair, and Ezio sharing the same gene pool has never been stronger than in this fan-made music video starring all three. Be aware of some story spoilers, particularly if you haven't completed Assassin's Creed or its first sequel.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed 'Beautiful Lies' music video loves its lineage

JoystiqAssassin's Creed 'Beautiful Lies' music video loves its lineage originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 11:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>altairassassins-creedAssassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerb-complexbeautiful-liesdesmond-milesezioezio-auditore-da-firenzefan-mademicrosoftpcplaystationps3ubisoftxboxMon, 13 Dec 2010 11:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood players complain of game-breaking Animus glitch]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/11/assassins-creed-brotherhood-players-complain-of-game-breaking/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/11/assassins-creed-brotherhood-players-complain-of-game-breaking/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/11/assassins-creed-brotherhood-players-complain-of-game-breaking/#comments During Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, it's possible to leave the Animus and explore Monteriggioni as Desmond Miles in the game's present-day, 2012. However, users on the game's forum are complaining about a nasty glitch where they're unable to sit back down in the Animus after running around the Auditore compound, effectively trapping them in 2012 and halting all progress in the game. You can see the glitch for yourself in this video, though the resolution is fairly low.

We've contacted Ubisoft to see if there's a workaround or patch in the works. We'll update the post as soon as we hear back.

[Thanks, Matt]

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood players complain of game-breaking Animus glitch originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 11 Dec 2010 03:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerglitchmicrosoftpatchplaystationps3ubisoftUbisoft-MontrealxboxSat, 11 Dec 2010 03:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey gauges interest in potential future Assassin's Creed features]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/survey-gauges-interest-in-potential-future-assassins-creed-feat/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/survey-gauges-interest-in-potential-future-assassins-creed-feat/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/12/05/survey-gauges-interest-in-potential-future-assassins-creed-feat/#comments Online poll distributor GMI Survey recently uploaded a questionnaire allowing Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood players to rate various aspects of their experience with the game -- provided said players fit into the male, UK-based demographic sought out by the survey. After evaluating the strength of Brotherhood's composite features, participants are asked to gauge their interest in potential additions which could be made in a "sequel to the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood game." Check out the full list of these questions after the jump.

We can't tell whether this survey was officially commissioned by Ubisoft, or if these inclusions are being seriously considered for future Creeds, but ... well, co-op? More multiplayer modes? A new assassin in a new time period? We're down. In fact, the only way we could be more down is if the survey mentioned "two additional hidden blades that you wear on your feet, allowing you to stab four dudes at once." Get on it, Ubisoft.

Continue reading Survey gauges interest in potential future Assassin's Creed features

JoystiqSurvey gauges interest in potential future Assassin's Creed features originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftpcplaystationps3surveyubisoftxboxSun, 05 Dec 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Another 'big' Assassin's Creed next year, Brotherhood sells over 1M in Europe]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/another-big-assassins-creed-next-year-brotherhood-sells-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/another-big-assassins-creed-next-year-brotherhood-sells-over/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/another-big-assassins-creed-next-year-brotherhood-sells-over/#comments
I don't think there's going to be an Assassin's Creed in 2011. I think we're going to let it breathe a bit and really focus on bringing something new and exciting for the next time around." -- Ubisoft associate producer Jean-Francois Boivin, July 2010, before being overridden.

We didn't buy it and, deep down, we don't think Mr. Boivin did either, who also warned that "business can come back and override everything I say because at the end of the day it's about selling games."

It's about selling over 1 million copies, as Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood has done within its first week in Europe. Geoffroy Sardin, Ubisoft's marketing and sales chief for Europe, Middle East and Asia, shared the news with MCV and clarified that another -- and, more importantly -- "big" Assassin's Creed game would launch in 2011. "Yes, Yves [Guillemot, Ubisoft CEO] mentioned it last week in our financials - and more details will be forthcoming," Sardin said. "But what I can say is that next year we will have another big Assassin's Creed game."

Launching just a year after Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood has won critics over with its representation of Rome and its innovative, unusually paced multiplayer mode. According to Sardin, 60 percent of Brotherhood owners have wielded a hidden blade in the online crowd, and Ubisoft intends to support that player base with regular doses of DLC. The first new map and additional mode will be available in December for free.

As Boivin has stated before, the successful multiplayer component will likely remain an integral part of Assassin's Creed for the foreseeable future, but how it will fit into the next big game is a matter of speculation. We'll likely learn more within the next six months, unless Ubisoft makes the effort to defy predictions. With another game so soon, the onus is on the developer's massive workforce to preserve the element of surprise.

JoystiqAnother 'big' Assassin's Creed next year, Brotherhood sells over 1M in Europe originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayergeoffroy-sardinmicrosoftpcplaystationps3ubisoftubisoft-montrealxboxFri, 26 Nov 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood multiplayer servers back up]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/assassins-creed-brotherhood-multiplayer-servers-back-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/assassins-creed-brotherhood-multiplayer-servers-back-up/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/25/assassins-creed-brotherhood-multiplayer-servers-back-up/#comments If you shunned your family today in the hopes of committing virtual murder in a 16th-century milieu, you were probably disappointed when Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood server -- oh, sorry, the Abstergo Industries Animus network -- went offline. According to Ubisoft Montreal's community developer, Gabriel Graziani, online multiplayer is now "100% operational" again. (We just tested it ourselves and things seem to be back to normal.)

Extricating yourself from the dinner table at this point might be a challenge, but if you've spent some time with Brotherhood's multiplayer mode you'll know the trick is just to play it cool. You're just an NPC taking a stroll to the couch.

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood multiplayer servers back up originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 25 Nov 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftmultiplayerplaystationps3stabubisoftubisoft-montrealxboxThu, 25 Nov 2010 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 Fancast 190 -- What's Frappening?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/xbox-360-fancast-190-whats-frappening/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/xbox-360-fancast-190-whats-frappening/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/xbox-360-fancast-190-whats-frappening/#comments You're in for quite the piping-hot treat of justice today, as the Xbox 360 Fancast crew find themselves in rare form for the 190th episode of this podcasting institution. There's plenty of punny taglines for our coffee-themed super hero we've concocted in our noggins, but there's also talk of this Xbox 360 video games console thing, as well -- specifically, about how well Kinect has been doing and how much fun it is to stab your friends. Download and listen, lest you allow the Borgia to win!

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in iTunes (MP3)
[Zune] Subscribe to the Podcast directly in Zune Marketplace (MP3)
[RSS MP3] Add the Xbox 360 Fanboy Podcast feed (in MP3) to your RSS aggregator and have the show delivered automatically
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly
Hosts: Richard Mitchell (SenseiRAM, @senseiram), Alexander Sliwinski (Sli Xander, @xandersliwinski) and Dave Hinkle (KnifefightYaDad, @davehinkle)

Music: Intro/Outro: "Electromooq" by Uma Floresta; Break: "Musow" by Bassekou Kouyate and Ngoni Ba

For fans: Xbox 360 Fancast Facebook group

Continue reading Xbox 360 Fancast 190 -- What's Frappening?

JoystiqXbox 360 Fancast 190 -- What's Frappening? originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerfancastkinectmicrosoftmicrosoft-kinectubisoftx3fxboxxbox-360-fancastMon, 22 Nov 2010 19:00:00 ESTXbox 360 Fancast 190 -- What's Frappening?Richard Mitchell, Alexander Sliwinski, David Hinkle1:01:16xbox 360 fancast podcast videogames video games joystiq<![CDATA[Black Ops maintains top UK sales spot, AC: Brotherhood has strongest debut in franchise]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/black-ops-maintains-top-uk-sales-spot-ac-brotherhood-has-stron/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/black-ops-maintains-top-uk-sales-spot-ac-brotherhood-has-stron/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/22/black-ops-maintains-top-uk-sales-spot-ac-brotherhood-has-stron/#comments Call of Duty: Black Ops sales may have dropped 85 percent in the UK last week, but even with that massive dip its record-breaking debut ensured that Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood would stop at second place. 63,000 copies separated the two.

According to Chart-Track, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood had the well-deserved, largest debut of the franchise to date. The only other top ten premiere this week came from Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit, which raced into third place.

The remainder of spots in the top five are occupied with games that involve feet. FIFA 11 defends its spot at fourth, as Just Dance continues reaping the benefits of its Faustian deal and its sequel does the Charleston in fifth. Check out the full UK top ten after the break.

Continue reading Black Ops maintains top UK sales spot, AC: Brotherhood has strongest debut in franchise

JoystiqBlack Ops maintains top UK sales spot, AC: Brotherhood has strongest debut in franchise originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Nov 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-MultiplayerBritaincall-of-duty-black-opschart-trackchart-track-weeklyFifa-11Just-Dance-2microsoftNeed-for-speed-hot-pursuitnintendopcplaystationps3UKwiixboxMon, 22 Nov 2010 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy explained in video]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/assassins-creed-project-legacy-explained-in-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/assassins-creed-project-legacy-explained-in-video/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/20/assassins-creed-project-legacy-explained-in-video/#comments Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood's companion Facebook game, Project Legacy, has been available since early October. If you're still curious about how it relates to Brotherhood, check out this video, that somehow manages to deliver details in a manner drier than an Abstergo Industries financial report.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy explained in video

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Project Legacy explained in video originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 20 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerassassins-creed-project-legacymicrosoftpcplaystationproject-legacyps3ubisoftxboxSat, 20 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Assassin's Creed Ascendance available now]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/psa-assassins-creed-ascendance-available-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/psa-assassins-creed-ascendance-available-now/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/17/psa-assassins-creed-ascendance-available-now/#commentsWe know there are a lot of Assassin's Creed fans out there who have been waiting for the next big release in the series, and we're happy to report that it's finally out this week. We're talking, of course, about the animated short film Assassin's Creed Ascendance, which is now available on PSN, Xbox Live and iTunes for around $2. The film depicts Ezio's battle against the evil, powerful Cesare Borgia.

If you want to see what happens next following this movie, Ubisoft also released an Assassin's Creed video game this week, as a cute promotional tie-in for Ascendance.

JoystiqPSA: Assassin's Creed Ascendance available now originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>assassins-creed-ascendanceAssassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftpcplaystationps3ubisoftubiworkshopxboxWed, 17 Nov 2010 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Metareview: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/metareview-assassins-creed-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/metareview-assassins-creed-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/metareview-assassins-creed-brotherhood/#comments We may still be unsure if Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a sequel or expansion, but the game is so good we're not gonna get too wrapped up in trying to classify it. Our assessment of the Assassin sequel seems to be in line with the sharp reviews from other outlets:
  • Eurogamer (100/100): "It's one of many finishing touches to a game that started life as what sounded suspiciously like a fund-raising stopgap conceived on the back of an overdrawn chequebook and blurted out during a conference call. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is anything but that, however - it's one of the best games of 2010. "
  • Game Informer (93/100): "Filled with new gameplay, storylines, mechanical improvements, and multiplayer, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is far more than an expansion. Though Brotherhood lacks some of the sense of discovery and newness that characterized Assassin's Creed II, if you look past the surface similarities you'll uncover a host of new thrills."
  • 1Up (A-): "There are still so many other small details I could talk about, but they all hammer home the same point: this is a great game."
  • Gamespot (85/100): "You may never have thought that Assassin's Creed begged for a multiplayer component, but Brotherhood introduces one nevertheless. ... The measured tempo won't be appealing to those who thrive on ceaseless thrills, but Brotherhood's tense tug-of-war pacing makes it an appealing alternative that rewards you for careful and clever assassinations. "
  • IGN (80/100): "It also introduces an innovative multiplayer suite, for which the team(s) should be applauded. At the end of the day, it depends what you're looking for. If you're new to Assassin's Creed, this is a solid entry, but picking up the threads of the convoluted story may be a challenge. If you're an experienced assassin, on the other hand, expect to tread pretty similar ground to the last title. "

Gallery: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (10/19/10)

JoystiqMetareview: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-MultiplayerMetareviewmetareviewsmicrosoftpcplaystationps3UbisoftUbisoft-MontrealxboxTue, 16 Nov 2010 19:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood review: A trusty blade gets even sharper]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/assassins-creed-brotherhood-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/assassins-creed-brotherhood-review/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/16/assassins-creed-brotherhood-review/#comments Whether it's the non-numerical title, the proximity to the last entry in the series or the nearly identical box art, there seems to be a lot of confusion about whether Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood should be called a fully-fledged sequel to last year's bilingual stealth-action masterpiece. Is it a standalone installment in the franchise, or a collection of new gameplay ideas that weren't realized in time to make it into Assassin's Creed 2?

After completing the game's single-player campaign and digging into its multiplayer offerings, I can confidently say that I still have no idea. It could accurately be categorized as either, or even both, but ultimately that distinction's not all that important. Any way you slice it, Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is an absolutely exceptional game.

Gallery: Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (10/19/10)

Continue reading Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood review: A trusty blade gets even sharper

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood review: A trusty blade gets even sharper originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftpcplaystationps3ubisoftubisoft-montrealxboxTue, 16 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Black Friday: Kmart dishes cross-platform discounts]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/black-friday-kmart-dishes-cross-platform-discounts/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/black-friday-kmart-dishes-cross-platform-discounts/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/15/black-friday-kmart-dishes-cross-platform-discounts/#comments We're impressed by some of the already announced Black Friday deals, but not a single one compares to the bounty of enormous discounts offered by Kmart (which is totally different from S-Mart). Brand new games like Fable 3 and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood are going for $40, while game of the year contender Mass Effect 2 can be found for just $10.

The deals apply to Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii (NBA Jam for $30, anyone?), and PSP. And yes, before you go quickly clicking through the list of games (highlights after the break!) to see all the discounts, be aware that Madagascar Kartz (still Madagaskartz in our hearts) is on sale for $10. We know what you're getting in your stockings this year!

[Image credit: Thomas Hawk]

Continue reading Black Friday: Kmart dishes cross-platform discounts

JoystiqBlack Friday: Kmart dishes cross-platform discounts originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerblack-fridayblack-friday-2010k-martkmartmicrosoftnintendoplaystationps3pspsonywiixboxMon, 15 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed Brotherhood trailer: Ezio's murderous path to peace]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/assassins-creed-brotherhood-launch-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/assassins-creed-brotherhood-launch-trailer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/assassins-creed-brotherhood-launch-trailer/#comments Forget about assigning assassins to murder fools, and crazy ship battles, and launching firey volleys from your Da Vinci-designed hang glider -- it's all about keeping the people free, baby! Rather, that's what Ezio would have us believe in the launch trailer for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed Brotherhood trailer: Ezio's murderous path to peace

JoystiqAssassin's Creed Brotherhood trailer: Ezio's murderous path to peace originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerlaunch-trailermicrosoftpcplaystationps3ubisoftxboxFri, 12 Nov 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed Ascendance is an animated short, coming Nov. 16]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/assassins-creed-ascendance-is-an-animated-short-coming-nov-16/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/assassins-creed-ascendance-is-an-animated-short-coming-nov-16/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/12/assassins-creed-ascendance-is-an-animated-short-coming-nov-16/#comments After teasing the project yesterday, Ubisoft has fully unveiled the particulars of UbiWorkshop's next project, Assassin's Creed Ascendance. The short animated film will serve as a primer into the shady, conspiratorial dealings of 16th century Rome, and will be released on XBLM and PSN next Tuesday, November 16 -- the launch day of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Check out the full trailer for the short after the jump.

Ubisoft promises the film "bridges the narrative gap" between the series' last installment and its fraternal sequel -- however, with a suggested MSRP of $1.99, we're not sure how many people are going to spring to purchase it. Especially not since we can bridge that gap for you, right now, for free: Some people with names you can't pronounce stabbed each other. You're welcome.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed Ascendance is an animated short, coming Nov. 16

JoystiqAssassin's Creed Ascendance is an animated short, coming Nov. 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creedassassins-creed-ascendanceAssassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftplaystationps3ubisoftubiworkshopxboxFri, 12 Nov 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassins Creed: Brotherhood unboxing video not for the faint of heart]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/assassins-creed-brotherhood-unboxing-video-not-for-the-faint-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/assassins-creed-brotherhood-unboxing-video-not-for-the-faint-of/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/08/assassins-creed-brotherhood-unboxing-video-not-for-the-faint-of/#comments Unboxing videos are usually pretty tame affairs -- but that's because most games' special editions don't include bonuses engineered to scare the crap out of whomever might open them. That's the (unfortunate) case in the unboxing video for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood posted below.

Continue reading Assassins Creed: Brotherhood unboxing video not for the faint of heart

JoystiqAssassins Creed: Brotherhood unboxing video not for the faint of heart originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftplaystationps3UbisoftUbisoft-MontrealunboxingxboxMon, 08 Nov 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood dev diary talks multiplayer]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/new-assassins-creed-brotherhood-dev-diary-talks-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/new-assassins-creed-brotherhood-dev-diary-talks-multiplayer/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/new-assassins-creed-brotherhood-dev-diary-talks-multiplayer/#comments There's a lot going on in the latest Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood developer diary. It covers everything from the Templars to Desmond's mission to new VR training exercises. Anyway, we're sure you don't need us to give you excuses to watch it. In fact, you're already watching it aren't you?

Continue reading New Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood dev diary talks multiplayer

JoystiqNew Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood dev diary talks multiplayer originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 20:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftpcplaystationps3xboxFri, 05 Nov 2010 20:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Ubisoft brings online middleware dev Quazal into its brotherhood]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/ubisoft-brings-online-middleware-dev-quazal-into-its-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/ubisoft-brings-online-middleware-dev-quazal-into-its-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/04/ubisoft-brings-online-middleware-dev-quazal-into-its-brotherhood/#comments On a bit of a spending spree this week, Ubisoft today added Montreal-based Quazal Technologies to the family. Creator of multiplayer middleware and services, Quazal has worked with Ubisoft for a number of years, and its products power components in a range of the publisher's titles, including this month's Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, the last three Splinter Cell games and Far Cry 2.

"We're happy to be able to continue to express our creative vision via the projects we'll be working on with Ubisoft," Quazal co-founder Martin Lavoie said in a press announcement. Ubisoft has plenty to be happy about, too. While no representative stood up and said as much, executives were no doubt preparing to bathe in a fresh pool of licensing loot. Quazel tech is all up in plenty of other companies' games, after all.

Continue reading Ubisoft brings online middleware dev Quazal into its brotherhood

JoystiqUbisoft brings online middleware dev Quazal into its brotherhood originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 04 Nov 2010 22:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acquisitionAssassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-MultiplayerCanadamicrosoftmiddlewareMontrealmulitplayerNet-Zonlinepcplaystationps3QuazalQuazal-TechnologiesRendez-VousUbisoftxboxThu, 04 Nov 2010 22:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Guess who's joining the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood?]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/metal-gear-raiden-joins-assassins-creed-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/metal-gear-raiden-joins-assassins-creed-brotherhood/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/03/metal-gear-raiden-joins-assassins-creed-brotherhood/#comments
Spoiler alert: Continue reading to find out ...

Continue reading Guess who's joining the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood?

JoystiqGuess who's joining the Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood? originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerkonamimetal-gear-solid-risingmicrosoftpcplaystationps3raidenubisoftxboxWed, 03 Nov 2010 13:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed Brotherhood gets free PS3-exclusive launch DLC]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/assassins-creed-brotherhood-gets-free-ps3-exclusive-launch-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/assassins-creed-brotherhood-gets-free-ps3-exclusive-launch-dlc/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/11/02/assassins-creed-brotherhood-gets-free-ps3-exclusive-launch-dlc/#comments Sony has gone to great lengths to convince gamers that the PS3 version of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood is the one to get. First came the E3 reveal during Sony's press conference. Then, the PlayStation Network multiplayer beta. Now, one more piece of the co-opted marketing puzzle has been revealed: new DLC that will be free and exclusive to the PS3 version of the game.

Entitled "Copernicus Conspiracy," this single-player add-on will have Ezio performing a variety of courier, protection and assassination missions in a story that has Nicolaus Copernicus as a target for his dangerous heliocentric belief -- that the world revolves around the sun, and not the other way around.

Like Mafia 2 and Batman Arkham Asylum before it, the add-on will be available at launch as a separate download. Considering Blu-ray's copious storage capacity, we're not entirely sure why it can't be included on the disc, but we doubt PS3 owners will complain about getting a meaty extra for free.

JoystiqAssassin's Creed Brotherhood gets free PS3-exclusive launch DLC originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayerplaystationps3Tue, 02 Nov 2010 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood goes gold, new trailer goes to Rome]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/assassins-creed-brotherhood-goes-gold-new-trailer-goes-to-rom/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/assassins-creed-brotherhood-goes-gold-new-trailer-goes-to-rom/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/28/assassins-creed-brotherhood-goes-gold-new-trailer-goes-to-rom/#comments Ubisoft has announced that Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is "gold" -- i.e., it's on the way to the factory where it gets turned into thousands of silver discs and shipped to stores, where it will go on sale November 16. To accompany the news, a new montage trailer is out. Hit the break to view it.

Continue reading Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood goes gold, new trailer goes to Rome

JoystiqAssassin's Creed: Brotherhood goes gold, new trailer goes to Rome originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Assassins-CreedAssassins-Creed-BrotherhoodAssassins-Creed-Multiplayermicrosoftplaystationps3ubisoftUbisoft-MontrealxboxThu, 28 Oct 2010 16:00:00 EST