Joystiq

RUSE calls in 'Chimera Pack' DLC 'in a few days'

David Hinkle — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:00:00 EST

Ubisoft is deploying additional content for its RTS, RUSE, later this month. In a tweet earlier today, the company revealed The Chimera Pack would be available "in a few days." VG247 surmises it's coming January 18, yet lists no source.

The Chimera Pack was first mentioned in this post detailing upcoming PlayStation Plus content, though the exact details of the content were not made public. We've followed up with Ubisoft for more information.

RUSE calls in 'Chimera Pack' DLC 'in a few days' originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 05:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kinect Hacks: RUSE with gesture controls

JC Fletcher — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

At first, this video appears to show the Xbox 360 RTS R.U.S.E controlled using Kinect, but it's actually a ... clever deception: Evoluce's Wolfgang Herfurtner applied a Kinect interface to the PC version of R.U.S.E., allowing the in-game cursor to be controlled with motions.

While there's a certain feeling of power, we're sure, that comes from managing an entire battlefield with sweeping hand movements, this appears to be a case in which being the controller is somewhat more unwieldy than being the person with a controller in hand. But while it looks to be an awkward replacement for the traditional mouse and keyboard on PC, it's a potential proof of concept for an RTS interface for consoles.

Continue reading Kinect Hacks: RUSE with gesture controls

Kinect Hacks: RUSE with gesture controls originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R.U.S.E. getting free nuke-themed DLC pack

Mike Schramm — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:00:00 EST

Sad news for R.U.S.E. fans, as Ubisoft has announced it won't be doing any DLC for the game at all. Just kidding! That was, in fact, a ruse -- Ubisoft is releasing a "Manhattan Project Pack" for the real-time strategy title that will add two 2v2 maps, another 3v3 map and two different brand new modes. "Total War" mode will unlock units and technology one year at a time, building up battle starting in the year 1939, and "Nuclear War" sounds much more fun, starting the game with "all prototypes, factories and upgrades" unlocked and ready to unleash on the enemy.

The pack will cost you a cool $50, almost as much as the actual game. No, that was another ruse, it'll be completely free. Unfortunately, you'll have to wait about 15 years for it, as the pack isn't due out until holiday 2025. No, just kidding again, it'll actually be out soon. We ruse-d you again! Are we doing this right?

R.U.S.E. getting free nuke-themed DLC pack originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mafia 2 is top UK earner for third week

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Take-Two's Mafia 2 whacked the competition to hold the top of the UK sales charts for a third week in a row. Making that feat even more surprising is the fact that Chart-Track notes the mob epic had a 58 percent drop in sales for the week. Second place went to Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2, which, after premiering the week before, flew up six spots with the launch of the PS3 version. Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days suppressed the rest, despite a 50 percent sales drop, to take the bronze.

Three new titles entered the top ten: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep and R.U.S.E. took sixth through eighth, respectively. Red Dead Redemption just barely hung onto the top ten, but the real shock is that Just Dance took eleventh place -- we think that's the lowest it's gone all year.

Check out the full list of the UK's top 10 bestselling titles for the week after the break.

Continue reading Mafia 2 is top UK earner for third week

Mafia 2 is top UK earner for third week originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 13 Sep 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R.U.S.E. review: Real time, realer boredom

Meghan Watt — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST

Every strategy game I've played in the past decade has boasted the same claim: a key feature that will reinvent the RTS genre. Streamlining the experience into a simple, yet complex battle of wit, this spectacular, never-seen-before feature will allow everyone from the most experienced strategist to your own mother to enjoy this groundbreaking masterpiece.

R.U.S.E.'s claim to fame is, as its subtitle says, "the art of deception." Control and manipulation are key, so forget strategic base-building and Zerg rushes. This game is all about fooling the enemy using decoys, spies, surprise attacks, radio silence, dummy buildings, psychological warfare and other underhanded actions. And who better to fool than the Nazis, right?

Well, turns out these Nazis have more smarts than your standard video game fodder. Their tanks are pretty big too ... and numerous. Oh so numerous.

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

Continue reading R.U.S.E. review: Real time, realer boredom

R.U.S.E. review: Real time, realer boredom originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft cautious over new IP, remains focused on established franchises

Ben Gilbert — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:20:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Ubisoft Europe managing director Alain Corre isn't one to parse words -- for instance, he told GamesIndustry.biz in a recent interview, "The games that are not triple-A are not profitable anymore. And that's changed in the last 18 months." He admitted that "we are still releasing some new franchises," citing Ruse as a calculated aberration. "It's a niche so we know the size of the market for real-time strategy games ... with niche games it's possible to have a hit more than in the triple-A space, especially in the fourth and fifth year of the console cycle."

To Corre, it's a question of investment risk. "To a certain extent it becomes less risky to invest more in a single game or franchise than spreading your investment between three or four games," he explained. "If those three or four games are not at the right quality level, you are sure to lose money. So the business model has changed and we're changing our way of making hardcore games." He said we might not see a new IP push from Ubisoft until the next generation of consoles, which he foresees to be "less than five years" from now.

Oddly, he doesn't bring up Ubisoft Toronto -- a studio headed by Assassin's Creed producer Jade Raymond -- that's said to be working on both "AAA-game" and new IP. Nor did he address the fate of the scantly brought up I Am Alive, supposedly coming out next spring. Based on Corre's statements, we've at least managed to come to the conclusion that Beyond Good & Evil 2 (not a new IP) should be getting a release date during this console cycle. That's ... something?

Ubisoft cautious over new IP, remains focused on established franchises originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RUSE demo on EU PSN next week, region's PS+ subscribers can grab it now

David Hinkle — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Budding warmongers across Europe will likely want to set aside some HDD space for a R.U.S.E. demo, set to assault PSN there on September 1. However, if you're one of the cool kids with expendable income who signed up for PlayStation Plus, you can actually access the demo right now -- provided you live in the EU.

R.U.S.E. pulls a fast one on the PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 on September 7 in North America and September 10 in Europe.

RUSE demo on EU PSN next week, region's PS+ subscribers can grab it now originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 26 Aug 2010 02:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RUSE won't use Ubisoft's controversial DRM

Alexander Sliwinski — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Ubisoft's RUSE will not use the publisher's controversial "always on" DRM when the game attempts to make its latest release date in September. Instead, the PC version of RUSE will use Valve's Steamworks API to, as the publisher puts it, "offer the best community experience to players." The game will require an initial online activation, but the single-player game should be playable offline thereafter.

Following up with Ubisoft, the company tells Joystiq that it will "continue to use the Ubisoft protection system for most PC games." We'll have to wait and see if the publisher stands by its DRM policies for future high-profile PC titles, or if its commentary is just a, well, you know.

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

RUSE won't use Ubisoft's controversial DRM originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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For the last time: RUSE to deploy Sept. 7

David Hinkle — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:50:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

We understand your apprehension when it comes to trusting in a launch date for RUSE, Ubisoft's oft-delayed WWII-based RTS. While befitting of the game's title, the publisher's habit of announcing a release date and then (surprise!) changing it -- numerous times over the course of the year -- has grown from a bothersome trick to just plain mean. When Ubisoft's Aymeric Evennou recently tweeted that the date was now set for September 7 (September 9 in Europe; and September 10 in the UK), we couldn't help but feel we were being set up again.

However, Ubisoft has independently confirmed with Joystiq that Evennou's posted release dates were accurate and that RUSE will launch in the US on September 7 across PC, PS3 and Xbox 360. (We should note that this confirmation came without a pinky swear.)

For the last time: RUSE to deploy Sept. 7 originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 09:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tricked again! RUSE multiplayer preview extended to Wednesday

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:40:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Didn't get a chance to try your hand at the RTS trickery of RUSE over the past weekend? You'll be glad to hear the free multiplayer demo has been extended to this Wednesday, July 21, at 6PM ET. We've got mixed feelings, as we're happy to keep playing RUSE, but we're sick of all these tricks! Enough!

Tricked again! RUSE multiplayer preview extended to Wednesday originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get tricky with free weekend of RUSE on Steam

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Interested in checking out RUSE, but worried you'll get duped into a Ponzi scheme somehow? Fear not! Valve's digital distribution service Steam is opening up Ubisoft's upcoming trickery-based RTS for free all this coming weekend. Oh. No, you're right -- that doesn't seem to protect you from the Ponzi scheme situation whatsoever. Oh well! At very least you get to check out a game for free, right?

We'd suggest pre-loading the game starting right now (available here) so that you can begin duping people left and right when the open play kicks off this Thursday morning at 11:00 a.m. PDT.

Get tricky with free weekend of RUSE on Steam originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RUSE to support Move, not planning to support Kinect

Andrew Yoon — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:40:00 EST

Filed under: Weird But True, Opinions, New In Pop Culture

Ubisoft's oft-delayed strategy game, RUSE, will be getting support for PlayStation Move when it launches (presumably) later this year. Sony's motion controller can be utilized as a virtual pointer, with gestures assigned to camera controls and quick menu access. Senior producer Mathieu Girard told Eurogamer that the Move offers "the most enjoyable" way of playing, but conceded that the PC version is "the most efficient."

Although Microsoft's Kinect can also provide a similar virtual pointer experience, Ubisoft will not be incorporating motion support into the Xbox 360 version of the game. According to the Eurogamer report, "having to play standing up" while using Kinect proved to be a "stumbling point." While Microsoft still stands by claims that Kinect can be used while sitting down, we can think of at least one reason why Kinect support isn't ideal for the RTS: a lack of buttons, perhaps?

RUSE to support Move, not planning to support Kinect originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tricked again! RUSE delayed to September

Ben Gilbert — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:30:00 EST

Alright, RUSE dev team at Ubisoft, that's quite enough! This is at least the fourth time your game has been pushed back from a retail release and frankly, we're tired of thinking up punny headlines based on your game's title at this point. So we'll just be straight up with you, dearest reader: RUSE's Facebook page has been updated by the development team reflecting another delay until sometime in September.

The note cites "massive feedback" from the game's beta users as the cause of said delay, and explains that, "this extra time will allow us to implement many of your suggestions and improve the multiplayer experience while polishing the overall game." So, will we finally get to play RUSE in September? We're gonna go ahead and say "maybe ... we think."

[Via RockPaperShotgun]

Tricked again! RUSE delayed to September originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 24 Apr 2010 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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R.U.S.E. tutorial helps you become a veteran trickster

David Hinkle — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:00:00 EST

It's been almost a year and we're still haunted by the atrocities we've seen on the battlefield. We just weren't prepared last time, so the enemy advanced, steamrolling us like we were nothing but a squadron of cute, fluffy teddy bears covered in butterscotch pudding -- the cutest of ineffectual "warriors." So we've resolved that in the R.U.S.E. beta, we're not going to be such easy pushovers and, thankfully, Eugen Systems is here with another salvo of tutorial footage to help ensure that happens.

The Paris-based developer behind the deceptive RTS offers several tips on maximizing time with the recently released beta; through the use of slick ruse combos, players can create more potent attack patterns and even distract the enemy from vital strongholds. There's even some insight into the unique characteristics of some of the six different factions in the game and combining their units in very specific ways, giving you a more dynamic unit set -- not to mention a breakdown of time periods, which limits the amount of research you can access and, by extension, your access to certain units.

Because R.U.S.E. is such a complex game, it means you can't just click on stuff until you figure it out, which is our basic go-to strategy in these situations. What? We're lovers, not fighters, folks!

R.U.S.E. tutorial helps you become a veteran trickster originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Don't get fooled again, watch this tutorial for the R.U.S.E. public beta

Ben Gilbert — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST

When we last played R.U.S.E., we weren't shy about expressing our initial difficulty with the game's steep learning curve. After all, the game is a deep real-time strategy title and still in beta (set for release on June 8). It's extra nice, then, that senior producer Mathieu Girard and creative director Alexis Le Dressay created this eight-minute-long walkthrough of the various gameplay options at your fingertips in the public beta.

From faking army advances to the importance of reconnaissance, Girard and Le Dressay will have you up to speed on the forthcoming game's variety of tactics in no time. There are even subtitles for those among us who don't speak French-accented English or haven't played Heavy Rain -- talk about accessible!

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

Don't get fooled again, watch this tutorial for the R.U.S.E. public beta originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RUSE date a trick after all, release moved to June 8

Richard Mitchell — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:30:00 EST

R.U.S.E. is quite a crafty game. It turns out that the recently revealed June 3 release date was nothing but a smoke screen for the real date. The fully legitimate, actual release date is June 8. The game's PC beta began today and, according to Big Download, Ubisoft also announced the change in launch schedule. Normally, this kind of thing would be upsetting but, given the title, it just seems appropriate.

The beta, incidentally, is available now to all Steam users. It allows both single-player and multiplayer action with six different factions on seven multiplayer maps.

RUSE date a trick after all, release moved to June 8 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RUSE June 3 release date is no trick; beta next week

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EST

If you were paying close attention to Twitter this morning, you might've noticed Ubisoft community developer Aymeric Evennou noting that a R.U.S.E. public beta would be strategically moving itself onto Steam on March 9. More importantly, though, if you were looking way too closely into the French publisher's YouTube video details, it's possible you would've seen this little tidbit about the game's release date: "R.U.S.E. will be available on PC, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3 on June 3, 2010." (June 3, a Thursday, is likely the European retail release date. We've contacted Ubisoft to confirm the North American date.)

From Ubisoft ... ahem ... tricking us into believing the game would see release in Q1 2010, to a private beta last year, and now the announcement that we'll get a chance to play the game next week, it's been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for us over the last year at Joystiq. Thankfully, Ubi also released five minutes of soothing fan service in video form that we've embedded after the break for you (and for our own well-being).

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

[Via Big Download]

Continue reading RUSE June 3 release date is no trick; beta next week

RUSE June 3 release date is no trick; beta next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft reports fiscal Q3 sales of $679 million, hints at unannounced titles

Ben Gilbert — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST

Sure, $679 million may sound like a lot of money (it sure does to us!), but when you're a company CEO reporting that number to investors and it's 2.7 percent lower than last year's equivalent time period ($697 million), it's not quite as impressive. And that's just what Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot had to do earlier today when the company reported its fiscal Q3 (October 1 through December 31) sales for 2009. Given the publisher's French HQ, we're not privy to the period's revenue until later this year.

In discussing plans for the upcoming year, the company cited "at least seven franchise titles" being launched this year, calling out this morning's (finally) officially-announced Ghost Recon: Future Soldier among others, leaving one (presumably unannounced) title unmentioned. The publisher then indicates "at least two new brands (R.U.S.E. has already been announced)" will see the light of day in 2010 -- leaving one unannounced new brand. Getting murkier yet, it appears "at least 5 online games" will be heading to the information superhighway, though only three are mentioned (yep, you guessed it -- that means two have yet to be revealed). With GDC, PAX East, and E3 not too far off (already?!), there's still plenty of 2010 left for announcements.

Ubisoft reports fiscal Q3 sales of $679 million, hints at unannounced titles originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Splinter Cell Conviction delayed to April; RUSE to '2010-11'

Ben Gilbert — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:18:00 EST

In a financial performance update chock full of thrilling tidbits, like "revised financial predictions" and "sales targets," Ubisoft today announced the unfortunate news that Splinter Cell: Conviction would be bumped back from February 23 to "April 2010" and RUSE even further; to the ambiguous fiscal year "2010-11" (April 1, 2010 - March 31, 2011). No reason was given for either delay -- which is at least the second for just this version of Conviction (the original iteration was due out in November ... of 2007!).

Splinter Cell Conviction delayed to April; RUSE to '2010-11' originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 13 Jan 2010 12:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spoiler: RUSE trailer ends in a bang

David Hinkle — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:30:00 EST

The "E" in RUSE must stand for "epic." (Don't bother trying to tell us what the rest of RUSE stands for though, because nobody knows -- seriously.) This latest trailer really shows off the dramatic scope of this RTS, and features tank units, airplanes and even some of the Nazi's nasty V12 rockets. Check it out above.

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

Spoiler: RUSE trailer ends in a bang originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RUSE VIP beta later this year, strategy is to sign up now

Alexander Sliwinski — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:59:00 EST

Ubisoft's RUSE will cunningly deploy a "VIP Beta" later this year. The beta is currently announced only for PC, and access to it can be attained by signing up on the game's official website (while some codes were also given out at GamesCom). An Ubisoft representative told us there's "a chance [the beta] will go public, based on how the VIP access testing goes first."

Our hands-on time with RUSE at GamesCom was similar to our previous experience with the title, which is to say that it could be an impressive strategy game, so long as some serious work is put into making the console controls more intuitive. The game is still scheduled for Q1 2010, but with such an influx of high-profile titles during that time, we're wondering if that official release window is just a clever ruse.

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

RUSE VIP beta later this year, strategy is to sign up now originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EndWar creator sounds off on 'brutal' holiday market

Griffin McElroy — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:00:00 EST

In a recent interview with Gamesindustry.biz, Ubisoft's Michael de Plater, who served as creative director for EndWar, gave some context for the Q1 2010 release window for the developer's next strategy title, RUSE. It's fairly familiar territory -- de Plater explained, "it's a bit tough to launch a new IP exactly at Christmas when you're head-to-head with blockbuster sequels," and added that the RTS title was following in the footsteps of many other Modern Warfare 2-fearing franchises.

That's just the thing, though -- de Plater mentions that the ol' Q1 shuffle is a popular move as of late. We wonder if he (and Ubisoft as a whole) realize that RUSE might have jumped out of the frying pan, and into ... an adjacent frying pan, filled with even more delicious, sizzling bacon.

EndWar creator sounds off on 'brutal' holiday market originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 04 Aug 2009 01:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RUSE: Reveal Undermine Subvert Entrap ... or not

James Ransom-Wiley — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST

Here at Joystiq we're dedicated to solving the nagging mysteries in life, one post at a time. We figured learning the meaning of R.U.S.E., the acronym'd title of Ubisoft's table-not RTS, was probably near the top of your list -- right up there with, "Does the fridge light stay on when I close the door?"

We cornered Ubisoft's Thomas Leroux-Hugon at the publisher's "Holiday Preview" event yesterday and forced an answer out of him at penpoint. He didn't know about the fridge light, but he did give us: Reveal Undermine Subvert Entrap (how revealing!) -- before his lips curved into a coy smile (that undermining trickster!). The real answer, he teased, isn't that obvious. You see, the acronym doesn't officially stand for anything (what manner of subversion is this?!). It's a bit of a "ruse" in and of itself -- it's up to each individual to play the game and decide, Leroux-Hugon offered -- clearly, his bid to entrap us. Well played.

So then, we'll leave it up to you: What does R.U.S.E. spell out?

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

RUSE: Reveal Undermine Subvert Entrap ... or not originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EndWar dev excited about Natal's RTS possibilities

Xav de Matos — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:45:00 EST

Speaking with VG247 at the Develop Conference in Brighton, UK, EndWar development boss Michael de Plater said that he thinks Microsoft's Project Natal could reinvigorate the console (and PC?) RTS market. Comparing Natal's potential "power" and "precision" to menu scrolling in the film Minority Report, Plater anticipates Natal's combination of voice and gesture control to potentially be "really powerful and immersive."

During E3 2009, Ubisoft showcased the upcoming RTS RUSE on Microsoft's touch-screen-enhanced Surface table. While Plater knows the $12,000 home furnishing isn't going to be a regular household accessory, Project Natal has the potential to work with software in a similar fashion. "If the technology works -- so you could translate the interface they've already got working really well on RUSE into Natal -- it could work very, very well."

Hopefully Microsoft will reveal when Natal is hitting stores and what the device's final price will be soon and Joystiq won't have to put so much money into developing its own set of drug-addicted "precogs."

EndWar dev excited about Natal's RTS possibilities originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hands-on: RUSE (and its steep learning curve)

Kevin Kelly — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:45:00 EST

RUSE is shaping up to become a nice addition to PC gaming, and also to the vacant market of real-time strategy games on consoles. Halo Wars and Red Alert have pretty much been the only standouts, but where's the real depth and longevity of a title like StarCraft? Ubisoft's RUSE is hoping to fill that gap, and based on the time we spent with it recently, it may be just the thing. That is if it'd stop with the gimmicks like showing it at E3 on a Microsoft Surface table and just give us the console goods. Not all of us have a spare $15,000 sitting around.

Head beyond the break to see a (very, very) long demo from the Tunisia setting in RUSE, and to read our thoughts about it. It's not something you can pick up and learn in a scant few seconds, but it offers you enough to keep coming back to it. Find out why inside.

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

Continue reading Hands-on: RUSE (and its steep learning curve)

Hands-on: RUSE (and its steep learning curve) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup

James Ransom-Wiley — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST

E3 was brütal! If you blinked, for a split/second, you missed something. Even if you were trine to keep up, it was a blur -- staying a.wake like that, you only pushed yourself to the brink of your own dark void. That's where Joystiq comes in; to crackdown on the madness; to reach out ... with conviction -- phew! Crysis averted.

We've scoured the dark corners and survived the inferno to piece together this roundup of all things Xbox at E3. Why? Just 'cause we love you. So, draw nier and shift your eyes past the break.

Continue reading E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup

E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Jun 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft reveals Ruse surprise

Kevin Kelly — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST

For those of you with the $15,000 Microsoft Surface at home, good news! You'll be able to play Ruse on it, apparently. We hope the five of you out there enjoy it immensely. Ubisoft is showing off the real-time strategy game at E3 on a Surface table, which really lends a lot of credibility to the Euro-trailer we made so much fun of before. Talk about an overpriced peripheral. Maybe next time they'll go mini and demo it on an iPhone. Either way, it's a smudgefest.

Ubisoft reveals Ruse surprise originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ubisoft streaming E3 content like Splinter Cell Conviction, No More Heroes 2

Justin McElroy — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:30:00 EST

We mentioned this earlier, but we thought you might like some more details. So, odds are we won't be seeing you at E3 (you'd recognize us by our rugged good looks and sun-bronzed skin), but that doesn't mean you have to miss out on the feeling of being there. When you're not reading our own earth-shattering, up-to-the-minute coverage, Ubisoft is apparently going to be streaming its content directly to you.

As we saw here in a teaser vid for the coverage, it looks like we'll all be laying eyes on Splinter Cell: Conviction, Assassin's Creed 2, No More Heroes 2 and RUSE. Oh AND JOEL McHALE.

Ubisoft streaming E3 content like Splinter Cell Conviction, No More Heroes 2 originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 28 May 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Joystiq impressions: Ubisoft's RUSE

Kevin Kelly — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:21:00 EST

Randal Graves: I don't appreciate your ruse, ma'am.
Indecisive Video Customer: I beg your pardon?
Randal Graves: Your ruse. Your cunning attempt to trick me.

Clerks (1994)

Ubisoft is betting against Kevin Smith and hoping that you will appreciate its cunning attempts to trick you with this real-time strategy game that feels like a board game on steroids. Ubi announced the game at GDC earlier this year, but besides the strange Euro-trailer and a few screenshots, there wasn't much to go on. Thankfully, the publisher has released the above gameplay video that shows off the new IRISZOOM engine that powers the game -- now you can see what the game's all about.

RUSE has a very robust tabletop feel, and opens up to an impressive scale. Read on after the break to see just how the "ruses" work.

Gallery: R.U.S.E.

Continue reading Joystiq impressions: Ubisoft's RUSE

Joystiq impressions: Ubisoft's RUSE originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 12:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GDC09: Ubisoft announces R.U.S.E, RTS for PC, 360, PS3

Jem Alexander — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:54:00 EST

Ubisoft has announced a new real-time strategy title for PC and consoles to be released during fiscal year 2009/2010. R.U.S.E (and we thought we were done typing names like that, now that both F.E.A.R. 2 and H.A.W.X are out) is being developed by Eugen Systems and shown off at the Intel booth at GDC this week.

The press release promises that RUSE (as we'll now call it) will shake up the genre and be an "RTS with a twist," thanks to the IRISZOOM engine. Looking at the screenshot above, we're loving the table-top aesthetics of the game. Check out the video after the break!

Continue reading GDC09: Ubisoft announces R.U.S.E, RTS for PC, 360, PS3

GDC09: Ubisoft announces R.U.S.E, RTS for PC, 360, PS3 originally appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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