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Ubisoft aims to 'quickly' soar to a 10% market share
by Xav de Matos 
{ Nov 14th 2009 at 4:00AM }
At its core, Ubisoft's plan was detailed as a three-pronged approach: A focus on present and future consoles, online and social networks and entertainment convergence. In June 2009, Ubisoft revealed the cross-game interface social media and digital platform, Uplay -- a web-based service it hopes will allow developers to better connect with players. Apart from this "confluence" concept, Ubisoft has continued its convergence strategy by expanding its marketing reach to gamers through various forms of media and through the use of its movie license agreements.
"We have many opportunities to gain market share," Gillemot said during the event, echoing statements made during its Q2 earnings call last week regarding the importance of leveraging upcoming technology from Microsoft and Sony. And let's face it, if pre-order data is to be believed, Ubisoft will soon be diving into giant wells of loot following the release of Assassin's Creed 2... and that has to help the company inch closer to its 10 percent goal.
Assassin's Creed: Lineage episodes 2 and 3 sneak into view
by David Hinkle { Nov 13th 2009 at 6:30PM }
Head past the break to check out the last two Assassin's Creed: Lineage shorts.
Avatar gameplay trailer shows off blue guy's athleticism
by Griffin McElroy { Nov 13th 2009 at 5:00PM } 
We finally understand why James Cameron spoke for nine-and-a-half hours about his upcoming film/game, Avatar, during Ubisoft's E3 press conference earlier this year. Without the context provided during his lengthy diatribe, we'd have absolutely no idea what was going on in the above gameplay trailer for his long overdue film's video game adaptation. However, now we understand perfectly: A blue alien guy is murdering humans with primitive weapons.
Now wait just a second. Let's forget the fact that when one brings a knife (or in this case, a long, spiked club) to a gun fight, one rarely claims victory. Instead, let's focus on the fact that Mr. Cameron wants us to root against humanity. "Oh, but they're polluting their planet," you might cry. No, they're doing their job. That's a thing humans have to do from time to time. They don't have the freedom to skip around lush jungles all day, riding around on pterodactyls. They have responsibilities, and we're not really comfortable with playing as the turquoise-toned authors of their eradication for that reason alone.
Now wait just a second. Let's forget the fact that when one brings a knife (or in this case, a long, spiked club) to a gun fight, one rarely claims victory. Instead, let's focus on the fact that Mr. Cameron wants us to root against humanity. "Oh, but they're polluting their planet," you might cry. No, they're doing their job. That's a thing humans have to do from time to time. They don't have the freedom to skip around lush jungles all day, riding around on pterodactyls. They have responsibilities, and we're not really comfortable with playing as the turquoise-toned authors of their eradication for that reason alone.
Reminder: Assassin's Creed, too, on PSP next week
by Andrew Yoon { Nov 13th 2009 at 2:30PM }
In addition to showcasing the game's crisp look, the trailer emphasizes connectivity between Assassin's Creed II on PS3 and Bloodlines on PSP -- both due out next week -- without actually going into detail. Thankfully, we already found out about some of those features.
Splinter Cell Conviction to feature in-game advertising during torture scenes
by Andrew Yoon { Nov 12th 2009 at 9:15PM } 
This is actually the pitch Ubisoft delivered at Microsoft Advertising's Gaming Upfront presentation in New York this evening. In-game advertising is rapidly growing, but has typically been relegated to sports and racing games. Splinter Cell Conviction breaks convention by being neither. Expect both static and video ads to appear throughout the environment -- including during the game's lengthy torture sequences. Perhaps they should take it one step further: Sam Fisher should grab a Coca-Cola bottle, smash it, and use the broken glass to kill a guy. Talk about refreshing!
In addition, Ubisoft showed potential advertisers the "heat maps" they created whilst developing the game. These maps highlight likely places players will go while playing. Advertisers will be able to place their ads in high-density areas, in order to ensure maximum exposure to their brands while in the game world. Considering Splinter Cell is a stealth game, don't be too surprised to see ads inside of the conveniently accessible (not to mention remarkably roomy!) air ducts.
Shaun White Snowboarding World Stage trailer is all big air, winding grinds
by David Hinkle { Nov 10th 2009 at 2:45PM }
Also, what's with that logo? Why is Shaun White's hair the dot on the "i?" If we were him, we'd try to steer as far away from being associated with that other red-headed dude as possible. We'd also be too rich to blog for you people.
Assassin's Creed 2's final dev diary takes us into Ezio's villa
by Ben Gilbert { Nov 10th 2009 at 1:00AM }
We picture the villa as a fully realized (and mid-1400s-styled) version of GTAIV's many save houses, but, ya know, with assassin stuff instead of gangster stuff. But then again, being an assassin is pretty gangster. Uh oh, this is way too confusing – we'll have to get back to you after Assassin's Creed 2 comes out next week.
Gallery: Assassin's Creed 2
Assassin's Creed: Renaissance sneaks onto book shelves Nov. 26
by David Hinkle { Nov 9th 2009 at 6:01PM }
Tied into next week's Assassin's Creed II, Ubisoft is looking to expand Ezio Auditore da Firenze's 15th-Century Italian playground through a new book titled Assassin's Creed: Renaissance. Written by Oliver Bowden and set to be published by Penguin books on November 26, the novel will follow the formative years of Ezio and -- along with the Lineage short films -- build upon the game's universe, the Guardian reports.If you're looking for a sneak peek before the book clambers, dives and stabs its way to retail, the Guardian has put up a fairly long bit of prose from the upcoming tie-in. It deals with Ezio's mother and some paintings she commissioned from a rather famous painter. There's possible spoilers involved, so click over at your own risk.
Source - Book announcement
Source - A lengthy excerpt from the book
Sam Fisher uses Krav Maga martial art, according to Splinter Cell Conviction dev diary
by Andrew Yoon { Nov 5th 2009 at 1:58PM }
"Krav Maga is not a big flashy martial art," game designer Steve Masters adds, which may explain its relative obscurity. Turning to Wikipedia, we discover it has its origins in street fighting and literally means "close combat" in Hebrew, and that the Israeli Defense Force and Special Forces use the martial art to this day. Apparently, stabbing someone in the hand is kosher in a form that has "no rules."
Assassin's Creed 2's Ezio is a really popular guy
by Ben Gilbert { Nov 5th 2009 at 2:31AM }
So what if one of those groups happens to be full of vicious mercenaries? They'll help him learn how to fight! And sure, another group might be made up of "courtesans" (see: ladies of the night), but they'll teach him all about sneaking! And another group is full of ... well ... you get the gist, right? The game's handful of factions will assist Ezio as he murders his way through Renaissance Europe.
One final thing: even if you don't care about each group, make sure you stick around for the surprise treat nestled after the end splash screen. You'll thank us.
Gallery: Assassin's Creed 2
Ubisoft talks dancing, fitness and party games on Natal, PS3 Motion Controller
by Christopher Grant { Nov 4th 2009 at 5:40PM }
Ubisoft reports first-half sales drop, deems Q4 most important quarter in company history
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 4th 2009 at 3:45PM }
Standout titles released during the period include the Western-themed first-person shooter, Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood (which has shipped 'close to 900,000 units'), reptilian brawler Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash Up and, "in certain countries," the Pelé-powered Academy of Champions.
Ubisoft points to its fiscal third quarter -- that's October to December on your official Secretive Hunks of Third Echelon Calendar -- as "the most important quarter in Ubisoft's history." Sales are expected to reach €540 million ($801 million) during the period, thanks to Assassin's Creed 2, Assassin's Creed: Bloodlines, James Cameron's Avatar: The Game, Rabbids Go Home and Shaun White Snowboarding World Stage. Ubisoft's also counting on several new casual and self-improvement games for the Wii and DS, which we imagine will help the financialz quite a bit.
Q&A: Jordan Mechner and Jerry Bruckheimer on 'Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time'
by Kevin Kelly { Nov 4th 2009 at 12:45PM } 
The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time movie won't be in theaters until May 2010, but the marketing winds are already picking up with the release of the first full-length trailer (above) -- and it looks ... kinda good. What's more, the original game's creator, Jordan Mechner, has filed an application for the trademark, "Prince of Persia The Forgotten Sands," suggesting that a new game could be in the works. More recent remarks, like those found in this Q&A, seem to indicate that an announcement from Ubisoft is coming shortly.
We attended a group Q&A session with Mechner and movie producer Jerry Bruckheimer last week during the unveiling of the trailer and heard about the legacy of the franchise, casting of Jake Gyllenhaal, plans for a movie sequel, Easter eggs hidden on-screen, and hints of a new game. Leap across the break for the full discussion.
CBS bringing Diagnosis Murder, some other stuff to gaming platforms
by Justin McElroy { Nov 4th 2009 at 5:00AM }
We're assuming it's a Visceral-developed "dark" take on the DM mythos, with a Gothic Dr. Mark Sloan walking a demonic version of Los Angeles, solving murder mysteries with a caduceus-shaped staff dipped in angel blood. We assume this because we laid out the design doc pretty clearly in our letters, and we can't fathom why CBS would want to disappoint us.
Splinter Cell: Conviction collector's edition seeks revenge on your wallet
by Randy Nelson { Nov 3rd 2009 at 2:50PM } 
click to revenge-size
In Splinter Cell: Conviction, superspy Sam Fisher is seeking revenge for his daughter's murder. In the Splinter Cell: Conviction collector's edition, you'll find a varying degree of bonus items -- some cool, some silly -- that Ubisoft is seeking $79.99 for.Due to arrive on the same day as the standard edition (February 23, 2010) the set will include a comic book prequel to the events in the game; an art book with illustrations from all the previous Splinter Cell titles; a DLC weapon and player skin; a credit-card-sized USB drive filled with art and a making-of featurette; and two stickers: one of the Third Echelon logo and another that looks like those fake bullet holes people slap on their cars to make it appear that they live in a warzone.
Ubisoft's sell-sheet for the CE thankfully displays the game disc and manual, lest you worry they're not included. They go inside the DVD steelcase, which we'd say might be good for deflecting bullets, but appears to already have been used for just that purpose.
