velvet-assassin posts (Subscribe to this feed)

If our inability to finish Velvet Assassin hasn't diminished your interest in the game, know that Steam is slashing 50% off its price this weekend. Joining the stealth title in this weekend's sale is Egosoft's X3: Terran Conflict, which has also been discounted by 50%, and Aspyr's Men of War, which has been discounted by a huge 75%. Of course, none of this probably matters to most Steam users, as they're most likely enjoying a romp through Monkey Island right about now.

Released to nearly as much fanfare as his thrilling movies, Uwe Boll's Tunnel Rats -- a game adaptation of the 2008 film of the same name -- became available for download this week. As our sister site Big Download rightly points out, the film has yet to be released Stateside (keep in mind it's based on the American war in Vietnam), though the game showed up earlier this week on Steam for $19.99.

Developed by Velvet Assassin creator Replay Studios -- recipient of the first ever JoystiQuitter game review -- you'll understand if we're a bit less than confident in Tunnel Rats. For those of you still looking to check it out, we'd like to point out Uwe Boll supposedly had a hand in making the game as well. Let us know how that goes for you!

If there's one thing we hate about our new focus on reviewing games here at Club Joystiq, it's having to play games that we don't like very much. But then we realized: For every second we spend playing a game we hate/just don't want to play, that's another second we can't spend telling you about a good game, or putting hilarious captions on pictures of cats.

So, we'd like to humbly introduce Joystiquitter, where we tell you what we thought, why we stopped playing and just how long it took for the game to break our spirits.

We don't understand the types who want to dig through achievement lists before a game's even out. Though they're occasionally enlightening, they're far more often spoilery, dull or just plain confusing. This list of Velvet Assassin achievements is no exception.

So, why are we taking up your precious bytes with this article? Well, the achievement list from 360sync also includes the official release date for the game: April 28. So, you know ... plan accordingly.

Velvet Assassin has been tasked with performing something rarely possible in games centered on WWII-era events: Basing the story on a real person and keeping things classy. Take, for example, the new trailer the game's publisher, SouthPeak, dropped on us today. Employing one of the most powerful and moving speeches ever given by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, we don't exactly consider the modern rock ending on this trailer keeping anything classy.

Though our time spent with the game at the New York Comic Con last month left us feeling a bit less than ecstatic for the game's impending "April release window," we remain intrigued by Velvet Assassin -- even if the trailer misappropriates one of the most famous speeches in all of history.

When we first got our hands on Velvet Assassin nearly eight months ago at E3 2008, we were impressed. The level of polish exhibited for a game still months from any formal release was a good sign to us that the game was on the right track to becoming one of few stealth/action titles we might really enjoy. We delighted in sneaking up behind a group of unwitting Nazi soldiers, pulling a pin from one of their grenades, and watching the resultant explosion of humanity from a comfortable distance. Not just for the obvious reasons but because little touches like that helped to make VA feel like a living world and brought you into the role of French WWII-era assassin Violette Szabo, the interesting real life person the game's based on.

And though we were assured the grenade trick has been left in the game (even if it wasn't in the most recent build we checked out just before the 2009 New York Comic Con), enough has changed since we first met protagonist Violette Summer to be concerned. The polish once exuded by German developer Replay Studios' first game for the Xbox 360 has all but vanished, leaving behind kludgey player animation, poor enemy AI and glitch-prone graphics. With two months to go until the "April launch window" of VA, we're hoping (but not exactly confident) they can bring back the experience we had so many moons ago.

click to experience enlargementSouthpeak Games and Replay Studios' Velvet Assassin has been taking the whole stealth concept a bit too literal, remaining quiet about game specifics and release date details. But that doesn't mean the box art has to stay hidden. Viewable here, the packaging artwork is one part BOOM!, equal part black leather and a dash of average.

We're also informed that our good friend Peter Chung (who really isn't our pal, but we fantasize to be our drinking buddy) partnered with SouthPeak by putting together a 15+ page graphic novel that will be gifted to those who pre-order Velvet Assassin at GameStop. Chung will also contribute to the game's sure to be sexually charged storyline.

Did we mention this game remains too stealth for our liking?

Viewable in the gallery below are pictures and descriptions of four different outfits Violet will strategically wear during her Nazi busting adventures in Velvet Assassin. And before you question the need for having four different outfits, ask yourself a few simple questions: When isn't leather a good thing? How much do you enjoy night dresses?

Gamecock's Velvet Assassin needs to polish its blades a bit longer before it's ready. Previously announced as a fall release, the silky stealth-action title stumbled on something in the shadows, falling back until sometime early next year.

According to Eurogamer, the move was made to make both the European and US launches more in line, while giving German dev Replay Studios more time to iron out any wrinkles in the fabric instead of rushing to add to the glut of an already crowded holiday shopping season.

We know that some of you out there are absolute alternate reality game nuts, so we wanted to turn you on to one that's just getting into full swing, part of a promotional effort for Gamecock's upcoming Velvet Assassin, we've been lead to believe.

The hunt is currently on for the second of three caches of gold, and clues have started appearing in the public announcements section of UK's The Times. Because we love you so very much, we've put all three after the jump. If you're ready to do some investigating, we'd suggest digging through this in-game blog or, if you're up for something less immersive, this thread about the game.

Coming straight from Gamecock's chest-o-marketing-media, we're treated to a new trailer for their upcoming stealthy game Velvet Assassin. Have a watch. But before you start to make comparisons between it an a certain Sam Fisher, know that there are a few distinct differences. First, Velvet Assassin comes pre-populated with hundreds of Nazis. And second, Velvet Assassin's main hero is of female origin. See, two totally different games.

After watching all that stealthy crouching, one has to believe that irreversible damage is being done to the lower lumbar. Hope she has good medical insurance or lives in Canada, because in ten years, she'll need it.

German developer Replay Studios and indie publisher Gamecock dropped a friendly reminder that both studios plan to drape us in tufted fabric and slit our throats this fall, when Velvet Assassin ships for both the Xbox 360 and PC. As a stealth-action game, the title will drop players into the boots of real-life World War II allied secret agent Violette Szab as she goes toe to toe with the German war machine.

Beyond the biographical backdrop and historically-inspired setting, there isn't much known about the game. However, the publisher notes that Velvet Assassin will include "lush, surreal visuals" and "a ground-breaking stealth combat system," both interesting qualities ... though we hope the devs know how difficult blood is to get out of velvet without sending it to dry cleaning.

Coming this fall from Replay Studios and the wacky folks at Gamecock is Velvet Assassin. Taking place behind enemy lines in World War II, Velvet Assassin tells the story of Violette Summer who is tasked with facing off against the vicious German war machine.

Inspired by real life British secret agent Violette Szabo, the stealth-action game promises a unique combat experience when it hits the Xbox 360 and PC.

Clearly stealth games require a unique combat experience. Right?

[via Press Release]

It looks like the crew over at Joystiq has been spending some time at GameCock's EIEIO show in Texas this week. Rather than bring you bits and pieces of their coverage, we thought we'd round up everything we could in a single post for your clicking convenience. They've got the latest on Dungeon Hero, Velvet Assassin, Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball and more. Check out Joystiq's cavalcade of coverage below:

• Dungeon Hero inverts the dungeon genre
• Hands-on with Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball
• Hail to the Chimp impressions
• Velvet Assassin actually dressed in leather
• Section 8 details fall from the sky
• Hands-on with Legendary