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Rayman 2: The Great Escape captured by GOG
If you don't feel like buying a 3DS and a $40 cartridge to play Rayman 2: The Great Escape -- but you don't want to buy a used copy -- GOG provides another alternative. The DRM-averse online retailer has added the PC version of Rayman 2 to its store, charging the customary $5.99. That's a steal for one of the greats of the 3D platforming genre, especially since GOG throws in a 91-track soundtrack download with the game. Rayman Forever, a version of the first 2D Rayman game with assorted extras, is also available on GOG.
Rayman Origins is a retail game, now coming holiday 2011
When Game Informer revealed the contents of its new issue yesterday, buried under the Assassin's Creed: Revelations hoopla was the promise of Ubisoft news that has nothing to do with white hoodies or hidden knives: "six pages of new details and assets on the gorgeous new platformer, Rayman Origins." For those assets, you'll have to wait to see the issue for yourself, but NeoGAFfer SolidSnakex summarized the new information about the platformer -- information welcome to those of us who get nervous when they don't get regular status updates about Michel Ancel games. First announced as a downloadable, episodic title, Origins is now a retail game, and it's due this holiday season. It features four-player local co-op, though whether that is also online is unclear. According to the preview, it's designed to be accessible to players of different skill levels, and for each level to be enjoyable alone or in multiplayer. "I Dare You" challenges will allow players to bet on whether they can complete a "complex, acrobatic chain" to win in-game currency ("Lums.")
Rayman Forever is on GOG now
The latest vintage game to hit GOG comes courtesy of the site's new Ubisoft partnership, which has already brought us a couple of Mights & Magics. This one is a bit more canonically "Ubisoft," however -- it's Rayman! Rayman Forever is the "definitive" version of the first Rayman platformer, released in 1999. In addition to the original game (which is a side-scroller, for those of you who started with Rayman 2), it includes a level editor, allowing you to pretend you have Rayman Origins' Ubiart toolkit. 40 fanmade levels are also in the package. That's a lot of stuff for $5.99! Still no arms, of course.
ESRB: Yes, 'Rayman 3D' is a 3DS game
The ESRB has posted its rating for Rayman 3D, previously rated in Australia. The ESRB's rating offers a bit of new information about the mysterious title -- specifically, the platform. If you want Rayman's disembodied, floating arms to get all up in your face, you'll have to get a 3DS to do so. There are still plenty of mysteries around Rayman 3D, like when it's coming out and whether it's an original game or a port -- and, if the latter, on which Rayman game it's based. There's no question, however, that Ubisoft has a lot of faith in the new handheld. This is the seventh planned 3DS game from the publisher.
'Rayman 3D' rated in Australia
The Australian Classification Board has rated "Rayman 3D" for unspecified platforms. We can think of two likely possibilities for this game: first, that it's a collection of ported Rayman games, in 3D, for PS3, like the recent Prince of Persia rereleases and the upcoming Splinter Cell collection, both from Rayman publisher Ubisoft. Or it's a Rayman game for 3DS. Both seem equally plausible: Ubisoft is continuing a recent trend, or preparing a mascot platformer for a new Nintendo handheld. Ubisoft declined to comment on this unannounced product, but at the very least we know there's some kind of Rayman product on the way -- besides Rayman Origins, which is decidedly 2D.
Rayman Origins slapped on XBLA, PSN this Christmas, other platforms possible
Rayman and Globox will be slapping everything in sight as soon as this holiday season. The "about" page for Rayman Origins, the new 2D Rayman revival, reveals that the first episode is scheduled for a Christmas release, with "the rest" to follow in 2011. Ubisoft specified releases on "HD Consoles" for the platformer, with Wii, PC, iPad, and 3DS in consideration as well. The page also reveals that the Ubiart framework used by Origins' five-person team to create the game will be released open-source next year, allowing users to design levels and characters. Not only is Ubisoft making a convincingly indie-style game, it's going to release tools to let you make indie games.%Gallery-96983%
Rayman Origins in development from Michel Ancel, is 2D and beautiful
We know, we know -- another Rayman game, right? But no, seriously, this one looks totally sweet. Debuted at today's Ubisoft press conference, Beyond Good & Evil and Rayman creator Michel Ancel is developing Rayman Origins. From what we saw, it's a 2D Rayman that allows for some content creation as well. While we were impressed by the Rayman levels shown, a handful of user-created levels were also displayed with vastly different art styles. With any luck we'll get a chance to check out more when E3 officially starts tomorrow.
Rayman 2: The Great Escape coming to iPhone March 1
Prolific mobile publisher Gameloft has revealed its next project: An iPhone/iPod Touch port of Ubisoft's N64 platformer, Rayman 2: The Great Escape. Let's get our obligatory naysaying out of the way, so it won't sour the rest of the post: "But, it doesn't have buttons! How are we supposed to make well-timed jumps while avoiding sharp, pointy obstacles without buttons?" We can't answer that for you, dear reader. You have to answer that for yourself. The good news is that the game looks surprisingly faithful to its original iteration. You can watch a trailer for the title, which is due out March 1 on the App Store, after the jump.
NintendoWare Weekly: Rayman, Stop Stress, Shinobi, Street Fighter Alpha 2
There's some classic platforming to be had in both Rayman and Shinobi in this week's Nintendo downloads, and even a way to deal with Jack's overabundance of stress in Stop Stress: A Day of Fury. There's over ten titles in all, so cruise past the break for the full list.
Ubisoft bringing select titles to Mac gamers
Through a partnership with TransGaming Inc., Ubisoft is poised to bring select titles to Mac gamers (yes, we repeat: "Mac gamers") through retail and digital download channels. The two most significant offerings will be Prince of Persia and Shaun White Snowboarding, although Ubisoft will also provide CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Hard Evidence, Rayman Raving Rabbids and Petz Sports to retail locations for the first time. Those games are currently only available through Ubisoft's website. You can download Prince of Persia and Shaun White Snowboarding for Mac from Ubisoft's site (and look for the other games on retail shelves) next month.
Ubisoft: It's not hopeless for third-party devs on Wii
The biggest competition for a third-party developer on Wii is, obviously, Nintendo. But, that doesn't mean it's hopeless. Ubisoft is just one of the third-party developers that have found success on the console. How? Through strategic and careful planning."We saw that at the end of this year, there were not so many Nintendo products, and we thought there was a window of opportunity," said Ubisoft CFO Alain Martinez at the UBS Global Media Conference this week. "I believe to date, Nintendo is about 30-35 percent market share. So that means if you are aggressive, and if you come up with the right products, you can gain market share there." Because of this, the company expects Shaun White Snowboarding and Raving Rabbids TV Party to sell 1 million and 1.5 million units each, respectively.It's not like Nintendo is making it so that third parties need to wait for the stars and planets to align, however. "Nintendo is surely not making it impossible for people to make good games [on its systems]," Martinez added. "They've been helping us make games. So it's up to us."Of course, this isn't to say that Ubisoft has had nothing but luck with the Wii. They've tried to pile some stinkers on us in the past. But, monkey see, monkey do. The more successful third-party developers are on Wii, the more it attracts others to reach for their own slice of that pie. %Gallery-23883%
Shock! ESRB rates more PS1 downloadables
Maybe Sony hasn't completely given up on releasing PS1 games for download onto PS3/PSP. The sharp eyes of David B. discovered two new games added to the ESRB database: Rayman 2 and Medal of Honor. While we're pretty certain the latter hasn't aged too well, we're more than glad at a chance to play Rayman 2 again.Of course, we have to remember -- just because the ESRB has rated a game doesn't mean it'll release any time soon.
Retail and download releases for the week of November 17th
Just as we all found out last week, today marks the release of the fourth episode of Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. Oh, and we're also getting a bunch of other games. This week, seriously, has a lot of games. Head on past the break for the full list. Also, our apologies. There likely won't be a VC Monday Madness video today, but we'll try to get it up as soon as we can. Sorry! %Gallery-27704%
GameStop letting the rabbids out of the bag early?
Reader Joshua is one lucky dude. He managed to score a copy of Raving Rabbids TV Party from his local GameStop. Being that they specialize in games, we're surprised to hear about them violating the street date for this title. Sure, it's only a week early, but while Joshua is sitting at home, enjoying his game, we're writing about him enjoying his game. Oh, how we wish we were him!If you're looking to score a copy early, you might want to hit up your local GameStop, as Joshua suggests. They might do the same thing for you. And if you're looking for some video from the game, hit up Joshua's site here.%Gallery-23883%
Rabbids go hog wild with farm equipment
IGN has uploaded a pair of new videos showing off minigames for the upcoming Raving Rabbids TV Party. The video above focuses on the minigame Monster Tractors, which, you guessed it, has you racing around the farm on tractors. Of course, with this being a Raving Rabbids game, it's not your normal tractor race. These are some souped-up tractors of epic proportions racing about in a highly comical fashion. Man, we love those crazy little rabbids.After you check out the video above, head on past the break to see video from the Mega Balls minigame. It's, uh ... weird.%Gallery-23883%
Joystiq impressions: Rayman Raving Rabbids TV Party
The Rabbids are back. We liked the original, thought they dozed on the sequel, and hope the combination of randomness and fun returns for TV Party. More than 50 mini-games are shipping with the new Wii game, most of which will be playable with four people. About 30 percent of the games will be able to use the Balance Board, although the fad device won't be required. We played three mini-games at the Nintendo Media Summit and are hopeful that this will be the best version yet. We'll know for sure after the November 11 release.%Gallery-33764%
Rabbids discover their heroic side
If there's one thing we don't tolerate, it's rabbid hate. All of the rabbid haters can suck on a lemon, for all we care. And, like previous teaser trailers, this latest one does not disappoint and haters have no grounds to ... well, hate. It's a spoof on the television show Heroes, which is incredibly appropriate given that Raving Rabbids TV Party is doing the spoofing. Better luck next time, little guy!%Gallery-23883%
Rabbid and Rabbid at the Olympic Games
Raving Rabbids TV Party is all about making fun of TV programming -- and what is more televised than the Olympics? It's natural, then, that Ubisoft would release some silly trailers showing their new mascot characters running rampant through Olympic events in Beijing. Also there are probably some Olympic-style minigames in the actual game.The latest trailer, above, combines the usual yelling-based Rabbid humor with some classic Bugs Bunny. We've embedded the last Olympic-style clip, from last week, after the break. It's also funny, yes, but it also makes us feel genuinely bad for the poor, stupid Rabbid for the first time, because it looks profoundly painful.%Gallery-23883%
PSN Thursday: Rayman, Elefunk and E3
We've been a little busy with all the E3-ing and being hosts, so here's the PSN Thursday update for this week. PS1 classic Rayman is available, along with PSN game Elefunk. There's also several E3 videos and just sunshine with rainbows. So tired ...
E308: Wii Fanboy reacts to Nintendo's keynote [update]
[Updated: Now with JC talking about things!]With so many highlights from this year's Nintendo E3 keynote, we're finding our live chat wasn't enough to cover our thoughts and opinions on what was shown. So, below, you'll find some impressions akin to what we did last year. Enjoy.
