RUSE
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Spoiler: RUSE trailer ends in a bang
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-48492%
RUSE VIP beta later this year, strategy is to sign up now
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-48492%
EndWar creator sounds off on 'brutal' holiday market
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.
RUSE: Reveal Undermine Subvert Entrap ... or not
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-48492%
EndWar dev excited about Natal's RTS possibilities
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."
Hands-on: RUSE (and its steep learning curve)
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-48492%
E3 2009 highlights: The Xbox roundup
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.
Ubisoft reveals Ruse surprise
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 streaming E3 content like Splinter Cell Conviction, No More Heroes 2
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.
Joystiq impressions: Ubisoft's RUSE
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-48492%
GDC09: Ubisoft announces R.U.S.E, RTS for PC, 360, PS3
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!
