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GRAW and Splinter Cell: Double Agent infiltrate Games on Demand
Grab your night-vision goggles and strap on your Kevlar, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter and Splinter Cell: Double Agent have been added to Xbox Live's Games on Demand service. While GRAW is available in nearly all Xbox Live regions, Splinter Cell: Double Agent is only available to (most) European Xbox Live users. Prices vary by region, but we're confident in saying that no matter where you live, the asking price is probably too high for games that launched in 2006.
Steamy Ghost Recon savings, 50% off the Complete Pack
This is not a drill. Keep your head low, your wallets open and your Steam account information at the ready, because this is an official weekend deal alert: The Ghost Recon Complete Pack is 50% off through Steam. For only $19.99 or roughly the cost of Tom Clancy's Fighter Wing guide, you can be the proud owner of all five PC versions of the Ghost Recon series including the original, Island Thunder, Desert Siege, GRAW and the latest installment, GRAW2. The money savings will expire prior to Monday, so make your "should I buy?" or "should I pass" decision in a timely manner. Please, try to keep an orderly line so the cashier can smoothly operate the checkout lane.
Russian-Georgia conflict predicted by Ghost Recon
Tom Clancy might be this generation's Nostradamus. Although off by about three months, the first level in 2001's Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon is eerily familiar to the past week's events, where Russia and South Ossetian rebels have been fighting with Georgia. Unlike Ghost Recon, however, there has been no signs of US special forces armed with technologically advanced firepower and controlled by a mysterious "player."Scholars are already sifting through The Great Texts in anticipation of any potential conflicts in 2014 Mexico City.[Via Game Politics]
Rumor: Next Halo is 'darker, grittier,' tactical and without Master Chief
What's this? More rumors about another Halo? The latest Gamespot Rumor Control has a source that claims the next Halo title will be tactical, "a cross between Ghost Recon and Gears of War" and will be announced sometime this year (maybe tomorrow?). According to the source, the "darker, grittier" iteration is more akin to Neil Blomkamp's shorts. Oh yeah, and that Master Chief guy is nowhere to be found.In terms of gameplay, you can reportedly play as an entire squad (huh?) in the entire campaign, and there will be online co-op. The mention of Ghost Recon is particularly interesting, as a former creative director from G.R.A.W. developer Red Storm joined Bungie in August 2007. Gamespot seems confident with their source, and that would make for quite a big E3 announcement.
End War & Splinter Cell sites redirect to Ghost Recon, countdown to April 2 appears [Update]
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Viral_marketing_points_to_possible_Ghost_Recon_announcement'; Update: At the time of this story the Rainbow Six website wasn't acting properly, however it has been reported that it too is pointing to the Ghost Recon website via a similar overlay. This story has been updated to include the Rainbow Six site.In the early hours of the day this morning one of our readers helped us spot a strange overlay on the official Ghost Recon website. Visitors of the site were treated to a smoking dossier (which might be a black box after all) but nothing could be done other than close off the overlay and scratch your head.Today, both the End War, Splinter Cell and Rainbow Six sites have received similar flash-based marketing treatments. Each site includes an overlay of smoking items that appear to be from a wreckage which, when clicked, redirects visitors to the official Ghost Recon website -- home of the original mystery.While it could all end there, today the Ghost Recon site updated with new information and a mysterious countdown timer.
Ghost Recon's smoking file teases us
One of our eagle-eyed readers tipped us off to an interesting development on the official Ghost Recon site. Users are treated to a large smoking file flash overlay when the site is loaded up. It appears that some information still marks the burning folder but as it stands the entire thing is a mystery. With the recent release of Rainbow Six Vegas 2, the ownership agreement with Tom Clancy and the continued domination of Activision's Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare on Xbox Live (proving gamers want more than just Halo 3) is it possible this new smoking file could contain a gun? A gun called Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 3? [Thanks, Jbarnum]
Ubisoft preps for a Tom Clancy-themed MMO
Not less that two hours ago we were discussing the ways that FPSes have co-opted the trappings of MMOs, and now this. Ubisoft has announced that, as part of an IP-purchasing deal with spy-genre mogul Tom Clancy, they'll be working to create an MMO based on his works. We're just guessing what the gameplay might be like above, but company CEO Yves Guillemot seems determined to get one out the door. The game isn't even in the works yet, as Ubisoft has little experience in the post-WoW MMO marketplace, but Yves thinks they already have the technology in-hand to make the game. He also noted the abundance of options they have as regards setting: "You have Splinter Cell, Sam Fisher, the Rainbow [Sixes], the GRAWs and all the other new creations we have. So this [IP acquisition] will make that [MMO] product a really big product." This was apparently a foregone conclusion from some time ago, according to Yves. They were merely waiting for the right opportunity to jump in. It getting a might crowded out here for anyone else?
New GRAW 2 DLC offers new maps, missions, weapons
For those of you still grooving on GRAW 2, grab a buddy and download today's 800 point ($10) "Co-op Collection," a DLC package for Xbox 360 featuring nine new maps (seven inspired from preview Ghost Recon games, two all new) and five co-op campaign missions that pick up where GRAW 2 left off.If you're too cheap to even consider getting in on the action (feel free to leave your usual diatribe about why additional maps and modes should be on the retail disc in the comments), then Ubisoft has something just for you: a totally freetastic "more guns pack" that locks and loads seven new gats into the single player quick mission mode. Be honest, are you going to drop the points or hold out for a potential future pricedrop that may or may not ever happen? ... Yeah, us too. [Via X3F]
GRAW silently released to public, footage captured
Wait. This game came out? Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 silently released to PSP systems, with no advertising and no coverage. Perhaps Ubisoft was too afraid to send review copies? (As of writing, there are no published online reviews of the game.) Without the help of critics, we can only look to you, our readers, for sage advice on this game. PSP GadgetZ has once again captured some of the first footage of the game. Does it still look like a N64 game to you?
GRAW developer: PS3 not harder to code for than 360
Despite the steady hiss of internet pundits that suggests otherwise, Ubisoft's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter development team doesn't believe that it's harder to code games for the PlayStation 3 compared to the Xbox 360. Yann Le Tensorer, who co-created the graphics engine powering GRAW and the upcoming Beowulf, re-ckons that any uphill development battles are to blame on the learning curve associated with newer hardware. "It's wrong to say it's harder to code on the PlayStation 3, it's just something that needs to be learnt," he told GamesIndustry.Biz. He goes on to stun the less observant by pointing out that "it's just a different console." Le Tensorer isn't the first to comment on the hardware's perceived difficulty. In June, Team Ninja's Yosuke Hayashi engaged in less subtle commentary by simply telling complaining PS3 developers to "get out of the ring." The GRAW developer goes on to state, "Developers might says [sic] it's harder because it just takes time to understand the technology, we're still early in the lifecycle." In other words, it is tougher to program for the system, but only while you're still learning the technological ropes. It seems a fair explanation for the publisher's poorly received Splinter Cell: Double Agent port and EA's lack of frames in Madden NFL 08 -- at least from a developer's point of view. Consumers may feel otherwise as they await the PS3 arrival of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2.
Ghost Recon creative director moves to Bungie
Christian Allen, former creative director at Red Storm, which creates the Ghost Recon games, has taken a new job at Bungie as "design lead." Allen doesn't say what game he'll be working on, but having been a Marine and working on one of the top military-themed franchises in existence, we're going to guess it involves guns -- which he seems well-versed in. So, super speculation time. Now that Bungie has Halo 3 almost in the bag and they've brought this guy on board, what could they be working on? A Halo-themed squad game? A Halo-themed squad game? Or, a Halo-themed squad game? What, you don't think it'll be a squad game? Ohhh, you don't think it'll be Halo-themed. OK, in other news, Nintendo isn't making Mario games anymore either.
Ubisoft's Ghost Recon team developing Beowulf game
Let's face it, the only way an epic English poem is going to make the jump to video game form is if there's a movie adaptation in-between. Beowulf is quite the lucky (or unlucky, depending on your level of cynicism) piece of literature then, as Ubisoft has announced the development of a game based on the upcoming Robert Zemeckis film of the same name. MCV notes that the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter team is behind the poetic adaptation of the poetic adaptation, with the voice talents of Beowulf stars Angelina Jolie and Anthony Hopkins expected to feature.Speaking at the ongoing Ubidays conference in Paris, Ubisoft Europe chief, Alain Tascan, promised that Beowulf would "reinvent the hack and slash genre." Perhaps the publisher plans switch things up, defy convention and craft a slash and then hack game instead? Let's aim for another King Kong and not another TMNT, shall we?
PS3's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 delayed again
Following an announced delay back in January, it looks like the PS3 version of Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 is being moved again from June to a (tentative) August release. The Xbox 360 version of GRAW 2 released in March. No explanation is given for the delay.It's no secret now that Ubisoft has not been happy with the PS3's sales. The delay doesn't mean they are adding extra content -- although given the extra time sitting around it'd be nice. All PS3 owners can do now is hope this game does eventually come out and, with any luck, won't just be canceled like the PS3 version of THQ's Saints Row.[Via PS3Fanboy]
Ubisoft fourth quarter sales pushed up by warfighters, turtles
Leading to the obvious conclusion: Ubisoft needs to somehow combine the gritty realism of the Tom Clancy franchise with the anthropomorphic antics of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Politically charged yet irresistibly adorable properties like Tom Clancy's Splinter Shell and Tom Clancy's The War on Terrapins are sure to tap into hitherto untapped fountains of marketability and financial prosperity. Not that Ubisoft is currently in dire need of money, mind you. Gamasutra's detailing of L'Ubi's most recent financial report suggests that the publisher is already exceeding analyst expectations by exchanging one type of green for another.The company's fourth quarter sales saw an increase of 37% to $267.5 million, largely instigated by the one million unit success of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 on Xbox 360, as well as the TMNT film-based game which dragged in 1.1 million units in its eight platform-wide net. Sales for the full 2006/2007 fiscal year stand at $923.4 million following a jump of 24.4%, with earlier titles such as Red Steel, Rayman: Raving Rabbids, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas and Petz being key contributors.Ubisoft expects profitability to increase further in the coming year by supporting new-gen consoles and expanding their presence in "the casual market on the Wii and Nintendo DS systems." Oh! We've yet to add casual games into our bubbling cauldron of cross-franchise success! So, that'll be Tom Clancy's Krang Age, then?
Original GRAW goodness for only $20
This week Circuit City is hastily clearancing out a few popular video game titles, selling the original Xbox 360 version of GRAW for $19.99. Yes sir, $20 will get you one of the prettiest looking advanced war fighting games this side of the moon. Even if you're not a huge fan of war-style games, GRAW at $20 is a great "try me" price for anyone sitting on the fence. And if you are sitting on the fence ... why? Fence sitting results in 280 deaths a year, just get down and go buy GRAW already.
Seven PS3 titles delayed from Euro launch, 27 still left
We now have seven PlayStation 3 titles that will miss their original European release date alongside the console's launch. The dubious septuplet and their new release dates: Splinter Cell: Double Agent -- March 30 NBA 2k7 -- April 6 F.E.A.R. -- April 20 Oblivion -- April 27 Untold Legends -- April 27 GRAW 2 -- June 2007 Rainbow Six: Vegas -- Spring 2007 While more than a few of those are top-notch titles, Sony still has 27 launch titles -- 23 disc-based and four downloadable -- and at their disposal, including Virtua Fighter 5. Will the absence of these seven games affect the launch? No more than the price, and the delays aren't very far behind the March 23 launch. In three months, no one is going to care about the delays. The initial momentum lost, however, is debatable. [Via PS3 Fanboy]
Those are the lamest achievements ever
The hip and trendy kids over at G4's The Feed put together a list of what they think are the 17 lamest Xbox 360 achievements to date. Horrible games like Bomberman Act Zero and NBA Live '07 made the list as well as our favorites like Gears of War and Rainbow Six Vegas. We agree with most of their picks, but really agree with hating NBA Live's "Online With 1,000 People", GRAW's "Committed (Multiplayer)" and FFXI's ridiculous "Reach Level 75 with each character class". We guess this article made us further realize that there are truly lame achievements out there and that we have to be careful. Remember, friends don't let friends spend days on end trying to earn lame achievements. It's one epidemic that we can stop.[Via Digg]
Free GRAW Chapter 2 in latest OXM
Yes, we are a little slow on reporting this, but better late than never right? Gamertag Radio found out that in the April issue of Official Xbox Magazine you'll be pleased to find that the Chapter 2 content for GRAW will be included on the demo disc. True, the magazine does cost $10, but if you're a regular subscriber or are a religious purchaser, then all the better. If you remember, the Chapter 2 content was originally released to on the XBLM for a whopping 1200 Microsoft Points, but was recently discounted to a more reasonable 600 Points. So, if you play GRAW, buy the April issue of OXM, haven't purchased the Chapter 2 content, and won't be purchasing GRAW 2 ... then it'll be like Christmas all over again, but in March.[Via Joystiq, Thanks, to everyone who sent this in]
Live top ten: Sin City descends
Last week, Crackdown came on strong with bronze position on the Live top ten. Now it's swapped spots with Rainbow Six: Vegas as Call of Duty 3 continues to be just shy of the podium. GRAW 2's mulitplayer demo makes a return to take the Crackdown demo's position, which moved to 7th. Madden refuses to budge at sixth while Lost Planet and Oblivion get nudged to eighth and ninth, respectively. GRAW rounds out the bottom of the list while last, and obviously not least, Gears of War retains its top spot over all of Xbox Live-dom. Do you feel slightly confused? If so, our simple, yet eloquent list awaits your review after the break, complete with last weeks standings in parentheses.
$10 off GRAW 2 this week only
If you've been in search for one of the best GRAW 2 deals this week, it looks like Circuit City is the winner. For this week's release of GRAW 2 Circuit City will be discounting the game by $10 and will retail for $49.99. It's not an amazing offer, but it sure beats paying the full $59.99 price tag. And, as an added bonus, if the game isn't in store by 2PM on Wednesday they'll give you a $20 gift card. So, save yourself $10 on the (very similar to GRAW) sequel and hope the UPS guy gets lost in the massive urban sprawl.
