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Portabliss: Assassin's Creed Recollection (iPad)
Did you know that you can download handheld games now? That's amazingly convenient! The only inconvenient part of it is finding the right games to buy -- and that's where we come in, with our Portabliss column. In each installment, we'll tell you about a downloadable game on the iPhone, iPad, Android device, DSi, 3DS, PSP, etc. Today: Assassin's Creed Recollection. The level of synergy achieved by the Assassin's Creed franchise is pretty impressive. If you can think of it, odds are it's out there: books, comics, animated shorts and now, a TCG. Assassin's Creed Recollection is mostly a real-time trading card game that pits two players against each other as they vie to control territory in various cities and towns across Europe. But what separates Recollection from something like Magic: The Gathering is the real-time clock that's always ticking down. %Gallery-137719%
Ezio brings a hidden gun to a knife fight in Soulcalibur 5 footage
Namco has posted a very long video discussing the features in Soulcalibur 5, complete with plenty of footage of everyone's favorite assassin, Ezio Auditore da Firenze. There's also a lot of talking to get through, so you may want to skip to 26:55 (as in the twenty-six minute mark) to get to the in-game action. Oh, and yes, Ezio brought his hidden gun. Siliconera notes that the video discusses the game's customization systems. Adjusting a character's physique, for example, could allow for longer reach. Furthermore, Namco does have plans for downloadable content, though the developers weren't ready to discuss whether those plans include more characters. We've still got our fingers crossed for Spawn making a glorious comeback.
Assassin's Creed sneaking a third mobile entry onto iOS in 'Recollection'
Ubisoft is adding yet another Assassin's Creed title to its stable of iOS releases. Unveiled last night in San Francisco during an Ubisoft event, Assassin's Creed: Recollection is a melange of art exploration and real-time strategy, employing "key characters and locations" from across the entire AC franchise. How does it work, exactly? We're just as curious as you are, as the PR only vaguely explains the RTS elements as a stand-in for "political battles" raging throughout the world of Assassin's Creed. We'll undoubtedly learn more soon, though, as Recollection is due to launch "before the end of the calendar year." Update: We've added a gallery below that teases how the gameplay will work.%Gallery-137719%
Sony registers a slew of Assassin's Creed movie domains
Still no word on whether Sony has managed to finalize its buzz-generating deal with Ubisoft Motion Pictures to create a movie franchise based on the adventures of Desmond and friends, but it looks as though the entertainment megalith is feeling pretty good about the situation, based on a massive list of registered web domains unearthed by Fusible. The 16 domains in question were registered by Sony Pictures on October 20, a day before news of the potential partnership found its way to the blogosphere via Variety. While indicative of Sony's confidence in the deal, purchasing the domains will prove to be a shrewd business move either way: Even if things do fall through, Sony will be able to eventually sell the domains for a phat wad.
New multiplayer Assassin's Creed launching on iOS
In true assassin fashion (fasshasshin), a new Assassin's Creed game has struck the App Store with no warning. Assassin's Creed: Multiplayer Rearmed is a sequel to Assassin's Creed II Multiplayer, an iPhone game that seemingly acted as a test bed for Assassin Creed: Brotherhood's multiplayer. Rearmed allows players to control "personas from both Brotherhood and Revelations," sneaking through and killing friends in 4-player online, single player, or one-on-one Bluetooth modes. This game is currently not on the US App Store; IGN spotted it on Canada's. Assassin's Creed II Multiplayer, by the way, has disappeared from the App Store, allowing Ubisoft to pretend that Brotherhood invented the multiplayer, and that this is an offshoot of that console game. "Assassin's Creed innovative multiplayer is now mobile!" Which is how it started!
Soulcalibur V launches on January 31, 2012; Ezio sneaks into the game
The rumors are true! Assassin's Creed: Revelations protagonist Ezio Auditore de Firenze is the secret guest character in Soulcalibur V, the latest trailer reveals, and it looks like he's coming packed with all of his trusty pointy objects. And a crossbow! Namco Bandai also revealed a January 31, 2012 launch date for Soulcalbur V, and handed over the above trailer. Hidden wrist-blade Soul Edge, anyone?
Report: Ubisoft close to Assassin's Creed film deal with Sony
One of the rare video game properties that we think could make a pretty good movie seems to be moving forward. Variety reports that Sony is close to inking a deal with Ubisoft Motion Pictures to create a film franchise based on the Assassin's Creed series. It's reportedly the climax of a months-long bidding war between Sony and other studios like Universal. With Ubisoft's policy of maintaining creative control over films based on its games, it's a project we're ... if not excited for, certainly cautiously optimistic about. Our one request? Make Desmond, Altair and Ezio a family of art thieves. After that it's all -- as they say in the biz -- movie gravy.
Rumor: Assassin's Creed protagonist Ezio coming to Soulcalibur 5
The picture above was provided to us by an anonymous tipster, which we're told comes from a beta version of the upcoming Soulcalibur 5 appearing at recent fighting game tournament. If this shot is real, Assassin's Creed protagonist Ezio Auditore de Firenze will be a playable character in Soul Calibur 5, set to launch next year. Unfortunately, we don't have confirmation just yet, and there's no information about whether Ezio is limited to a certain version of the game, or available to anyone playing it. But one thing is for sure: The Hidden Blade would look pretty nice decked out with Soul Edge finery.
Assassin's Creed: Lineage propagates to DVD and Blu-Ray November 15
Want a copy of the Assassin's Creed: Lineage short film to keep for your very own? Amazon listings reveal that the 2009 release will be out on Blu-Ray and DVD on November 15. Not like Assassin's Creed fans have anything else to buy on that date.
Day one copies of Assassin's Creed: Revelations on PS3 to include the original Assassin's Creed
As if anyone needed yet another reason to pick up Assassin's Creed: Revelations at launch, Ubisoft has just announced that the initial shipment of the PS3 version of their time-jumping assassination simulator will also include the original Assassin's Creed. Seeing as the Assassin's Creed mythos are fairly intricate, convoluted and span several centuries, playing through the original will provide a much needed refresher course for those of us who have clocked more than a few hours in the Animus. At this point, we're not even sure who we are anymore. [Update: We reached out to Ubisoft to ask if the 2007 pre-Trophy Assassin's Creed would be updated to support the digital baubles, and a Ubi rep replied, "There will be no trophy support for the original Assassin's Creed." Sorry, Trophy collectors.]
Ubisoft announces development of six Vita games, including Assassin's Creed and Lumines
Ubisoft is coming out strong in support of the PlayStation Vita, because it's a video game system and that's what Ubisoft does. In advance of Sony's Gamescom presser today, the company announced development of six titles for the handheld, including an Asphalt racing game, Assassin's Creed, Dungeon Hunter Alliance (above), Rayman Origins, and Michael Jackson: The Experience. Perhaps most exciting, the PSP launch standout Lumines is returning on PlayStation Vita. Along with the announcement, Ubisoft shared screens of Rayman, Asphalt, and Dungeon Hunter. No dates were provided for any of these, but expect at least a few of them at the system's launch, because, again, that's what Ubisoft does.%Gallery-130765%
Ubisoft: Assassin's Creed: Revelations will be, well, revealing
In an interview with the Guardian, Assassin's Creed creative director Alexandre Amancio explains Ubisoft's mindset when creating Revelations and the caution his team is taking with Altair, Ezio, Desmond and their combined Body Mass Index. "Well, Assassin's Creed has been going since 2007 -- the narrative is very rich and complex, so to avoid collapsing under the weight of our own mythology we needed to wrap up a few mysteries and set things up for what is to come. That's what this game is about: we're giving players some answers from Assassin's 2 and Brotherhood, we're completing the destiny of Altair, and we're tying it in to what's coming in 2012. And obviously, our over-arching storyline has to do with the end of the world in 2012 – we need to set up everything for the conclusion of that narrative. In this game, you'll get to understand why Ezio is so important and how his destiny his aligned to Altair's and to Desmond's." It appears Amancio is focused on completing the first arc of the Assassin's Creed series with an emphasis on character development and clarifying the franchise's future, which can't be very vast considering he's counting on the world to end next year.
Assassin's Creed Wii U title isn't Revelations
We may not know what the Wii U Assassin's Creed project will be, but at least we know what it won't be. According to Ubisoft head Yves Guillemot, it won't be Assassin's Creed: Revelations. In an interview with Swedish site AftonBladet.se, Guillemot noted that the announced Wii U Assassin's Creed title is "not Revelations," but something for "the future." Of course, Guillemot's comments don't rule out the possibility of a Revelations port sometime in, you know, "the future." The executive wouldn't confirm whether or not the currently announced AC title would be Assassin's Creed 3. For our part, we're imagining something like Raving Rabbids, only with hidden blades. In response to our own inquiries, a Ubisoft representative told Joystiq that the company doesn't have "any new information" regarding the Wii U Assassin's Creed project.
Wii U Assassin's Creed details loosed at Nintendo roundtable
After just barely revealing that an Assassin's Creed title is in the works for Nintendo's Wii U, Ubisoft reps took to the Nintendo roundtable this evening and spoke to some of the features we'll see in the still untitled game (we're calling it "Assassin's Cwiihd"). Well, okay, first Ubisoft wanted to talk about the console itself. First and foremost, the Wii U has "powerful multi-core architecture" which allows Ubisoft to port its engines and assets directly over. And if you're anything like us, you're all about graphical shaders -- you'll be happy to know, then, that the Wii U is totally capable of handling that. Beyond that, the game will, like previous AC titles, have the usual Eagle Vision sense ability. Specific to the Wii U, however, is an interactive map and database -- presumably for use with the WiiPad -- as well as some form of "alternative" puzzle solving. Ubi wouldn't confirm whether the title will be Assassin's Creed 3 or a Wii U version of Revelations or something else entirely, but you can bet we'll be hounding them for answers as the week progresses.
Ubisoft developing 'hardcore FPS' exclusively for Wii U, four other titles revealed
Beyond the news today that Ubisoft is bringing Assassin's Creed to Nintendo's Wii U, the French publisher also announced a handful of other titles currently in development for next year's console. Among the list of established IPs -- Assassin's Creed, Rabbids, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Online -- Ubisoft also announced a "revolutionary first-person shooter for the hardcore audience." Moreover, the shooter is being developed "exclusively" for the Wii U. Perhaps you're not too into shooters? The company is also working on a "multi-sports game" with family applications. A ... awesome? Anyway, while none of the games will be playable at E3 this year, Ghost Recon Online will be shown off on the show floor, so we'll be sure to take a peek at our earliest convenience.
Sprint balloons its EVO 3D with three-dimensional titles and content providers
If you're looking to fully leverage the namesake feature of the EVO 3D, Sprint is doing its best to ensure you're not left wanting -- all while keeping your coin flowing its way. First, it's bundling HTC Watch and Blockbuster On Demand, which will offer 3D titles (alongside the 2D fare) and rental prices ranging between $3 and $4. Like we've seen in RadioShack's advert, the 3D version of The Green Hornet is pre-loaded on the phone's microSD card, and the Now Network is also bundling a demo of Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem 3D. If that whets your appetite for three-dimensional playtime (and you've still got expendable income), you might check out Assassin's Creed: Altair's Chronicles and GT Racing Motor Academy -- both $5 at launch in the pre-loaded Gameloft Storefront. For all the bloat they pile on, at least the stores bring decent eye candy. Hop the break for a (decidedly two-dimensional) press release.
The Witcher 2 shows the reality of the Assassin's Creed swan dive
Who would have thought that one of the most educational games of the year would be CD Projekt Red's The Witcher 2? It's got a thing or two to teach us all about the (awesome) perils of Ezio's trademark maneuver in Assassin's Creed 2: The Leap of Faith. Check out said lesson in the video below!
Ubisoft Motion Pictures making Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon, Splinter Cell flicks
Perhaps all that "playing" of your favorite Ubisoft games was getting tiresome? The French game publisher's film arm, Ubisoft Motion Pictures, told Variety this week that it's working to adapt three of Ubisoft's biggest properties -- Assassin's Creed, Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon -- into "3D features," confirming speculative plans that appeared in a consumer survey last month. UMP head Jean-Julien Baronnet explained that his division "has been working with the games' producers and Ubisoft's marketing team to identify the DNA of each game and come up with storylines that are consistent." He also noted that the group's plans have garnered plenty of interest "from US studios and screenwriters." Further, senior VP of international marketing and distribution Jean de Rivieres promises a script for at least one of the projects "by the end of the year." He and two other UMP execs will be taking a trip to Los Angeles next month in order to broker deals with studios and agents, Rivieres added. In addition to the trio of feature projects, the studio is reportedly developing a 3D, CGI animated series based on the Rabbids property and named after the Raving Rabbids game series. It's said to comprise 78 episodes, at seven minutes apiece, and negotiations are apparently underway to distribute the series in France and the US. [Pictured: Assassin's Creed Lineage (2009 web series) set]
MOPS Shadow T800 brings analog joystick, hearts & spades to Android
Sure, the Xperia Play may have that slick gamepad slider, shoulder buttons, and Sony Playstation's official blessing, but can it hold its own against the Shadow's analog pad? Probably, because despite the new contender's self described status of a "mobile Playstation," its lack of shoulder buttons won't help it play any of those Xperia-exclusive PSone games it can't download. Still, besides being known as the "Phantom of the Opera" phone (thanks, Google Translate), this MOPS Shadow T800 has a lot going for it. This analog Android packs a Froyo-powered 806MHz processor, 512MB of RAM, front and rear 5 megapixel and 0.3 megapixel cameras, respectively, a 3.5 inch 320 x 480 touchscreen, and a whole mess of standard GPS, Bluetooth, and 3G radios. Not enough? Okay, fine; the device also comes pre-loaded with a handful of emulators, as well as a legit copy of Assassin's Creed. Besides, who doesn't want a phone with card-suit face buttons? Bragging rights will set you back 2680 yuan ($410), assuming you're in China when this thing launches later this month.
Latest Assassin's Creed teaser hints at Istanbul setting [update]
We'll be honest -- the latest teaser posted on Facebook for the forthcoming Assassin's Creed game reveal was outright baffling to us. Despite containing major clues like the very clear image you see above (an Ottoman Tughra) and a string of numbers flashed twice ("24061459"), not to mention the friggin' Hagia Sofia (it's kinda famous), we somehow didn't put together that the teaser was very seriously hinting at an Istanbul setting for the next game. Thankfully, Turkish gaming site Oyungezer has plenty of insight to offer. The string of numbers? That's a stand-in for "June 24, 1459," or for you Auditore family historians, Ezio's date of birth. And the Ottoman Tughra? Turns out that's an official seal or signature for a sultan, used to sign official documents and for money printing, among other things. It's like Prince's symbol, basically, except it originates with the Ottoman Empire rather than an egomaniacal musician. Anyway, between the major landmark (Hagia Sofia) and the Tughra, we're guessing the big reveal will somehow center on Istanbul, potentially in the mid-1400s. As for when we'll find out, your guess is as good as ours -- the meter towards the next teaser is at 20 percent as of now, with no indication of how many unveilings are left in Ubisoft's plan. Update: The fifth teaser has now gone live, and it features a man who looks suspiciously like Assassin's Creed 1's main character, Altair. It also features a two-headed eagle -- a symbol quite popular in the Byzantine Empire -- and the number string "11011165," which is presumably a placeholder for January 11, 1165. What happened on the eleventh day of January, 1165, you ask? That's a good question. Other than some unexciting interactions with Russia, not much was happening in Constantinople/Istanbul that day. Perhaps the next teaser will clue us in! [Thanks Sinan!]
