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NDA broken! Endwar beta video leaked online [update 2]
Update 2: Ubisoft's lawyer-ninjas have swooped in and taken care of the video leakage. Nothing to see here folks.Update: We probably didn't make it clear that this leaked Endwar beta video isn't our original work and was actually sent to us as a tip. We just figured we'd pass it along. Never would we intentionally break an NDA agreement, especially one enacted by Ubisoft and their well paid lawyers. Sit back, watch and marvel at what enjoyment a broken non-disclosure agreement (NDA) can bring with the embedded video above. Yup, it's a ten minute introductory video (off-screen, but we can deal) of what Tom Clancy's Endwar is all about. It's the definitive Endwar beta experience that non-beta participates always wanted! Enough talky, more watchy ...[Thanks, Derka]
Tom Clancy's EndWar beta goes live
As clocks struck midnight around the globe, Ubisoft began turning on servers and releasing beta keys for its upcoming console RTS Tom Clancy's EndWar. Due to the staggered release of keys for the small beta (speculation is only 15,000 testers were selected) some of the testers were quick to proclaim the release a disaster; as it turns out Ubisoft was intentionally releasing the beta in waves throughout the evening and early morning.Tom Clancy's EndWar Beta, which clocks in at a sizable 2.98GB, gives players the chance to play through one of three planned online modes in 1v1 or 2v2 matches and is planned to run until July 7.
EndWar beta invites begin pouring in
Early this morning, the first wave of invites for the beta release of Tom Clancy's EndWar have begun to flood email boxes everywhere. Beginning June 16, selected gamers will be able to experience the first RTS title to brandish the Tom Clancy name for three-weeks when the beta ends on July 7.The EndWar Private Demo/Beta, as it's officially referred to as, includes a reduced part of one of the 3 game modes planned for the retail release of EndWar. The beta will feature online play only for matches of 1v1 or 2v2. Gamers who participate in the beta will receive exclusive Gamerpics, which will be released to testers at a later time.Signing up for the beta requires a non-disclosure agreement that disables participants from disclosing any information, not currently available, to any third-party source. So, when your mother asks you why you're yelling at your television you'll just have to play along and act crazy. Unless you actually aren't actually in the beta, in which case ... seek help immediately.Jump in for a peak at our invite email sent to us at 5:30 AM EST.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Tom Clancy's EndWar private beta coming in June
Several Joystiq readers have clued us in on a private beta for Tom Clancy's EndWar coming in June. Now Ubisoft has posted a signup page for those who have received an invitation, and a few details are given.The three-week beta will take place during both June and July and is available only for Xbox 360 players. You will be able to play three maps in online 1-on-1 and 2-on-2 matches. The beta, available in English only, requires participants to have Xbox Live Gold membership, broadband internet connection and 3GB of hard drive space. The beta is available in English only.%Gallery-23902%[Via X3F; thanks to everyone who sent this in!]
Ubisoft attacks your summer with EndWar beta, register today!
Tipsters are going mad! Mad we tell ya! Today Ubisoft has been shooting off emails to registered users inviting them to register for a chance to beta test Tom Clancy's EndWar. The Xbox 360 exclusive open beta is scheduled to run for three weeks between June and July and allow users to the real-time strategy game online in 1v1 or 2v2 matches across three multiplayer maps.Registration is now open for the open beta and Ubisoft reminds registrants that this is an actual beta and bugs are probably going to occur. Oh and remember kids, you need an Xbox Live Gold account, at least 3GB of free hard drive space (a bag full-o-memory cards won't do!) and a pocket full of hopes and dreams to get into the beta that's sure to fill up fast. If you are lucky enough to be selected for the beta you will be notified by Ubisoft at a later time.[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
PS3 EndWar gets Minority Report-esque gesture controls
Sorry, Johnny. It seems like Ubisoft Shanghai might have beaten you to the punch with gesture controls in video games. According to Eurogamer, the team has integrated gesture-activated commands into the RTS Tom Clancy's EndWar. Using the Playstation Eye, the PS3 version of the game will allow players to wave their hands underneath the camera to navigate the game's overhead map. The feature is currently only being developed for the PS3 version, as the 360's Vision Camera lacks the stand to hold the camera vertically.Of course, like head tracking in Boom Blox, this somewhat ancillary feature might not make the final cut of the game. We'll keep our fingers crossed (and moving in a counter-clockwise circle, which is how our own fancy gesture control system knows we're being sincere).
PS3 EndWar may support PlayStation Eye
A few people have been asking why more games haven't included support for the PlayStation Eye, especially when it was being touted as the greatest little camera a videogame console had ever seen. Well, something to that extent, anyway. Seems the folks in charge of Tom Clancy's latest gaming foray, EndWar, want to utilize it. Content director Julian Geright said: "Maybe we're going to have some PlayStation Eye stuff, but that all depends on whether we can slip it past Microsoft. I might not be able to talk about this just yet..." That almost sounds evil.As for the launch between the 360 and PS3 versions, the former is going smoothly but there are a few points that need polishing on the PS3's end. The PS3 version is still for want of a better anti-aliasing solution that won't cost them three frames per second, but otherwise, the two will launch with the same specs. We'll keep an 'eye' out for more information. Aren't we just hilarious?
Video: Tom Clancy's EndWar gameplay demo
Yesterday brought us some in-game footage of Tom Clancy's EndWar, but today brings us an actual gameplay demo from Ubidays, including the often touted voice controls. You'll hear the Ubisoft demonstrator saying things like "Unit One, attack Hostile Two," and, through some kind of devilry, the game does exactly what he commands. There are a few details left unclear in the video. For example, we're not sure exactly how labels are applied to units and areas. How does the player designate an area as Bravo? How do you determine with unit is Unit One? It's possible that the game labels these things automatically, but we won't know until we get some more details.However it all works, we're definitely intrigued. If the voice commands really do work as well as they appear to in this video, Ubisoft may have found a solution to the console RTS problem after all.
Tom Clancy's EndWar gets the blue shell treatment
Tom Clancy's EndWar isn't coming to the Wii, but the developers adopted a philosophy from one of Nintendo's most well-known franchises -- Mario Kart. Ubisoft representative Julian Gerighty told Shacknews that the company was concerned about making the game fun for the player who wasn't in the lead. Rather than be dejected by an insurmountable deficit, Ubisoft wanted the losing player to feel like they could come back at any time.Thus, the developers channeled Mario Kart. Thinking of how certain items could help even the last place player feel like they're still in the race, Ubisoft developed a system that lets the losing player unlock WMDs first, and then fire off their cache before retaliation. As we haven't yet played this RTS, we're not sure exactly how that works or if it's as extreme as it sounds. Shacknews reports, though, that in their experience the leading player still won but it kept things fun for both sides.What do you think of the Mario Kart philosophy? Do you think it's necessary for players to feel like they can catch up at any time? (The item system is clearly skewed to give those in the back better objects, for example.) Or, are you usually the one in first that hates this kind of luck-based turnaround? Also, how do you feel about other games adopting a system like Mario Kart's?%Gallery-4772%
New in-game footage of Tom Clancy's EndWar
It's been a while since we heard anything new about Tom Clancy's EndWar, so imagine our surprise when Ubidays greeted us with a brand new trailer chock-full of in-game footage. It's not a detailed gameplay reveal like the one we had in March, but it still gives us an idea of how large we can expect the battles to be. We also get a glimpse at the level of detail lavished on all the units. Honestly, if we didn't know it was an RTS, we're not sure we'd be able to tell. Each unit is well crafted and highly detailed. All in all, the game is looking pretty hot (even the icy parts in Russia). Let's just hope that Ubisoft releases a demo so we can all try the game's much vaunted voice commands before taking the full financial plunge.
Tom Clancy's EndWar: the evolution of helicopters
Personal vendettas against Tom Clancy aside, his foray into the gaming world has done quite a bit of great things. The latest adventure in the growing monopolistic library of Tom Fancy games, EndWar, has a blog over at IGN that recently updated to show off the evolution of their ideas for a gunship over the course of the game's development. It's an interesting read -- one of the reasons why developer blogs are gaining popularity.Just to pique your interest: the first ship design was scrapped because the chopper was supposed to be futuristic, but the actual ship it was based off of was canceled in 2004. The second was originally a fairly standard, but cool, helicopter. It also failed the futuristic expectations of the EndWar team and designed a new ship that is a mish-mash of different attack choppers. Cool stuff, for those who love them flyin' things.
Video: A first look at EndWar's gameplay
Behold, our fellow fanboys! The video that you see embedded above is your first glimpse, first look and first first of visual goodness from Tom Clancy's EndWar. The console RTS that promises to revolutionize RTS gaming as we know it. Once you complete your video viewing session, you'll know how the game's voice recognition works, what the graphics look like, if you enjoy the third person view and what the Frag Dolls are wearing. Seriously, just watch already and give us your opinion when your video viewing mission is complete. Just be sure to wear your optimistic cap.
See the first gameplay footage from Tom Clancy's EndWar
Well, there's good news and there's bad news. The good? You're about to see a boatload of footage from upcoming RTS Tom Clancy's EndWar. The bad? The Frag Dolls are the ones doing the demonstrating. Let's talk gameplay first. In our opinion, the graphics are solid but the UI looks a bit jumbled. Of course, that's usually the way with an RTS until you know what's going on.Thanks to the game's voice command, just the sound of the Frag Dolls' voices is enough to make troops start shooting people (a reaction we completely sympathize with). We can't decide if our favorite moment is when the blonde one (Scary Spice?) punches a fist in the air and gleefully shouts "World War 3!" or when she punches lower and gleefully shouts "Yeah! Weapons of mass destruction!" In truth our favorite part is after the video when you the viewer get to hear what the Ubisoft-employed Frag Dolls think of the game. (Spoiler alert: They love it.)
EndWar: The year 2020 brings 1000 unit battles
Tom Clancy's EndWar has a new official blogging home over at IGN and with the dev team's first blog we get a quick and dirty rundown of some of EndWar's key facts, figures and features. Some tidbits we've known (voice commands) and some we didn't (the game is set in the war riddled year 2020). We're especially intrigued by the fact that EndWar will be able to render over 1000 units all at once in ginormous battles as well as the fact that they'll be including around forty different battlefields when the game releases. To us, forty sounds like enough variety to kick off the RTS fun with no problem. Make the jump to get the lowdown, retain some EndWar facts and maybe learn a thing or two about Russian Spetznaz Guard Brigades. Jump away ...
Rumor: EndWar heading to handhelds
Rumors suggest that Ubisoft's upcoming EndWar game may be heading to handhelds. As posted by CVG: "According to several reports, de Plater confirmed the game will making its way to handheld platforms at GDC. That's all we've got to go on, for the moment as nothing official has come from Ubisoft."Considering Ubisoft's love of going multiplatform, a handheld version of this upcoming Tom Clancy game seems rather likely. Of course, considering Ubisoft's refusal to acknowledge this persistent Assassin's Creed petition, perhaps they will give PSP the cold shoulder yet again.[Thanks, Dustin!]
Tom Clancy's EndWar confirmed for DS
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Tom_Clancy_s_EndWar_confirmed_for_DS'; GameStop was right again.In October, the game retailer listed Tom Clancy's EndWar for the DS, which garnered the attention of DS fans like ourselves. Michael de Plater, the game's creative director, recently confirmed this information to be true at GDC. As of now, it's intended to be released along with the PS3, Xbox 360, and PSP versions. EndWar takes the player to World War III, during a time when most of the world's resources are depleted. Of course, what better way is there to use up the remaining resources than with a war?In this strategy game, you can choose to play as Russia, Europe, or the United States. There's no word yet, though, on what features the DS version will include. No official date has been announced either, but the game is intended for release before March 31, 2009.While we appreciate that Ubisoft is showing the DS some love, is this a game that you would choose to play on your DS over another system?
IGN gets hands on with Clancy's RTS EndWar
The team over at IGN was invited by Ubisoft to come visit, do lunch and you know, play the latest build of a little game called Tom Clancy's EndWar. And through their EndWar gaming experience we learn a few new things about this console RTS. First up, we learn that Ubisoft is trying two new console FPS mechanics by using a new point of view and voice command. EndWar defaults the POV down, closer to the battle showing everything through each unit's perspective rather than the top down "heavens" view seen in most RTS games. Also, EndWar will support voice commands that (get this) actually work! IGN says that they had absolutely no issues with voice command and say it will make moving units a lot easier. Make a quick click over to IGN to get their complete impression of EndWar, how the game fairs in multiplayer and why nukes can be bad news. Though really, when are nukes every really that bad?
GameStop predicts EndWar, Broken Sword
According to the online store of games retail monolith GameStop, the DS is going to be home to two new Ubisoft-published series entries next year. EndWar (or, as it appears in GameStop's database, End war) is one of those Tom Clancy things, a near-futuristic real-time strategy game about missile defense. Broken Sword is a well-known adventure game series, and one that has seen entries on Nintendo handhelds before. Developer Revolution Software has expressed interest in creating a 2D Broken Sword game on the DS in the past.Just the simple fact that these are Ubisoft-published series makes DS versions eminently likely-- especially the Tom Clancy's game, part of a brand that is eagerly ported to every available console (yes, including the N-Gage). But retailer listings are still a little too tenuous to call the existence of these games anything but rumor.[Via Siliconera]
Bill Gates on the future of computer interaction
In a very rare joint interview with Apple co-founder Steve Jobs on stage at last week's D 2007, Microsoft founder Bill Gates told hosts Walter Mossberg and Kara Swisher, both of the Wallstreet Journal, of his vision for the future of interaction with technology, and therefore gaming, and inadvertently used the Nintendo Wii as a stepping stone."Imagine a game machine where you can just pick up a bat and swing it or the tennis racket," said Gates, to which Mossberg noted that one exists, referencing Wii Sports."No, no, that's not it," said Gates, "you can't pick up your tennis racket and swing it, ['Oh, I see what you mean,' said Mossberg] you can't sit there with your friends and do those natural things. That's a 3D positional device, this is video recognition, this is a camera seeing what's going on ... the camera will be ubiquitous."
EndWar to feature persistent online campaign
As part of the Tom Clancy's EndWar press kit, creative director Michael de Plater confirms that the game will feature a persistent online campaign. In EndWar's Q&A section, Plater states that "one of our most ambitious features is a massively-multiplayer persistent online world campaign" and that "every time you log in you will see the shifting front lines of an entire world at war, where everyone is participating in a unified global version of World War III".A living, breathing online war changing every second of every day is a rather interesting concept. Though, it sounds as if this persistent campaign will be nothing more than some sort of stat tracking feature that updates the "online war" rather than actually interacting with other players. But we guess any sort of persistent online experience is better than none. So, what do you think? Are you moderately interested in such a feature?
