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I Am Alive, but don't expect me before April 2011
My eager and regularly disappointed followers, I am becoming less saddened as the days between our union grow further still. Here, within the ethereal concepts in which I am trapped, I am no longer certain of my existence. They say, I don't look like myself anymore. Master Yves says that I am "totally re-engineered" ... that I have come to use "the Splinter Cell engine" -- but how should I know? How should anyone know? I am not like the others; and I make no claim to being important or "major," as it is said. My maker has cast me out of its fiscal 2010-11 release calendar. I am alone. But I am okay with that. Yours in perpetuity, I Am Alive
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.
Rumor: I Am Alive, but I may not look like these screens anymore
German site PCGames got its hands ... er, server on a set of screenshots purported to be from an early version of Ubisoft's disaster game I Am Alive. The images, which originated at Unseen64, are said to come from a build of the title from when it was being worked on by Alone in the Dark dev Darkworks. (It's since been handed over to Ubisoft Shanghai.)The screens look plenty disaster-y in their depiction of a post-earthquake Chicago. It's hard to make much of them, though, since they're, y'know, just environments. Let's hope the game's new developer is working hard to deliver gameplay akin to what the original teaser trailer hinted at. [Via WorthPlaying]%Gallery-69316%
'Smaller team' commanding EndWar sequel
The voice-controlled RTS EndWar didn't garner the most media attention. But, with 1.5 million units sold, it certainly warrants a sequel. Ubisoft Shanghai is creating a follow-up using a "smaller team,"creative director Michael De Plater told VideoGamer.com. With EndWar's successful implementation of voice controls, the development team can focus on one of the most lacking aspects of the original: the presentation of the single-player campaign. "After the first one, now we have a really good understanding of what to do ... Giving more attention to the single-player is straightforward to address and will make the game a lot of fun."While De Plater is quick to highlight faults being addressed for the sequel, he remains proud of his team's accomplishment with the first game. While still under the "Tom Clancy" moniker, he considers EndWar an original IP. Considering the challenges that surround launching a new IP, De Plater is more than happy with sales numbers. "We still sold more than Red Alert 3, sold more than Company of Heroes, sold more than World in Conflict. It's still, along with Halo Wars, the biggest new RTS in the last four or five years. Even with those faults it's still up there."
Ubisoft moves I Am Alive from Darkworks to Shanghai
I Am Alive, the first-person survival game, has switched developers. Darkworks, who had been working on the game for over three years, is out; Ubisoft Shanghai is in. According to a Ubisoft statement, the change is a mutual decision, done "in order to respect the new launch date for this ambitious title" (sometime this fiscal year) and to allow Darkworks time for its "other obligations."It's likely that Darkworks' contract with Ubisoft is up and Ubisoft decided not to renew it, possibly to keep costs down. The timing is right, considering that March is the original release date for I Am Alive.[Via Develop]
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.
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]
Europe to get GRAW2 Legacy Edition in April
Yesterday, Ubisoft announced that a newly new and jam packed edition of Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 would be hitting European territories this April called the GRAW2 Legacy Edition. This new Legacy Edition will feature all of the previously released GRAW2 downloadable content adding an additional 32 multiplayer maps, new game modes and new weapons to the classic (see: older) GRAW2 experience. Ubi didn't mention anything about pricing for the Legacy Edition, so one should expect it to fall in line with pricing for new releases. That said, is there really a point to releasing this Legacy Edition seeing that most of the die hard military shooter fanboys already moved on from GRAW2 to the oh so popular CoD4? Just saying ...
GRAW 2 co-op pack numero dos hits LIVE, doesn't [Update]
Update: The GRAW 2 Co-Op Collection 2 downloadable content is now available on Xbox Live Marketplace for 400MS Points weighing in at 976MB. Original Story: Time for your confusing story of the day kids. Today, Ubisoft's London office sent out a media alert letting the press know that the second anticipated GRAW 2 Co-op Collection pack has been released onto Xbox LIVE for 400 MS Points. The only thing is, it hasn't. Scouring Xbox Live Markeplace, at the time of this article, there is no sign of any downloadable co-op pack for the Tom Clancy-based hit -- other than the original co-op collection package. Loyal X3F Army soldiers will remember this isn't the first time Ubisoft's UK office jumped the gun on a GRAW 2 announcement. It looks like the release was premature, but it does answer some of the questions we had regarding the latest DLC for the critically acclaimed title. After releasing the first co-op collection for the hefty asking price of 800MS Points, Ubisoft throws out the latest expansion installment for half-price but doesn't skimp on the content. Adding five co-op missions that continue the story of the original DLC, 9 adversarial maps -- 7 remade from other games in the series and 2 new creations, and 8 brand new achievements to pad your gamerscore. We're waiting anxiously in the wings for Ubisoft to remind us that the shooter-war isn't just a two pony race. As soon as we learn the content has hit LIVE we'll let you know.
GRAW2 Co-op Collection 2 gets fully revealed
The achievements didn't lie, because today TeamXbox exclusively revealed yet another piece of GRAW2 downloadable content called Co-op Collection 2. Just like the Co-op Collection before it, this second set of DLC will feature five new missions (Bridges, Stronghold, Depot, Riverbed and Ghost Town), nine new adversarial maps (Bridges, Stronghold, Depot, Riverbed, Ghost Town, Roadblock, Island, Treatment Plant and Mining Camp) as well as eight additional achievements worth 125 Gamerscore. TeamXbox posted a pretty solid video preview of the Co-op Collection 2 which also tells us that the DLC can be downloaded right now off the XBLM. But after doing a quick XBLM look, no Co-op Collection 2 could be found. So, we'll just say release date and pricing are "pending".
New GRAW2 achievements means more DLC
For those of you who are still supporting the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter then you'll be glad to know that a set of eight new achievements totaling an additional 125 Gamerscore have been added to GRAW2. Funny thing about that is can't unlock them yet. The list of eight new achievements come straight from the bowels of Xbox.com and correspond to various GRAW2 co-op mission completions as well as killing tasks on any "GRAW 2: CC map". But know that these achievements are not the same ones released with last year's GRAW2 Co-Op Collection DLC, these are freshly new and totally unannounced co-op missions. So, that means only one thing to us: more DLC. We expect these new achievements to correspond to another round of paid (or free) GRAW2 DLC that will be making its way to the XBLM soon'ish. You are on alert. [Thanks, Brad]
Video: GRAW 2 co-op DLC
Hey, kids! Still playing that Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 game? Do you feel like you need something new? Maybe you saw the fancy, newfangled Co-op Collection content pack that was released yesterday, and maybe you found yourself wondering if it was worth 800 MS Points. You thought to yourself, "that's a lot of scratch," perhaps. Well, as usual, we're here to help. Ubisoft released a little teaser video that shows off all the levels available in the new content pack. The co-op campaign is comprised of 5 missions from previous Ghost Recon titles (3 from Ghost Recon, 2 from Ghost Recon: Island Thunder). The pack also includes four new adversarial maps, two of which are remakes of old favorites (Castle and Prison). Check out the video and see if it's worth opening your wallet.
Big GRAW 2 pack coming next month
It appears that Ubisoft's going to be ringing in Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday shopping season with a cornucopia (pilgrims FTW!) of content for tactical shooter Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2. Sometime in late November, fans will be able to add five new missions that continue the story line and nine new multiplayer maps, seven of which are rehashed from old Ghost Recon games. Oh, and those who get the pack through Xbox Live will also have 125 more Gamerscore points available. The one big question that we don't have an answer for yet is price. But Ubisoft is supposed to put some new details out today, so we'll likely soon know if this Thanksgiving treat is the equivalent of delicious pumpkin pie or ... Jello salad.
GRAW 2 getting Co-Op Collection expansion
Ubisoft has plans to make GRAW 2 fresh again by releasing a new campaign / multiplayer expansion sometime later this month or early November. The GRAW 2 Co-Op Collection expansion includes five new campaign missions and nine new multiplayer maps while adding an additional 125 Gamerscore to the mix with nine achievements. Complete details on all the new campaign missions, maps and achievements can be viewed over at IGN, but after giving the expansion content a look over we still have one question on our mind. We wonder if the Co-Op Collection is going to be enough to draw us away from our current FPS gaming rotation and bring us back to GRAW 2.
Second GRAW 2 Throwback Pack is now free
Piggybacking the free release of the original Throwback Pack, Ubisoft has just made the Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 Throwback Pack 2 a free XBLM download! This second Throwback Pack features an additional seven remade multiplayer maps including Ghost Town, Aral Sea and Rocky Cove among others and features an additional gametype called Co-op Exfiltration. This multiplayer expansion was previously listed at 800 Microsoft points, so with a 100% discount making it free, we think you should give it a download. Free GRAW 2 Throwback Pack and Throwback Pack 2 ... life is good.
GRAW 2 gets free content pack
If you haven't loaded up Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2 in a while, we think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you dig the disc out. Last week, the first "Throwback Pack" (originally 800 points in May) went free on the Marketplace. Today, there's a brand new throwback pack, the appropriately titled "Throwback Pack 2", that's absolutely free. The main draws here are seven levels that have been remastered from previous Ghost Recon games. But you'll also find a new mode to play around with, Co-op Exfiltration. Wow, from $15 for eight re-lit maps and 4 co-op missions to seven missions for free -- what a difference a year makes.
Deal of the Day: GRAW 2 for $45 at Fry's
With the incredible amount of games coming out over the next couple months, PlayStation 3 owners' wallets are going to get a bit stressed. Luckily the game deals keep rolling in letting gamers on a budget pick up the hot titles AND still be able to eat. Today we have a nice tip from Cheap Ass Gamer that Fry's is selling Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2 for $45 dollars, a tasty 25% discount from the retail price. The game has been getting good reviews and even though the game is 6 months late, Ubisoft appears to have done a good job at porting it from the 360 and have added quite a bit of additional content to help compensate for the delay. The cheap price just makes it all the more attractive.
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 2 Throwback Pack is teh free!
Even though we haven't seen any official announcement or fancy press release hit our inbox, we're proud to announce that the GRAW 2 Throwback Pack is now available for free off the XBLM. The Throwback Pack was released back in May for 800 Microsoft points and includes seven multiplayer maps that are remakes from previous Ghost Recon games and expansions. So, we advise finding your GRAW 2 disc, downloading the newly free maps and getting back into some online multiplayer. We're sure dedicated GRAW 2 players will welcome your presence in the Throwback maps. [Thanks, ccc]
Ubisoft's GRAW team denies PS3 programming difficulty
It's long been said that programming for the PS3, or any new console, is a daunting task. Some have said the PS3 is particularly difficult. Are they right? The dev team behind Ubisoft's GRAW2 says that no, it's not that tough after all. One member of that team, Yann Le Tensorer said "It's wrong to say it's harder to code on the PlayStation 3, it's just something that needs to be learnt ... It's not harder to develop on the PS3 than it is on the 360, it's just a different console. Developers might says it's harder because it just takes time to understand the technology, we're still early in the lifecycle." Sounds like a fair estimate to us. The GRAW2 team are happy with the PlayStation 3. With all the hubbub on the internet regarding the "sluggish" version of Madden on the PS3, or the rumors that Rockstar had to delay GTAIV because it was either difficult to port to the 360 or it was difficult to program for the PS3, we really need to find out what the true answer is. Are developers growing lazy, unwilling to learn how to properly code? Is it really difficult, but Ubisoft got lucky? Either way, with this kind of talk, we wholly expect the PS3 version of GRAW2 to match the 360 version in every way.
