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Japanese Red Steel trailer
So, apparently Western fellows like to have a little sushi with their shooters. Japanese guys, however, have to get their Red Steel on in a dramatically-lit boiler room. What is the lesson here? Red Steel isn't just a game, man. You have to have the proper environment. And while we still like the original master of intensity, this new video has some fights we haven't seen as well as hot grenade action, and you can't beat that with a stick. Follow the link for the video, as we can't embed it here.Anyone want to tell us what he's saying after the video? Where are you, dedicated Japanese translators?
How to get Double Agent for $48
After doing the post about the Assassin's Creed collector's edition, we couldn't help but notice this little tidbit. It looks like Play-Asia is offering the region free version of Splinter Cell: Double Agent for a measly $44.90. Add $3.10 shipping and you've got your own copy for $48. That's $12 dollars of the retail price. Not bad at all. We've done a story or two on region free Xbox 360 games in the past. For the uninitiated, 360 games released in Asia are often region free. Not only that, but they are usually completely identical to their English counterparts, right down to the manual. We haven't confirmed whether or not this is the case with Splinter Cell, but it's a fairly safe bet. Did anybody here get their copy from Play-Asia? For future reference, Play-Asia maintains a list of its region free 360 games. You might want to bookmark it if you enjoy saving money.
R6 Vegas multiplayer video, rappelling!
The holiday season that will make beggars of us all is rapidly approaching. Developers know this and are continuing to whet our appetites and grease our wallet hinges with new media. Today's media in question, a multiplayer video of Rainbow Six: Vegas. In short, the video is sick (you know, the good kind of sick that hip, young people are always talking about). The video showcases plenty of gunfire, grenades, and lots of great features. In particular, we love the rappelling and the riot shield. There's really so much going on that it's hard to encapsulate it all here. You'd better just go ahead and watch the video. See it after the break.
Assassin's Creed CE with 12" figurine
Collector's editions, seems like they're everywhere these days. Not one to miss the party, Ubisoft plans to offer a limited edition of Assassin's Creed. Not only that, but this particular collector's edition stomps others into the dust. Included in the box is a 12" painted figurine of everyone's favorite assassin, Altair. Now that's a collector's item.We don't know if this set will make it to the US (or Europe for that matter), but Play-Asia is currently taking pre-orders for a region free version. That means it will work on any 360 on the planet. The box set itself is a reasonable $59.90, but the cheapest US shipping will run you $15.20. That puts this pretty package at $75.10, which is about what any other collector's edition would cost with tax. Assuming you've got the dough, your next problem will be figuring out where to put the Chief. See a larger picture of the figurine after the break.[Via Joystiq]
Assassin's Creed Collector's Set for pre-order, 12" figurine the prize
Play-Asia is now accepting pre-orders for a region-free Assassin's Creed Collector's Box Set, available for $59.90 -- down from $79.90. The cheapest shipping option to the US is $15.20, bringing the order total to $75.10, which is roughly $15 more than the $60 standard US version.Your $15 buys a 12" (painted) Altair figurine, which if worthy, will round out your big-boy toy collection -- next to Fierce Deity Link and the Colossus -- atop your gaming altar. Can we get a "amen?"[Via Cheap Ass Gamer]
What are you playing: sneaky edition
It's time once again for that all important question, what are you playing? This week marks the release of Splinter Cell: Double Agent so, we imagine quite a few of you will be spending your weekend snapping necks and being all sneaky-like. Me, I've still got to wrap up Dead Rising, Lego Star Wars II is staring me in the face, and I have yet to crack into Enchanted Arms. And let's not forget that the Phantasy Star beta is still running. Oh, and that the Project 8 demo should hit today -- still not out as of this posting. On the Live Arcade front, there's Lumines and 3 more episodes of DOOM to clear up (on Ultra Violent difficulty, of course).Put simply, there's just too damned much to play. How 'bout you? What will you be playing this weekend?
Nivea and Sam Fisher want you to shave that beard!
Nivea has snuck its way into Sam Fisher's heart. The two have teamed up to bring you in-game advertisements! What better way to escape your everyday dreary and tedious world than to get pelted with ads for real companies while breaking someone's neck in a bathroom? Ubisoft's Splinter Cell: Double Agent will offer a fine array of Nivea and Philips Norelco products set along bathroom sinks in hotel rooms. There are also billboards specifically designed to talk to you, the gamer, not you, the Sam Fisher, saying such game-related teasings as "The 'Good Guy' almost never has a beard," and "There are many faces of evil. Don't let yours be one of them."If you want your ads to be subtle, use real ads. Ads in the real world. Don't make ads that are trying to talk about the game that's being played. That's like a movie stopping suddenly and listening for the audience to laugh, or if something unrealistic happens in a movie, a character cleverly snaps out the one-liner "Only in the movies!" Please. Game advertisements may be lucrative, but they're still lame. As much as the phrase itself irks us, we're tempted to say "sell-out", but it's becoming all too common in the "Realistic Gaming" world. Sam Fisher... you can be pretty stealthy, but you're not too good at dodging corporate advertisement offers. Hmm... it sounded a tad bit better in my mind.
Metareview: Double Agent
Reviews for Splinter Cell: Double Agent are pouring in. The consensus, more of the same, but that's not a bad thing. Most reviews point to the subtle refinements of the series. So far, the streamlined multiplayer seems to be the most controversial aspect of the game. Most critics tend to think it's a step in the right direction, but all of them know that the hardcore SC fans won't like the changes. IGN 90% - "Double Agent digs down into the very role of duality by giving gamers hard choices to make. Whether that means confronting the option of nuking innocents on a cruise ship or betraying Fisher's associates with a gunshot to the head, it's now possible." 1UP 80% - "... the co-op missions are just gussied-up versus matches, and because the versus game doesn't have any variations in objectives (spies simply hack at computer terminals to retrieve files to return to the starting base) or modes, multiplayer may start to wear out more quickly than in previous editions. Gamespot 85% - "Sam Fisher is the star of the Splinter Cell series, so it's odd that the multiplayer portions of these games, which he's in no way a part of, seem to be evolving much more rapidly than the solo campaigns. Double Agent's few keen twists on Splinter Cell's single-player gameplay don't result in a remarkably different experience from the previous games, though that doesn't mean it still isn't some of the best stealth action out there." As of right now, the game has an average of 87% on Metacritic. Not bad. Has anyone picked it up yet?
Splinter Cell: To 1080p or not to p
Has the 1080p console era arrived sooner than expected, courtesy of Ubisoft? The above pic is screen cap from a debug copy of Splinter Cell: Double Agent for the Xbox 360 showing support for "true HD" (to use Sony's patronizing marketing terminology). GamePro says they received confirmation from Ubisoft that the retail version will indeed support 1080p. Elsewhere, 1up says their contact told them "No, it's 1080i" but admits things are pretty hectic at Ubi right now, so who knows? All acknowledge that 1080p support is useless without the necessary update Microsoft, expected some time in the near future (although GamePro theorizes that it could be included on the Double Agent disc). Even then, without an HDMI solution from MS, the much-hyped resolution would be possible only via the rare 1080p HDTV (Sharp?) that supports 1920x1080 via VGA input. Meanwhile, back in standard-def-trying-in-vain-to-read-that -Dead-Rising-text land, the po' folk are snickering because their snooty 720p neighbors now have to go out and buy a new TV if they want to remain on the bleeding edge of the 360 community.How many lucky bastards already have a 1080p HDTV and are just dying to put it to use? How many don't think they'll get a 1080p set for years?Correction: As several readers have pointed out, only 1080p movies using the HD-DVD drive require HDMI. Games will work over both HDMI or VGA.[Thanks Luke]
360 Splinter Cell: Double Agent at 1080p? Ubisoft: yup [update 1]
[Update: Looks like the pissing contest ain't over, folks. GamePro circled back around and contacted that yay-saying Ubisoft repper who "apologized for the confusion, noting that the game currently supports only 1080i." Whoops! The GamePro pros are still trying to figure out why 1080p was enabled on their debug units. Just the software upscaler maybe?]The Good Ship Microsoft has come about a full 180 degrees over the whole 1080p issue. First they laughed at it and called it impossible, then they embraced it and, and now Ubisoft's Splinter Cell: Double Agent will be the first game to run in 1080p on the Xbox 360.1080p support has been the most contentious point between the two consoles, with Sony constantly waving their banner "True HD" and touting 1080p as something that only their console will have. They've fired more shots back and forth about what 1080p actually means, harking back to Clinton saying, "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is" during the whole Lewinsky affair.If the whole sordid world of HD gives you a headache while you sort it out, it gets more complicated. Shane Kim told us that while the software patch could upscale all content to resolutions as high as 1080p, Microsoft Game Studios themselves had no plans to produce gaming content taking advantage of this ability. He was similarly convinced that very few other developers would see the value in producing 1080p games, with the singular exception of Sony's first-party studios, eager to validate the value of the capability. We're not sure if Double Agent is being rendered in 1080p natively or if it's taking advantage of the Xbox 360's upcoming upscaling ability. We've asked Ubisoft for clarification, since our drinking buddy Sam Fisher has stopped returning our calls.[Thanks, Jdaman]
Splinter Cell: Double Agent gets a close shave
Eternally five-o'clock-shadowed Sam Fisher is getting some in-game advertising in Splinter Cell: Double Agent, courtesy of Nivea and Philips Norelco, but we're unsure if this means he'll be shaving in the game. Apparently Sam comes across some Nivea and Norelco products as he sneaks through an in-game hotel bathroom. At least this explains why Ubisoft was giving out packets of shaving cream at this year's PAX. They missed the boat with this one. We know that he's in prison with a bald head in this game, so why didn't they feature Nivea shaving cream giving Sam a buzz? After all, part of the advertising tie-in for the game has bottles of aftershave shaped like hand grenades with the message "Balms Away" printed on them. You just can't make this stuff up, folks. While it seems odd to feature shaving ads in a game where the main character shaves probably every other Tuesday, it could have been worse. At least Sam won't be pushing Quaker Oats or Depends. But if Ubisoft keeps churning these sequels out, he may need 'em. All of the ads in the game point to a microsite created for this promotional tie-in. Register and win some Splinter Cell: Double Agent schwag, maybe even your own hand grenade aftershave. [Image credit: Planet of the Geeks]
Assassin's Creed website up and killing, er, running
The no-longer-PS3-exclusive Assassin's Creed has launched their official website and boy, oh boy is it neat. There's even a gateway where you have to enter your age to be allowed inside! Sometimes we wonder how many people are honest with those things... anyway, what's inside, you ask? After an interesting intro, you're presented with a list of things to do. Let's go over them: Most obvious is the giant "pre-order now" button on the left. Anyone? "Game Info" gives you a look into the scenario of the game -- the third Crusade! Also, you can check out key features of the game. "Media" lets you check out some screenshots, concept art, videos, and developer diaries You can "Download" wallpapers, screensavers, icons, etc... There's also a "Community," a "Forum," and a place where you can "Register" for more info. It's a cool site, to be sure, but isn't this just a Prince of Persia in disguise? And not really in Persia? We hypothesized a long, long time ago, but it's seeming more likely that this game is more or less a test of the next-gen engine that will house the next-gen PoP title -- and Assassin's Creed seems like a great intro to the engine.
Rainbox Six character creation video
Xboxyde scored a video about the Rainbow Six Vegas character creation system. Called P.E.C. (Persistent Elite Creation), it offers many, many choices for the discerning gamer -- over 5 million if you believe the devs. Everything is customizable on your character, right down to the weapons. It's not all for show either. For example, heavier armor will slow you down, and weapon upgrades like laser sights will help you play. Another feature explained in the video: Live Vision support! Map your face onto your avatar and your buddies will always know who killed 'em. Anybody excited yet?
Assassin's Creed site sneaks onto the web [update 1]
The official Assassin's Creed website has launched. If you've been following the game, the website won't show you anything new. Still, there is plenty of content there. There are plenty of downloads including screenshots, wallpapers, icons, webkits, and a screensaver. It's worth noting that the site retains the occasional digital glitching that pops up in the trailers, hinting at the rumored futuristic plot twist. Also worth noting is the unintentional bugginess of the site. I wasn't able to get any of the wallpapers, and the links to all the full size screenshots were broken, as was the link to developer diaries. It's not because of heavy traffic either, the links just don't work. Kind of shocking for such a high profile game, no? [Via Xboxic] Update: It seems some clarification is in order. Indeed, there has been an AC site for some time, but not with all the features described above. From the site: "Thursday 10.12.06 Welcome to the Assassin's Creed Portal Welcome to the Assassin's Creed portal! On this site you'll find new information that wasn't available with our previous site, as well as the most recent news about the upcoming game from the Ubisoft Montreal studios. Take a look around and tell us what you think of the site in the forums!"
G.R.A.W. composer returns for Red Steel
While it could be considered unimportant news to some, we feel that musical composition and score are just as important to a game as its story and graphics. It's often overlooked, however we're happy to report that the gentleman responsible for the musical composition in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter is also taking over the duties for the company's upcoming flagship Wii launch title Red Steel. Tom Salta used a variety of Japanese instruments in sculpting the score to Red Steel, instruments such as the Koto, Shamisen, Shakuhachi and Taiko. We look forward to dispatching Yakuza (and tapping our feet during) when the game releases in December.[Via Go Nintendo]
Michael Ironside talks Sam Fisher
Michael Ironside, perennial badass, talks about his work as the voice of Sam Fisher in these two short videos. He also chimes in on his opinion of gamers in general. His impression: some of the most informed people around. Aw, shucks Michael, you're making us blush. Double Agent is getting closer every day. Anybody excited yet? Check out both videos after the break.
Red Steel multiplayer details
Ubisoft has been kicking ass this year. In fact, they have been kicking so much ass that colossal EA is feeling a little threatened by their presence. One of the most impressive Ubi titles coming for Wii is Red Steel. Though we are all about those cracked-out rabbids, being a ninja is way cooler. Red Steel is looking to be one of the best Wii titles and we have the details on the multiplayer modes. Multiplayer is divided into three separate modes aptly named:
