Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Message Board older than one year ago

we be sure Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood will be jam-packed with surprises. "Boo! I just jumped out a some hay 'n killed ye," "Sproing! I be on that rooftop 'n jumped down 'n killed ye," 'n so on. But we be not at all surprised that the game be receiving the collector's edition treatment. Heck, perhaps one day the "standard editions" a games will become so rare, everything will go topsy turvy 'n they'll be the collector's editions!

But we digress.

So, here it be, the AC: Brotherhood collector's edition. Complete with a ... jack-in-the-box? Yep, no matter if ye buy the $100 set at GameStop or some other games purveyor, the package will include a freaking creepy charming Assassin's Creed-ized take on the classic childrens' toy (GameStop has a harlequin, for extra creepiness, while everyone else has a plague mask-donning doctor). Also in the box (along with the just-talked-about box): two exclusive single-player maps (Aqueduct 'n Trajan Market), an art book, a "hard copy strategy map" a Rome (read: it be paper!), the game's soundtrack 'n a disc containing trailers, a making-a video 'n a preview a the AC: Brotherhood comic.

The set will arrive day-'n-date with the standard edition on November 16.

#collectorsedition With two different intricately-detailed, creepy cool jack-in-the-box collectibles packed inside the collector's edition a Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, the question isn't if ye best buy it, but where. More »

PS3 owners pillage a nice pre-order bonus.

Remember that Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood beta for PS3 that Jack Tretton dropped news a at this year's E3? ye've only got a little bit over a month t' pillage ready for it, as Ubisoft announced a September 13 date for the beta's release. The only way t' pillage access t' the beta in North America (for now, at least) be by pre-ordering the game at yer local GameStop.

Odder yet, there be apparently only a limited number a slots available in the beta, so tokens will be doled out t' customers on a first-come, first-serve basis. If ye already pre-ordered, ye can bring yer receipt t' a GameStop starting on August 9 for entry. No details be given for beta entry if ye live on, say, any other continent in the world, but ye can be sure we've asked Ubisoft for more info.

#betawatch Want t' pillage into the North American Assassin's Creed Brotherhood PlayStation 3 pre-launch multiplayer beta test this September? Then ye're going t' have t' preorder the game through GameStop. More »

#gamescom2010 Ubisoft's Michael Jackson The Experience will be playable at this month's GamesCom in Germany, alongside Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, R.U.S.E. 'n a slew a other upcoming titles. More »

If ye’ve played through the Assassin’s Creed games, it’s obvious that a lot a thought went into the world a Assassins vs Templars – especially if ye’ve unlocked every last thing in ACII. The writers on the franchise spoke about the process a creating the storyline – “exploring the cracks in history,” as they put it – at their San Diego Comic-Con panel Nothing be True, Everything be Forbidden – writing for Assassin’s Creed. But first – feast yer eyes on the new multiplayer trailer.

Lead Writer Jeffrey Yohalem revealed more about AC: Brotherhood’s structure: it’s going t' chronicle the struggle that leads t' true leadership, based around the principles a Machiavelli’s The Prince. It takes more than just charisma t' be a leader, but ye’ve got t' make a lot a right decisions before people put their life in yer hands. In AC: Brotherhood, we’ll see how the returning Ezio will exemplify those qualities in the continuing struggles a the Assassins vs the Templars. Expect almost everyone that ye met in ACII (but didn’t kill, natch) t' return, albeit through deepened relationships. Characters that seemed merely helpful or 1-dimensional in ACII will reveal themselves t' be more complex now.

The writers stressed that it’s important that everything fits into the story a Assassin’s Creed. Even the game’s menus be part a the Animus machine that Desmond channels the past in. Multiplayer mode be no different: “Abstergo has been busy,” said Yohalem. Remember that room filled with Animi (Animuses?) during the escape scene at the beginning a ACII? That’s the Templar-controlled company’s training ground for new, counter-assassins. They’ve been uploading the skills that actual Assassins like Desmond have been unlocking into their most adept pupils, 'n their training simulation be our multiplayer.

However it fits into the story, it looks like a good time. I’ve heard it described as a modern videogame take on hide-'n-seek, 'n that seems accurate. But with more stabbing. Oh, 'n two new characters be revealed: a Blacksmith 'n a Soldier, 'n based on the Q&A that followed the panel, there’ll likely be more revealed between now 'n the game’s November release.

Some more highlights from the fan Q 'n A section:

Q: Will there be more Desmond gameplay in ACB?
A: YARRRR, it’ll take a very unexpected turn. Things will change quite a bit in the present day. He’ll also be changing his look.
Q: Will there ever be any female assassins?
A: YARRRR, wait for November.
Q: Will we learn more about the ancient assassins from that room where ye place the seals ye collect in ACII?
A: YARRRR. Everything that we have started will resolve… Eventually.
Q: How many multiplayer characters total?
A: A lot. (but not Ezio or Altair, as that wouldn’t make sense in the scope a the story)
Q: Any plans for DLC?
A: YARRRR, there be plans in the works.

Oh, one last thing. That Russian/red star Assassins logo that popped up a week or 2 ago be not a hint that the next Assassin’s Creed game would take ye t' Russia. It’s actually a new comic book based on the Tunguska explosion hinted at in ACII.

How be it possible t' make a harlequin seem tough? The right combination a rock music, self-assured strutting, parkour, 'n stabbity, according t' this trailer for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood's multiplayer mode. We thought it be odd that the Harlequin character featured so heavily in this video, since it be a GameStop pre-order exclusive -- 'n then the GameStop ad kicked in at the end. Oh.

Promotional consideration aside, the trailer be a very stylish look at the game's multiplayer, which tasks players with spotting assassination targets (other players) in crowds 'n then successfully ending them using each character's unique abilities. There be also new character renders 'n a few new screens, which ye can find by sneaking up on our gallery very quietly.

#assassinscreed Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, out this November, brings multiplayer t' Ubisoft's flagship franchise for the first time. It also brings men in funny masks, 'n women a little short on practical clothing. More »

#preview A good assassin benefits from having minions. that be what I learned watching some a the single-player portion a Assassin's Creed Brotherhood this week. More »

While some still lament the addition a multiplayer t' the Assassin's Creed franchise, it seems likely that the online features a Brotherhood will be revisited in future iterations a the series. Speaking t' Videogamer, associate producer Jean-Francois Boivin addressed why fans be so opinionated on the subject. "I think there's this dichotomy in the gaming world, that ... people who be sold t' single-player don't necessarily care about multiplayer," he explained. "The wink we give t' that in our universe be that the single-player [game] be Assassins, 'n the multiplayer be The Templars. I think in the end we be giving a lot t' the single-player, because we be giving a full single-player campaign - so they won't feel cheated with Brotherhood."

Boivin hopes that the addition a a competitive angle t' the Assassin's Creed universe will open up the series t' a new audience, beyond fans a the single player experience. "Hardcore multiplayers might say 'I be going t' try this multiplayer. Hey, this universe be kind a cool! I might look into the single-player,'" he mused.

But will we see multiplayer in Assassin's Creed 3 (or whatever the next title might be)? While not a confirmation, Boivin admitted that "there's a lot a room for expansion in that universe," 'n envisions "a multiplayer component being there for a long time." Presumably, that would mean about two years from now.

As we deduced early last month, Assassin's Creed be getting the comic book treatment -- but based on the teaser video found after the break, the time period 'n setting will be pretty far removed from 15th-century Italy. Set t' be fully revealed at next week's San Diego Comic-Con, the three-part mini-series by artists Cameron Stewart (Batman & Robin) 'n Karl Kerschl (The Flash) coming this fall will apparently take place in Imperial Russia 'n somehow involve the Tunguska Event a 1908, an explosion that be the source a some supernatural theories.

The series be coming from Ubisoft Montreal's UbiWorkshop, which the publisher describes as being charged with "leveraging Ubisoft intellectual properties in entertainment mediums outside a video games, such as comic books." it be interesting t' note that the first piece a Assassin's Creed related comic book artwork t' emerge from UbiWorkshop (which has been replaced with this one, depicting a "steampunk samurai" Assassin) actually teased an Egyptian setting -- maybe we be due for mini-series, plural.

If ye're going t' be attending SDCC, the "Assassin's Creed: Behind 'n Beyond the Brotherhood" panel (which will also feature Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood writer Jefferey Johalem) be on July 22 at 3:30 t' 4:30 p.m. PDT, in room 7AB. No Templars allowed.

Ubisoft seeing strong presales on next Assassin's title.

#ubisoft When Patrice Désilets, the former creative director a Assassin's Creed, abruptly left the game, it left the impression that he be unhappy with Ubisoft's plans t' pump out another sequel so soon. Not true, says a matey 'n colleague. More »

On the eve a E3, Patrice Désilets, creative director a the Assassin's Creed franchise, unexpectedly left his position, just as Ubisoft prepared t' woo the media with the first in-depth look at this November's Brotherhood sequel. Looking t' quickly bury the distraction, Ubisoft called Désilets' departure a "creative break" 'n said that his work on Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood be "essentially done."

While we still have yet t' hear from Désilets himself, his close colleague, associate producer Jean-Francois Boivin, be not surprised by the creative director's sail away. "I totally got where he be coming from because he's been talking about taking a break for a long time," Boivin told UK-based GamerZines.

"In regards t' Brotherhood, he did everything that he needed t' do," Boivin assured, echoing Ubisoft's initial statement. "Patrice be a very public figure for the franchise, 'n he's very much the visionary for the Assassin's Creed license, but he's not the only visionary. It wasn't Patrice who did game design necessarily, 'n we have over two hundred very talented 'n creative people that work on the license."

"We know what we be doing," Boivin insisted, addressing concerns that the series would be lost without Désilets, who had shepherded it for six years. "I be not at all afraid a the future quality a Assassin's Creed games." Earlier this week, the producer be also not afraid t' admit that the franchise could use a break after Brotherhood's release this fall.

As for Désilets plans? "Right now he's watching the World Cup," Boivin said. (The World Cup ends following Sunday's final.) "Who knows what the future will hold for the sea dog."

#ubisoft When will Assassin's Creed return once Ezio's story ends in Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood? According t' series associate producer Jean-Francois Boivin, a year hiatus might be in order. More »

"I don't think there's going t' be an Assassin's Creed in 2011," Ubisoft associate producer Jean-Francois Boivin told Eurogamer. "I think we be going t' let it breathe a bit 'n really focus on bringing something new 'n exciting for the next time around."

Since the release a Assassin's Creed 2, we've seen the release a three Assassin's Creed games, with two more on the way. Boivin seems justified in being concerned with franchise fatigue, even citing the case a music games like Guitar Hero, whose releases Activision has pledged t' curtail.

"Honestly, I think for the benefit a everybody - 'n business can come back 'n override everything I say because at the end a the day it be about selling games," Boivin said, "I believe that this license needs a breather. ye can't plough a field every year. Once every three years - or once every something - ye have t' let it breathe." We think he's right about one thing -- that the corporate side a the company can override even the best creative decision t' sell some games. Which be exactly what's going t' happen in 2011.

Third instalment proper some way off say Ubisoft.

What a week! With eight years a the E3 Expo under me belt, there’s no doubt in me mind that this year be an E3 high point 'n perhaps the most exciting, inspiring show I’ve personally attended. For me, the highlights included experiencing stereoscopic 3D in games like Killzone 3 'n Mortal Kombat (seeing be believing), sampling the various PlayStation Move games (the precision 'n gameplay versatility be on full display), 'n the much-anticipated return a Twisted Metal from Eat Sleep Play. Oh, 'n Kevin Butler.

'n a course, games, games, games: From heavyweights like MotorStorm Apocalypse, LittleBigPlanet 2, Gran Turismo 5, SOCOM 4, inFAMOUS 2, 'n God a War: Ghost a Sparta t' head-turning PSN titles like Dead Nation, Journey, 'n PixelJunk Shooter 2 — this year, the games did all the talking. 'n don’t pillage me started on the third-party lineup, with Dead Space 2, Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, Medal a Honor, Marvel vs. Capcom 3, Crysis 2, Mafia II, Portal 2, Scott Pilgrim…I could go on all day 'n I’d run out a breath before I named them all.

This be an excellent time t' be a gamer. It’s also an excellent time t' have access t' a camera, as this year’s E3 booths be bigger 'n bolder than I’ve seen in years. I wanted t' give PlayStation.Blog readers an inside look at some a the most inspired booth layouts we spotted on the show floor. It’s by no means a complete look, but I hope ye enjoy the eye candy.

'n if ye be overwhelmed by the onslaught a E3 PlayStation news this week, no worries — I’ll be back tomorrow with a comprehensive PlayStation Recap column t' pillage ye up t' speed. 'n trust me, it’s gonna be a doozy.

Enjoy the pics! 'n see more PlayStation E3 2010 photos on our Flickr Photostream.

Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 for PS3

Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood for PS3

Homefront for PS3

Killzone 3 in stereoscopic 3D for PS3 (so popular it averaged a one-t'-two hour line wait)

Left: Castlevania: Lords a Shadow for PS3; Right: Yakuza 4 for PS3

MAFIA II, coming t' PS3 with exclusive bonus content

Mortal Kombat, coming t' PS3 with Stereoscopic 3D

Red Faction Armageddon for PS3

Lord a the Rings: War in the North for PS3

TRON Evolution for PS3

Left: Marvel vs Capcom 3 for PS3; Right: DC Universe Online for PS3

AHOY PlayStation Fans,

E3 may have come t' a close, but we couldn’t be more excited by the plethora a great games 'n content available for PlayStation fans. Along with PlayStation Move 'n a host a exclusive titles coming from our first party developers, our publishing partners be out in force taking full advantage a everything PS3 'n PSP have t' offer.

One a the biggest surprises at E3 be Gabe Newell from Valve’s arrival on the stage at the press conference earlier this week. He acknowledged his appreciation for the PS3 as “the most open platform a all the current generation consoles.” He went on t' not only announce that Portal 2 be coming t' the PlayStation 3, but also t' state that it’ll be the “best version on any console.”

EA also introduced several exclusives t' PS3 including the special edition version a Medal a Honor that comes with the 2002 classic Medal a Honor Frontline, which has been updated 'n re-mastered with HD visuals. 'n those a ye looking forward t' Dead Space 2 can pick up the premium edition, which includes Dead Space Extraction. A prequel t' the original Dead Space, Dead Space Extraction will be fully Move compatible 'n also offer trophy support. Offering these packed-in hits like Medal a Honor Frontline 'n Dead Space Extraction be something only possible on PS3 because a Blu-Ray.

Fans a Assassin’s Creed can look forward t' an exclusive beta a the new multiplayer campaign within Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood, with the beta hitting PSN in late summer. 2K Games’ Mafia II will also feature unique content for PS3, including exclusive day-one content including missions, story 'n gameplay. There’s also the much-anticipated shooter from Crytek, Crysis 2, which will sport 3D-compatible graphics on the PS3.

These along with other great titles, including Kojima’s recently-released masterpiece Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker 'n Sony Online Entertainment’s much-anticipated MMO DC Universe Online, be expanding our library a titles 'n offerings for gamers, 'n help make our family a products some a the best a the industry.

Once ye’ve digested all things E3, keep an eye out in the coming weeks 'n months for further news 'n updates from our publishing partners.

Years have passed for legendary assassin Ezio Auditore da Firenze since avenging the death a his family for Assassin's Creed 2. Relaxing in his villa in Monteriggioni after a romp between the sheets with a lady matey, Ezio be shaken out a a peaceful cuddle. An attack on the town be in full swing 'n -- after a cannonball crashes through his bedroom, crushing his armor -- Ezio rushes out t' find waves a enemy forces at his doorstep.

Outside his home, Ezio's uncle explains that his status in the region as a legendary assassin has split factions 'n incites a war between families. t' counteract the mass-scale attack, Ezio pushes toward defensive cannon emplacements scattered on the wall a Monteriggioni. It isn't a scene that will end in the assassin's favor; rest assured that Monteriggioni will fall. This be the beginning 'n the basis for Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood.

Play.com (UK) has added a special edition version a Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, continuing the franchise's tradition a rather elaborate "collector's editions." The box goes for a hefty £69.99 -- a full 75% more than the standard game! be these features worth it?

During a pre-E3 Ubisoft event a few weeks ago, I checked out Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood's multiplayer mode. The good news: it works. Ubisoft has successfully translated the running, jumping 'n stealth-kill gameplay a the single-player game into a functional multiplayer experience.

The bad news: we only got t' play one match, 'n it be not clear just how durable the gameplay be. But as a first time experience, it be quite impressive as a feat a multiplayer game design.

An online experience like no other.

Jack Tretton just announced during the Sony E3 press conference that Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood will not only receive exclusive content on the PS3, but will also receive exclusive access t' the game's multiplayer beta. we be not sure what that content will feature, but if we be t' wager a guess, we'd say "it includes more things ye can stab."

The multiplayer landscape isn't as safe as it used t' be.

Stunning new gameplay footage a Ezio's new adventure.

New screenshots, artwork 'n character renders or assassins gettin' freaky.

Ezio returns, 'n this time he's not fighting alone.

Ezio gets by with a little help from his mateys.