Rainbow Six Extraction newest Crisis Event, Nightmare Fog adds a new deadly enemy, Protean Vigil

Ubisoft announced Rainbow Six Extraction’s newest Crisis Event, Nightmare Fog, is now available until 2nd June. This limited-time event will test each Operator’s senses as an unavoidable fog of toxins makes its way through the Containment Zone. This ambitious update also adds a new deadly enemy, Protean Vigil. From now on, players can earn additional XP to grind out their Operators by ten extra levels with a new Prestige System.

As players make their way through the Containment Zone, they will be exposed to a fog that increases their Neurotoxin level. After exposure reaches a certain level, this toxin creates Psychedelic Effects for Operators, such as enemy hallucinations, disruptions that affect their vision, and deterioration that causes damage.

First Branded Scavenger Hunt in Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: - Vegas 2

In-game scavenger hunt promotes upcoming movie "Tropic Thunder" with interactive experience that engages and rewards gamers.

A first-of-its-kind dynamic in-game advertising promotion has been created to promote the upcoming film “Tropic Thunder,” the companies have placed an interactive scavenger hunt in “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six - Vegas 2,” published by Ubisoft, which encourages gamers to actively interact with the dynamic in-game campaign, take action from the clues, and get rewarded at the final stage of the hunt.

“This innovative scavenger hunt enables us to reward our target audience and give them a direct call to action to go see ‘Tropic Thunder,’” said Amy Powell, senior vice president of Interactive Marketing for Paramount Pictures. “We’ve had a track record of success working with Massive since the business started. This is taking our in-game advertising campaigns to the next level by making them interactive and actionable. Gamers are motivated to seek out the next ad, which is an amazing way for us to build awareness and excitement for our new release.”

Gamers see a series of nine branded “clues” within “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2,” each leading them to the next clue, until they successfully reach the end of the scavenger hunt. Everyone who completes the scavenger hunt will receive an invitation to join Ubisoft’s VIP club and the chance to download a free digital VIP map for “Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Vegas 2,” and will be entered into two prize drawings. In the first drawing held July 31, 25 winners received a “Tropic Thunder” Gift Pack: two tickets to “Tropic Thunder” and a “Tropic Thunder” T-shirt and hat.* The second drawing, on Aug. 22, will award one grand prize winner an Xbox 360 Elite system as well as a one-year Xbox LIVE subscription and a collection of Ubisoft’s upcoming video game releases.**

“This is a new and highly innovative use of dynamic in-game advertising and really demonstrates the creativity and marketing power of this medium,” said Cory Van Arsdale, CEO of Massive.

The scavenger hunt began on July 18 and will run through Aug. 25 to drive awareness leading up to the movie opening on Aug. 13.

LOVEFiLM TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX VEGAS 2 - UBISOFT

LOVEFiLM Vegas Bound For Tom Clancy Tie-Up

TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX VEGAS 2 MARKS CONTINUED LINK WITH UBISOFT

LOVEFiLM.com, the UK’s largest digital entertainment portal has once again teamed up with games producer Ubisoft to mark the launch of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 across PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system, Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PC formats.

Following the hugely successful partnership late last year for the release of Assassin’s Creed, LOVEFiLM has launched an exclusive multi layered marketing campaign for the title.

The tailored campaign sees Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 receive placement in the weekly e-newsletter, reaching LOVEFiLM’s customer base of over 460,000 subscribers plus unique promotion across the distribution of 200,000 exclusively branded product envelopes delivered directly into customer’s homes. This direct marketing is supported with targeted online advertising across the LOVEFiLM site.

LOVEFiLM has further extended its online support of Ubisoft to run a Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 microsite at www.lovefilm.com/micro/vegas2. Through the targeted microsite users can buy and/or rent the game and enter an exclusive competition to win a trip for two to Las Vegas. Editorial content includes the developers’ video diaries, the game trailer, plus a list of favourite films suited to the game’s main character Commander Bishop. The microsite also showcases upcoming Ubisoft releases, with previews of titles including Haze, Tom Clancy’s EndWar™ and Far Cry 2 and drives users to the official Rainbow Six Vegas 2 website through several direct links.

Dionne Georgiou, Advertising Sales Manager for LOVEFiLM said;

“As LOVEFiLM becomes increasingly entertainment focused, we’re glad to offer our gaming audience not only an anticipated title in this franchise, but also deliver exclusive competitions and content alongside the usual rent or buy options. For LOVEFiLM and our ever-increasing community of users, major games releases are as important as film releases, so we’re thrilled to work with Ubisoft once more for the launch of Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2.”

Phil Brannelly, Senior Brand Manager at Ubisoft commented;

“LOVEFiLM’s customer base provides an avid audience not only for fans of the Tom Clancy series, but for gamers that are looking for the best of both worlds – top class gameplay combined with seamless cinematic action.”

The deal was brokered by media planning and buying agency BJKE.

UK video games chart - 29 March 2008

All formats

(Full price) Week ending 29 March 2008

1 TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX: VEGAS 2 UBISOFT
2 MARIO & SONIC AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES SEGA
3 PRO EVOLUTION SOCCER 2008 KONAMI
4 GUITAR HERO III: LEGENDS OF ROCK ACTIVISION
5 SEGA SUPERSTARS TENNIS SEGA
6 CALL OF DUTY 4: MODERN WARFARE ACTIVISION
7 VIKING: BATTLE FOR ASGARD SEGA
8 FIFA 08 ELECTRONIC ARTS
9 BULLY: SCHOLARSHIP EDITION TAKE 2
10 ARMY OF TWO ELECTRONIC ARTS
11 THE SIMPSONS GAME ELECTRONIC ARTS
12 COOKING MAMA 2 505 GAMES
13 ASSASSIN'S CREED UBISOFT
14 THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD 2 & 3 RETURN SEGA
15 NEED FOR SPEED: PROSTREET ELECTRONIC ARTS
16 FOOTBALL MANAGER 2008 SEGA
17 NEW SUPER MARIO BROS. NINTENDO
18 GOD OF WAR: CHAINS OF OLYMPUS SONY COMPUTER ENT.
19 MX VS ATV UNTAMED THQ
20 WWE SMACKDOWN VS RAW 2008 THQ

Ubisoft pay $100m + for Tom Clancy rights?

As reported earlier - In a deal some analysts are saying could be worth north of $100M, Ubisoft announced last Thursday that it had “concluded an agreement with Mr. Tom Clancy to acquire all intellectual property rights to the Tom Clancy name.” That means Ubisoft now has total control over the 61-year-old author's name regarding its use in video games and all related products, including movies, books, and merchandise.

This is a clear indication of the value Ubisoft places on its ever-growing roster of Tom Clancy branded titles. Over the past decade the military themed games have become the French publisher's most lucrative franchise, with dozens of titles now available on virtually all platforms—including Tom Clancy's Rainbox Six Vegas 2, which was released just two days prior to Ubisoft's announcement and is widely expected to be one of the best-selling console titles this spring.

But just what has Ubisoft purchased? Much like the majority of books that carry the Tom Clancy moniker, none of the Tom Clancy games have actually been penned by the American author. What's more, people don't normally buy Tom Clancy games for their characters, stories, or political concepts. The games' value to consumers derives primarily from their evolved play mechanics and polished presentation—things that have sprung entirely out of the minds of the hard working developers at Ubisoft, and which could easily be applied to a military game lacking the Tom Clancy name. Indeed, that which we call a Tom Clancy game by any other name would still play as sweet.

The question is, without the Tom Clancy logo, would people buy it?

Ubisoft seems to think not. The Tom Clancy brand is familiar. What's more, people who like realistic military games have come to trust anything with the Tom Clancy emblem; all of the most recent console entries in the Tom Clancy canon (Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter 2, and the Rainbow Six game mentioned above) have received rave reviews from critics and gamers alike.

Simply put, Tom Clancy games sell themselves, and Ubisoft knows it. Indeed, it seems entirely possible that their intention in buying the Tom Clancy name is not just to avoid paying royalties on their existing series, but also to stamp the Tom Clancy brand on newly conceived military themed games that have little or nothing to do with established Tom Clancy stories and characters. In other words, they're going to use it as a marketing device to sell otherwise unrelated games.

Ubisoft currently has at least three wholly new Tom Clancy franchises in the works, including a World War III real-time strategy game called EndWar, an as-yet unnamed air combat title, and a recently unveiled massively multiplayer online game. Little is known about these games yet, but from what I've been able to gather they appear to have next to nothing to do with anything Tom Clancy has ever written. (The book Tom Clancy's EndWar, which was published earlier this year—and which Ubisoft now owns outright—isn't the foundation for the upcoming game, but rather derived from it; a clever tool to drive publicity for the software.)

It would be easy to chalk up Ubisoft's acquisition of the Tom Clancy name as simply being a sly marketing manoeuvre—which it undoubtedly is. However, it may also be good news for gamers tired of finding the shelves of their local game shops lined with little more than sequels to existing blockbusters and games based on movies, comics, and television.

How so? The upcoming Tom Clancy games appear to feature new characters in fresh stories set in their own universes. Plus, Ubisoft has a track record of introducing some great new play concepts in each new Tom Clancy sub-franchise (the Splinter Cell games reinvented the stealth genre, and Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter delivered a decidedly novel form of futuristic combat). In other words, despite the fact that they will be called Tom Clancy's this or that, Ubisoft's new crop of military games could end up being surprisingly original in both narrative and design.

Indeed, it seems possible that by purchasing the ability to use the Tom Clancy name however it wishes, Ubisoft has, in effect, freed its designers to create any kind of military games they can think of while letting the company's suits rest assured that the familiar logo on the package will help these titles earn mountains of cash. And now that they own Tom Clancy's name, they'll get to keep every last penny.

Source: The Globe and Mail

Ubisoft games acquire Tom Clancy name for video games, related products

Ubisoft makes Tom Clancy-branded video games such as Splinter Cell, Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six.

French video game maker Ubisoft said it acquired intellectual property rights to the Tom Clancy name for use in video games, books and movies.

Ubisoft now expects to have a net cash position of about 130m eur at the end of its fiscal year, down from a previous forecast of about 150m eur.

Ubisoft will make additional, unspecified payments for the Tom Clancy rights in each of its next two fiscal years as well, Ubisoft said in a statement.

Royalty savings generated by the acquisition are expected to have an average positive impact on Ubisoft's operating profit of at least 5m eur per year.


Source: Thomson.com

No Nintendo Wii version and no demo planned for Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Ubisoft will likely steer clear of hardcore shooters because the market is too narrow for it to be a viable business choice said Rainbow Six Vegas 2 game designer Phil Therien.

Therien had been asked whether the company planned to reintroduce more realistic shooters such as the original Ghost Recon on current-generation hardware.

He also revealed that there won't be a demo version of Vegas 2.

"We took the decision to spend our time on polishing the game and the demo option was cut," he said.

"It's really time-consuming to create a demo and we needed the dev time to finish our game."

He also explained that four-player co-op was reduced to two-player because the single-player levels couldn't easily support four players.

Therien says that there are virtually no differences between the Xbox 360 and PS3 versions of Vegas 2 - and at the moment there are no plans for working on the Nintendo Wii.

Read Eurogamer's LiveText Interview with Philippe Therien, Game Designer on Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2.

Read through the dialogue below.

Vegas 2 is due out on 20th March for PS3 and 360 and on 17th April for PC, and you can check out our review early next week.

Full Q and A can be read here

Take part in a 24-hour Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 multiplayer game world record

Ubisoft invite you to take part in the first ever Guinness World Records multiplayer marathon gaming attempt

Ubisoft, Guinness World Records, Xbox 360 and the UK Frag Dolls team up for the ultimate Rainbow Six mission

Ubisoft and the Guinness World Records are proud to announce that they will be hosting the first ever Guinness World Record attempt at a marathon 24-hour Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 multiplayer gaming session.

The attempt will take place at the UK's premier multiplayer event organised by Multiplay at their Newbury Racecourse venue. "i33" will take place from the 21st - 24th March and all 1500 tickets have already been sold. This sets the stage perfectly for Ubisoft's Guinness World Record attempt which, if successful, will go into the Guinness World Records: Gamer’s Edition 2009.

Taking part in the attempt will be the UK Frag Dolls: Jam, Kitt and Sarin. As the record session will be taking place connected to Xbox LIVE for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, anyone and everyone is welcomed to join in - be it at the event or from their living room.

The attempt will commence at 10am on Saturday 22nd March, and finish as and when there is no one left standing - literally!

To join the UK Frag Dolls in their record-breaking attempt, send an Xbox Live friend request to "Jam FDUK" "Kitt FDUK" and "Sarin FDUK" up to 24 hours before the event begins. You will then be able to join them in-game, or request a game-invitation. If their friends lists are full, please look for game sessions hosted by "Jam FDUK" "Kitt FDUK" or "Sarin FDUK". They will be playing across all maps and modes during the course of the event.

The world record attempt coincides with the release of the eagerly awaited sequel to Team Rainbow's glowing 2006 next-generation debut. Released from March 20th, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will be available for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC-DVD ROM and will be equipped with many new single and multiplayer features such as a completely new character progression system that allows you to advance both in the single and multiplayer game, new weapons and equipment, and an even more challenging and tuned A.I.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® Vegas 2 will also deliver a host of new multiplayer options for the best team, individual, live and co-op multiplayer experience available. For those who are already discussing team tactics with their friends, HMV Online have a special 'Clan Pack' offer whereby you can buy three copies of the game and get one free.

For details, please head to:

http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=786296

FIRST DETAILS FOR TOM CLANCY'S RAINBOW SIX - VEGAS 2

Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced the first details for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2, currently in production for the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PlayStation 3 computer entertainment system and Games for Windows. Scheduled for a March 2008 release and developed by Ubisoft’s award-winning Montreal studio, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is the sixth iteration of the multimillion-selling Rainbow Six tactical shooter franchise and follow-up to the highly successful and award-winning Rainbow Six Vegas.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is the last chance for gamers to rescue America’s sexiest city from an escalating terrorist siege that will impose heart-pounding action from beginning to end. The best are back and this time winner takes all. The highly-anticipated sequel to the recipient of numerous awards, including 2006’s Best First Person Shooter and Best Online Game, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will push the top-selling franchise to new heights with new gameplay features and groundbreaking co-op and multiplayer modes.

Product Highlights:

• More Multiplayer – The highly acclaimed multiplayer mode in Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas has been upgraded to include 13 new maps with more intense face-offs, two new adversarial modes, more rewards, and easier access to matches using the improved and intuitive matchmaking system.

• Unprecedented Customizable Experience – Create your own identity that persists through both the single player and multiplayer modes and progresses along with you. Reap the benefits of your single player rewards in multiplayer and vice versa.

• Vastly Improved Co-op Mode – Turn single player mode into co-op mode at any time, just by jumping into the game. Now you and a friend can jump into a single player game and assist without any change to the story. The single player maps and storyline were created with co-op in mind, meaning every map has multiple entry points and the story is unaffected.

• Challenging AI – The AI is more challenging than ever. Now, the terrorists are equipped with thermal vision, night vision, and shields – not to mention a multitude of varying tactics – all of which are guaranteed to give you a new playing experience every time you go into battle. As you progress within the game, you’ll be able to outsmart your enemies by taking advantage of intelligence opportunities, such as thermal scanning.

• New Weapons and Armor – Take down the terrorists more effectively using 11 new weapons. New camouflage, clothing and gear allow for the ultimate customizations.

• More Vegas – Sin City is back and bigger than before. Explore all new Vegas hot spots and the gritty back streets creating a visual experience that is as challenging as it is breathtaking.

Ubisoft Antes Up With Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2

Team Rainbow Returns to Celebrate10th Anniversary of Rainbow Six Franchise in Sin City in 2008

Today Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announced that it is developing Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six® Vegas 2 for next-generation consoles and PC. Developed at Ubisoft Montreal by the same team that created the award-winning Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas, the highly anticipated sequel is scheduled for a March 2008 release. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 is the sixth iteration in the wildly successful Rainbow Six franchise which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2008 with more than 16 million units sold worldwide to date.

“Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas took the gaming world by storm in 2006 thanks to its technological advances and gameplay innovations,” said Yves Guillemot, president and chief executive officer at Ubisoft. “We are convinced that Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will remain a pioneer in the highly competitive first person shooter genre, bringing more of what Rainbow Six fans love to the table.”

The highly anticipated sequel to the winner of numerous awards, including IGN’s 2006 Best First Person Shooter and Best Online Game, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will push the franchise to new heights by adding new gameplay features and even more stunning visuals. Players will encounter an intense solo campaign that uses new tactical possibilities in various locations around Sin City. As expected with one of the pioneer franchises for online multiplayer Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Vegas 2 will also break new ground in both co-op and adversarial modes, while providing unprecedented interaction between the solo and multiplayer modes.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six! - £9.99

Fans of the Tom Clancy franchise, take note! Focus Multimedia and Ubisoft have teamed up once more to release Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Lockdown.

The title will join Focus’ Essential range of PC software, retailing at just £9.99.

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Lockdown® opens as Team Rainbow, the world’s premier counter-terrorist unit, is called on to fight a deadly bioterrorism threat. The crisis takes Rainbow into new territory and new situations, as for the first time the hunter becomes the hunted.

New features include an enhanced tactical experience, deadlier enemies and hostages that must be rescued and kept safe.

Developers have also added some all-new multiplayer features, including a reward system, a "Free-for-All" game type, the return of three classic maps, and much, much more!

Also amongst the new additions to this latest game:
• New Equipment
• Laser Trip Mines, virus grenades and C-4 explosives add new options to the multiplayer arsenal
• New Weapons and Attachments
• 20 new weapons – 42 overall
• Six brand new weapons never used before in a Rainbow Six game
• Customize your weapon to suit your style of play: Silencers, scopes, red-dot sights, hi-cap magazines

Craig Johnson, managing director of Focus Multimedia, commented: “The Tom Clancy range of titles has earned a sterling reputation amongst gamers for its unerring eye for detail and focus on quality. Rainbow Six Lockdown is no exception. With a wealth of additional features and new multiplayer mode, fans of the series will enjoy a brand new challenge.”

Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Lockdown® is available now for a suggested retail price of £9.99 including VAT, and can be purchased from all good retail outlets of PC software. This product, and the rest of Focus Multimedia’s range, is available to purchase direct from www.focusmm.co.uk.