E32014 – Ubisoft Press Conference

3rd of the big 4 today, starting up. Ubisoft hosted by Aisha Tyler.

UbiPress

Far Cry 4’s first 5 minutes is on display. The game looks very similar to Far Cry 3, maybe just a next-gen boost, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s last gen and Next-gen. Assuming its going to be a very story driven FPS again. Game is based in the Himalayan mountains. Our character is on a bus with a passport, and we’re heading towards a militant checkpoint. Bus gets stopped, the papers our guide has gets rejected and all hell breaks loose. Our villain arrives via helicopter and grills the militant leader – ” I said stop the bus, not shoot the bus. Very big difference”. The villain has a similar psychotic entrance that Vaas had, he’s very calm and disturbing. Get the impression that the protagonist is related to the villain. Shout out to the villain w/ protagonist selfie. Nov 18th release.

Aisha Tyler is out, and the language censorship is turned off. Watch Dog’s success gets a brief mention, as does the fact that she’s in the game. Moving on to new stuff.

Just Dance 2015 – Yay dancing. #pee_break. This got a long presentation, 20+ people on the stage included.

The Division is up next with a long time lapse story trailer of the outbreak. Really shows the engine, day/night cycles, and city seasonal changes. Very awesome. Not an engine gameplay, as we already got that during the MS press conference.

Ubisoft’s next big project, once delayed – The Crew. Boasting gameplay that allows you drive across the entirety of the USA with no loading. We get a lengthy time lapse showcasing some cars and the different types of terrain to travel: deserts and snowy mountains, tarmac and off-road. Many different styles of cars, day/night cycles. The scope of this game is incredible, gigantic, and gorgeous. The time lapse showcases one of numerous 2+ hour missions. The game is to be released Nov 11th, 2014 on XBox1, PS4, and PC. Closed Beta available July 23rd, 2014.

Ubisoft’s biggest franchise, Assassin’s Creed is gonna be their big focus this year. the MS press conference had a brief showing on the multi-player side of Assassin’s Creed Unity, and at the Ubisoft side we get to see what single-player plays like, and how multi-player can be integrated. It seems like co-op can be drop in, as we pass some potential missions they advertise the option of “4 players”. We start of with the E3 staple – the story trailer set to lovely appropriate music. Unity focuses on the French Revolution. 4 assassins with the focus on co-operative gameplay. There are a ridiculous amount of NPC’s on the screen, hundreds, that you have to navigate through to reach your targets. Very simple, minimalistic HUD. Nothing static, just contextual. Eagle vision returns showing off the level’s focus, and enemies, and small context elements can pop up as requested so you know where to go. No maps on the HUD from what I can tell. New traversal elements, the ability to angle yourself up walls to grab ledges, instead of running straight at them. Similar combat mechanics, slow, paced. It does seem like the game is going back to the slower original assassin’s gameplay, scope the area, find info on the target, strike, or instigate a strike, and then run. To be release October 28th, 2014.

Time for a breather – another fitness game – Shape Up where your workout is a game, in a game, presented as a game. #gamer #focus

Time to pull on the heart strings, Ubisoft. Valiant Hearts – The Great War is next. Cartoon 2D side-scroller, made on the Rayman Legends engine, similar art style to Behemoth’s Castle Crashers. Focus is 4 players and a K-9 companion. The game is based on real WW1 history , 1914-1918, inspired by letters, taking place in a stylized universe. Bringing art and the past to life.

Nearing the end of the press conference now, as CEO and co-founder Yves Guillemot is out to say thanks….and here our next new game:

Rainbow Six: Siege!

We’re shown a pre-alpha multi-player match of a house breach. Starts of with the Six’s drone view inside of the house as the terrorists are barricading the walls and windows, and a one minute countdown for the match to start. Six’s decide to breach from the roof and upstairs windows. 5 vs. 5 gameplay – 5 minute breach. Match/breach starts, and the level of destruction to the house is incredible. No need top go through the doors when you can shoot your way through the walls. Crazy damage model being shown. The character’s models do have a cartoonier look, not unlike Team Fortress in a way. Matches finishes with a cliff hanger as 2 Sixs breach through a wall into the room while one breaches through the ceiling. Incredible showcase. Rainbow Six Siege.

Aisha Tyler and Ubi out!

Last up will be Sony’s Press Conference to wrap the day.

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