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Ubisoft and Aardman are teaming up to produce a pilot and several shorts based on Ubisoft’s video game characters, the Rabbids. In addition to video games, the characters have been featured in a series of viral internet videos and as plush toys.
Aardman Digital, Aardman’s in-house digital agency, and Ubisoft previously worked together on the Raving Rabbids brand, creating the website dedicated to the upcoming video game Raving Rabbids Travel In Time, to be released November 21 in the U.S.
Interactive entertainment company Ubisoft is releasing several additions to its existing series of games, in addition to introducing new games this holiday season across media platforms.
Battle Tag
Ubisoft introduces a laser tag-inspired game: Battle Tag. Set for release in late November in North America, the game is designed with 20 different game plays, and includes a port that connects to a PC, allowing the computer to act as “game master.”
Players use guns that are complete with RFID technology to store information. The guns have a 300 meter radius from the port, which acts as a base for the game. Sets come with ammo packs and medic packs that recharge ammo and life points when connected to the guns. Additional guns, bases, ammo, and medic packs will be available for purchase in addition to the basic set.
Ubisoft is entering the toy market with the debut of Battle Tag, which was unveiled at last month’s E3: Electronic Entertainment Expo. Battle Tag combines a laser game that you can play at home or outside with a shooter game, featuring accessories such as game items and bonuses.
In the game, players can reload their guns with the ammo boxes or increase life points with the game’s medikit. The main differences between Ubisoft’s Battle Tag and a traditional laser tag game is the videogame-like accessories and a PC that acts as the “Game Master.” The Game Master challenges players, gives updates, and keeps track of score.
Ubisoft and The Estate of Michael Jackson have joined together to announce the holiday release of a performance-based Michael Jackson game. The game will feature hits songs, such as Billie Jean and Beat It, as players sing and dance like the pop star.
The game will be available on Microsoft’s Kinect (Project Natal) for the Xbox 360, Sony’s PlayStation 3 system with PlayStation Move support, Nintendo’s Wii, Nintendo’s DS, and PlayStation’s PSP.
This is the first Michael Jackson game to be released since Sega Genesis’ Moonwalker in the early ’90s.
Photo Credit: WiiNintendo
CBS Consumer Products (CBSCP) announced production of two new video games based off CBS’s NCIS and the CW’s America’s Next Top Model television series. Global production for the video games is headed by Ubisoft and dtp young entertainment, respectively.
In America’s Next Top Model video game, players assume “control of one of 10 aspiring models” as she makes her way through challenges, photo shoots, catwalks, and more. The video game follows the format of the television series, with participants being voted off, and is available now on the Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii consoles. A Canadian and Australian version have been announced, as well.
NCIS, developed by Ubisoft for worldwide release on all major consoles and internet distribution, hits shelves next year.
Ubisoft is teaming up with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and pop band Honor Society for the launch of new Petz games and Sharing and Caring Month. The new video games for Nintendo DS will allow users to care for their virtual “petz” and send them to other Petz games via wireless interconnectivity. Users can also share their pets on UbiWorld, www.ubiworld.com.
