Ubisoft Lifts Lid on next Tie-In with the Tom Clancy’s Captain Mitchell Ghost saga

Unleashes H.A.W.X (High Altitude Warfare – X)

by XboxOZ360

©2008 Grant Smythe

While some gaming pundants are scoffing at Ubisoft’s acquisition of the Tom Clancy IP and the rights for all things Tom Clancy. I personally think it’s a bloody good thing. We’ve just seen the spy series of Jason Bourne being bought up when Vivendie/Sierra bought the IP rights of the late Robert Ludlum’s Bourne novel series (under very strict development guidelines I might add from the Ludlum Family), it wasn’t a shock to see Ubisoft nabbing their favourite Gaming franchise’s IP so they to could do what they have always wanted to do.

“`That is, fully capitalize on the multifaceted series and bring all the various games in under the Tom Clancy banner in one major title. Then tie each series in so that the storylines can merge, yet have their own special flavour and aspects that we have come to know and love. We will no doubt see this come to fruition in the Tom Clancy’s End War, as the various sections of the Tom Clancy games, the Rainbow Six Team, the Ghost Recon Team and even the “possibility” of seeing our now renegade Spy, Sam Fisher from the Splinter Cell series paying the game a visit in some way. As it has been ‘suggested’ that all the 3 majors will tie in with the game in some way.

“`The next obvious battlefield of course is the skies. A battlefield many serious war game developers have left alone for some time, as they usually end up being a mis-adventure into arcade madness, and ‘generally’ fall flat on their faces, and with good reason I might add. It’s not easy to tie an excellent ground forces game such as Rainbow Six or Ghost Recon in with a solid and “realistic” flight sim. As both have two totally different physics demands, if the game includes both aspects ??? they will have to make it feel like the game’s we’ve become accustomed to playing in the Tom Clancy Series, or it too will fall on its sword.

See video after the jump:

I think it will be more to do with liaising with The Ghosts and Captain Mitchel than actually gameplay of any sort, which seems to be evident ion the following Teaser footage . . you might ?? need the latest Flash Player 9 software to watch this teaser by the way, so head over to their site and nab the latest download.

Ghost Recon and Rainbow Six team gameplay is just getting better and better at each iteration, the gameplay in Splinter Cell is being fully worked over to hopefully provide us with a new way of enjoying Sam on his next “exclusive’ outing in “Convictions” when it hopefully appears later in the year. We know that Ubisoft are well underway with the building of the next new series for the Rainbow Six Team, now that Vegas is out of the way, so what better way to begin to tie them all together that bringing in some High Altitude Warfare.

The teaser is of course – “a Teaser” in the true sense of the word, and it certainly has me wondering how we will be playing this next game series. And mark my words, it won’t be just one outing for H.A.W.X either, as it is sure to be the beginning of a whole new series from Ubisoft, now that they have the rights of the Tom Clancy titles. If the gameplay in H.A.W.X is as realistic as they say it will be, then I’ll be one very happy little vegimite. If it turns out like Ace Combat, which isn’t too shabby btw, then it’ll be doing just fine.

“`Below you will find the official press release from Ubisoft that will give you some details about the game, and what to expect when it is released this Fall (US). While very few screen shots are available right now, be assured we will keep you updated as news comes to hand.

“`Personally, I’m really looking forward to this. I have been since I first heard about the game, albeit under another name Firehawk . . . which according to an early leaked release schedule, was to have been released in 2007. However, I’m glad that it has taken its time, and the crew at Ubisoft have been tinkering away in the back rooms melding together what hopefully will be a hallmark for future areal war games.

©2008 Grant Smythe

PRESS RELEASE PROVIDED BY GAMES PRESS

New Tom Clancy intellectual property poised to become the new air combat benchmark

London, UNITED KINGDOM – – Today Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, announces the development of Tom Clancy’s HAWX (high-altitude warfare), an awe-inspiring game that is primed to revolutionize the way players think about combat in the sky. Scheduled for release in Fall 2008, Tom Clancy’s HAWX turns consumers into elite pilots of the future. The game will appear on the Xbox 360® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and on Windows-based PC.

“Tom Clancy’s HAWX marks the next evolution of high altitude warfare in the Tom Clancy video game universe,” said John Parkes, EMEA Marketing Director at Ubisoft. “We are thrilled to take to the skies and provide a new environment along with an extension of a familiar storyline from our other successful Tom Clancy franchises such as Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter.”

Developed by Ubisoft’s Bucharest studio, Tom Clancy’s HAWX delivers an intense and authentic aerial combat experience by fully leveraging the benefits of the next-generation platform. The story begins in the year 2012. As the era of the nation-state draws quickly to a close, the rules of warfare evolve even more rapidly. More and more nations become increasingly dependent on private military companies (PMCs), elite mercenaries with a lax view of the law. The Reykjavik Accords further legitimize their existence by authorizing their right to serve in every aspect of military operations. While the benefits of such PMCs are apparent, growing concerns surrounding giving them too much power begin to mount.

Tom Clancy’s HAWX is the first air combat game set in the world-renowned Tom Clancy’s video game universe. Cutting-edge technology, devastating firepower, and intense dogfights bestow this new title a deserving place in the prestigious Tom Clancy franchise. Soon, flying at Mach 3 becomes a right, not a privilege.



Key Features of Tom Clancy’s HAWX:

• ENHANCED REALITY SYSTEM (E.R.S.) – E.R.S. is in-game technology that helps turn novice aviators into elite pilots of the future. The Enhanced Reality System is the backbone of the HAWX flight experience: radars and incoming missile detection, anti-crash system, damage control system, tactical map and information relay, and weapons trajectory control. E.R.S. also allows players to issue orders to their squadron, making this system as iconic to HAWX as the Cross-Com system is to Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter!

• ASSISTANCE MODE – Players can ease into their flight missions and gain a level of comfort with the use of the assistance mode. Once employed, players can take full advantage of their technological support through the E.R.S and gain maximum piloting security. If the situation calls for the player to unleash the full potential of the aircraft, the assistance mode can be switched off and all safety features will be deactivated. This comes with increased risks, but allows the player advanced dogfighting maneuvers and stunning third-person views.

• REVOLUTIONARY MULTIPLAYER - For the first time ever in the air-combat genre, players will be able to experience the entire solo campaign in four-player JUMP IN co-op mode. In PVP mode, players can challenge up to 15 friends in intense dogfighting sessions and find out who’s the top gun. Winning players are rewarded with experience points and money to unlock more weapons.

• REALISM AND AUTHENTICITY – Players have the opportunity to take the throttle of over 50 of the world’s famous aircrafts, as well as being able to dogfight over realistic modern landscapes that have endured years of post-war trauma.
For more information on Tom Clancy’s HAWX, please visit www.hawxgame.com

Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through a strong and diversified line-up of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 24 countries and sales in 55 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. For the 2007-08 fiscal year Ubisoft forecasts generated sales of approximately 920 million Euros.

To learn more, please visit www.ubisoftgroup.com © 2008 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. H.A.W.X, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the U.S. and/or other countries. “PlayStation” and the “PS” Family, “PLAYSTATION” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Filed under: Console gaming, New Game Information, Press Release, Xbox 360, Xbox 360 3rd Party Games, Xbox 360 News Tagged: | H.A.W.X, High Altitude Warfare X, Tom Clancy's HAWX, Ubisoft