GDN: Ubisoft E3 Games - Driver, MJ and Eden

Driver San Francisco

Today Ubisoft announced at its E3 press conference that the company will be releasing DRIVER San Francisco, the first iteration of the blockbuster franchise on current generation platforms. Scheduled for release in Q4 2010 on the Xbox 360, the PlayStation 3 , Windows PC and Mac, DRIVER San Francisco extends the cinematic car chase experience with a groundbreaking new gameplay feature called “shift.”

Developed by Ubisoft Reflections under the direction of the creators of the original title, DRIVER San Francisco marks the return of the established video game series that has sold 14 million copies worldwide. Gamers will play as Detective John Tanner on a relentless manhunt for crime lord Charles Jericho through the hills of the City by the Bay. Thanks to a groundbreaking gameplay feature, players can now seamlessly “shift” between well over a hundred licensed vehicles, keeping them constantly in the heart of the action. With its timeless setting, unique car handling and renewed playability, DRIVER San Francisco will revitalize the classic free-roaming, cinematic car chase experience for the current generation of gaming platforms.

Michael Jackson

Today, Ubisoft announced the development of an interactive performance-based video game, inspired by the legendary King of Pop, Michael Jackson. The game is family entertainment at its best and will provide an interactive experience that enables players to step into the shoes of Michael Jackson himself and re-live his most iconic performances through their own singing and dancing. The upcoming game will include the most famous tracks from Michael Jackson’s extensive catalogue such as Beat It and Billie Jean, as well as an array of his awe-inspiring dance moves for players to learn and emulate within the game. Additionally, fans will be able to sing along and test their vocal skills while immersed in the performance.

Michael Jackson, one of the most widely beloved entertainers and the most popular global icons of all time, leaves an indelible imprint on popular music and culture. During his extraordinary career Jackson sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released 13 No.1 singles and became one of a handful of artists to be inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He won 13 Grammy Awards and received the American Music Award’s Artist of the Century Award. His album “Thriller” is the world’s best-selling album of all time with more than 110 million copies sold.

The game will be available for Kinect for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 system with PlayStation Move support, PSP, Nintendo’s Wii system and Nintendo DS handheld system, for holiday 2010.

Child of Eden

Today Ubisoft announced Child of Eden, developed by Q? Entertainment Inc. under the direction of the renowned game creator Tetsuya Mizuguchi. Child of Eden is a multi-sensory shooter that will send players diving into a kaleidoscopic matrix of synchronized music and mind-blowing visuals that will usher forth a landmark game experience.

Scheduled for a Q1 2011 release on the Xbox 360 and for the PlayStation 3, the game will also be compatible with Kinect that will provide an enhanced gameplay experience as the player will become truly immersed in the game, with no physical barriers between him and the game world.

Child of Eden thrusts the player into the center of a battle to save Project Lumi, a mission to reproduce a human personality inside Eden, the archive of all human memories. As the project nears completion, the archive is invaded by an unknown virus. The player’s mission is to save Eden from the virus, restoring hope and peace.

Key features of Child of Eden:

· Multi-sensory effect: A visionary entertainment experience that synchronizes stunning graphics and innovative sound design to electrify the senses. By bringing physics in synergy with spectacular visuals and audio, Child of Eden is creating the next-generation sensory experience.

· The world of Eden: Coming straight from Tetsuya Mizuguchi’s creative mind: a unique, surprising, rich and beautiful world.

· Controls: Simple and natural. Designed for standard controllers and Kinect for Xbox 360. With no controller required, Kinect for Xbox 360 adds an extra dimension to the experience as the player truly merges into the game. The sensor will detect the player’s body movements, allowing for a completely new multi-sensory shooting game experience.