Tag: Ubisoft

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Ubisoft planning a Splinter Cell: Shadownet spin-off? Domains registered

Splinter Cell SHADOWNET

Although Ubisoft is planning to release Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Blacklist in August 2013, it appears the video game company may have something in the works for SHADOWNET, the quick and agile spies that are one of the playable teams in the Pandora Tomorrow and Chaos Theory multiplayer modes.

Earlier this week, Ubisoft registered the domain names SplinterCellShadownet.com (WHOIS) and SplinterCell-Shadownet.com (WHOIS).

A quick online search shows that fans of Shadownet have been asking for a spin-off for years.

Though the domain registrations may be nothing more than a vigilant Ubisoft protecting its intellectual property, it’s sure to get some Shadownet fans excited.

Like most of Ubisoft’s newly registered names, both SplinterCellShadownet.com and SplinterCell-Shadownet.com resolve to a parked page on Gandi.net.

Talking about this story: gram.pl, PC Games, Play3-Live and VG247

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Ubisoft registers ‘Me as a Zombie’ name, as ZombiU release date approaches

Me as a Zombie

Ubisoft has registered a few domains this week, including one interesting name:  MeAsAZombie.com (Me as a Zombie).

The gaming company registered the domain name on October 1, 2012, according to Whois records.

As the November release date approaches for Ubisoft’s first-person shooter ZombiU, chances are you could see more marketing efforts in the weeks to come.  Given the name “Me as a Zombie” and the timing, it appears the domain registration is related to the ZombiU title.

So what could we expect from Ubisoft?

Well, it seems with the popularity of zombies, that a website or app where visitors upload images of themselves and become zombies, is a possibility.  According to a quick Google search, becoming a zombie online is pretty popular.  One site in particular, makemezombie.com, has over 50,000 “Likes” on Facebook, and claims to have turned over 1 million people into zombies.

For now, zombie lovers may have to wait a little longer to see.

At the time of this story being published, measazombie.com is a parked web page.

On a domain related note, Ubisoft also registered the domains FarCryOutpost.com and Ubi-Sphere.com.

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News Video Games

Ubisoft Entertainment takes over web address used in Ghost Recon Beta scam

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier

Ubisoft Entertainment has taken ownership of the domain name GhostReconBeta.com.

The domain, which had been registered in April 2012 by a Netherlands resident, had been used in a beta scam for the video game Ghost Recon: Future Soldier.  Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, the latest installment in the series, was released in May for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

Beta scams for video games are fairly common online and usually involve a website and web address that are confusingly similar to that of a legitimate well-known brand.  The websites will claim to offer beta keys to upcoming video games, but instead trick users into filling out survey scams and downloading malware to their computers.

Earlier this year, Microsoft took control of the domain names Halo4Beta.biz and Halo4Beta.net, after filing complaints against the owners.

While little evidence of the GhostReconBeta.com scam website can be found online, Ubisoft Red Storm responded to a Twitter message from gamer @BlackDogsUnit back in late May, saying that the website ghostreconbeta.com was not legit and any information about Ghost Recon would come through official channels on GhostRecon.com.

Ubisoft Red Storm

According to Whois historical records, the person who registered GhostReconBeta.com, is no stranger to using the names of well-known companies for the purpose of scam surveys.  At the time of this story, they own and operate websites and domains like SpotifyGiveaway.com (Whois), WarFaceBeta.com (Whois) and HawkenBeta.com (Whois).

Spotify Giveaway scam website

Though it’s unfortunate companies have to deal with these types of sites, it’s surprising they don’t register domains that can be used to trick consumers.

A quick check of other popular titles by Ubisoft, shows several domain names not registered.

Rainbow6Beta.com, SplinterCellBeta.com, and WatchDogsBeta.com are just a few examples of names that are readily available.

Today, GhostReconBeta.com does not resolve to a web page.

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News Video Games

Ubisoft registers several ‘Assassin’s Creed Initiate’ domain names

Assassin's Creed

Assassin's Creed Initiate

With all the Assassin’s Creed buzz focused on the upcoming release of Assassin’s Creed III, Ubisoft has registered a slew of domains for another project in the franchise called “Assassin’s Creed: Initiate”.

On August 21, 2012, Ubisoft went out and registered names like AssassinsCreedInitiate.com (Whois), AssassinsInitiate.com (Whois) and ACinitiate.com (Whois) – a dozen in total.

The full list of domain registrations includes:

ac-initiate.com
ac-initiates.com
acinitiate.com
acinitiates.com
assassins-initiate.com
assassins-initiates.com
assassinscreed-initiate.com
assassinscreed-initiates.com
assassinscreedinitiate.com
assassinscreedinitiates.com
assassinsinitiate.com
assassinsinitiates.com

At this point, it’s unknown what the exact plans are for “Assassin’s Creed Initiate” or “Assassin’s Creed Initiates”, whatever the official title may be.

Could it be for a new videogame? A tie-in to the launch of Assassin’s Creed III? Or some other media or event?

Ubisoft has made no official announcement, so we’ll have to wait and see a little bit longer.

On a domain-related note, Ubisoft also registered GhostReconfuturesoldierravenstrike.com (Whois) for the next DLC pack for Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, which was announced just yesterday.

Talking about this story:  Computerandvideogames.com, Cinema Blend, Curse.com, Escapist Magazine, Gamed, Game Informer, Game Rant, iDigitalTimes.com, IGN, MeriStation, playm.de, Playstation Universe, VG247 and Tecmundo

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News Video Games

Ubisoft registers SirPainhammer.com, launches website and Twitter feed

Sir Painhammer

During their Press Conference at Gamescom 2012, Ubisoft revealed three new Might & Magic games: Duel of Champions, Raiders, and Heroes Online.  What no one seems to be talking about yet is “Sir Painhammer”, a character who popped up online this week on the website SirPainhammer.com and on Twitter at @Sir_Painhammer.

Sir Painhammer appears to be a Might & Magic character who so far has been posting entertaining tweets like, “Look, I don’t wanna tell anyone how to live, but I just saw a man walk by my front gate wearing skintight green leotards… #coolfashionbro.”  The tweets started appearing online on August 7, 2012, and have continued almost daily since.  A tweet published yesterday reads, “I think I just broke a few ribs diving into my diamond pool but it was totally worth it. #YOLO.”

SirPainhammer.com, which was registered on August 14 according to Whois records, is a website.  The call to action on the home page says, “LET’S DROP THE HAMMER ON SOME FOOLS”.

You can sign up by email, but other than that, not much is known about what the site will ultimately become.

Sir Painhammer appears tied to the Might & Magic universe and as Gamescom 2012 continues, it’s likely more will become known of the character.