R.U.S.E. Multiplayer VIP Beta begins Nov. 30

On Nov. 30, the R.U.S.E. extended multiplayer VIP beta for PC will be made available worldwide, says Ubisoft. The VIP beta content will initially include two factions (US and Germany), three maps and a chance for players to experience some multiplayer features. After which, says Ubisoft, it will be updated on an ongoing basis with new content including four additional factions (USSR, France, Italy and UK), more maps and more game modes.

R.U.S.E. is a grand real-time strategy game developed by Eugen Systems that allows players to bluff their enemies to lead their nation to victory. It is tentatively scheduled for release during Q1 2010 on PC and consoles.

For further details on the game, visit www.rusegame.com.

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage heads to retail

Ubisoft’s Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage is now available in stores across North America. Developed by Ubisoft Montréal in collaboration with Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White, the game is available exclusively for the Wii. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage allows players to live the life of a professional snowboarder vicariously through a video game.

The game features various modes of extreme sports play in such locales as New York’s Times Square and competitions in France, Canada, Japan and more. The game promises lots of new events 75 new challenges, seamless co-op multiplayer options, compatibility with Wii MotionPlus and Wii Balance Board, the ability to create and name your own snowboarding tricks, customizable charcters and more.

For more information, visit www.shaunwhitegame.com. Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage is rated “E” for Everyone and available for an MSRP of $49.99

Go ahead, Press Your Luck

I wish the name of this game, and the game show it was based, on was called “Press your F***ING Luck,” because I think youngsters might be more inclined to play it. But for those familiar with the popular game show, well now you can amuse yourself with the home game. You know, the game they give you when you lose as a contestant? It used to be a board game, but now we are in the digital age. Wow, technology is simply amazing isn’t it? Where was I? Oh yeah, Ubisoft has released Press Your Luck 2010 Edition for the Nintendo Wii, DS and Windows-based PCs.

Press Your Luck is a digital remake of the game show from the 80’s where players assume the role of one of the three contestants competing to win by answering a series of trivia questions correctly to earn “spins” on the Big Board of cash and prizes. Press Your Luck 2010 Edition features single- or multiplayer modes and the ability to design and customize a personal avatar. The game has been created by Ludia and is licensed by FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME).

Find out more about this home game by visiting www.gameshowvideogames.com.

Jesper Kyd scores Assassin’s Creed II

If you didn’t know, Jesper Kyd has created the soundtrack for Ubisoft’s upcoming third-person stealth action game, Assassin’s Creed II. Kyd scored the first game’s soundtrack and hopes to bring the same kind of magic to the follow-up - an atmospheric score that offers a “new direction and crafts an immensely diverse, melodic and progressive musical palette featuring acoustic and symphonic orchestrations with emotional depth and diversity.” Sounds fanciful and footloose. The original score was recorded with a Hollywood orchestra and choir at the Capitol Studios. The Assassin’s Creed II Original Soundtrack will be available for digital download from popular music stores on November 16th.

The game is scheduled to launch on November 17th, 2009 for the PS3, Xbox 360 and the PC. For more information about Assassin’s Creed II, visit www.assassinscreed.com.

Rabbids Go Home heads to retail

Rabbids Go Home heads to retail this week for Wii, DS and Nintendo DSi. In Rabbids Go Home the crazy bunnies introduced in Rayman Raving Rabbids just want to go home so they try to build stairway to the moon. But in order to make it tall enough they need to collect lots and lots of things of all shapes and sizes.

Promising a “wacky storyline,” new game play, cooperative play, 40 Missions and 15 Environments, controls that take advantage the Wii Remote, a special support for the camera on the DSi version of the game..

Rabbids Go Home for the Wii is rated “E10+” and has an MSRP of $49.99. Rabbids Go Home for the DS and DSi is rated “E” and has an MSRP of $29.99.

Monster 4×4 Stunt Racer in stores

Ubisoft has released Monster 4×4 Stunt Racer to stores across North America today. Monster 4×4 Stunt Racer promises over 50 different challenges, brand new vehicles and tracks, vehicle customization, a wall-riding feature and a “party-play” split screen mode for up to 4 players locally or online. Some of the modes in these challenges include a combat option where you can launch bombs and missiles causing your challengers to take flight, and a stunt option where you can multiply maneuvers and tricks to increase your score.

Monster 4×4 Stunt Racer is available for the Nintendo Wii system, is rated “E” for Everyone and available for an MSRP of $29.99 with the wheel or $19.99 without the wheel.

Call of Juarez: Bound in Bloodtitle update deployed

Having trouble with the PS3 and Xbox 360 versions of Call of Juarez: Bound in Blood? Then may the freshly released title update for the game will solve your problems. The title update supposedly improves the quality of multiplayer connections and matches and refines the overall balance of multiplayer classes and modes. Specifically for PS3, the patch will significantly reduce checkpoint loading times. The Spy, Gunslinger, Hombre, Veteran and Sniper classes have been balanced to offer the best experiences possible. as well, says Ubisoft.

The Spy class gets an increase in health and damage output, the Gunslinger’s recoil has been reduced and his accuracy has been improved, the Hombre’s recoil and reload time has been increased and his damage at long range significantly reduced, the Veteran’s health and accuracy have been decreased and additional pistols have been removed, and the Sniper’s no-scope accuracy and damage were significantly reduced, health has been decreased and the sidearm Ranger has been swapped for the Classic Gun.

Turn on your Xbox 360 or PS3 and play the game to get these new updates.