Ubisoft

Since last week we’ve been undergoing a small communications hitch with Microsoft’s gaming division that will hopefully be cleared up soon. Earlier this week though, French site MonWindowsPhone passed along the news that N.O.V.A. 3 would be today’s Xbox release, so we reported it as such. Of course we asked Gameloft to verify the release date, but they could only say for certain that it will come out in May – not specifically today.

A short while ago, a different Xbox Windows Phone game popped up in the Store: Monster Burner from Ubisoft! That’s not a bad thing, because it’s FREE, seems like a fantastic game, and runs on both Windows Phone 7 and 8. But given that Gameloft couldn’t say for sure whether N.O.V.A. 3 will come out today, we are left slightly unsure about its release status. Will we get one Xbox game this week or two?

That question aside, most of you guys will dig Monster Burner in a big way. Read on for our first impressions.

Ubisoft is a major force in the console and PC world, owning such powerful franchises as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and the Tom Clancy games. They’ve had a mild presence on Windows Phone so far, with two Gameloft published Xbox games: Assassin’s Creed: Altair’s Chronicles and Splinter Cell: Conviction, the self-published Babel Rising 3D (a bad game on any platform but particularly abhorrent on Windows Phone), and a couple of companion apps for console titles.

Still, one terrible game is far from the best that Ubisoft can do for Windows Phone. They publish a fair share of quality mobile titles on other platforms that we have yet to see on our own. Blessedly, that appears to be changing quite soon. Ubisoft’s 2012-2013 Sales Report has quickly leaked three upcoming Windows Phone titles, which I think is cause for a little noise! Read on for our descriptions and predictions.

It took a bit longer than usual, but we have a new Xbox Live Deal of the Week at last. And I do mean new – Splinter Cell: Conviction is on sale for the first time. It’s just $2.99 this week, down from $4.99.

This version of Splinter Cell tells the story of series lead Sam Fisher’s investigation into the death of his daughter. To do that, he'll need to sneak around in the shadows, killing hundreds of guards when they’re not looking. That's what they get! A number of voiced cinematic sequences drive home the console-like feeling.

That makes sense because Conviction is actually a port of the excellent Xbox 360 game, though the level designs are different. Despite the rudimentary 3D graphics (darn XNA) and a few difficulty spikes, Splinter Cell is a fun and easy 200 GamerScore overall. Check out our review for more details.

Splinter Cell: Conviction is on sale for $2.99 for one week only. Get it here on the Marketplace. QR code after the break...

Well, well, well. Would you look at that? An extremely attractive upcoming title from Ubisoft was unveiled yesterday with a handful of trailers being released on the web. The above introduction trailer gives us a tease at the foundations of Watch Dogs without revealing much at all (be sure to look at the gameplay video for more details).

But this is Windows Phone Central, so we have to tie in Windows Phone somewhere regarding this console and PC title, right? Correct, check out the above trailer and be sure to pay close attention at 2:14 onwards. You'll witness the camera pan out revealing what appears to be a Windows Phone. Take a look at our still image below for a clearer view of the time in the system tray and "more apps" arrow.

While not major news, and the smartphone used in the game video demonstration sports a grid layout of app icons, it's a little something to wrap up an eventful Microsoft appearance at E3.

Thanks to Mark, Xavier and Ronny for the tips!

Ubisoft, who already have the Your Shape: Fitness Evolved companion app for Windows Phone, is set to introduce a free Just Dance companion app to the platform - Autodance. According to the description published on Monwindowsphone, the app will enable users to record dance routines performed by friends and family, synchronise saved performances with Just Dance 3, and upload the results to YouTube and share on Facebook.

Description of upcoming Autodance (translation):

"Save your friends doing the movements and synchronise Autodance to make real choreography. Then, like magic, your friends will move their bodies to a memorable music video. Share the talents of these new stars on Facebook, or publish them on Youtube so that they receive the glory they deserve. No need to be gifted to play Just Dance, simply use Autodance."

As mentioned above, Autodance is expected to be available (for free) on the Marketplace soon. We'll have a video up with more information shortly, so stay tuned. For now, see an example dance video after the break.

Via: Monwindowsphone (translation)

So a few months ago we picked ourselves up a Kinect for our XBox 360. We then grabbed ourselves Ubisoft's awesome 'Your Shape: Fitness Evolved' game, which we'll admit, kicks our butt while making us believe that "OMG, we live in teh futures!1!" at the same time (seriously, Kinect is pretty amazing). Your Shape: Fitness Evolved also has an online component--you register for the site and you can upload, share, analyze and take with you your information from the Kinect game which is kind of neat.

Now, Ubisoft has gone ahead and read our minds by releasing an official Windows Phone 7 app.

"...the Your Shape mobile app allows you to keep in touch with your profile, check your stats, learn more about the game, get the latest news and videos". Even if you don't own the game, discover the breakthrough technology used by Your Shape, check out our videos and meet our experts!

And if you do already own the game, you can check your daily stats and profile, see your fitness level in an instant and discover our tips to help improve yourself everyday. More features to come!"

The app itself is very polished, smooth and fast. Sure, it doesn't work directly with Kinect (yet).  Instead it uses Ubisoft's website as an intermediary. But for one, we know Kinect integration is coming down the line and two, we're just psyched that for once, Microsoft and Ubisoft saw the obvious market here: Kinect owners may own a Windows Phone and vice versa, or what marketing hacks call "synergy".

If you haven't yet seen what Your Shape: Fitness Evolved looks like after the break.  Not only is it a great game and source of exercise, but you can get crazy Gamer Points as you burn calories (50G for burning 2,000, huzzah!). We like where this app is headed and look forward to these "More features". Pick up the app here in the Marketplace.