All-new character, all-new setting - what did it take Ubisoft to jump from Assassin's Creed to its sequel? Patrice Desilets had to call the shots in terms of creative direction for Assassin's Creed 2, and from what we learn in this video interview, the switch from Altair to Ezio and the setting of the Third Crusade to the Italian Renaissance took a lot of research. They even went for some tours in Italy! (Maan, being in video development is so cool, huh?)

We haven't heard much from White Knight Chronicles since the Japanese version came out last Christmas, but with E3 just a month away, Level 5 Games is gonna brew some major hype before launching the PS3 exclusive on Western shores. Jeff Rubenstein managed to get a few words with White Knight Chronicle's US Producer Tsubasa Inaba and talked about how things are gonna be different for the North American release.

A new entry in Ubisoft's Ghost Recon franchise was confirmed in the company's recently-released financial documents along with target release windows for two more Ubisoft games: Splinter Cell: Conviction and Red Steel 2.

Microsoft Europe's David Gosen has questioned the gaming industry's seasonal approach to game releases in a recent interview with MCV. According to Gosen, the focus on Q4 and Christmas releases has put the sustainability of new IP into question, and that a second or third release window will be good news for the industry. Great news for my wallet as well, since I won't have to buy all the major releases I want in one big go. More after the jump.

Feel like singing the crap out of your livingroom? SingStar's got 35 trophies for you to earn (yes, it has Trophies) as you prep yourself up for the next American Idol auditions, or maybe not. Anyway, start clearing your throat 'cause you have lots of songs to cover, plus a lot of SingStar socializing if you want get all these shiny treasures.

It's no secret that the video game industry is suffering, and of the three consoles, Sony has the greatest piece of the suffering pie. I never liked pie. SCEE president David Reeves though, doesn't seem fazed by Sony's continuing losses, saying that Sony has to suffer a little so that they'll still be standing when all is said and done.

A sign that we are closer to the end of the world: Japan seems to be falling out of love with video games. The latest numbers show that sales of consoles have dropped across the board. On the bright side for Sony, the PS3 is close to becoming top dog again since Wii sales experienced a sharp slump.

Weekend again! Time for yet another PSN video content update. This week, they've got a few videos that'll be on HD, this includes Attack of the 50 Foot Woman - see all 50 feet of Allison Hayes in HD. Great lineup this week, at least for me. Why don't you check the full article out and see for yourself?

Did you have yourself a Mario little Christmas? (I can hear you groaning.) Analyst Jesse Divnich says that "Nintendo saved Christmas," with Wii sales on an all-time high for December. Without these sales, he says, the industry would have felt "the full wrath of the recession."

How far would you go for your favorite video game character? This kid went all the way to court. 11-year-old Judson King was such a Sonic the Hedgehog fan that he decided he wanted the real thing - only to find out that hedgehogs were illegal in his city. What's a boy to do but take the case to court?