Blazing Angels goes gold, Charles files for bankruptcy

by: Chuck - posted: 3/15/2006 1:59:00 AM

Ubi sends word that Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII has gone gold and will be in store shelves next week.  Originally just an amazing looking Xbox game, the folks at Ubi are also going to be releasing a hella-good looking Xbox 360 version and a PC version for those people who hate consoles.  This is one of the games I was really looking forward to getting my hands on this year as I was really impressed with the demo they had at E3 last year.  The game has some great graphics but also some killer game play to go with it.  I just wish this was coming out next month as my game budget for the month has already been shot with GRAW, Burnout Revenge for the 360, and Oblivion (which also comes out next week).  Outside of the holiday season I can't honestly remember a period when we had so many good quality games come out within a month of each other.

SAN FRANCISCO –March 14, 2006 – Ubisoft, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, today proudly announces that Blazing Angels™ Squadrons of WWII, the intense squadron-based flight action game, has gone gold for the Xbox 360™ and Xbox® video game and entertainment systems from Microsoft and PC and will be releasing to U.S. stores on March 23, 2006.

In Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII, players test their air-combat skills as they experience the most famous battles of World War II. As a squadron leader, players can fly up to 38 WWII aircraft in both single-player and multiplayer missions.

Developed by Ubisoft, Blazing Angels Squadrons of WWII features innovative squadron-based combat, in which each artificial intelligence wingman’s specialized skill can be used to the pilot’s advantage. During the course of the 18-mission campaign, players will evolve along with their wingmen into an ace fighting force. Spectacular graphics enhance the combat experience in true World War II battle sites such as England, Germany, France, Morocco, Pearl Harbor, Midway and Tokyo. The heroic storyline that follows the evolution of a single squadron and the cinematic presentation create moments reminiscent of classic World War II movies. Pilots fly in close to Germany’s industrial terrain during a bombing raid or emerge from the fog and cloud cover over London to engage the enemy. Up to 16 players online can engage over Xbox Live® online game service in head-to-head dogfights or cooperative team play between squadrons in 10 additional missions.

Key features of the Xbox 360 and Xbox versions include:

• WWII’s most epic and famous air battles: Experience the greatest air battles of World War II in famous locations from across the globe. Whether it’s the Battle of Britain, the attack on Pearl Harbor or the fierce fighting over Berlin, the player and his squadron will be tasked with turning the tide of war.

• Innovative squadron-based gameplay: Command AI wingmen and make use of each one’s special abilities. The pilot’s heroism and leadership will grow during the course of the 18-mission campaign. Engage in legendary air battles and lead a squadron of Blazing Angels to victory.

• A large variety of realistic-looking WWII aircraft: Pilot 38 authentic WWII aircraft including the famous P-51 Mustang, the B-17 Flying Fortress and the British Spitfire, and planes like the Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt and the Japanese Zero in multiplayer. From the wing rivets to the nose art to the detailed cockpits, these planes look like the real thing.

• 18 heart-stopping missions in a compelling storyline: Pilots will begin as untrained recruits and evolve through battle experience into ace combat pilots. WWII missions will take place around the globe in a large variety of locations such as London, the Pacific theater, North Africa, Normandy and Berlin.

• Authentic WWII atmosphere: Fly low over Germany’s industrial terrain for a bombing raid, strafe the islands of the Pacific, or emerge from the cloud cover over London and engage the enemy. The environment is so real you’ll feel like you’re the pilot in a famous WWII movie.

• Planes are easy to handle and fun to fly: No need to attend the Air Force Academy to pilot these planes; players can jump right into air combat action without extensive tutorials.
   
• Xbox Live for up to 16 players online: Engage in head-to-head dogfights or cooperative team play between squadrons on huge maps with large formations.

Key features of the PC CD-ROM version include:
• Heart-pounding single-player campaigns: Over 18 missions grouped into a compelling historical battle campaign. Over 40 missions in standalone modes (Mini-Campaign, Arcade and Ace Duel).
 
• Thrilling multiplayer combat: 16-player online and LAN play in 10 game types (Dogfight, Aces High, Seek and Destroy, Onslaught, Bombing Run, Kamikaze, Historical Battles and Capture the Base) in three multiplayer modes (Solo, Co-op and Squadron).
 
• Innovative graphical features: Amazingly detailed terrain including a variety of high-resolution specular maps. Photorealistic recreations of iconic cityscapes and locations including the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, the London Bridge and the ships in port at Pearl Harbor.  
 
• Over 39 flyable high-definition, authentic-looking planes: High-resolution plane models (8,000-10 000 polygons per plane) and usage of large textures for the planes (1024x1024 = 4 Mb of texture per plane). Other aircraft features include multiple plane skins and nose-art, and destruction details for each plane model. Over 70 planes can be seen in the sky at once.
 
• Detailed vehicles and 3D-modeled people: High-resolution and 3D detail for over 40 vehicle models, and all vehicle models have damage levels. Each 3D-modeled person has over 10 animated movements.
 
• Impressive sound features: Hear all the combat excitement with the 48 KHz high-quality sampled sound and up to 64 3D sound sources 5.1 compatible.

Blazing Angels will ship with an ESRB rating of “T” (Teen) for Xbox 360, Xbox, and PC. For more information and updates, please visit www.blazing-angels.com.

© 2006 Ubisoft Entertainment. All Rights Reserved. Blazing Angels, Ubisoft and the Ubisoft logo are trademarks of Ubisoft Entertainment in the US and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, and Xbox Live are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

About Ubisoft:
Ubisoft is a leading producer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment products worldwide and has grown considerably through its strong and diversified lineup of products and partnerships. Ubisoft has offices in 21 countries and sales in more than 50 countries around the globe. It is committed to delivering high-quality, cutting-edge video game titles to consumers. Ubisoft generated revenue of 538 million Euros for the 2004–2005 fiscal year, an increase of 8 percent over the previous fiscal year at constant exchange rates. To learn more, please visit