Today sees the release of the second Assassin’s Creed II DLC pack which brings us the Bonfire of Vanities mission sequence.

As the trailer reveals, Ezio is on the hunt for a tech burning monk who is short of a finger or two, in a quest to retrieve the Apple of Eden.

It looks like another expansion full of stalking, sleuthing and sword fights which can be picked up for $3.99 on PSN or 320 MS points on Xbox Live.

Time is a commodity worth a fortune to committed gamers.

How many hours a week do you put into gaming, and when doing so for how long is each period of gaming? I haven’t seen any stats, but I bet the average reader of this wonderful site is 20+ and so is either in or about to enter the world of work, relationships and possibly kids. I wake up at 5.30/6am, go to work and get back between 8-10pm everyday. Often I work a day on the weekend too.

When I was between 12-18 years old, blowing a whole weekend playing games was easy. Each session would last between 2-6 hours and I could rip through games in no time. When I got a game I expected to flog it to death and play till my fingers were numb! Heck I was able to keep multiple Civilisation sessions going whilst playing other titles on my Amiga and PS1!

So, clearly it goes without saying (but I’ll say it anyhow) that due to my current hours, and levels of fatigue which overcome me when I’m not working, I have a lot less ‘game’ time. Indeed, even when the time exists I have to negotiate access to the TV, a perfect 40 incher which is a Full HD model with amazing response times and superb contrast levels. A TV which my wife often decides to use to watch some awful celebrity orientated reality show, or DepressedEnders.

I have made my life a lot easier by getting PlayTV for my PS3. This allows my wife to watch most programmes she enjoys on the PSP via remote play freeing up the TV for some 360 or Wii action. It doesn’t help of course if I want to play a PS3 game though as that’s tied up. It’s complicated and each night’s set of activities has to be thought through. At times I’m relegated to my DSi or PSP. Not a problem in itself as I enjoy my games for those platforms – but clearly it results in my ability to ‘get through’ my triple A titles being severely limited.

Hence it is with some joy that recently there have been some really great AAA titles that, to be honest, didn’t last all that long. Great games like Batman Arkham Asylum, Modern Warfare 2, BattleField Bad Company, Uncharted 2, Halo Wars and just about any Wii title. I’m not anti the really long games, indeed I’m currently playing Assassin’s Creed 2 which is probably somewhere in between, but I have started to get annoyed with games such as Far Cry 2, Fallout 3 (which I have and still intend to play at some point. I keep starting and never get anywhere) and even GTA4, which I only got around three quarters of the way through.

"Thanks for Keeping This Short Batman." "No Problem, Jim."

I appreciate these games but there are questions concerning how viable they are for both players and developers. It takes around 2-4 years to develop some of these titles, compared to say 6 months to a year for something like Brain Training. The short-term sales are often quite good but then drop off rapidly. Take Assassin’s Creed 2 as an example. Current worldwide sales are around 6 million, which are not bad at all, and will certainly mean the game will turn a healthyprofit. However, they could have just cut the game down and released version 2 and 2.5 within a year of each other, with each selling that same amount. In many ways the latest Zelda game on the DS follows this route.

The development path for the two DS Zelda games has allowed Nintendo to sell two full price Zelda titles within a year and half of each other. Guess what; everyone is ok with it. It’s good for Nintendo as development time per game is less and hence cheaper. It’s great for the audience as they get a good experience, which is just right in size for their money and they get that sense of achievement upon reaching its completion. Plus the punters get two of them and the second one benefits from some design changes from the feedback of the first. Everyone is a winner!

It’s clear this is what will happen with Batman Arkham Asylum 2 and I think other developers are starting to look at this. I call it boxed DLC and I think it’s the way forward! I love DLC and see a place for it, but often it’s too ‘bitty’ and is neither a version .5 nor a new game. I find that DLC regularly takes the form of some tid bits here and there that didn’t quite make it into the main game or simply multiplayer maps. I like multiplayer maps and have no issue with them as DLC, but often they are used to tide the IP over until the new game is ready 2-3 years later.

Short and violent. The single player game packs enough explosions to warrant reruns, like any good movie, whilst the spec ops and multiplayer modes allow you to dip in and out for months to come, but for small or long periods - as you wish.

The other thing some of these ‘just the right length’ games get right is that they use the single player game to create a believable set of characters in an exciting universe. As a consequence they have the building blocks for a fully working and engaging online or non-single player element. MW2 has its online multiplayer and for me the most exciting part is the Spec Ops. Indeed, if they were to release DLC or ship a disc with just more Spec Ops I would be very happy with that. I would also be very happy if they released a MW2.5 next year with the exact same game engine. Uncharted 2 has a great multiplayer setup, which I admit I need to invest more time in and Halo War’s very short single player game is clearly just a tutorial for the ongoing multiplayer battles.

With Batman there is an engaging set of challenges with online leaderboards – and what is great about these is that once the main game is done, and you have started on another major single player narrative with some other AAA title, you can dip in and out of Batman to get a taste of the experience by playing these challenges for 10-15 minutes. For me that’s a job well done, at least until the sequel!

I’m not going to sit here and say how the day of the huge never-ending sandbox game is over. That would be daft, and there are a raft due to hit the market in 2010. Indeed, with console games and MMOs due to collide in 2010-2011 it’s clear that there are going to be a few titles designed to totally consume you, as World of Warcraft has done on the PC/Mac platforms. However, take note when a number of analysts have pointed out how much time is put into a GTA game. They highlight that Take 2’s business model is fragile due to the time and money invested in something which could eventually under perform. Rockstar’s plan to release new DLC ‘episodes’ for the 360 were a great idea, and I’m sure they sold well, but if they had just released them as boxed content (which they did eventually anyway) a year later as a multi-platform release I think most punters would have been happy. Indeed if they had put a little less in GTA4 and a little more into the episodes it would have justified a full price RRP and improvements to the graphics etc could have been evolutionary rather than staggered with each major release.

Even the youth of today lack the time they had once. Mainly due to SATS, Facebook and of course Street Crime

I think many developers are realising that as their audience continues to grow up and their habits change regarding how they play, where and with whom we will see more of these AAA titles, which offer a great but ‘short’, 4-7 hour experience. It will lead to better games or at least shorter bad ones (don’t knock it – I played Risen). I like to think of it as the difference between going to a local restaurant that gives you huge portions of tasty and good food, in comparison to Michelin Star restaurants that seem to give you exquisite food but in what seems very small portions. The only thing is, when you leave those Michelin Star restaurants you neither feel bloated nor wanting more.

You simply feel satisfied.

Everyone’s favourite wall clambering, blade concealing, inventor befriending assassin is returning for some new stabby fun, with the first DLC pack, Battle of Forli, being released worldwide today.

As the trailer above shows, there appears to be a nice mix of stealth and action gameplay with a return from the criminally underused flying machine.

You can pick this slice of DLC up for a few quid on Xbox Live (320 MS points) and the Playstation Network ($3.99), although Ubisoft have said that you should first complete Memory Sequence 11 in the main game to be able to enjoy it.

• Format : PSP
• Unleashed : Out Now
• Publisher : Ubisoft
• Developer : Griptonite Games
• Players : 1
• Site : http://www.ubi.com/us/games/info.aspx?pid=7778

The problem that the PSP seems to have is that there are very few good games floating around for it. So you can imagine the anticipation we had when AC Bloodlines was announced for the PSP. Now we’ve had a go on it, burst it wide open, and the results are in. ACBL is an adventurous title, not in the ‘you can go here and there’ kind of adventurous way but that it’s an ambitious title for the hardware of the PSP. We’re not saying that the PSP isn’t up to it but rather, the depth of atmosphere that seems to ooze from AC2 (or even the first AC) is a lot to ask of the PSP’s horsepower. So as you can imagine, there will have to be a few changes for this version.

Giant drunk guard found by gateway!

Assassin’s Creed Bloodlines takes off almost immediately after the events of the first game, where Altair’s lust for Templar blood finds him travelling to Cyprus where they (the Templars) have been said to be shipping over artifacts for financial gain, amongst other things. But the death of the head of the Templar Order and finality to his quest is what seems to be really driving Altair forward. One of the things you might notice that has changed in Bloodlines is Altair’s voice; he’s now officially from the Middle East, instead of Middle America. Score one for PSP AC. The other thing included in Bloodlines that we didn’t even notice was missing from the other games is chickens. You heard us, we said chickens! Sadly, the streets within ACBL seem to have more chickens than they do people, and you can’t even kick the little buggers. Never mind, this Assassin’s Creed, not Zelda.

The development team at Griptonite have been given a difficult job to do with this game though, trying to squeeze cities the size of Acre or Jerusalem into the PSP is no easy task. Here it’s places like Limassol or Kyrenia and though they may not be as big, they have got to try and offer a similar playing experience. Much like the other AC games there’s a map to help you find your way around but if it weren’t for this map, you’d be lost, big time. Navigation of these towns becomes a difficulty within itself purely because of the way the whole place looks. That is to say it all looks very similar. We can’t expect the PSP to do what the PS3 or 360 does, but the lack of definitive textures here will get you lost pretty easily. Camera control is another thing we had problems with in Bloodlines. This seems to be a running trend for third person games on the PSP, and while Griptonite have tried to work their way around the limited controls, they seem to have hit the same walls many other developers have hit in this area. The camera is rotated by holding down a shoulder button and using triangle, square, circle and X to move it up, down and around which is a good solution to the problem. However, couple these controls with a bit of intense action and what you get is Altair turning his back on a previously locked-onto-enemy, and taking a sword to the face or back in the process. Enemy spawning is another thing that we had issues with. Just after killing a guard, as you move the camera back to where his dead body should be, you find him running towards you being very grumpy indeed. Not so much of a hassle if there’s only one guy, but if there are a few you will find yourself fighting the same guys over and over again until you can nudge yourself away from the spawning area.

By now you’re probably thinking that ACBL is a total waste of time and money, but you’d be wrong. Despite these annoyances, ACBL does its job on the PSP as well as it could be expected to. Given the hardware and its lack of nubs (come on Sony, give us that extra nub!) Bloodlines’ job is to flesh out the story of Altair and his quest of understanding the piece of Eden he has acquired previously; that, and extinguishing the lives of the remaining Templars. There are little sub-story lines that run along with this game that give you a deeper insight into Altair’s way of thinking, and that he’s not just a mindless assassin but someone trying to understand this changing new world around him. Assassin’s Creed Bloodlines also has a very handy link-up system tied to the AC2 game. What this means is that your progress in Bloodlines can be transferred over to AC2 for things like extra money, abilities and weapons. It’s not just a one-way system either, progress from AC2 can give you extra stuff in Bloodlines too. Every ‘boss’ you kill in Bloodlines will give you a weapon to use in AC2. These weapons aren’t represented exactly the same way in AC2 as they’re found in Bloodlines, but nevertheless it’s a great idea and gives Ezio a few extra toys to play with.

You're fat, I'm thin, who do ya think's gonna win!!!

On its own merits we’d say Bloodlines is a sub-par game, but as a continuation from AC and a window to events in AC2 it does a humble job of giving you insight to the fairly hard-to-follow plot of the AC games. This is one for the hardcore followers of this game series. If you absolutely need to know what happens between the two games from the bigger systems, then this is an insightful (but still fiddly) journey in the AC worlds. Or if you want to give yourself an extra helping hand in AC2, then play this first and do the link-up. If neither of the above reasons appeals to you, we’d advise you to just let this sit in the shops.

As Assassin’s Creed II nears its official launch on November 20, Ubisoft has released a new trailer for it hoping to entice you and flirt with your wallet.

The new trailer very nicely sets up the story and shows us what starts Ezio’s very violent path of vengeance and retribution.

Some very nice gameplay shots are shown which include footage of the flying machine and a vastly increased arsenal that is now available to the player.

The first reviews have started popping up around the net and so far there has been a lot of praise for this title, which apparently is a very noticeable improvement over the first game.

As Assassin’s Creed II vaults over rooftops, bounding towards its November 20 release date, the sixth developer diary has emerged giving us some nice new information.

To start off with we are given a glimpse of the new Animus which looks to be a bit more user friendly this time around as well as acting as a database which can give you helpful information at key moments in the game.

Information about Ezio’s villa is also talked about which makes it sound like a very interesting game mechanic as well as a central hub. When the player initially finds it, the place is in ruins, but over the course of the game you have the opportunity to upgrade and repair it.

The nicer it is, the more people will live in the village area attached to it which generates you more money which can then presumably be spent on more villa upgrades and equipment.

The villa will also act as an inventory for the player, allowing them to store all of their items, such as weapons, that can then be accessed later.

With the release of this game getting closer and closer we really can not wait for the end of the results which the developers are claiming is going to blow us away. Let’s hope they are right.

Another Assassin’s Creed II dev diary has reared its hooded head this time shedding a bit of light on the change from Altair to Ezio.

Even though they clearly have a very similar fashion sense Ezio seems like a darker character, this time driven by revenge, unlike Altair who was trying to make more of a career out of it.

The video doesn’t show us any new footage but it does expand on how different the protagonist is this time around through some developer commentary.

Apparently we now have an angrier assassin with a clearer objective in mind, ready to dig his hidden blades in to his foes when the game is released later this month.

The original Assassin’s Creed was a great game (depending on who you ask) with one flaw that nearly everyone can agree on: the missions were too repetitive. The goal of this new developer diary from the ACII team is to remind you repeatedly that this won’t be the case in the new game. Beyond normal assassinations, you’ll find historically accurate platforming challenges, pick-pocketeer chases, damsels in distress, and plenty of collectibles.

It all looks fun, but is anyone else worried that they took “more mission variety” to mean “way more distractions and side-quests?” Let’s hope the core assassinations get the same level of attention as all these unexpected diversions.

The first official gameplay trailer for Assassin’s Creed II has just been unleashed on the world. It showcases a heavy dose of combat, a bit of assassin-y-ness, and a whole lot of Justice.

Ezio gets a lot of use out of those dual blades, not to mention some brutal hammer kills that suggest an even darker world for this second outing. Some other interesting bits include a rather epic-looking horse-drawn carriage sequence and the obligatory Da Vinci glider.

The game looks as beautiful as ever, but the most attention-grabbing bit about this trailer is the music selection. Ubisoft’s habit of sticking indie darlings in their trailers is downright anachronistic. It worked with Prince of Persia and Sigur Rós (maybe a little too well), but here the pulsing beats and 15th century atmosphere doesn’t really fit.

Still, there’s little denying that this trailer makes the wait for Assassin’s Creed II’s release on November 17th that much harder.