Ubisoft's on a definite roll this time around, with the company enjoying good sales numbers in the first quarter thanks to a boost afforded by the release of games such as Assassin's Creed (Xbox 360, PS3, PC), Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas 2 (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC), and others. There's just one little snag, however, with the confirmation of Splinter Cell: Conviction's delay. More details in the full article.

How can a bunch of insanely loud alien bunnies power a game into becoming a popular franchise? The answers lie at this year's Lyon GDC, where Ubisoft's Nicolas Normandon and Loïc Gounon explains how humor and creative work helped establish the Rayman Raving Rabbids franchise. Find out more at the full article.

It was bound to happen. According to N-Europe, NGamer Magazine has a piece confirming Ubisoft's follow up to their hit title Rayman Raving Rabbids for Nintendo's Wii video game console.

Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 will reportedly provide a more detailed background on the Rabbids. It will contain a narrative focusing on "their training for world domination in their top-secret camp situated under a shopping centre". This is the camp that Rayman infiltrates, leading to more mini games and more spastic pointing and waving around of the Wiimote.

Details are still scarce and there's been no word on a release date, but word is that the sequel will be for both the Wii and the Nintendo DS. The graphics have also reportedly been given an overhaul, looking more polished this time around.

If you're wondering how Rayman Raving Rabbids on the DS will play out, Go Nintendo was tipped off to a YouTube demonstration video by cocoBATMAN59. The only point of concern here is that the commentary is given in French.

Sorry, Google and Babelfish don't do the spoken word.

Obviously the handheld's less on the minigames, more on the traditional platforming action we're used to in previous Raymans. Let's end this post with a bonus video we picked up on YouTube: a Raving RabbidsDS commercial from Ubisoft that shows you that bunnies can play with the DS, too... but other bunnies might not appreciate it.

See the commercial after the jump.

Although Rayman Raving Rabbids (for Xbox360 and PC) has been out for the Wii since the console's launch, DS users are still hanging on to the edge of their seats, waiting for the game to grace their touch screens.

As Rayman, you will be required to participate in loads of contests (more than 70, actually) to try and win the rabbids over by keeping them entertained. These contests include racing with other animals, plunger-shooting, arena fights, and of course, dancing.

The game will also feature multiplayer options, unlockable items such as costumes, music, and stuff for your prison cell, AND customizable Rayman dance moves. So whether you get your groove on to punk, pop, rock, or hip-hop to keep the bunnies bouncy, dancing will surely be a breeze for you.

Rayman Raving Rabbids from Ubisoft Montpellier and will be hitting shelves this March. So while you wait for that, we suggest you load up on the rock-raving Rayman by ogling at these screens. Enjoy!

   

So you probably know that Rayman Raving Rabbids will involve lots of bunny whacking, as well as cartloads of rabbit dancing. You're probably also aware that this game will be released for various consoles, such as the DS, Xbox 360, and of course the Wii. But although you know lots of things about it, you probably want to know more, as one just can't get enough info on this crazy game. So here's a rundown of Rayman Raving Rabbids facts.

For one, although dancing is a main thing in this game, it's not the only thing our guy Rayman has to do. He has to win over the devilish but cute bunnies, and to do so, must engage in various contests (and we're talking about more than 70 contests here) to keep the rabbits entertained. Examples would be racing with other animals, arena fights, dance (well, duh!) and engaging in plunger-shooting action.

Now, when the rabbits think you're cool enough, you get to unlock different items such as costumes, music, and stuff for your prison cell. You also get to customize Rayman's dance moves with either punk, pop, rock, or hip hop to woo the bunnies over. And with the Wii controller, you get to play crazy moves such as cow throwing or pig milking.

Moreover, you can also play this game with four of your friends with the multiplayer option. Talk about a really neat way for a bonding session. This wacky game from Ubisoft Montpellier is expected to ship this November, just in time to bust your moves with Rayman during the holidays.

Why are they dancing?
a) Because the big Wii events just took place in Japan and New York
b) We've got new Rayman Raving Rabbids screenshots and artwork
c) Because... they can dance!

Yep, rabbits have taken over the world - and QJ might be next! In this game, bunnies are hell-bent on world domination, and it's up to our man, Rayman, to stop these crazed rabbits from taking over the planet. How? By making them dance! Crazy? You bet. And if you've seen the trailer, it looks crazier than it sounds. Come on, minigames such as bopping rabbits with a shovel, and spraying them with a water gun sure looks like fun.

Get ready for rabbit invasion this year with the Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, PC, and Wii versions of the game.

Check out the screens and artwork we have for you after the jump.

Aiiieeee! No hablo espa? se? It's material like this that makes me regret sitting through the Spanish version of Sponge Bob and Dora the Explorer every time my baby sister would watch them back when I was younger. But regardless of my lack of fluency in the said foreign language, Rayman is still Rayman no matter where you are. And how can you not recognize those insanely adorable bunny rabbidsrabbits?

Now, if you click the picture (yes, to enlarge it), notice the lower portion of the ad. Where's the Wii icon, you ask? Does this mean that it won't come out on the Wii? Hey, snap out of it! That's absolutely impossible! It's just a technical error, guys: RawmeatCowboy (the guy who posted it) confirms that KoJiRo (the guy who scanned it) wasn't able to fit the entire ad into the scanner. Hence, a small strip on the left part of the ad was clipped out. So, yeah, don't worry guys, Rayman Raving Rabbids is coming to the Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, and the Wii!

It looks like Rayman Raving Rabbids for the DS will be very different from both the Wii and GBA versions. The Wii version, which is the lead game for this project, is going to be a party game filled with minigames that focus around the WiiMote. The GBA version will be a 2D platformer much like the original game on the PlayStation (later ported to PC and GBA). However, according to [N] Gamer magazine, the DS version will be a 3D platformer much like Rayman 2 on the Nintendo 64.

The last Rayman game on the DS was bashed for the controls and supposedly bad port job. Hopefully, this new game won't have such issues. According to reports, it's being developed by Ubisoft's Casablanca studio and will be available in 2007.

Ubisoft has recently confirmed the plans to bring the fourth installment of the Rayman franchise, Rayman Raving Rabbids, to the Nintendo DS, Xbox 360, and the Wii. The game is being developed by Ubisoft's Montpellier studio, led by Michel Ancel, the original creator of Rayman. According to the company, the story revolves around Rayman's effort to rise up against the devastating invasion of crazed, out-of-control bunnies that threatens his world. In order to foil their wicked plans, he must utilize an array of amazing new abilities and seek the help of magical creatures to save his world from these delirious rabbits and their antics.

The features of the game includes:

    • 80 missions in which the types of gameplay varies
    • 10 FPS-style missions, dancing missions, races and others
    • "around ten" vast, free-roaming worlds to explore

Rayman also has his own unique features which include being able to manipulate various creatures (sharks, eagles, rhinos, spiders and angelfish) as a means of transportation after defeating them in a combat. He can also change his appearance ranging from punk, pop, rock, hip hop, goth, clown and others. When the right dance costume is used, Rayman can hypnotise certain Rabbids, or he can use the costume as a disguise. The Wii version requires the player to dance in rhythm using the Wii remote. Rayman will earn various items as the game progresses and there are also many unlockable secrets in store for players.
The game will be available in the fourth quarter of 2006 as a launch title for the Nintendo Wii. The game was originally intended for the traditional platformer but the creators like the Wii features so much, they decided to solely focus on that version. The other console versions will be released later on.