Velvet Assassin Announced & Renamed

[Sandman]

From the Cockpit comes word that Replay Studios upcoming stealth-action title, Sabotage, has been re-named, Velvet Assassin.

Today developer Replay Studios, along with publisher Gamecock Media Group, have announced the official name change for ’Velvet Assassin’, their upcoming stealth-action title formerly known as ‘Sabotage’. The new title creates a perfect marriage between the story of real life hero Violette Szabo and the clandestine art of sabotage she championed. From the incredibly innovative art style, storyline, and combat gameplay, Velvet Assassin is poised to revolutionize the stealth-action genre later this year.

“Rather than a trite, overused, and generic working title like ‘Sabotage,’ ‘Velvet Assassin’ captures the heart of what we’re trying to accomplish,” said Sascha Jungnickel, Creative Director at Replay Studios. “From the start we’ve wanted a game with a strong female lead that stays true to the history of Violette Szabo while pulling players into a world of dark intrigue.”

Inspired by the true story of British Agent Violette Szabo, players will take on the role of Violette Summer. Behind enemy lines in Nazi occupied Europe, Violette risks her life fighting to fell the Third Reich with anything she can get her hands on, including enemy soldiers. With no support or official backing from the British Government, Violette puts everything on the line to defeat the German war machine – one mission at a time. Velvet Assassin combines lush, surreal visuals, a ground-breaking stealth combat system and one of the most unique perspectives ever brought to gaming. Velvet Assassin is planned to release in Fall 2008 on PC and next-generation consoles.

“Most of the time a name change happens because it’s not ‘catchy’ enough or because the marketing team didn’t like it,” said Tim Hesse, Executive Producer at Gamecock Media Group. “I have to say, the Replay crew have outdone themselves by making Violette into one of the best looking stealth-killers ever. This game has come so far since last year that Sabotage just didn’t do the game justice – ‘Velvet Assassin’ sums up every aspect that makes this game great.”http://www.evilavatar.com/images/thumbs/velvetassassin.jpg
All I want to know is who stole the purple Power Ranger's suit?

[Heretic Machine]

Sounds niiice... I'm interested.

EDIT: I just read the Wikipedia article on Violetta Szabo; really interesting stuff.

[Psykoboy2]

I'm not a fan of Gamecock, so damn them for publishing a game I am now interested in.

[Heretic Machine]

I'm not a fan of Gamecock, so damn them for publishing a game I am now interested in.

I know they made themselves pretty unpopular with that stunt they pulled at the Spike awards thing, but they have yet to even put out a game, to my knowledge. I believe the first thing they're putting out is coming this month, Insecticide.

Personally, I'm interested in all of their projects, they are all really off-beat. I just hope they're fun.

[Generation ABXY]

Ah, for a moment I thought this was Saboteur, a game I am really interested in. So, I guess this name change is a good thing - makes the game much more distictive, even if I don't care for it much personally. Thankfully, I don't buy games based on their name...

[Psykoboy2]

Ah, for a moment I thought this was Saboteur

Thank you! I'd been trying to make sure this wasn't the same game.

[Generation ABXY]

I know they made themselves pretty unpopular with that stunt they pulled at the Spike awards thing, but they have yet to even put out a game, to my knowledge. I believe the first thing they're putting out is coming this month, Insecticide.

Personally, I'm interested in all of their projects, they are all really off-beat. I just hope they're fun.

Nope, they've put out at least two: Dementium: The Ward (NDS) and Fury (PC).

Thank you! I'd been trying to make sure this wasn't the same game.

Yeah, took me a minute to make sure myself - the two concepts are pretty similar (WWII setting, unlikely hero)...only one has a lot of style and the other now sounds like a vintage album.

[DaXIthR]

Dementium: The Ward has some really clever ideas and a very solid game engine. They conceived a very effective M-rated survival horror title on the DS.

Of course, Dementium was also very short, and even more repetitive. I'd feared that was because of the budget, rather than a lack of talent.

I hereby declare this game on "my radar".

[mig]

Looks like a big bucket of meh, with some of the ideas they're showing in the pre-alpha.


http://gamecock.televis.es/velvet_assasin_behind_the_scenes_feb_2008

[Johan]

Looks like a big bucket of meh, with some of the ideas they're showing in the pre-alpha.


http://gamecock.televis.es/velvet_assassin_behind_the_scenes_feb_2008 (http://gamecock.televis.es/velvet_assasin_behind_the_scenes_feb_2008)

Link says, "PRESS ONLY: PLEASE DO NOT LINK TO THIS SITE."

In all caps, too!

[mig]

Hmm, it must the years of tuning out everything written in all caps. I followed the link from the original story posted. I blame the system.

Still, if it's that precious for them, put a password on it, instead of offering me "embedded code" to put on my website:rolleyes:

[Kuya Cocoy]

If this name change is also meant to make the game seem like the "girly" version of Assassin's Creed (ala Princess of Persia?) well then.... I guess that worked.

And wouldn't it be wise to just embed it here? Site doesn't work for me, thanks.

[Lutheran]

I am interested in this game , also violette seems like quite the brave lady..not bad looking either in the one pic I seen. Reading how she was treated after being captured just makes me hate the Nazi's that much more ( thought that wasn't possible , I truly hate those guys ).

[Spigot]

Ah, for a moment I thought this was Saboteur, a game I am really interested in. Wow. Thanks. I thought the same thing. I thought they'd changed lead character from an Irish freedom fighter to a french woman freedom fighter.

Still both eerily similar games to be coming out this year.

[sflufan]

I actually took the time to email these guys and pointed out that the title of their game was awfully similar to that that Pandemic's "Saboter" and that the similarity of titles/setting/plot/etc. could result in confusion. I suggested that they find an alternative title as they could be damned sure that Pandemic (now owned by EA) would not change theirs!

[Everblight]

The title sounds like a Cinemax softcore porn flick.

[Kem0sabe]

Of course this has nothing to do with the fact that anmother is called sabouter *rolls eyes*

This is just PR talk for "we dont want to get sued"

[CapnBob]

So is she using a velvet revolver?

[saulob]

This image....

V for Vendetta ???

[Talanvor]

So... considering how much I dislike Gamecock, this game better be on par with Rock Band to get me interested. I mean, I have about the same amount of hate for Gamecock and EA, so... yeah.

Additionally, I'm a lot more interested in Sabotuer. :D

[AndrooGee]

But make no mistakes and switch up my channel
I'm Buddy Rich when I fly off the handle
What could it be? It's a mirage
You're scheming on a thing that's Velvet Assassin!

Mmm... Just doesn't have the same ring to it.

[Freethis]

Violette Szabo... I wonder if you play through her torture, rape, and execution or if it's told in cut scenes.

[nixpayn]

Velvet Assassin.. apparently someone has been reading David Eddings books.

(yes...remember..Silk hooked up with that Velvet chick..)

[Heretic Machine]

Violette Szabo... I wonder if you play through her torture, rape, and execution or if it's told in cut scenes.

Do you have a point to make in this post? Are you saying that video games shouldn't be based on the stories of heroic people who were later killed by their enemies?

So... considering how much I dislike Gamecock, this game better be on par with Rock Band to get me interested. I mean, I have about the same amount of hate for Gamecock and EA, so... yeah.

Additionally, I'm a lot more interested in Sabotuer. :D

Why do you dislike Gamecock? Also: Do you understand that Gamecock is a publisher, not a developer?

What happened to supporting creative developers?

[SpectralWolf]

Ah, for a moment I thought this was Saboteur

I made the same mistake. I've been really looking forward to that game. I haven't heard of this game before now, but I am very intrigued. I did some reading about Violette Szabo. She was quite the hero.

[SpectralWolf]

Violette Szabo... I wonder if you play through her torture, rape, and execution or if it's told in cut scenes.

I highly doubt that. From what I understand, after she was captured, she didn't really have an opportunity to be a spy any more, so this part of her life might be an epilogue of sorts.

I hope the game sets the right tone though.

[Arphahat]

Inspired by the true story of British Agent Violette Szabo, players will take on the role of Violette Summer.

So, it will likely have a happy ending.

[H1PO]

I too was thinking this was Saboteur for a second, and was about to shit myself in sadness. I cannot wait to play that badass come this fall. If they had turned him into a French chick, I would have cried myself to sleep.
So far, not that excited for this game. If it turns out to be good, I'll rent it, but I don't think I'll be having any trouble finding titles to play this fall.

[Zabyx]

Oh, thank heavens. For a second I thought this was about Sabateur (err, however you spell it).

[torrefaction]

OMG. My day is filled with joy. Somehow, over time, I'd gotten Turning Point:FoL confused with Saboteur. The game I was anticipated may still not suck!

Oh...the fun we will have.

Also, I'm very interested in this title..

[Variable Gear]

OMG. My day is filled with joy. Somehow, over time, I'd gotten Turning Point:FoL confused with Saboteur. The game I was anticipated may still not suck!

Oh...the fun we will have.

Also, I'm very interested in this title..

Umm...

When did you turn crimson?

[torrefaction]

Umm...

When did you turn crimson?

Couple of days ago. Evil was gracious enough to make me mod of the Urban Dead forum.

[TurboKinny]

I'm definitely interested. And having heard nothing about Saboteur (yes I know, I don't keep up with my news) I have to say, if it's more exciting than this, I will have to check it out.

[Purple Santa]

I remember some big article on Gamecock in Game Informer, a publisher that was interested in doing "different" stuff from developers. I actually look for stuff by them although I realize they are the publisher. I like their goal of getting different games to market. This one I don't remember reading about but i'm interested.

[Talanvor]

Why do you dislike Gamecock? Also: Do you understand that Gamecock is a publisher, not a developer?

What happened to supporting creative developers?

Yes, I know they are the publisher, which is sad. The reason I dislike them is how they depict themselves, (shoving as many dick jokes possible into every press release, crashing Levine's speech, etc), which affects all gamers. I thought we didn't want to be looked at as immature, pimply-faced basement dwellers, right?

Also, I'm a little afraid that this game is going to be Tomb Raider, but with spies! As in, you get to play a female, but she has enormous tits and next to no clothing. I don't see that as creative.