Sunday, July 29, 2012

Assassin's Creed 3 Choses the 18th Century for it's new Setting

Gamers are eagerly anticipating the release of the third installment in the video game series, Assassin's Creed, and after seeing the trailer (at the cinema, my goodness!) I joined the multitudes of those eagerly waiting for the October release.  Assassin's Creed is no stranger to art history/history blogs.  With Assassin's Creed II being set in renaissance Florence, and with plenty artistic detail, I recall tweeting (or blogging, who can remember!) about it and the wonderful Three Pipe Problem was more than happy to give a thorough analysis of the game since it combined two of his favourite things.  I was forced to read on in envy.  But luckily this third installment takes place in Colonial America, and although void of famous works of art, still hold much promise.  As can be seen from the trailer:


Ooo looks awesome!  According to this preview video from the makers, the cities hold historical accuracy (because, goodness knows the protagonist's outfit could use some!) due to the designers consulting  eighteenth-century maps.  Those who have been to Boston will recognize some familiar sites that still remain there today.  According to the wikipedia page, the story is,
set before, during and after the American Revolution from 1753 to 1783, featuring a new protagonist: half-English and half-Native American, Connor Kenway, birth name Ratonhnhaké:ton (pronounced "Ra-doon-ha-gay-doon").
Hmm looks like this is as close to a Last of the Mohicans video game as I'll ever get!

But then UbiSoft said, "wait a minute, we have tall ships, redcoats, and major ass-kicking; maybe that just won't be enough for some people."
"By some people do you mean lady-gamers who like whipping out their handhelds on the afternoon commute?"
"Why yes, let's make another version of Assassin's Creed that takes place in eighteenth-century New Orleans and have a kick-ass chica with an awesome tricorn.  Who wouldn't want to play that?"*

Set in 18th Century New Orleans between 1765 and 1780, which is the time between the end of the French and Indian War up to the middle of the American Revolution, the game follows the story of Aveline de Grandpré, a female Assassin of French and African descent. Aveline is recruited to the Assassin Brotherhood by Agate, an escaped slave, who acts as her mentor. The plot of the game involves the cultural practice of plaçage, where wealthy French and Spanish men have an arranged marriage with a woman of African, Indian or Creole descent, thus allowing those women and their children to gain power, wealth and positions of power in society. 
Sounds awesome! Now if only I had the consoles to test these games out and report back...although October gives one ample time....

*obviously this conversation didn't happen.

10 comments:

  1. My brother called me into his room to see the part of Assassin's Creed II that took place in Florence and featured Leonardo da Vinci. :) He didn't sound very excited about ACIII, though.

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  2. The folks at AC are a little confused about the placage system but hey, it's not history, it's a game. Anything that features NOLA is a good thing.

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  3. My husband is chomping at the bit to get this new game. I'm not a huge gamer myself, but the makers of the Assassin's Creed series do a wonderful job recreating historical settings.

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  4. @Pauline, yeah I had a raised eyebrow at that one too but as you say, it's not history it's a game!

    I'm just excited to see a popular game placed in an exciting time!

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  5. I wish I had more time to play video games! *sad face*

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  6. The video sounds a bit racist to me.This may be stretching things but it sounds like the theories post the Civil War where there were conspiracy theories that the 'colored people' wanted to take over the white man's land as well as the justification to take over Native American lands around the time of the revolutionary war.There seems to be an undercurrent of racism but then that's just me.

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