All-new character, all-new setting - what did it take Ubisoft to jump from Assassin's Creed to its sequel? Patrice Desilets had to call the shots in terms of creative direction for Assassin's Creed 2, and from what we learn in this video interview, the switch from Altair to Ezio and the setting of the Third Crusade to the Italian Renaissance took a lot of research. They even went for some tours in Italy! (Maan, being in video development is so cool, huh?)

A new entry in Ubisoft's Ghost Recon franchise was confirmed in the company's recently-released financial documents along with target release windows for two more Ubisoft games: Splinter Cell: Conviction and Red Steel 2.

Microsoft Europe's David Gosen has questioned the gaming industry's seasonal approach to game releases in a recent interview with MCV. According to Gosen, the focus on Q4 and Christmas releases has put the sustainability of new IP into question, and that a second or third release window will be good news for the industry. Great news for my wallet as well, since I won't have to buy all the major releases I want in one big go. More after the jump.

A sign that we are closer to the end of the world: Japan seems to be falling out of love with video games. The latest numbers show that sales of consoles have dropped across the board. On the bright side for Sony, the PS3 is close to becoming top dog again since Wii sales experienced a sharp slump.

Did you have yourself a Mario little Christmas? (I can hear you groaning.) Analyst Jesse Divnich says that "Nintendo saved Christmas," with Wii sales on an all-time high for December. Without these sales, he says, the industry would have felt "the full wrath of the recession."

How far would you go for your favorite video game character? This kid went all the way to court. 11-year-old Judson King was such a Sonic the Hedgehog fan that he decided he wanted the real thing - only to find out that hedgehogs were illegal in his city. What's a boy to do but take the case to court?

A very Merry Christmas from your friends at QJ. Here's to sneaked peeks, to torn wrapping paper and gingerbread, to stocking stuffers and pudding, to merriment and relaxation. Basically, we hope you folks are taking it easy.

All the very best,

Team QJ.

BWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

The rabbids want to greet you a Merry Christmas. Video after the link.

Short but sweet update: Take-Two Interactive is planning to release BioShock 2 in 2009. Oh, you say you already got that from the title alone and I'm wasting your time with filler text? Why, yes, I am.

Looks like Nintendo isn't the only one getting a class-action lawsuit for Christmas. A new lawsuit (with an old tune) is claiming that Microsoft knew about the Xbox 360's disc-scratching problem way before the console was released.

Details in the full article.