Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This video game-related article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards or the Video Games project's guidelines. Video game-related articles should adhere to the Manual of Style and should not contain unverifiable information, nor should they have gameplay instructions or excessive details. (February 2008 )

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007)

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas
Developer(s)	Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher(s)	Ubisoft
Composer(s)	Paul Haslinger
Engine	Unreal Engine 3.0 Build 3378
Version	1.06
Platform(s)	Xbox 360, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, Mobile phone
Release date(s)	Xbox 360 NA November 12, 2006 EU December 1, 2006 AUS November 20, 2006 Windows NA December 12, 2006 EU December 16, 2006 AUS December 14, 2006 PSP NA June 12, 2007 EU June 29, 2007 AUS June 28, 2007 PS3 NA June 26, 2007 EU June 29, 2007 AUS June 28, 2007
Genre(s)	Tactical shooter, first-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, adversial multiplayer, cooperative multiplayer
Rating(s)	CERO: D ESRB: M (Mature) (Blood, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes) ESRB: T (Teen) (PSP) OFLC: MA 15+[1] PEGI: 16+[2] PEGI: 15+ (FI) (PC, Xbox 360)[2] USK: 18[3] USK: 16 (PSP)[4]
Media	DVD, DVD-DL, UMD, Blu-ray Disc
System requirements	* Windows XP, Windows Vista Processor: P4 3 GHz or AMD equivalent Hard drive space: 7 Gigabytes RAM: 1024 MB Video card: 128 MB, Shader Model 3 and DirectX 9.0c compatible Sound card: DirectX 9.0c compatible DirectX version: DirectX 9.0c Multiplayer: Local area network (LAN) and/or 128 kbit cable/DSL.

Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas is the sixth game in the Rainbow Six series of video games. It was released for the Xbox 360 on November 21, 2006 and Windows on December 12, 2006. The PlayStation Portable version was released on June 12, 2007, while the PlayStation 3 version was released on June 26, 2007. The game's storyline follows a new Rainbow team that is dispatched to Las Vegas, Nevada to defeat international terrorist Irena Morales and her army of mercenaries that is repeatedly attacking key locations in the city. A direct sequel developed by Ubisoft Montreal was released on current-generation consoles in March 2008 and on PC in April 2008.^[5]

Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Plot 3 Development 3.1 Patches 3.2 Xbox 360 Collector's Edition 3.3 Expansion packs 4 Reception 5 Dynamic advertising 6 Major League Gaming 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Gameplay

This article may contain original research or unverified claims. Please improve the article by adding references. See the talk page for details. (September 2007)

Rainbow Six Vegas changes the series with multiple new features, such as a new health system where the player regenerates health while not taking fire (it should be noted that the player may sometimes be killed instantly, without a chance to regenerate health; this usually happens from grenades, as well as taking close range fire from very powerful weapons, particularly to the head). However, the regeneration is slow in comparison to other games; if the player does not move to cover quickly enough, one or two more bullets will lead to death. The player's vision is also greatly impaired while damaged, similar to the health system in Gears of War. Furthermore, a third-person view has been included for moments where players can blind-fire around corners to lay down suppression or covering fire. Other changes include a larger enemy presence and much tougher artificial intelligence, a shift in focus to where kills will be much harder to obtain, a reincarnated aiming system similar to the aiming system of the old Rainbow Six games and Call of Duty, a context-sensitive D-pad based command system for the player's squad and sections of game play where the player will scale buildings and cause environmental damage. This command system was borrowed from another Ubisoft game, Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. The player can also give voice commands using the Xbox 360 headset, but team-mates are no longer audible through the headset. The game has also been noted for rectifying the artificial intelligence for squad members, a problematic game-play element that afflicted previous games in the series, alongside Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter 2.

There is no save system, instead the game relies on a checkpoint system.

The developers have also opted to not include any cutscenes, instead telling the story through video feeds played through the heads-up display, similar to Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter. Most important was the developers' decision to remove the mission planning feature.

The player also has various skills, such as the ability to rappel up and down buildings while shooting and the ability to fast rope into an area.

[edit] Plot

In the year 2010, Rainbow operatives Logan Keller, Gabriel Nowak and Kan Akahashi are on a mission in a Mexican border town. Their objective is to arrest Irena Morales, a terrorist ringleader. As the team reaches its landing zone in a helicopter, Logan fast-ropes down first but is separated from his group.

Logan fights his way through the terrorist-infested streets and meets up with Gabriel and Kan at an old Spanish church. After infiltrating a train yard and freeing a group of hostages, Rainbow eventually makes their way to a mine where Irena is hiding. However, after a surprise attack, Irena escapes and Gabriel and Kan are captured by terrorists.

Alone and armed only with basic equipment, Logan fights his way through an abandoned factory, eventually escaping by helicopter. He is then instructed to handle a related crisis in Las Vegas. He is dropped outside the Calypso Casino and links up with his new team: Michael Walters, a British demolitions expert, and Jung Park, a Korean electronics expert. The team clears out the casino and saves a group of hostages. They also rescue a NATO weapons researcher, who reveals that a second researcher has been captured.

Rainbow is then taken to a Chinese restaurant in order to rescue a kidnapped reporter. The reporter informs them that the terrorists are using a news van as a communications hub. Logan's team destroys the hub, then flies out to rescue the kidnapped weapons researcher.

Rainbow is dropped on the Vertigo Spire, a luxury hotel along the likes of the Stratosphere. The team finds and rescues the missing researcher, who informs the team about a micro-pulse bomb that was placed in the Vertigo. Michael disarms the bomb, and Rainbow is then extracted to locate Gabriel and Kan.

The team is dispatched to Dante’s Casino, where they find and free Gabriel. They also find Kan, but he is fatally shot in an ambush. Before he dies, Kan reveals that the attack in Las Vegas is a distraction, and Irena's terrorists are planning a far bigger attack. The team proceeds to a theater to hack a terrorist server. Irena's target is revealed to be the Nevada Dam (very similar to the Hoover Dam).

Rainbow arrives at the dam, where they discover another micro-pulse bomb. After Michael defuses the bomb, the team fast-ropes to the bottom of the dam. A hostage informs them that the dam will buckle unless they open an emergency release valve. The crisis is resolved and the team proceeds further into the dam, where they find that it is a weapons research lab. It turns out the terrorists have a micro-pulse missile on top of the dam.

Logan presses forward, confronts Irena Morales herself and kills her. The team then heads to the top of the dam and destroys the missile. Logan receives a transmission from Gabriel, who tells him that he is Irena's mole. He has hijacked Rainbow's helicopter, and left the crew under attack by terrorists. The team rushes to defend the helicopter crew.

Gabriel attempts to escape with the helicopter. Logan can let Gabriel escape or he can shoot it down with a mounted machine gun. Afterward, Logan and the team are sent out to find the organization behind Irena's and Gabriel's terrorist activity. When the mission completes, the words "To Be Continued" appear on the screen, implying a sequel. As the credits roll, a news clip states that a helicopter had crashed in the lake, but Gabriel's body was not found.

[edit] Development

[edit] Patches

As with many Ubisoft titles the game featured a number of glitches/bugs upon release. Eventually, patches were released, but the patches were not available until months after the games release. During this time, the community was left with little word from the community managers at Ubisoft. One of the main things that the community was upset over was the SADS (stand alone dedicated server), which the community tried to develop on their own. The community worked to develop their own SADS in hopes that Ubisoft would make one or improve on what the community tried to accomplish. However, the developers took the SADS straight from the community and put it into a patch.

During November 2007, the North American Support Supervisor announced on the Ubisoft forums that Ubisoft "has and will always provide support for this title". He also said, "As for the rumors of no further patching, I can confirm that the rumor is false. There is another patch in the works. Unfortunately at this time, we do not have a release date or a fix list. We have been listening and have heard your complaints. All that we ask is that you please continue to be patient."^[6] The patch was released on July 19, 2007 and updated the game to version 1.05. Since that time, Ubisoft has released the latest patch 1.06.

[edit] Xbox 360 Collector's Edition

A Limited Collector's Edition of Rainbow Six: Vegas for the Xbox 360 version was released at the game's launch featuring alternate cover art and a bonus disc. The bonus disc contained a documentary on the making of Rainbow Six: Vegas and a Rainbow Six retrospective, which features information on all Rainbow Six games in the series.

[edit] Expansion packs

On April 18, 2007, the Player's Pack Red Edition was released as downloadable content on Xbox Live for 800 Microsoft Points. The pack includes two new game modes. The first is "Assassination" whereby one team has to protect a VIP armed only with a pistol, whilst the other team needs to assassinate him. The second is Conquest (a "capture and hold"-style game, whereby each team has to hold as many strategic points for as long as possible). Three new maps were also included: "Doscala Restaurant," "Marshalling Yard," and "Roof." The maps "Killhouse" and "Border Town" have been redesigned and packaged as two new "redux" maps. The expansion pack comes directly after an update was released for the game. All original game modes and maps are intercompatible with those featured in the Player's Pack Red Edition. On July 6, 2007, the Red Pack was made available for download free of charge.^[7]

On June 26, 2007, a new downloadable content pack was released. The Player's Pack Black Edition features five new maps. "Red Lotus", "Wartown" and "Neon Graveyard" are the three newly featured maps. "Streets: Redux" has been redesigned in a similar fashion to the Redux maps found in the Player's Pack Red Edition, and "Presidio" is a map overhauled and upgraded from Rainbow Six 3. On June 27, 2007, the Black Edition was retracted from the Xbox Live Marketplace. Ubisoft announced that it was pulled due to a pricing error, and that the pack (which was originally priced at 800 Microsoft Points) was intended to be free.^[8] On June 30, 2007, the Black Edition was re-released for download free of charge. All Xbox Live users who paid for the pack had their points reimbursed.

Both the Red and the Black expansion packs were included in the PS3 version.

Both map packs were released for PC platform on July 26, 2007.

[edit] Reception

The Xbox 360 edition of Rainbow Six: Vegas was released to very positive reviews from major gaming news outlets, such as GameSpy (5/5),^[9] GameSpot (9.1/10),^[10] IGN (9.3/10),^[11] and TeamXbox (9.5/10).^[12] IGN called Vegas the "best first-person shooter on the Xbox 360", while GameSpot described the game as an "excellent, immersive tactical shooter". G4's X-Play also liked the game, putting it on their 2006 Holiday Buyer's Guide, and also giving it a perfect 5 out of 5.

Rainbow Six Vegas has won numerous awards, including "Best First-Person Shooter",^[13] "Best Xbox 360 First-Person Shooter",^[14] "Best Online Game",^[15] and "Best Xbox Live Game"^[16] in IGN's Best of 2006, as well as an "Editor's Choice Award" from GameSpot. Gaming Target also selected the title as one of "52 Games We will Still Be Playing From 2006".^[17] It also received the "Best Online Game" award from OXM in their annual Game of the Year awards.

The PC version has also received positive reviews.

As of March 31, 2007, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Vegas has sold 1.7 million copies, according to Ubisoft.^[18]

[edit] Dynamic advertising

Rainbow Six: Vegas includes dynamic real world advertising on billboards and lighted posters in certain areas. Some dynamic advertising requires that the player be connected to the internet, although the single-player campaign displays advertisements to the player on billboards by default, particularly Axe bodyspray.

[edit] Major League Gaming

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (March 2008)

In early 2007, Rainbow Six: Vegas became the first Xbox 360 title to join the Major League Gaming (MLG) Circuit. It premiered in the opening event of the season in Charlotte, North Carolina. This game had its last showing at Las Vegas Nevada, the final stop on the 2007 MLG Pro Circuit. However, Rainbow Six: Vegas 2, the game's sequel, will be featured on the 2008 MLG Pro Circuit, with its first showing in San Diego, California.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• The Official Rainbow Six: Vegas Site
• Official Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas mobile game site
• Rainbow Six Vegas 2 Ranks - Multiplayer

v • d • e Tom Clancy video games Rainbow Six series Rainbow Six · Rogue Spear · Take-Down · Raven Shield · Black Arrow · Lockdown · Critical Hour · Vegas · Vegas 2 Ghost Recon series Ghost Recon · Island Thunder · Jungle Storm · Ghost Recon 2 · Summit Strike · Advanced Warfighter · Advanced Warfighter 2 · Ghost Recon 4 Splinter Cell series Splinter Cell · Pandora Tomorrow · Chaos Theory · Essentials · Double Agent · Conviction Ryanverse series The Hunt for Red October · The Sum of All Fears Other titles Red Storm Rising · SSN · Politika · ruthless.com · Shadow Watch · EndWar · H.A.W.X.