What happens when bad-asses get old? They look back into history at the fates of other, long-dead badasses. Watch the latest trailer for the finale of Ezio Auditore's saga and see how UbiSoft plans on making the gray-bearded assassin go out with a bang.

Hollywood loves nothing so much as copying successes. It's how gladiator, vampire and zombie trends start to run amok. And now that historical action hybrids are all the rage—Sherlock Holmes, The Da Vinci Code, we're looking at you—there's apparently a rush on projects centered on Leonardo DaVinci. Slashfilm's got the scoop here.

In a way, the prototypical Renaissance Man could be a great polymath action hero. He may not have been a brawler but he invented amazing contraptions during a time of antiquarian tumult. That's enough for Tinsel Town. It's probably not a coincidence that these projects are finding traction at a time when the Assassin's Creed games have introduced Da Vinci to new audiences via a powerful entertainment medium. Now, if DaVinci's in the Assassin's Creed movie that's in development, then someone might have to call in the Templars.

Young Leonardo Da Vinci Action Movie ‘Leonardo' in Development at Universal [Slashfilm]

Whether it be Florence or Jerusalem, Vence or Tyre, Assassin's Creed has done a remarkable job of bringing cities to life. Constantinople is the lastest city to get the AC treatment.

This teaser trailer for the upcoming Assassin's Creed: Revelations shows life in Constantinople. It dazzles, just like the city it portrays.

Last year, the multiplayer for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood proved to be a surprising and promising addition to the historical adventure series. A new video for Assassin's Creed Revelation reveals the new abilities, modes and locations coming to this year's sequel.

Batman has his own stories but now and then runs into Superman. In Today's Speak Up on Kotaku commenter Aikage imagines a video game universe filled with countless games linked by a single continuity. What an Oddworld idea.

Video games need to take a cue from comic books.

It'd be great if instead of endless sequels, we got games in a similar vein, in the same "universe" but different main characters. The closest thing to this I can think of was Dragon Age 2 compared to Dragon Age: Origins. Different main character but the game takes place in the same universe.

If this doesn't appeal to you think of it this way, You're playing Uncharted and one of the treasures you're after is something that was being created during your play through of Assassin's Creed. In comic books the effects of one comic frequently will be mentioned, or have an impact in another comic. This sort of interrelatedness among the issues leads to awesome things like...the Avengers movie! (hopefully).

Anyway, if you could design some video game crossovers regardless of publisher/developer who would you have meet?

Last month, it was reported that Sony and Ubisoft will soon sign an Assassin's Creed movie deal. From the sound of it, this is no normal movie deal.

Ubisoft apparently has control over everything, from the budget to the script to the actors to even the release date. According to one studio exec, Ubisoft even wants the ability to "pull the plug" on the project should it decide to.

"As a director, even Steven Spielberg cannot get this kind of deal," an insider told Vulture. It's Ubisoft's far-reaching control over the project that ultimately might mean it never gets made.

Spielberg, above, is of course not currently attached to this project, but, as one of the most powerful Hollywood players, mentioned to illustrate how rare Ubisoft's deal apparently is.

Supposedly, Ubisoft is ponying up the majority of the film's development, and this could by why it's pushing for so much control.

Insiders told Vulture that Ubisoft felt as thought Prince of Persia wasn't as good as it could have been because the game maker didn't have enough control over the project. However, Disney insiders said that Ubisoft had too much control over the picture.

Asked one studio exec, "It begs the question, if they're so afraid of what will happen to their franchises, why make a movie at all?"

Money, that's why. Money.

Kotaku is following up with Ubisoft and will update this post should the company comment.

Why a Killer Deal to Turn a Hit Video [Vulture]

For me, the big question is not why NFL running back Adrian Peterson, NBA point guard Derrick Rose, or MMA fighter B.J. Penn are stumping for Assassin's Creed: Revelations. For me, the question is "Where the hell do I get one of those hoodies."