Ubisoft has “big plans for Wii U” according to Tony Key, Ubisoft’s SVP of sales and marketing. Key outlined the company’s interest in the console in an interview with Gamasutra.
Key said:
“We have big plans for Wii U. Our intention is to be the number one third-party on Wii U, just like we were on Kinect and just like we were on 3DS.
“We’ve always had a really close relationship with Nintendo, so I’d venture to say that we did have an advantage in getting dev kits earlier than other people. I’m not saying we got them earlier than everyone, but I do think we got them early.
“They came to us and asked us to make Red Steel. The thing is, once these dev kits show up in the building, you’ve got these other teams peeking around the curtain going, ‘Hey, what’s that?’ Before you know it, there’s three projects being developed for the Wii in that one room, and then another guy from another studio just happens to be visiting and brings back some ideas…”
Key also mentioned how Ubisoft was able to prepare a significant amount of titles for the Wii’s launch. This stemmed from developer interest when Red Steel was being made for the system. Eventually Ubisoft ended up with seven launch games for the Wii.
According to Key:
“We do encourage that kind of experimentation, especially if we think the platform is commercially viable. [Ubisoft CEO] Yves Guillemot will say, ‘Let’s put a few guys on it, and let’s try it.’ So if they come up with a great idea, then we’ll roll with it.”
“That’s what happened on the Wii; we were so engaged with it after getting the kits for Red Steel that suddenly Rayman came out of that, and before you knew it we had seven titles in the launch window because the dev studios got so excited about the hardware.”
You know how GameStop has been selling download codes for 3D Classics: Kid Icarus? Apparently that is a limited time offer.
Nintendo’s official 3DS page mentions the following:
Limited time only:
Buy the download code at GameStop today.
I don’t see anything about this on GameStop’s website, but I’m inclined to believe Nintendo on this one! So if you have any interest in 3D Classics: Kid Icarus, be sure to pick up a download code soon!
Thanks to Jake for the tip.
The next generation of consoles is on the way, but Warren Spector is more concerned with creativity in the gaming industry.
In an interview with EDGE, Spector said, “I think most of the problems we have to solve are creative ones, not technical ones.”
He told the publication:
“If it comes it comes; when it comes, it comes. I’m not a tech guy, particularly. I’m a design, story, character guy. I think most of the problems we have to solve are creative ones, not technical ones.
“Obviously we make software, so there’s always a technical element to what we do, but I will make games that do whatever I want them to do at the end of the day, and I will use whatever technology [is] available.”
Nintendo of Japan has added in a new Iwata Asks interview for Kingdom Hearts 3D. Although an English version isn’t available currently, Nintendo of America will most likely translate the discussion as the game comes close to launch overseas.
Read on below for a summary of the talk. The first bit of discussion focuses on Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and covers the origins of Kingdom Hearts. Expect more information soon.
Nintendo teaches you the basics of Mario Party 9…
The latest report in the Wii U power saga comes from GamesIndustry, who was collected a number of quotes from unnamed developers. Two of these folks are in agreement when they say that the Wii U isn’t as powerful as the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360.
One developer said:
“No, it’s not up to the same level as the PS3 or the 360. The graphics are just not as powerful.”
A second developer echoed the same thoughts. The person below believes that the console “just can’t quite keep up” even though “some things are better, mostly as a result of it being a more modern design.”
“Yeah, that’s true. It doesn’t produce graphics as well as the PS3 or the 360. There aren’t as many shaders, it’s not as capable. Sure, some things are better, mostly as a result of it being a more modern design. But overall the Wii U just can’t quite keep up.”
A third source has weighed in on the Wii U’s controller, expressing some concern:
“The whole thing about the tablet controller is that you only get one of them, and you can only use one and it’s not completely independent. The base console has to be on, and you have to be in range. Other controllers are just Wiimotes, or other Wii controllers. They may change the form factor or looks a bit, but it’s the same controller.”
I think it’d be best to take this with a grain of salt. We simply don’t know who these developers/sources are, are there have been a number of contradictory statements that conflict with this report.
