Ubisoft CEO: We Think Wii U Will Be Successful

[KingVamp]

Even as hardware sales for Nintendo Wii decline, Ubisoft remains a strong supporter of the console. And why not? The Wii, despite its aging graphics and novel controls, is still the current-gen market leader with 90 million units sold.

That ability for Nintendo to reach mass markets is what has Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot sold on the Wii predecessor, the Wii U.

"We are big believers in the Wii U, on two subjects," Guillemot told Gamasutra as part of a larger interview. "One is for high-end games, where we'll be able to do a game for the Wii U, but also for other [high-definition] machines, but also with specific use of [Wii U's] tablet. Two, is we like the Wii U for all the [potential of] casual games."

Ubisoft is known for getting onto new gaming hardware early, and maxing out support while the initial offerings are sparse. It's the same strategy the Paris-based publisher used for Nintendo's Wii and 3DS, as well as Microsoft's Kinect sensor, to name a few.

But Ubisoft has also supported Nintendo beyond launch. The publisher is one of the few third-party companies that has been able to find major multi-platinum success this late in the Wii's life, thanks to a focus on the mass market gamer.

"Today, the Wii still is 45 percent of our business," Guillemot said. "Just Dance, all those casual games, are selling extremely well. So we are supporting the machine because we believe Nintendo is going to push it to another level. We think [Wii U] will be successful."

"Now to [what audience] will it be addressed? We don't exactly know yet," he conceded. "But the potential of the machine, and the tablet [controller], I think is a good way to improve the potential gameplay. What we see is the ease of play is a part of the revolution we are seeing today. The fact that it's easier to access games is what can make more people play. Maybe they can do a good job there."

Gamasutra will have more from Guillemot in larger interview on Tuesday.

Source

 

[Necron]

Of course, it's a Nintendo console. While N keeps making marios, zeldas, kirbys, it will live very well.

 

[Guild McCommunist]

Of course, it's a Nintendo console. While N keeps making marios, zeldas, kirbys, it will live very well.

That wasn't the case for the Gamecube and arguably for the N64 as well.

Every third party pretty much wants every game console to succeed so they can make a profit for it. Derp.

 

[chyyran]

Oh great, here comes the shovelware..

Ubisoft's "Casual Games" = Shovelware. No debate is needed, we all know this is true.

If Ubisoft thinks the Wii U is great, then that only means more crap from them.

On another note, I'm glad that the Wii U is getting more 3rd party support. Excluding Ubisoft, of course.

 

[KingVamp]

Well they did say they like it because they can push both "hardcore" and "casual" games.
Why do they do that? Wait and then develop seriously? From the start guys, from the start.

I like the wiimote,but I believe the umote appeal to more people and it would maybe just over shadow it.
I hope the wii u is successful to all gamers.

Not a game I play unless really push to do so, but is it fair to call dance games casual.
I didn't remember people calling DDR that.

 

[Coto]

Heck I really wish Nintendo do things right this time, much like the SNES // N64 era

 

[Necron]

Of course, it's a Nintendo console. While N keeps making marios, zeldas, kirbys, it will live very well.

That wasn't the case for the Gamecube and arguably for the N64 as well.

Every third party pretty much wants every game console to succeed so they can make a profit for it. Derp.

Well, those were the real Sony moments, so you can guess why it happenned.

 

[InuYasha]

Honestly I stopped caring what nintendo has been up to ever since I got my ps2 slim in a trade,havn't touched my ds lite in about 3 weeks...

 

[jan777]

Consoles gets sold really well when you can play "back ups" on it. Especially in third world countries.

 

[Bladexdsl]

as long as they keep their dirty DRM out of it!

 

[notmeanymore]

WiiUbisoft, anyone?

 

[DiscostewSM]

That title made me think....

"Wii Think, Wii U, Wii Be"

 

[RoMee]

Nintendo will always do well, Nintendo is casual.
Nintendo established itself as the "family" console
So as long as there's kids, moms, and grandparents the Nintendo will succeed in regards to units sold.

 

[KingVamp]

WiiUbisoft, anyone?

No... just no.

That sounds like they have they own console and that would be terrible.

Nintendo will always do well, Nintendo is casual.
Nintendo established itself as the "family" console
So as long as there's kids, moms, and grandparents the Nintendo will succeed in regards to units sold.

Iwata:- On the other hand, we do not think that developing video games for casual or light users is the only way to expand the gaming population. There was a misunderstanding that Nintendo was dedicated to such games at some stage of the lifespans of the Wii and the Nintendo DS. We have made efforts to develop video games that are in tune with various consumer tastes; however, we have not been able to gain adequate consumer understanding regarding our intentions, while in the common perception there are no or few core users playing Nintendo platforms, which is not the case.

To explain again about the consumer base we are trying to reach out to, our efforts for gaming population expansion are aimed at offering software that can be accepted by a wide variety of consumers, irrespective of age, gender or past gaming experience. As it is natural that Nintendo alone cannot provide every kind of software, we would like to achieve our goal in cooperation with various developers.

Link


Anyway, they probably will be successful because they going for all gamers.

 

[shakirmoledina]

it will be successful but how do u define successful? 2 million units sold or 20 million?
i think like the wii this will gain momentum quick and will be dominating the market for a couple of months.

 

[chris888222]

I never really believed the Wii U will actually fail.

Spoiler

Yeah. Be successful with shovelware! We, Ubisoft, will give you plenty!

 

[Bladexdsl]

coming soon imagine WiiU

 

[Janthran]

That's basically a confirmation for a Wii U Bomberman game.

 

[FireGrey]

I hope they make an Assassin's Creed game for the WiiU.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

Now I'm worried.