Ubisoft Wants to Be Big Deal on 3DS

[Logan Westbrook]

Ubisoft Wants to Be Big Deal on 3DS

You'll be spoiled for choice for Ubisoft games when the 3DS launches, but the publisher says that 3D gaming has a long way to go before it's the norm.

Ubisoft hopes to have a significant presence on Nintendo's hotly anticipated 3D capable handheld when it launches, and expects that its games will make up large portion of 3DS software sales. It warns not to expect a similar wealth of 3D console titles however, at least, not just yet.

Speaking at Ubisoft's Summer Fair event, UK sales director Darren Bowen said that Ubisoft would have six to eight of the key launch titles for the 3DS, and anticipated a market share of between 25% and 30% when the handheld was released. Some of Ubisoft's biggest brands will be coming to the platform; including games from the Assassin's Creed, Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell series.

When it comes to 3D on consoles, however, Ubisoft believes that it will take time for the technology to really catch on. Marketing director Murray Pannell said that Ubisoft would fully support 3D gaming, but that the expense of 3D equipment was a stumbling block, and that it wasn't clear how 3D might translate to multiplayer or party games. Pannell said that for now, Ubisoft would focus on motion controls, as the technology was proven and it felt it would have the most impact in the short term.

Source: MCV [http://www.mcvuk.com/news/40029/Ubisoft-targets-30-share-on-3DS]


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[ArchAngelKira]

*sigh* I'm sure this will blow over soon. Next thing we know people will start making games out of virtual reality. I think nintendo stocks will seriously decrease after this

 

[Tales of Golden Sun]

As long as being big on 3DS big means creating good, substantial games for it and not creating a lot of sub-par shovelware games for it I'm okay with it.

 

[maxben]

*sigh* I'm sure this will blow over soon. Next thing we know people will start making games out of virtual reality. I think nintendo stocks will seriously decrease after this

That's what people said about the Wii.
At the end of the day, its innovation not strength that wins the tech market.
I see no reason for the 3DS to fail, especially seeing the dedicated userbase in Japan.

 

[JediMB]

So hang on, when it comes to consoles and 3D, Ubisoft says we're all going to have the pre-requisite (and expensive) TVs and goggles in our living rooms by 2013. Yet when it comes to the 3DS and its (comparitively) cheap and glasses-free 3D effects, then 'the expense of 3D equipment is a stumbling block'?

Just what is going on at Ubisoft? I don't think even they know what they're saying any more.

Um... I'm pretty sure you're reading that wrong. They're saying they're going to be a major player on the 3DS, but that it's too early to invest in 3D gaming on other platforms.

 

[enzilewulf]

Motion control.. 3D. Yet I am still entertained by Portal. O well. Also I don't want to look like the dork on the subway train wearing my 3D glasses while playing assassin's creed in 3D when I feel the need to move myself to avoid the projectiles at me. Wait that gives me a good Idea on how to screw with people.

 

[BobisOnlyBob]

Motion control.. 3D. Yet I am still entertained by Portal. O well. Also I don't want to look like the dork on the subway train wearing my 3D glasses while playing assassin's creed in 3D when I feel the need to move myself to avoid the projectiles at me. Wait that gives me a good Idea on how to screw with people.

3DS doesn't use glasses.

 

[enzilewulf]

Motion control.. 3D. Yet I am still entertained by Portal. O well. Also I don't want to look like the dork on the subway train wearing my 3D glasses while playing assassin's creed in 3D when I feel the need to move myself to avoid the projectiles at me. Wait that gives me a good Idea on how to screw with people.

3DS doesn't use glasses.

Eh I haven't looked anything up on it. So you have me there.

 

[Captain Booyah]

They're really pushing this shit, aren't they? -_-

I'm still failing to see how this will really catch on. I mean, the 'Everybody Will Have 3D TVs By 2013' is already ridiculousness taken to the extreme, but I really just can't see this staying and lasting. As a gimmick on a handheld like the DS, yes, but not on everything else.

 

[Undeadpope]

I found it quite funny,when combined with the title,the accompanying image is a massive picture of a DS.

 

[BobisOnlyBob]

Motion control.. 3D. Yet I am still entertained by Portal. O well. Also I don't want to look like the dork on the subway train wearing my 3D glasses while playing assassin's creed in 3D when I feel the need to move myself to avoid the projectiles at me. Wait that gives me a good Idea on how to screw with people.

3DS doesn't use glasses.

Eh I haven't looked anything up on it. So you have me there.

Good idea to pay attention to the topic of a story before you comment on it. To fill you in, what Ubisoft is saying is that they want to be a big player in the 3D market, but the 3DS is the only real platform for it at this time. The 3DS is a two-screen handheld with an analogue stick and 3D camera system. The bottom screen is touch-sensitive, and the top screen displays depth-3D naturally, without any requirement for glasses. While motion-based games are plausible on the 3DS, they're unlikely at best.

Back on consoles, Ubisoft thinks 3D will be big by 2014 or so, but right now they're only going to invest in motion control, not making games for the few 3D TVs that exist right now (and require obnoxious glasses).

You may end up flailing at a handheld on the train, but it wouldn't be anything we haven't seen before: Kirby's Tilt and Tumble for one, WarioWare's microphone-based games, and a few others [http://www.giantbomb.com/dsi-camera-support/92-2961/] have all used bizarre gimmicks unsuitable for public travel.

 

[Xanthious]

I still hold to my belief that the 3DS will the gaming world's most critically acclaimed flop. Well at least in the US and Europe. It may have a decent market in Japan because they are a strange folk and that seems right up their alley but I just don't think it will catch on Stateside or in Europe.

Aside from that I really wish Nintendo would stop relying on gimmicks to get their consoles/portables over and just focus on quality gaming. In fact, I would go as far as to say that after the Wii Nintendo may be well served going the way of Sega and focusing their efforts exclusively on software.

Eventually there will come a time when the novelty of their gimmicks will wear out and that time is approaching. How quickly it's approaching is debatable but it is approaching and when they run out of gimmicks it will be the N64 and Gamecube all over again.

 

[Pendragon9]

I still have this horrible feeling the 3ds will sell like Hotcakes, since the damn Wii had to make waggling a wiimote around popular.

Nintendo just keeps making gimmick after gimmick, and try as I might, i can never get into them.

Man, talk about a bad year for gaming.

 

[Rigs83]

Ubisoft is not as excited about people swinging ping-pong paddles around while wearing goggles.

 

[Sevre]

I think Rayman 3D would make a great addition, but other than that I can't see what else Ubisoft have to offer a handheld.

 

[squid5580]

So hang on, when it comes to consoles and 3D, Ubisoft says we're all going to have the pre-requisite (and expensive) TVs and goggles in our living rooms by 2013. Yet when it comes to the 3DS and its (comparitively) cheap and glasses-free 3D effects, then 'the expense of 3D equipment is a stumbling block'?

Just what is going on at Ubisoft? I don't think even they know what they're saying any more.

Um... I'm pretty sure you're reading that wrong. They're saying they're going to be a major player on the 3DS, but that it's too early to invest in 3D gaming on other platforms.

No, I think I read it right. I'm just contrastign what they said here with what they said a week or so ago. Seems as if they really don't know what they want to do with 3D.

They are playing it safe. Yeah we want 3d as long as you want 3d. If 3d takes off we were there behind it all along. If it flops we knew it would.