7 Wii titles in development by Ubisoft; Midway working on 6

[botticus]

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152589
While speaking on a panel at the Ziff Davis Electronic Games Summit in Napa earlier today, Ubisoft North America President Laurent Detoc revealed that his company currently has seven titles in development for Nintendo's upcoming Wii platform. This show of support came as a surprise to many, as the company had previously only demonstrated two of those seven titles: Rayman Raving Rabbids and Red Steel.
Detoc praised the Wii several times during the panel, stating that he expects it to have "a large audience and market." He also stated that he personally felt that in a time when fewer and fewer games appeal to him, the Wii offers plenty of enjoyment. "The first time I picked up that sucker I couldn't stop playing it."

On the same panel, Midway President David Zucker stated that his company has six titles in development for the Wii.

It's still early and who knows what the games are, but I find the initial 3rd party support showings to be pretty promising.

Edit: Update from Ubisoft says that the 7 titles in development are for the Wii launch date, with additional games planned for the following months of the launch period.

Announced Ubisoft titles:
Launch Date
Rayman Raving Rabbids
Red Steel
Far Cry
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII
Monster 4x4 World Circuit
Open Season
GT Pro Series

Launch Window
Prince of Persia Wii


Announced Midway titles (3 of the 6):
Blitz: The League
Mortal Kombat: Armageddon
Rampage: Total Destruction

[Roufuss]

Ubisoft and Midway... masters of the bargain bin!

When I get my Wii I bet all 13 titles from the combined two companies will probably be dirt cheap ;)

[shipwreck]

Well, one of the Midway ones is Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.

[botticus]

Well, one of the Midway ones is Mortal Kombat: Armageddon.
Yeah, was just gonna start populating the OP with the knowns. Which to this point is still just Rayman, Red Steel, and MK.

[jkam]

The playstation brand has always done well partially due to the sheer number of games....I could see the Wii doing well in this same way. I think its going to have a lot more games than the Cube.

[evilmax17]

Midway 2 out of 6 = Blitz: The League. This was confirmed awhile back.

NBA Jam needs to be made. Imagine freestyle dunking using the Wii remote, or going up for a dunk by throwing your hand in the air.

I'd put money on one of the Midway titles being an arcade compilation, although they should just put it on the VC.

[Follandboy]

I was bummed that MK Armageddon was not heading for the GC, but I will be bummed no more as Ill get it for the Wii.

[shipwreck]

I was bummed that MK Armageddon was not heading for the GC, but I will be bummed no more as Ill get it for the Wii.

And I'm still bummed it's not coming to 360. :(

[Genocidal]

Sadly, NBA Jam was remade already. It sucked. Please don't have them drag its name through the mud any more. :-(

[shipwreck]

Sadly, NBA Jam was remade already. It sucked. Please don't have them drag its name through the mud any more. :-(

They don't even own that license anymore. That's why they make NBA Ballers now. I wouldn't be surprised if the upcoming Spy Hunter game made it's way to the Wii. Plus I'm pretty sure that Midway has the rights to make games for most of the Cartoon Network shows, so a few of these games will probably be based off of those.

[evilmax17]

Midway 3 out of 6: Rampage Total Destruction

Forgot about that one. So far we have 3 ports from them:
-one old and decent port
-one semi-old and crappy/budget port
-one new yet out of place port

If this of theirs continues, it won't be hard to predict the other 3. Still, at least they're supporting it.

[botticus]

Midway 3 out of 6: Rampage Total Destruction

Forgot about that one. So far we have 3 ports from them:
-one old and decent port
-one semi-old and crappy/budget port
-one new yet out of place port

If this of theirs continues, it won't be hard to predict the other 3. Still, at least they're supporting it.
I suppose it's not entirely surprising from Midway, I guess we can hope Ubisoft presents us with a bit more originality. I seem to recall unofficial word of Rainbow Six: Vegas being mentioned, but I'll wait for an official announcement.

[4tygames]

Midway needs to bring back San Francisco Rush. Rush 2: Extreme Racing USA and San Francisco Rush 2049 were such great games, especially the multiplayer.

After seeing the reviews of LA Rush, it makes you wonder if Midway can develop or find a developer to create a good game.

[hohez]

of those 5 the only 2 I am really all that interested in are Rampage, and Rayman. And rampage better be 30 bucks or less at launch or else I'm no longer interested.

High hopes for Rayman though.

[elprincipe]

They don't even own that license anymore. That's why they make NBA Ballers now. I wouldn't be surprised if the upcoming Spy Hunter game made it's way to the Wii. Plus I'm pretty sure that Midway has the rights to make games for most of the Cartoon Network shows, so a few of these games will probably be based off of those.

Yeah, Acclaim stole the NBA Jam license from Midway. Then, ironically, they made a bad sequel or three and later went out of business. Unfortunately, in the process they sullied the once-good NBA Jam name, and Midway moved on to NBA Ballers.

But a Ballers game for Wii would be cool.

[Kaijufan]

Isn't Midway publishing Epic's games? I would love to see an Epic FPS on the Wii.

[elwood731]

Isn't Midway publishing Epic's games? I would love to see an Epic FPS on the Wii.
Wasn't there a big deal made about how the Unreal Engine 3 (?) could run on the Wii? I would not be surprised if we saw a FPS from them, or maybe even some flavor of Unreal Tournament.

[megaseadramon]

Along time ago I remember some website posted a listing for far cry wii. I hope this one comes through.

[megaseadramon]

Well I was right, here are the rest of the Ubisoft games

Far Cry

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII

Monster 4×4 World Circuit

Open Season

GT Pro Series

[shipwreck]

Well I was right, here are the rest of the Ubisoft games

Far Cry

Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII

Monster 4×4 World Circuit

Open Season

GT Pro Series

Not exactly Ubi's flagship titles, besides Far Cry. Mainly looks like stuff that was easy to port since it came out for current gen systems or is in development for current gen systems.

[Strell]

Not exactly Ubi's flagship titles, besides Far Cry. Mainly looks like stuff that was easy to port since it came out for current gen systems or is in development for current gen systems.

Far Cry isn't a port, GT Pro Series is a brand new game.

Other stuff is prolly a port, I wouldn't know.

[SpottedNigel]

Far Cry was a surprise.
After reading the preview in the new Nintendo Power, I REALLY want Rayman. It will have the first Wii version of milking a cow...

[shipwreck]

Far Cry isn't a port, GT Pro Series is a brand new game.

Other stuff is prolly a port, I wouldn't know.

So Far Cry is a brand new Far Cry?

[Strell]

So Far Cry is a brand new Far Cry?

According to Laurent Detoc (Ubi North America president), it is:


First, Far Cry Wii will include elements from Far Cry Insticts Evolution, in addition to a fresh storyline, new maps, characters and equipment. Second and even more importantly, Far Cry has strong diversity of gameplay so the game is a natural fit for the Wii remote.

[shipwreck]

According to Laurent Detoc (Ubi North America president), it is:

Something about the way that is worded makes it seem like it is kind of an expansion on Evolution, but it sounds like it will be a fairly large expansion if that is indeed what it is. Should be interesting to see what it plays like on the Wii.

[elwood731]

One more title--Prince of Persia Wii.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152632

[Ikohn4ever]

too many games to buy at launch now

[botticus]

One more title--Prince of Persia Wii.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3152632

Excellent...

And from 1up: UPDATE: An announcement press release from Ubisoft specifically indicates the seven announced games are meant for Wii's launch date, not the "launch period" we had originally suspected. The company also promised "more" games are in development for 2007.

[megaseadramon]

So they are coming out with the wii not within several months of the wii? May god have mercy on my wallet :)

[SpottedNigel]

....Birthday presents and X-mas presents = Wii Games.

Nice and easy

[evilmax17]

7 Ubi games on launch DAY? That's nuts. I almost feel bad because there's no way they're all going to sell well. It's almost like this launch is going to be too big!

[shipwreck]

7 Ubi games on launch DAY? That's nuts. I almost feel bad because there's no way they're all going to sell well. It's almost like this launch is going to be too big!

Ubi has never been known for being the smartest publisher in regards to spacing out their releases.

[megaseadramon]

I think they should spread them out within a three month time span. That way we arent getting overloaded with games.

[XboxHardcore.com]

As long as they dont try to charge $50 for those games they will sell. -- Sell them for $29.99 at the most.

[Ikohn4ever]

As long as they dont try to charge $50 for those games they will sell. -- Sell them for $29.99 at the most.


why not just give them away

[FriskyTanuki]

As long as they dont try to charge $50 for those games they will sell. -- Sell them for $29.99 at the most.
This is Ubisoft we're talking about. It'll be $50 at launch then $30 in January.

[XboxHardcore.com]

why not just give them away

Not a bad idea. Buy two Ubisoft Wii games, get the third free. Which would make each game $33 .... almost the $29.99 that I suggested.

[Corvin]

1up.com is reporting that Prince of Persia Wii is already in development as well, they just chose not to announce it yet.

[a7xrocker24]

Rayman Raving Rabbids
Red Steel
Far Cry

Those are the 3 games I want really bad from Ubi. I alway's loved the Rayman, and this game looks really wacky. I need Red Steel because I want to use the Wiimote to shoot Yakuza's and hack em with a sword. Then I absolutely NEED Far Cry because I have Far Cry for PC and loved it, I have Far Cry Instincts Predator for 360 and loved it, and I will love Far Cry using the Wiimote. I just hope it's different from Instincts, because it might be a little difficult player through that story over again, because it would get boring. I can't wait for Wii!

[Requiem]

This cant be real. I never heard of any company doing 7 games on launch, and barely any screenshots of Far Cry or Prince of Persia are released.

I think the Ubi guy misspoke and did not mean 7 games on launch. It almost sounds like some law violation bordering on the obscene. I don't think Nintendo would even allow that. (assuming final decisions must pass through them)

[megaseadramon]

Its not that far fetched. Its not like the PS3 where its a bitch to program for, its basically a gamecube so they can work more faster on games. Plus Ubisoft has many studios that they can devote to these games.

[XboxHardcore.com]

Seems like a lot of games to have on launch though... wouldn't it be smarter to space out the release dates to hopefully sell more of each game?

[botticus]

Seems like a lot of games to have on launch though... wouldn't it be smarter to space out the release dates to hopefully sell more of each game?
It all depends on the games. If they were releasing 7 FPS games, then yes, that would kill the sales of each individually. But if they are all different enough from the others, sales shouldn't be hurt just because it's from the same publisher. The people in the market for a Rayman game are not necessarily the people in the market for a Far Cry game. And if they are in the market for both games, in the sense that they would want both at launch, nothing's stopping them from getting both, any different than if they bought them both at launch 6 months apart.

[SMMM]

It all depends on the games. If they were releasing 7 FPS games, then yes, that would kill the sales of each individually. But if they are all different enough from the others, sales shouldn't be hurt just because it's from the same publisher. The people in the market for a Rayman game are not necessarily the people in the market for a Far Cry game. And if they are in the market for both games, in the sense that they would want both at launch, nothing's stopping them from getting both, any different than if they bought them both at launch 6 months apart.

Not to mention they most likely want the Wii to succeed. If Wii becomes the market leader, that means less stress and money on the developing...and to a lot of people out there quantity = quality...look at the PS2.

[megaseadramon]

They are all different genres so It will only help there sales

Rayman Raving Rabbids- Action/platformer
Red Steel- Gun/Sword Fps
Far Cry- Gun/Vehicle Fps
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII- Dog fighting game
Monster 4x4 World Circuit- Monster truck racing
Open Season- Platformer
GT Pro Series- Car racing?

So it offers something different for everyone and I plan on buying 4 of the games so I think they are doing the right thing.