Ubisoft - Wii U FPS at launch, graphics superior to 360/PS3 for some games, new generation excitement, price cuts and more

A portion of a GamesIndustry interview with Ubisoft’s Yves Guillemot…

Q: Nintendo has revealed the Wii U, and I know Ubisoft has been closely involved with that hardware - what’s you initial reaction to a new console like that and Nintendo’s approach to the living room?

Yves Guillemot: I think that from the beginning when we saw that console we were impressed by the level of quality of the experience you could get. In fact, being able to have the pads plus touch is really something that can enhance your interaction with the game. And the fact that it’s a screen as well and it can receive information, send information, to your friends and family and so on, to make it easy for social activity, is something that I like a lot as well.

Q: So you’re happy to be getting in there quickly and first with Nintendo on this, and be there day one when the console comes out with some Ubisoft games?

Yves Guillemot: Yes, and certainly we will announce one game that we want to launch day one that is a new type of game, which should be interesting. It’s a first-person shooter game.

Q: Nintendo has been kind of vague on the specs of the machine at this stage, but how would you say that Ubisoft games are going to compare to games that are already out there? Is it going to be on a similar level in terms of visual quality and other aspects, as your Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 titles?

Yves Guillemot: Yes, I think at least. It should be even superior for some of the games. We don’t know everything, so we have a few things Nintendo is telling us that will have such and such powers.

Q: Developing for the Wii U, how significantly does that raise your development costs in the AAA space?

Yves Guillemot: It doesn’t increase it very much because the advantage is in being close to the other machines, you can do the game for all the formats at the same time. It’s a way to reach new families that may not have a PlayStation 3 or an Xbox 360. And with this interface it’s a new way to play, so many families who don’t play games will find it easier to use that controller.

Q: Do you think you’ll create contact exclusively for that or do you see it more as a third location for your big franchises?

Yves Guillemot: It will be both, new content and a third location.

Q: Do you think a price cut on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 would help?

Yves Guillemot: This year they will continue to drop the price, I think so. Nintendo already announced that they will do price cuts…

Q: With the Wii U coming out and PlayStation Vita, that’s almost the start of a new generation of consoles. Are you ready for that move? Are you happy to be moving on to the new generation of consoles?

Yves Guillemot: I always like a new generation of consoles because it’s really the best way for us to be more creative. It gives you lots of new ways to create. And also the gamers are more open to innovation when a new console is coming, they don’t consider all the brands the same way, so they go after something completely new and they try it. When the machines have been there for a long time you can always improve and increase the quality, but you don’t make revolutions in the way things are done.

Q: Do you think the current market has become a little bit stagnant and it’s time to move on…

Yves Guillemot: I think it is time, it is time. And that’s why I’m very happy when Nintendo comes with a new console.