When it came to judging console manufacturer's and publisher's efforts at E3, Ubisoft was the recipient of plenty of praise from attendees and those viewing on the web. Its own press conference may have included some sketchy, cringeworthy jokes — though that's not exactly rare at E3 — but the games showed off, combined with an appearance at Nintendo's event, capped a good week for the publisher. In both of these appearances Wii U was prominent, and Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has reiterated his support for the system in an interview with Gamasutra, albeit acknowledging that it's a risk.
I think Nintendo has very often surprised us, so you never know. I think they've created something good, if the customer uses everything they have created, I think we can see a good success with that machine. That type of collaboration can be fun and also challenging at the same time. It's something has never been done before. ... Those guys are taking lots of risks with the games they create — and they're extremely successful.
Any new console is a risk, but how big a risk is Wii U for Nintendo? Let us know what you think in the comments below.
Comments 29
Well, they have my money... so that's a start I guess.
Taking risks with game development and hardware will help move the industry away from the brink of destruction which lately has become a stagnant quagmire of repetition and laziness.
The Wii U is actually a bigger risk for Nintendo than they really let on. There bringing a new console out that is slightly more powerful than the ps3 in two months, but alot of people already have a ps3/360 so for alot of those people, "upgrading" to Wii U would kinda look stupid at this point (especially since ps3 and 360 have a HUGE library of games u can get already). But on the other hand, if you ONLY like Nintendo, this will be like a day one purchase for you, and I bet they can't wait to get there hands on games other people have been enjoying.
Honestly, it's hard to say at this point if Wii U will sell like the Wii, only time will tell. Me, personally, I think PS3 will get a huge sales leap this coming year, and Wii U will see modest success (I can't see the Wii U hurting like the 3DS did at the beginning) Will I get a Wii U? Eventually, but I have to say until I see Zelda, Metroid. Smash Bros or at least some kinda killer game come to the system, I'm not really interested in the Wii U other than it's cool gamepad
Their games can fall anywhere from great to groan, but Ubisoft's support for the Wii U seems legit and very positive. Something we haven't seen on this sort of scale since the Capcom or Square days many generations ago.
Now, how about some Beyond Good & Evil 2?
they will have my money when a black slim version comes out hehe =D
I love she. Yves gets on stage.
And the Wii U isn't a big risk from a concept level. Its honestly just applying nintendo magic on a already known to be popular format. The risk is in the execution and bye having a tablet like gamepad indirectly putting yourself in competition with other tech companies and not just Sony and Microsoft.
@MadAussieBloke
But nintendo themselves have been pretty stagnet and playing it safe with the 3DS.
@hydeks
Thats a good point. The PS3 and 360 are more mature platforms. Even on WiiU you still have a good amount of Wii and Wiiware software but if your nintendo only you probably have played all of that.
Its still to early to tell but if I were to reccomend someone buying there first console this year it would be between the PS3 or 360.
As much as I love Nintendo, going head to head with Sony & MS for the market they already dominate would be a bigger risk. We Nintendo fans are loyal and though we may sometimes complain, we prefer Nintendo marching to the beat of their own drum. Besides who wants basically 3 identical consoles next gen?
@luminalace
Developers and people who only want one system.
We must take risks to reap the rewards...Whosaid that...? Sounds so....?
I think this system will release slowly, and pick up after major games on other systems are released on wii u as well as other modern systems, like CoD and Assasians Creed. Hardcore people will slowly filter back and within 3 years it will be doing great in sales.
@ajcismo: If Nintendo were to SOMEHOW work out an exclusivity deal for Beyond Good and Evil 2... the Wii U would begin jumping off of shelves and into shopping carts almost on its own.
@bro2dragons Yeah, since the original BG&E was such a smashing success...
But I agree with the general sentiment. What the Wii U needs is that one killer exclusive app that makes the system attractive to people that already own a PS360, or that will ignite the imagination of people that don't normally play games like the Wii did. There's almost no possible way the U will sell as well as the Wii did — but I think it can be highly successful with the right marketing and the right games. Personally I can't wait, and we haven't even scratched the surface of games that will eventually come out in 2013 and beyond.
I think the Wii U will probably do fine and mostly be the highest selling console of the next gen. it really depends on the price. it's rumored that the Xbox 720 will have no optical drive or backwards capability. which I think will really hurt it. in addition the system will need to be online 24-7, which isn't much of a problem but considering almost all ISP, in the US, have data caps now, it's going to serious hurt the average gamer. considering that the Xbox 720 won't be a huge leap from a techinical stand point, many Xbox gamers may just stick with the 360. plus sony is running with the PS3 for now so the Wii U might be the only option for gamers looking for new game, because we all know devs love jumping on new systems.
Nintendo can put a 400$ price tag on that thing, and I'm still gonna buy it day 1.
@brucelebnd
You do know that that wasn't the 720 but a 2nd model that was going to be released alongside it and be like a Romulus box only playing xbla andhqving media functions right?
The 720 is already known to be running bluray and be BC based on a few leaked doucments and other parts of Microsoft.
@luminalace
I can't say they 'dominate' the market! MS focus on PCs and PC gaming and Sony are focused on other technologies like TVs and blue-ray players etc. The Wii sold more consoles than any of the other current-gen and are also making steady profits, last year being the only time in history that they failed to do so. On that note Sony have been losing money since the PS3!
The wiiU is not as big of a risk as people think and will keep them strong. Sony and MS had their next-gen consoles due for 2016 but the WiiU has pretty much forced them to bring it forwards to asap basically. With Nintendo they have the regular 6-years a generation which would mean if Sony and MS kept at their original design, they'd skip a whole generation and Nintendo will be ready with their follow up for 2018! Potentially crushing the PS4/720 totally. If anything MS and Sony are panicking in the console-market.
Dominating... PAH!
I've never played a console like WiiU and I'm really looking forward to what it can do to make games better and more engaging. I'm also hoping they give us the option to use that Pro Controller whenever the heck we want to instead of pushing the tablet on everyone all the time.
Ubisoft is one of the few companies that fully utilizes the Wii, Red Steel 2 was just beautiful (We Ski from Namco was also pretty well done too)
The Wii U will be a bestseller....eventually...
There are no surefire winners in the gaming industry, and therefore everything is a risk. I love my 3DS, but I am personally far more excited about the Wii-U than I was when the 3DS was announced. I am convinced that as long as the Wii-U makes it release window of 2012 that it will be a success. Not quite the runaway success the Wii had at launch, but with the right pricing it should be a success.
I personally think as long as nintendo keeps their marketing plans in check as most users are commenting. The Wii U will be fine. It's funny how Nintendo is trying to get more "hard core gamers". But Nintendo is still smart enough to keep the buzz of the wii u with more I dare to say "commercial" websites for the casual gamers.
I'm personally happy about that... I could care less if "hardcore gamers" like my system... I know I like it and if millions of casual gamers buy my system I won't be worried about it being discontinued....
Nintendo still knows where its bread and butter is at... the casuals...
It's great that Ubisoft supports them. They're a really good developer and can be trusted. I just wonder why so many people think it's a bad idea when a lot of developers and analysts think opposite. The biggest complaint, the sizable controller, isn't very reasonable. Try holding a dvd case sideways. It's not THAT big! And remember the original xbox controller and how ridiculously fat and ugly it was! It got accepted. Personally, i can't wait until this console. I'm getting really tired of my 360 and the wii is starting to breaking down, giving me these"please eject the disk and turn off the power" screens.(sigh)
@triforcepower73
lol I'm in the same position with my Wii. I'm getting the loud noise every time I play the thing...
@LittleIrves: Sure, but most chalk that up to the timing and lack of marketing. BG&E is NOW pretty well regarded, however. It has a very dedicated fanbase and a LOT of core gamers looking intensely at what a sequel could offer. I think that could be the game to really change minds if it somehow were to come.
I'm tempted to make a crack at Ubisoft for their shamelss shovelware...but they're giving us AC III, Rayman Legends, and ZombiU too...so they're in my good books
It's great to see such a huge 3rd party developer having so much faith in the Wii U. I'd like to see a new Red Steel, too.
Good Yves, now please announce BG&E 2 for Wii U!
I like company like Ubisoft, when everyone talks sh*t into them they just win E3 and announce a big return (i remember N64 partnership) on Nintendo, sharing with Nintendo a quarter of their winning E3, damn!
Word Guillemot, word.
i dont see wii u as a big risck for nintendo if not a big success because its very powerful machine more powerful than ps3 and xbox 360
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