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MCV 23/07/10 9 NEWS
Michael Jackson game set to be a sales Thriller for Ubisoft
Global publishing giant says the King of Pop actually approached them to create the upcoming dance game by Christopher Dring
MICHAEL JACKSON: The Experience will be Ubisoft’s latest million-selling sensation, the publisher has told MCV. Speaking in an exclusive interview with MCV, UK MD Rob Cooper says the firm was
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this Christmas season. It’s a unique game in its genre, allowing fans to step into the shoes of Michael Jackson. “We were approached quite a long time ago by Michael Jackson himself to build this game as he really liked what Ubisoft had done in the past.
We hope Michael Jackson: The Experience will be one of the biggest titles available this Christmas.
Rob Cooper, Ubisoft
approached by Michael Jackson himself – long before his death – to create a game based on his iconic dance movies. “We feel that this title will definitely be a million-seller,” he said. “We hope that it will be one of the bigger titles for
We’re so excited with this opportunity and to be a part of the legacy that he has left. “It is a real honour that his estate felt Ubisoft could produce a quality title which would bring his genius to a video game for so many to enjoy.”
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THE BUDGET games sector has seen its sales soar at key UK supermarkets.
Leading grocers have doubled their market share in games over the last 12 months, which has had a positive impact on value PC publishers, such as Focus, Mastertronic and Avanquest. “Supermarkets have become a key destination for games players,” said Mastertronic MD Andy Payne.
“There is an appetite for more casual-style entertainment products, such as puzzlers and ‘match three’ titles, at
supermarkets. Morrisons in particular is a star in this field.” The price-sensitive nature of supermarket shoppers has made them prime targets for budget publishers.
And over recent years, grocers have attracted more core gamers by discounting big-name titles, such as Modern Warfare 2 – which certainly hasn’t hurt value publishers’ sales. “Price promotions have reinforced supermarkets as destination stores for games,” said Focus Multimedia’s PR and marketing manager Alan Wild.
Rob Cooper (inset) is honoured by the faith Michael Jackson and his estate placed in Ubisoft’s team
The Michael Jackson game is also one of four new dancing video games the publisher has been working on for release this year.
The other three include the recently released Dance on
Broadway, upcoming fitness title My Fitness Coach: Dance Workout and the sequel to the Wii sensation, Just Dance. According to a recent rich list of deceased celebrities, the Michael Jackson estate has
made £168 million since the star’s death in June last year. Michael Jackson: The Experience will launch on DS, PS3, PSP, Wii and Xbox 360 this Christmas. Ubisoft: 01932 578000
Budget boosted by supermarket growth Lower-priced titles have been selling well at leading supermarkets
“Working closely with them allows us to ensure we are well represented in their stores.” Avanquest’s European games director Simon Reynolds added: “Where retailers carry out loss- leading promotions, we benefit in the exact way you would expect us to. Their high profile campaigns drive traffic into stores and we benefit from impulse purchasers buying products that they wouldn’t otherwise have bought.” For an in-depth look at the value software market, turn to page 25
DEVELOPERS! PUBLISHERS!
GET INVOLVED in the biggest videogaming event in the UK Contact David Lilley: Email
david@eurogamer.net Web
expo.eurogamer.net
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