“This is one of the biggest games events of the year. Customers are excited about a new console enterting the market.” Our comprehensive trade launch guide to Wii U begins on p18
Far Cry 3 unfazed by COD threat
New shooter can stand its ground in the face of big budget rivals, says Ubisoft Delayed release a ‘strategic choice’ by Lauren Wainwright
UBISOFT is feeling confident about its upcoming open-world shooter Far Cry 3– even though it launches just after Activision’s powerhouse franchise, Call of Duty. Far Cry 3 was originally set for launch in September but was pushed back for to give Ubisoft’s Montreal studio more time to create a better game. It now
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Guay (above) and Hay (above right) want Far Cry to live up to gamers’ expectations
Disney: It’s the perfect time for a game movie
by James Batchelor
WRECK-IT RALPH should clean up at the Box Office as games become increasingly mainstream, says Disney. The movie tells of a villain from a fictional 8-bit arcade game trying to find a new role as a good guy in more modern games such as sci-fi FPS Hero’s Dutyand Mario Kart-style racer Sugar Rush. Hype for Wreck-It Ralph is growing amongst consumers as word emerges of cameos from classic characters such as Bowser and Sonic the Hedgehog. But Disney says it’s not just hardcore fans that will
6 October 19th 2012
love this film – now that games are a staple of the living room, there will be something for everyone.
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Had this movie come out 15 years ago, we’d be in a
different place. Clark Spencer, Disney
“Video games have been around for 30 to 35 years, so you get a perfect spectrum of people,” the movie’s producer Clark Spencer told MCV.
“There are people in their fifties now who played those first 8-bit video games and kids who play today’s most modern type of games, so there’s enough range that you can have this movie appeal to everybody. “Had this movie come out ten or 15 years earlier, I think we’d be in a different place in terms of the way the video games market has grown and the history it would have. It feels like it’s the right moment in time to release a movie about video games.” Wreck-It Ralphwill reach UK cinemas in February. Disney: 020 8222 1413
Spencer says Wreck-It Ralph will appeal to more than just gamers People are
going to look for experiences that are a little different.
Henri Guay, Ubisoft Montreal
releases two weeks after Black Ops II and will follow a long line of big name shooters including Medal of Honor: Warfighter and Halo 4. “Far Cryhas always been a little bit off the map in terms of the offer that it gives,” said Ubisoft brand manager Henri Guay. “People are going to continue to play Call of Dutyand people are going to look for experiences that give them something a little bit different. We feel we’re in a comfortable spot.” Far Cry 3 product manager Dan Hay adds that the game’s delay was the right move to ensure the title lives up to fan expectations.
“Far Cry 3is a big game and there’s an expectation. We wanted to make it as great as it absolutely can be,” he said.
“There were a couple of things we were talking about cutting from the game that I just couldn’t bear to take away from the consumer. So the reality is that we have made a very strategic choice.”
Guay added: “I think we’re in a lucky situation where Ubisoft, through all levels of the organisation, was ready to make a commitment to the brand. To have the support at an organisation level to say we’re committed was great.” Far Cry 3is due for launch on November 30th for Xbox 360 and PS3. A PC version is also due.