Ubisoft reveals seven Wii launch titles, including Far Cry [update 2]

by Ross Miller { Aug 3rd 2006 at 1:25PM }

Yesterday Ubisoft announced it would be bringing seven titles for the Nintendo Wii. Today the company revealed seven of those games, and promised to have all of those available within the console's launch window.

Including the already-announced Red Steel and Rayman Raving Rabbids, Ubisoft is giving Wii fans five more games:

Far Cry
Blazing Angels: Squadrons of WWII, a military dog fight sim
Monster 4x4 World Circuit, a truck racer
Open Season, an adventure game based on the upcoming CG film by Sony Pictures Animation
GT Pro Series, a new racing IP

Seven titles for a launch window, especially the ever-popular Far Cry, is an impressive number for any developer -- even more so for a third-party developer on a Nintendo console. Ubisoft has also noted that it has many more titles in development for the Wii. Are Nintendo's third-party woes coming to an end?

[Thanks, Zelda Master]

[Update: IGN is also running an interview with Ubisoft's North American president Laurent Detoc who says, "We made a bet by starting development for the Wii earlier than others and we intend to maintain our advance on the platform. You can see it as a double-down move. We don't have a crystal ball but we think the Wii is going to be a huge success right away and we want to be the number-one independent publisher for Wii in 2006." Hear that EA? You've got some catching up to do. Thanks for the link, Cameron.]

[update 2: minor typo fixing]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Jake @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:28PM

Great news. The Wii controller could make for a fun dogfight sim.

Cameron @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:31PM

The IGN-Ubisoft interview should probably be posted as well to get some more information about these games. Great news, though.

http://wii.ign.com/articles/723/723081p1.html

Crazylink @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:32PM

I've never played a Far Cry game, is it worth buying?

Foppe @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:33PM

Military dogs that fights? Woff.

...yeah I know it´s about airplanes, but dogs are so cute ;)

trent @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:34PM

farcry is a great game, or was in its time. its kinda like the predator movies as in dense jungle and a bunch of dirty marines. i cant believe it would run on the wii lol. id like to see what corners they have to cut to make it work. also i wonder what they plan to do to make it worth buying since the game is already about X years old.

brainnnnny @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:35PM

I believe that brings the wii launch titles up to 30+. Far Cry was a complete blast on the PC, the only shooter I've really enjoyed since the first serious sam.

I just hope they use the wiimote like a joystick in the cockpit, that would be really cool. :D

Zelda Master @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:36PM

Cool, Joystiq gave me credit.:) Ubisoft is making too many titles I want for Wii. First Red Steel, then Rayman, and now another Far Cry. Thw Wii launch keeps getting better and better.

JimmyHACK @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:37PM

good stuff,

gonna use the hell out of my gamefly account at Wii launch

vidGuy @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:37PM

Nintendo has set precedence by using the remote like a mouse in Metroid Prime 3's Expert (control) Mode. It'll control like a keyboard+mouse setup with a centered reitcule.

I hope Far Cry follows its path. PC control on the Wii? I'm sold.

vidGuy @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:38PM

Wii under $250 (likely $199)
Wii games around $49.95 (no Nintendo game will release for more than that)

JohnMazz @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:39PM

Far cry on the Wii is exciting news. The controller seems so perfect for a FPS, that I thought we would have seen more coming. I've played FarCry on the PC, and the graphics are very realistic, I hope other people who have played it on PC don't get discouraged if the graphics aren't as good.

.ed @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:42PM

wow, awesome list of games.

common sense @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:44PM

This is the farcry like the xbox versions. Which if you dont know were not as good as the pc ones.

Zelda master are you serious. rayman? jesus christ.

And red steel cant even compete with games like halo 2 or half life 2 which are 3 years old. Not to talk about gamnes like halo3, resistence: fall of man, or gears of war.

So to say the least, this is not impresive. When I see the new splinter cell as an exclusive for the wii, or even games like ghost recon or rainbow six, then id care, but come on, nintendo fans stop pretending, these are the same games that if they came out on ps2 youd say they are crap.

Ben Roe @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:44PM

Blazing Angles? Is that some kind of trigonometry teaching game?

crono141 @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:51PM

Must.... not.... feed..... trolls.....

Awesome list. The Wii launch is going to be the best launch in recorded history.

Zelda Master @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:53PM

@common sense
Do the games look visually awesome? Hell no. But do you know what they look like to me? F-U-N. And last time I checked, that is what gaming is all about. Plus, you can't compare the Wii and 360 visually. 360 will always win.
Cheers!
-ZM

Lunker @ Aug 3rd 2006 1:53PM

Common Sense wrote:
"So to say the least, this is not impresive. When I see the new splinter cell as an exclusive for the wii, or even games like ghost recon or rainbow six, then id care, but come on, nintendo fans stop pretending, these are the same games that if they came out on ps2 youd say they are crap."

Yes, probably. Because the whole excitement factor of playing something on the Wii is the controller, in case you hadn't noticed. I quite enjoy FPSes but can't stand using analog-stick controls. To have something more akin (and possibly superior) to a KB+M setup for a console is beautiful, and it's the majority of why this news is 10 gallons of excitement in a 5-gallon jar.

vidGuy @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:03PM

I agree with common sense: games that haven't been released yet CAN'T compete against games that have been out for years. ;)

Red Steel won't likely sell as well as those games, but it has the potential to sell 1 million+ and be a lot of fun.

robotplague @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:03PM

Rayman looks incredible, I've never even owned a Rayman game but I think I'll be picking it up at launch. I'm really pumped for Wii, this is going to be great.

Paul P. @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:03PM

In the interview he mentions an accesory for the controller that will be am ust have. "Stay tuned". And it's a driving game. Would I be insane to speculate a radio adapter for the controller's speaker? Huh? Tune?

Quil @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:05PM

The Ubisoft Seven... I hope it's better than the Capcom Five!

NintyBoy @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:07PM

I'm just waiting for that all important mario kart game. Unofficial I know but the hours I spent on double dash...

http://www.MarioKartWii.com

crono141 @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:09PM

More likely a steering wheel

Jake @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:09PM

"...and it's the majority of why this news is 10 gallons of excitement in a 5-gallon jar."

Sorry to be a jerk, Klunker, but excitement is incompressible, therefore making it impossible to fit 10 gallons into a 5 gallon jar, especially given a jar's susceptibility to shattering under pressure.

It is a sad day, though, for anti-Nintendo fanboys. Five new Ubisoft games in one day and not one of them features fuzzy characters. I mean, several are ports with the updated control schemes, but they are still new to a lot of Nintendorks out there who haven't played them yet.

I may have to rent Far-Cry and the dogfight one. New racing IP is intriguing as well. An online dogfight game would be well received on the Wii, I do believe. Still more stoked about Gears of War and Zelda:TP, though. Hopefully by then I have Oblivion completed and am tired of GRAW.

What a great time to be a gamer it is right now, whether your into PS, PC, 360, or Wii it is all looking pretty good. That is if you can afford what you really want of course.

32_Footsteps @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:14PM

Hmm... interesting that Ubi seems quite intent to buddy up with Nintendo. This says a few things to me.

One, they're really gambling on this next generation. Of course, given that this gives the Wii more positive attention, the mere act of gambling like this hedges the bet a bit - more positive attention means the bet is more likely to pay off.

Two, it seems like Ubi specifically wants to have Nintendo really on their side - they could be much quieter with their moves with just as much likelihood of success. Being this public looks to be intentional courting of Nintendo's good will.

Of course, the question is, why? I have no clue - though I have theories ranging from the simple (they want either Rayman or Sam Fisher in SSB Brawl, for the licensing kickbacks they'd get on top of the exposure) to the outrageous (they'd like to make a second BG&E, but would like to hedge bets by getting Nintendo to help develop/publish it).

AlloyNES @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:19PM

32_Footsteps--

Rayman in SSB:B is almost a sure bet in my book. If the new game is as great as I'm feeling it will be, it'll become a classic. And as a mascot at the launch, it puts Rayman in the best spotlight he's ever had.

Nintendo had it on the cover of the latest Nintendo Power for cryin' outloud. With such friendliness between Big N and Ubi, no bout Rayman will become synonomous with Wii and Nintendo, just as Banjo Kazooie and other 3rd/2nd party characters did.

Marc @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:24PM

"but come on, nintendo fans stop pretending, these are the same games that if they came out on ps2 youd say they are crap."

Duh, we're Nintendo fans. That's our job.

But seriously common sense, (I'm not sure why you call yourself that. You obviously don't have any) you can go enjoy your little excuses for Nintendo fans liking these games instead of Halo (which sucks in my opinion).

But, seriously, keep on making Nintendo fans feel bad. But that's probably why you have A NEGATIVE STAR.

Zeldathebest @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:27PM

@15 blazing angels is a airplane game.But anyways this will be the best and most successful launch ever.There are just too many third party and first party games available.Here are the ones i would like to get
1.Twilight princess
2.Red Steel
3.Rayman
4.Metroid Prime:Corruption
5.Wario smooth moves
This is gonna be one hell of a year for ppl who buy the wii.

AlloyNES @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:29PM

I'm just giddy about the variety of games to choose from at launch. It gives my wallet a headache, but I'm still giddy!

I've made a list of known launches, and figured I can only get 5 the first week (reasonably). But, so far, counting Ubi's new line-up, there are only about 5 games that I know for sure I'm not getting.

I'm not used to having a console launch when nearly every game for it at launch is a game I MUST HAVE! O_O

darryl @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:34PM

Far Cry on the Wii... how craptacular! I'm sure that'll run real sexy.

Yawn, more fanboy faux-news.

Baboon @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:38PM

@ Darryl

May I ask...

If the announcement of new games is not news on a gaming news blog, then pray tell, what is?

Jeremy Wright @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:40PM

Not that more launch titles isn't good... But Blazing Angels was a 360 launch title... A year earlier. Sorry, but that in no way makes me excited to play it. It was a decent game and all, but even with Live it had hardly any replayability.

Many thanks to Ubisoft for supporting the Wii, but I wish they'd support them with more actual new games instead of 6, 8 and 12 month old ports.

common sense @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:45PM

My point is a controller CANNOT make a game good, if you dont realise this look at the KB and mouse setup lots of wii fans compare it too. Do you think a game that is crap on console becomes good on pc? Look at fps games that have comeout on console and comeout on pc. The fact is if its crap on console, i didnt become good on pc, because of the 'superior controls'
Same as wii. red steel dosent look/play betetr then 3 year old games. If it was put on the wii or the pc it wont become a good game because it has better controls. If a game is good on pc, it is still good even if it uses a control pad. Thas why i belive the emphasis on the wii controller is unfounded. A good game is a good game regardless of the controller.

And marc the only one who could not even be bothered to make a vaid reason or argument. I see you find that because I have a negative star that makes my post less valuable then yours. I am sorry if I dont feel lowly because some random guy didnt aprove of my points, but when you start to have opinions on someone else, based on what some else thinks, you become pathetic. Or maybe you think those 2 stars are give you credibilty? newsfalsh no one could give a fuck if joystiq likes your posts. Or maybe 2stars can get you a degree with a 40,000 pound a week job like mine hey? Im not saying you dont have a high paying job aswell, but the end of the day a joystiq star means what? nothing. So please stfu

DojoRacoon @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:45PM

This is great news. Ubisoft is a great developer. I think at least a couple of these games will be great. I hope the addition of Farcry means they believe they've refined the FPS controls I know Red Steel was a bit of a dissapointment as it was at E3 but they have had time to refine the controls. So we'll see. On the creativity front though Ubisoft has what it takes to get things done. Statisticly speaking more games=a better chance at good games it's the PS2 model. This bodes well for Nintendo

Paul P. @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:47PM

Well Jeremy,

On Far Cry it is going to be an entirely new set of missions and maps, so not exactly a port. Something like the difference between GTA and GTA: Vice City, as well as all the extra controller functionality.

I imagine the gameplay of Blazing Angels would be changed quite a lot by this new control scheme.

I've never heard of 8x8, so I'll just say it's a port whether it is or not, GTPro is a new IP, as are Red Steel and Raving Rabbids.

So out of the seven games, only 2 are really ports, one which will probably have a significantly different feel due to the control scheme.

darryl @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:51PM

"If the announcement of new games ..."

What new games? I've heard about these Ubisoft titles on the Wii some time ago... Maybe the "news" is that they've confirmed these titles?

Non-news to me... just more Nintendo circle-jerk wank material.

AlloyNES @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:51PM

@common sense

If we tell you you're right, will you go away?

common sense @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:51PM

40,000 quid a month. srry

Cameron @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:53PM

@ Jeremy.

- Red Steel = New IP
- GT Pro Series = New IP(in the US)
- Rayman = Basically timed exclusive (buit for Wii, mind you)
- Far Cry Wii = much more than a mere port
- Blazing Angels = (port)
- Monster Trucks = (port of game nobody played)
- Open Season = (New, but licensed trash- also multiplatform, though)

Very good for just one developer at launch.

Paul P. @ Aug 3rd 2006 2:54PM

Common sense, I severely doubt you work a job where you get paid the equivalent of $39 million a year. If you're going to lie, make it plausible. You would have to own a nice sized corporation to make that much bank.

gman @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:00PM

Hey common sense, ever play a lightgun game with a controller? It's TONS of fun...you know, you get to ...move the reticle around the screen and shoot stuff..
I'm sorry but as much fun as analog controls are, they can't hope to rival the ease of use and accuracy of mouse/keyboard combos. The PC FPS games that come out on consoles AREN'T as good. (the gameplay could be near identical and the graphics exactly the same) The control makes all the difference in the world. This does not excuse trying to cram Wii controls into ported titles hastily, but if they did it right, it could MASSIVELY improve the game. Think about hitting the arcades and playing something like Silent Scope, or Ferarri F355 (even had a clutch pedal). They can be played without their specific controls...but where's the fun in that? pretty pictures? Graphics are only one piece of the pie buddy. If the Wii can make good on its claims that anyone can pick it up and play without accuracy issues/conflicts and the controls are implemented tastefully, then it will probably be a lot of fun, bringing the game from your thumbs to your whole arms/wrists/hands.

DojoRacoon @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:07PM

seriously what is the problem with Nintendo some of you people have did Nintendo come to your house kick your dog, slap your mom, and take your lunch money. Your comments against nintendo go well beyond irrational. I'm looking at you common sense and darryl.

@32_footsteps
I'm not sure why Ubisoft is getting so buddy buddy with nintendo either but I think it has to do with some of both companies' values being in line with each other the whole creativity thing you know. Who knows with the legion of Nintendo fanboys becoming ubisoft fanboys by association we won't see the shame of having a great game like Beyond Good and Evil being ignored and failing.

that guy @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:09PM

To everyone saying that Wii 'can't handle' FarCry, I do hope everyone realizes that FarCry was released a year ago on Xbox (not 360) and was one of the best looking games for that system. Considering Wii is more powerful than Xbox, I think it's safe to say that FarCry Wii will look absolutely fantastic. Morons.

Oh, and Jeremy - Blazing Angels was in no way a 360 launch title.

Baboon @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:10PM

I shouldn't have asked. Damn me for feeding trolls!

jojonyc @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:11PM

i am also wondering what degree "common sense" could get with such poor spelling and grammar. =)

haters aside the wii launch is looking more and more exciting. exciting enough that i am considering my first ever console pre-order.

cheers to ubisoft!

Jeremy Wright @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:16PM

@39:

I wasn't saying this was bad. Merely that a fair number of these were ports. Far Cry is a port. Same way that GTA for Xbox was a port. There was about 10% new content. If there's less than 80%, it's still a port.

Also, from the article, these are within the "launch window" (ie: 3 months). It's entirely possible only 2-3 of these could end up being launch titles. And, really, my money's on Red Steel (which *will* be a great game), Blazing Angels and Rayman.

common sense @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:16PM

gman thats true too, about car controls and in game ones, but you have to think about does it make that much a diffrence, and is worth it.

For a car simulator it matters, because you are trying to simulate real driving experience. When you are playing an average game on a console, it doent matter, im pretty sure your not trying to actually mame someone in an fps, and an fps dosent rty to give you a real life experince of killing someone. Just like I said if the game is bad, it dosent become good on the pc, with its 'superior controls'
Can we agree that the wii pad is not as good as a KB + M?
Also you have to think about what you have lost in return. if a game is still good on a console pad, or is marginally worse because its not using a KB + M then why is it we have to have last gens graphics and last gens power behind it. You see the fact is games like half life 2 have pushed the boundaries of those type of genration gaming, games on the wii will not go further than that. My point? even with worse controls games like halo3, portal, and gears of war will be better than most wii fps. so in the end of the day if you really care about controls its best to stick to pc controls.

Ginger Nathan @ Aug 3rd 2006 3:17PM

40,000 quid a month. srry

Whahahahaha, is that a weekend or after school job?

Anybody that really earns forty grand a week would certainly have more self respect then use his salary in an argument on a faceless comment section.

In the voice of Nelson Muntz - HA-HA