Ubisoft CEO confirms girly game: 'Alive'
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Sep 5th 2006 at 5:55PM }
Ubisoft's Alive was first revealed in March 2006, when an alleged release schedule was leaked to the public. Ubisoft had declined to comment on the title until this past weekend when International Herald Tribune writer Doreen Carvajal reported that Alive, which "features characters who rely on their instincts and each other to endure after an earthquake," is scheduled for release in 2007. Carvajal even scooped this quote from Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot: "[Alive is] more oriented toward drama, more life in characters, more depth. It's still about surviving, but you can't resolve things by shooting only."Guillemot referred to Alive as an "action plus" title, a genre that Carvajal has spun into Ubisoft's attempt to focus on what the writer deemed the "feminine side of gaming." Carvajal's recent article examines industry attempts to appeal to a mass audience, which means attracting female consumers. But will replacing rocket launchers with character development lose fans or gain them? Perhaps in a stagnant industry, it's a risk worth taking.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
eskwYre @ Sep 5th 2006 5:59PM
thats a pretty shitty photshop job
Dr.Swiss @ Sep 5th 2006 6:01PM
Character 1 - "My God...Th-the world, it's been destroyed!! GOD DAM YOU EARTHQUAKES!!! GOD DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL"
Character 2 - "MmmmHmm, and how does that make you feel?"
ill trooper @ Sep 5th 2006 6:15PM
Is that really something you'd call a 'GIRLY' game? I mean, the author of the newspaper article gave it that characteristic.
I think it sounds pretty cool... I'm bummed that I never got to play that weird Japanese post-weather-disaster flood/earthquake Tokyo-is-destroyed game that is on the PS2, or the sequel that came out a few months ago.
I do, however, like the weird 'birth control pill-box' look you gave Ubi's logo!
tactics @ Sep 5th 2006 9:31PM
hmm... let's hope there's a wii version. i could think of some cool things to do with the wiimote in a survival game.
-"superfan" tactics.
omgwtf @ Sep 5th 2006 6:21PM
I love games that are buildt on original concepts. Its great to see people try new stuff.
I will be checking it out.
Wedge @ Sep 5th 2006 6:31PM
Sounds like Disaster Report. It's a PS2 game that came out a few years back where you had to survive in a post earthquake environment. I've only seen it once at a used game store, and I regret not getting it back then. It seemed like a fun concept, even if it wasn't a flawless implementation. And isn't one of the games coming out for the Wii like this too, Day of Crisis or something?
oerhrt @ Sep 7th 2006 2:46AM
But will replacing rocket launchers with character development lose fans or gain them?
Stupid question. Done right, and marketed right, it will gain so many fans that conventional developers don't know what hit them. Remember The Sims? That game didn't even have much character development, yet still it was more interesting to many than any other game.
The question is whether or not this Ubi studio has got a clue what they're doing. If this is the "let's appeal to females" move it sounds like, I guess the answer is no. We'll see.
jay @ Sep 5th 2006 8:43PM
I think it's important to point out that "masculine" and "feminine" are simply designators that we give to particular traits -- they don't necessarily apply directly to men or women. A lot of people mix that up when looking at academic research. There are a lot of guys out there that really enjoy what would be considered the "feminine" aspect of games ... which would be communication, social interaction, etc. A prefect example would be a game like Phoenix Wright -- definitely feminine traits throughout -- but, I think that broadens the market of players for the games.
I think a majority of male players are secure enough in their masculinity to play and enjoy games like that ;)
MasterDePong @ Sep 5th 2006 6:51PM
Lost In Blue for the DS was a really good survival game that wasn't combat oriented. I think more games like that can only be a good thing.
Also, I don't think it makes the games "girly" to have non-combat elements to them. I think it just makes them more "intellectual".
CB
dish @ Sep 10th 2006 7:50PM
i dont think the lack of combat is what will make it 'girly' what makes me think that is this quote
'more oriented toward drama, more life in characters, more depth. It's still about surviving, but you can't resolve things by shooting only'
leavemealone347 @ Sep 5th 2006 7:16PM
I hope it gets more people into gaming the more the better. Original ideas etc.
Kia @ Sep 5th 2006 7:50PM
Girly? Well...I dunno. I don't think it sounds very girly at all, nor does it appeal to me in the least.
retromancer @ Sep 6th 2006 10:00AM
I was hoping for a game involving soccer teams eating each other.
Figboy @ Sep 5th 2006 10:37PM
It's very much like Disaster Report for the PS2. at least in concept only. I actually own Disaster Report (though i don't remember where i got it from. i think i bought it at an EB in a weak moment).
the game is like someone's final exam, and could have used a lot of polish, but it's still surprisingly tense, as you never know when the next aftershock will come and drop the ground out beneath you. sadly, the sequel (where i think you're on a sinking boat or something) never came out here, as the games had potential.
if done correctly, this type of "survival horror" could take off, as it leads itself to interesting types of gameplay (single or multiplayer). though i dread the gaming industry will then be dropped into a "disaster game" craze, as Hollywood did back when Twister, Dante's Peak, Volcano, and it's ilk came out back in the late 90's. but at least video games are interactive.
Matt @ Sep 6th 2006 6:33PM
That's not a "risk worth taking". In a "stagnant industry", it's a *neccesity*.
insane_cobra @ Sep 6th 2006 2:40AM
Less shooting, more drama - bring it on! If only more games would start moving in that direction.
Zo K. @ Sep 6th 2006 6:45AM
Oh, c'mon! You can't be serious! You'd take a silly rocket launcher over a wonderful story with well planned character development and emotional undertones? Why? Choosing the characters would make you a sissy?
This has nothing to do with gender. >_>
Seb Potter @ Sep 6th 2006 1:19PM
It's articles like this that throw into sharp relief much of what's wrong with the games industry, and particularly the field of gaming journalism. Ubisoft are apparently working towards expanding the narrow stereotypes of gamers. Perhaps Joystiq ought to look outside those stereotypes for more intelligent journalism.
Firegirl @ Sep 7th 2006 3:51PM
I'm getting sick of seeing more and more of these 'girly games'. Not all girls/women want to play these stupid, soft sounding kind of games. And I personally would never own a pink console, or anything pink for that matter. Who says girls don't want to come home from a hard day at work and just blow zombies away with a BFG???