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.
