Ubisoft wants to up its game: be on par with EA, Activision Blizzard

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Jun 11th 2008 at 4:00PM }

With "bigger and better" becoming a mantra of sorts for modern game design, it seems only logical for the developers and publishers of our favorite blockbusters to expand their operations in tandem with their goals. Speaking to Develop, Ubisoft head of global development, Christine Burgess-Quémard, has said that the Tom Clancy and Prince of Persia publisher is always looking to widen its worldwide business.

"We want to continue our strategy of innovation, and in order to do that, we need to have more people and generate more business," she explained. "Every blockbuster we work on, we invest in new studios, new teams and new projects." As for measuring up to rival monoliths, EA and Activision Blizzard, Burgess-Quémard states that Ubisoft (or is that Take-Twobisoft?) won't be caught resting on its laurels. "We are in the race, definitely – and we're not in it to come last."

Now, please remember the other half of the aforementioned mantra, Ubi. Bigger and better. We could certainly do with fewer giant corporations pumping pollution into our virtual environments.

Tags: EA, Prince-of-Persia, Rayman, Splinter-Cell, Take-Two, Tom-Clancy, Ubisoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Double J @ Jun 11th 2008 4:06PM

So they set their sights lower from Nintendo Like Quality to EA like Quality?

bigsofty @ Jun 11th 2008 5:34PM

Why? So I wont buy your software too?

Procris @ Jun 11th 2008 6:42PM

Actually i'd say EA's quality is currently above that of Ubisofts. Sure Ubisoft has the few exceptions, with good titles like Assassins Creed. But R6V2 was a mess, i really fail to see how they could ship it with so many bugs. Lets not even mention their DS cash in game line up.

xFenixKnightx @ Jun 11th 2008 4:11PM

Why? Why, why, why?!!! Just focus on quality damnit! Dont they read teh internetz? Do they want 'Fuck Ubisoft' posts everywhere when people mention them?

Chase @ Jun 11th 2008 4:21PM

All Ubisoft needs is more quality titles, like Beyond Good and Evil. EA and Activision simply have more games under their belt. Heck, most of the games published by EA and Activision aren't even good. So Ubisoft could very well out class them in the future. Blizzard, though, would be tough to match. StarCraft, Diablo, and Warcraft is quite a force. And let's not forget Blackthorne or Lost Vikings, either. Those are some quality titles. But yes, Ubisoft just needs more quality titles - though it's a lot easier said than done (see: EA).

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 11th 2008 4:41PM

I don't get why everyone says EA has such crappy games, I enjoyed Rock Band and Skate a lot.

DangerMouse @ Jun 11th 2008 4:49PM

Beyond Good & Evil '09

Chase @ Jun 11th 2008 4:50PM

I used "most" for a reason.

Also, does distributing Rock Band count as a credit to EA's ability to publish or develop good games? I don't think so.

Here's a list of all the titles EA has put out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Electronic_Arts_games

There are quite a few notable titles, but also a lot of garbage. I think my use of "most" was accurate.

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 11th 2008 5:17PM

Seeing that list reminded me of how many good games EA has put out over the years. There are all the Command and Conquers, Sims, Alpha Centauri, the Bond games, Black & White, Burnout series, Battlefield, Need for Speed, SSX, Lord of the rings, and recently Skate and Rockband. I love EA.

John McPoop (PSN:johnnynumber5) @ Jun 11th 2008 5:18PM

Rock Band & Skate were terrific games ...

I also enjoyed Army Of Two and Madden 08 ... I think EA is also making Dead Space and Face Breaker which look promising ...

They just have so many developers under their publishing umbrella so they will have a ton of shit games each year ... Doesn't EA also do Burnout?

CTC XBL-supapaypamawio PSN-ctclaw @ Jun 11th 2008 5:22PM

EA is just another one of those things that's cool to hate. Kind of like how people are like oh dude no you can't trust this game magazine omgomgomg.

Chase @ Jun 11th 2008 6:08PM

As an American football fan, the dislike is warranted when EA does something incorrigible like, oh I don't know, stealing the NFL license.

So do the world a favor, take your "EA is just another one of those things that's cool to hate. Kind of like how people are like oh dude no you can't trust this game magazine omgomgomg", choke on it, and jump into traffic.

Double J @ Jun 11th 2008 6:44PM

Let's see....Rock Band was developed by Harmonix, Black & White was developed by Lionhead, C&C was Westwood, Burnout is Criterion, The Sims, with it's roots in Sim City, is Maxis, Alpha Centauri is Firaxis. Most of your favorite EA games are just titles they publish or got a hold of after they were already established, that's how it works, EA ranges from an average to below average developer and a phenomenal (even if shrewed) business partner and publisher.

kataztrophy @ Jun 11th 2008 4:31PM

I don't WANT TO hate Ubi, but if they choose the Electronic Arts route...

Kent @ Jun 11th 2008 4:40PM

Wow, they should go for EA like quality and release a bunch of sports games that wouldn't look good for games released last generation.

They should also try to isolate another huge chunk of the video game market like they did with releasing "nintendo quality" games on the Wii and DS then acting surprised when everybody is upset that these incredible games were used to fund their other games.