darkjak Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 This has just sort of degenerated into an argument. Thought it was supposed to be about Ubisoft's Wii games. And on that subject, seems people missed my news post a bit further up on this page about a new TMNT game, exclusive to the Wii. My bad. Throughout this debate, I haven't quite been able to grasp why people are so angry at specifically Ubisoft. My friend thinks that Splintercell for the Wii is quite good, and to be honest Red Steel was a good attempt. Shaun White seems to be good, Raving Rabbids is one of the few casual games that are playable. They've given us Tomb Raider and Driver (the best version of the game IMO). GT Pro Series had potential, that was wasted. I'm hoping for a sequel with more cars and better visuals, 'cuz the vehicle handling was OK. They've of course developed a bunch of crap games as well, like the *insert animal*z games and emergency heroes, but overall they're not as evil as you're trying to point out. They could create a few Wii exclusive AAA games, but still, what they are releasing isn't that bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy2211 Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Ubisoft: Wii is a "Girl-Driven" System January 13, 2009 by Art Green Ann Hamilton, a senior brand manager with Ubisoft, said that Nintendo’s Wii console is a “girl-driven system,” and is one of the main reasons the Wii has had such success in the marketplace. “What’s driving the Wii sales is the use of Wii by women, girls and families,” Hamilton said in an article from the Tulsa World. “It’s a really female-driven platform.” Hamilton believed that Ubisoft’s two brands that target female gamers–Imagine and Ener-G–have helped Nintendo target the female demographic with the Wii. “Girls wanted sports games to play, as well,” and pointed to their gymnastics and horseback riding titles as filling that need. This is the thread that'll never die lol. Ubisoft for new PR reps? :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShadowV7 Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Oh god the idiot. If the reps are gonna be like Ubisoft Wii games, like the shovel-ware, she can bugger off Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D_prOdigy Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Meh. Who are we to judge? They're making money off it, so good for them. We don't have to buy any of it, so good for us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kav Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 It'd be nice to get a big project from them however, one with some real effort and polish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emasher Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Meh. Who are we to judge? They're making money off it, so good for them. We don't have to buy any of it, so good for us. TBH, thats not the problem here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcj metroid Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Meh. Who are we to judge? They're making money off it, so good for them. We don't have to buy any of it, so good for us. but those titles don't sell very well..; granted they make a profit but it's like they're not trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tapedeck Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 It'd be nice to get a big project from them however, one with some real effort and polish! True. The spit is there, but no polish. Such a shame to see such a talented studio like Ubi being stinted on Wii. That's the worst thing imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paj! Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 My sister got Babysitting Party in a buy one get one free with Cooking Mama. I tried to warn her, and though I haven't yet tried it (*gulp*), even she said it was shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tellyn Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Hamilton believed that Ubisoft’s two brands that target female gamers–Imagine and Ener-G–have helped Nintendo target the female demographic with the Wii. Ubisoft's CEO stated that they pretty much followed Nintendo's strategy with their casual games last year, so Mr. Hamilton seems to have been caught off-guard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
david.dakota Posted January 13, 2009 Share Posted January 13, 2009 Give Ubisoft a break, they need something to subsidise their HD flops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy2211 Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Give Ubisoft a break, they need something to subsidise their HD flops. I'm sure Assassin's Creed more then made up for the lack-lustre figures of er... Beowolf... and er... Endwar? But yeah, Ubisoft arn't really that talented of a developer. They made a good Prince of Persia game and then screwed up every sequel, Assassin's Creed was a huge let down and having 10 Tom Clancy games in your library doesn't inspire much confidence. They did make Beyond Good and Evil though, which I've still not had a chance to play . Keep meaning to until the sequel hits us though... sigh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 So they're now responsible for the increased female demographic. Good for you Ubisoft! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 Aren't Ubisoft being sexiest with that comment with the games they're putting out on the Wii? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy2211 Posted January 14, 2009 Share Posted January 14, 2009 Aren't Ubisoft being sexiest with that comment with the games they're putting out on the Wii? No. 10charwtf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted January 14, 2009 Author Share Posted January 14, 2009 More talk from UbiSoft says yes. “Almost every single game in our lineup is a result of a ranking system that we put in front of these girls, (asking) ‘What’s interesting to you?’ These girls love customization, they love the creative aspects of ‘Fashion Designer,’ and the social aspects of showing your friends what you’ve created. Whereas boys are the opposite — they’re very interested in action. You can’t sell the same game to both of them, as a rule.” - Ubisoft senior vice president Tony Key “Girls want this because they’re told to want this, because they think they should, and that’s what their friends are getting. We gender-label things,” she says. “I’m a girl so I should enjoy shopping and cooking and getting a manicure and there’s nothing wrong with that. There’s nothing wrong with a guy enjoying that, either.” - Karen Shanor, a neuropsychologist based in Washington D.C. It’s a really interesting topic, and one that we don’t see discussed all that often. Has Ubisoft managed to find a line of games that really interests young girls, or are young girls sucked into the idea of these games because Ubisoft’s marketing tells them to like it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I think jammy was being 'funny'. They are one of the most sexist video game makers out at the moment. For numerous reasons that I can't be bothered to list because of the time but yeah, everytime I see a new Ubisoft game I feel like we've jumped back a few decades. (oh wait no they have 'Imagine Girl Bandz!' or whatever. its fine then. totally equal. -_-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcj metroid Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 unisoft are not alone in this either.. every company in the world does it essentially.. gender labelling annoys me.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ashley Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Yeah it happens a fair crank but, at least in my mind, Ubisoft have no good intention out of it. Something like Tomb Raider or Dead or Alive are games. They were concieved at such. Considering the pace these Ubisoft games come out at they just seem like they're working through a list of jobs for females they found in a 1960s lifestyle magazine. (unless otherwise stated these are DS games) Interior Designer Happy Cooking Ballet Dancing Teacher Champion Rider (DS & Wii) Baby Club Babies Girl Band Modern Dance Fashion Model Figure Skater Gymnast My Secret World (diary thing) Pet Vet Imagine Fashion Idol (Balance Board compatable...hmm) Petz My Monkey Family Other than the last one which is just amusingly stupid and Girl Band they're all soaked in antiquated ideals of what a girl should do. And these only started when I was at Game so they've released all these in the span of about two years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksnowman Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 “Almost every single game in our lineup is a result of a ranking system that we put in front of these girls, (asking) ‘What’s interesting to you?’ These girls love customization, they love the creative aspects of ‘Fashion Designer,’ and the social aspects of showing your friends what you’ve created. Whereas boys are the opposite — they’re very interested in action. You can’t sell the same game to both of them, as a rule.†- Ubisoft senior vice president Tony Key Jeepers. Customisation? Creativity? Socialising? Sounds like Animal Crossing which is a great title and I've played it with more boys than I have girls. In fairness to my masculinity, I wouldn't go near those Imagine games, etc! If Ubisoft would apply themselves I'm sure they could turn out something thats meant to appeal to more than just girlies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jammy2211 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 I think jammy was being 'funny'. They are one of the most sexist video game makers out at the moment. For numerous reasons that I can't be bothered to list because of the time but yeah, everytime I see a new Ubisoft game I feel like we've jumped back a few decades. (oh wait no they have 'Imagine Girl Bandz!' or whatever. its fine then. totally equal. -_-) I don't think they're sexist, if they make a game they feel is aimed at girls, and their market research tells them 85% of consumers for this product are female that's not sexist. If their games with guns and blood are believed to sell to 75% boys whereas the horse ranchers are 75% girls, whats sexist about that? I doubt anything that Ubisoft have said can't be backed up with facts. The second paragraph the guy above bolded isn't from a Ubisoft rep, albeit it may be verging on the sexist at the same time it's just psychology and probably again got alot of truth behind it. The one thing I think Ubisoft are wrong about is that you can't make a game for a boy and girl. They do sometimes get too hung up on demographics and miss the bigger picture, they're very successful at what they do though. I never saw any major outfall from when Yorkie launched the 'it's not for girls' campaign thingy. I always thought that was a shit storm in a can waiting to be opened, but no, I don't think that was sexist either, for the same reasons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkjak Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Problem is that it's really difficult to create games that work for girls. Guitar Hero and the Sims are the only good examples. We have girls studying games design here at the university, and the games they play and create don't really appeal to a majority of girls. They're both really big Halo freaks (strangely though, they hate the console version and adore the PC one), and the games they created? How about Pick a Pig, a game where you're a butcher whom's supposed to pick which pigs to slaughter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbob Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 Sigh, Ubisoft keep releasing titles such as the ones Ashley mentioned and who knows where they will stop. Perhaps a game where housework is the main task will be in order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dante Posted January 15, 2009 Author Share Posted January 15, 2009 IGNs turn with sexism: 9. STRONG FEMALE LEAD CHARACTER = EDGY, CLEVER AND DESIRABLE Well, sometimes this is the case РJade from Beyond Good & Evil, the old Lara Croft (from circa 1996 or thereabouts) and Samus Aran from Metroid all spring to mind; even your character from Portal Рsometimes stoic, always tough and entertaining. But lately, there's been a resurgence in the 'strong female lead character' category, and we get the feeling that this isn't about sexual equality or women's lib. It's about boobs and ass and forced sexual equality. It's manipulative, in fact. She might be 'one of the boys', but she's still eye-candy and catwalk-perfect. This is your fault. Take Mirror's Edge's lead character, Faith; Asian to appeal to the Asian markets, female to soften up the lads and potentially sell to a female audience too. How about Elika from Prince of Persia? That's not clever design - that's clever marketing. There's a big difference. The Final Fantasy series has had its share of strong female characters, like Yuna in X-2 and now XIII. Again, it's a deliberate move (particularly X-2, which aimed at a female market with fashion-based equipment and magic-slotting). Lara Croft still kicks around, as does Samus. But alongside those two comes Alyx Vance (Half-Life 2), Joanna Dark (Perfect Dark), Rayne (BloodRayne), The Boss (MGS), Zoe and April (Dreamfall: The Longest Journey), Jill, Claire and Ada (Resident Evil series), Elika (Prince of Persia) and the list goes on. It's not clever anymore; it's not special. It's become a bad clich̩ that is as predictable as it is ultimately degrading. Let's stop pretending that's it's still a unique feature. Worst Recent Offenders: Resident Evil 5 Mirror's Edge Prince of Persia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ganepark32 Posted January 15, 2009 Share Posted January 15, 2009 How in the hell was Faith, from Mirrors Edge, there to soften up the lads? For starters, you only ever saw her legs/feet/hands on the odd occasion and her reflection at the start. The only other times you actually see her are in those god awful cutscenes. And a female was chosen for the lead in the game because, after testing it with a masculine character, they found the female character to be better suited. They contradicted their selves by referring to Faith. She's definitely one of the boys and I don't really think many would think of her as catwalk perfect or eye candy. Off topic yes but who cares. Have Ubisoft got any titles announced for the Wii that look to be good or have the potential to be good? All I can think of is the TMNT fighter we're getting and Red Steel 2 but I'm not holding my breath over them. What are their dev teams doing for the Wii besides this? Probably more crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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