GameInformer sat down with the CEO of UbiSoft to ask the question that many gamers and journalist are beginning to hear answered. (Why aren't publishers and developers creating many new intellectual properties, choosing instead to release games from established brands"). The answer isn't actually black and white and in fact sheds light on why we see so many sequels right now instead of new IP.
Yves Guillemot explains its not that publishers and developers don't want to create new IP, but there is great risk involved. Yah we all know that there is great risk involved so does this mean developers and publishers are just taking the easy way out and are ignoring new intellectual properties for an easy pay check? Not according to Yves Guillemot.
"New consoles help us be more creative because when customers buy a console, they are very interested in what’s new and they will accept a game that is not perfect as long as it's different and better than what has been done before," he said. "We very often adopt new consoles quickly because we know that most of the buyers are fans of video games. They are ready to take risks [on a new IP] so that’s why we are very early on consoles, often just to make sure we can try new things."
A quick look at UbiSoft's own properties we see that this a practice UbiSoft themselves has been employing for along time. Rayman, Splinter Cell, Assassin's Creed, , Raving Rabbids and Red Steel are all perfect examples. These new IP met great fanfare and turned into major properties for UbiSoft because new console consumers were more willing to adopt the new franchises near the beginning of the generational life cycle.
UbiSoft tried to bring in new IP later in the generations, both IP were critically acclaimed and should have succeeded no problem. Beyond Good and Evil and FarCry. "You have a lot of customers invested in brands, and so even if you do something new and innovative, you are not recognized. For example, Far Cry. That was an attempt to go open world with a shooter. [The rest of the market was composed of] linear games with qualities that were perfectly done, so the market said, 'Yeah, but it’s not perfect.' Yes, but it’s the first one, so that's normal. It was the first step before creating a game full of density"
A quick look at many of the most successful IP and the majority of them got their starts near the beginning of new console generations a perfect example would be Gears Of War or Halo which released shortly after launch. Resistance and titles from various other publishers seem to indicate UbiSoft has the right idea.
Do you as a consumer buy more new IP when new hardware is coming out? Did Yves Guillemot hit the issue right on the button, are developers creating new IP but selectively choosing when to release these new IP. Looking at several promising new IP to launch mid console life cycle you are met with huge failures like The Conduit etc...etc... Do you think it is far easier to launch a new IP with a new platform and if that's the case why don't we see as many new IP on 3DS? Will we see a ton on WiiU? Are we about to see the next generation of super properties revealed within the next few years as this next generation begins?
Yves concludes "Those first steps have to be taken to change the landscape. When you are at the beginning of the cycle you are rewarded for it. The later you are in the cycle, the less rewarded you are if [the game] is not perfect."
-JC7
"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer
