Ubisoft: 'No point' doing realistic Wii games

CVG: "I don't see the point in trying to do too much realism on the Wii," Red Steel 2's Creative Director, Jason Vandenberghe told CVG.

Speaking in a Facebook Fan Page-exclusive segment of our Red Steel 2 interview, the Ubisoft Paris man argued that there's no point trying to compete with games on more powerful consoles.

He said: "Why compete with the 360? The Conduit is a great example. Talk about an incredible piece of technology. Those guys did an amazing job of modernizing the Wii engine."

In the end, Vandenberghe told CVG, gamers look at 'realistic' Wii games and think they're not quite a good looking as a "baseline game on 360".

[tunaks1]

while stylized games look nice,
last gen consoles were able to pull of a realistic look, Im sure the Wii can.

[ChickeyCantor]

Yes but many will consider it "outdated".
Thats why many complain about Zelda:TP because it, granted its still cartoony like, tried to look more mature.
While Wind Waker still stands the test of Time.

I also like how he hints out to HVS that they shouldnt focus on a realistic style but stylize their games.
I wouldn't mind if the Conduit 2 was cel-shaded or anything like that, as long the art is cool.

[Bnet343]

The tech isn't there so I agree, there really isn't any point to try to do realistic games on the Wii. I would go with unique a artstyle ala MadWorld or No More Heroes.

[ChickeyCantor]

@kigmal
But then again, previous console did it too.

[UnSelf]

fixed

[tunaks1]

"No point in doing Wii games fixed"
wait, why did capcom scrap MH3 for the PS3?
how about valve on the ps3?
lol,

[UnSelf]

who said anything about the ps3?

we all know the DS is the future

[Xi]

But that was when previous consoles were still on the 'cutting edge' of graphics technology. If you look at any of the games that attempted life like graphics, you'd laugh at what we thought looked "omgwtfbbq".

The problem is that real life is the least subjective art style, and the easiest to compare between consoles. There's no point in the wii trying to do life like graphics because when compared to what the 360 or ps3 can do it just doesn't even come close.

[Saaking]

I really don't understand why gamers hate the Wii so much.

Yes, it's a console with last gen graphics, but there's some very great games on the system. Zelda, Mario, Metroid, No More Heroes, just to name a few. Last year, SMB Wii was one of the best games imo.

I don't like the fact that some of the crappier games (such as Wii Fit) sell so much, a lot of the great games also sell a lot. The hatred for the Wii needs to stop.

Nintendo, unlike MS, NEVER said they were about offering an HD gaming experience. They wanted to offer a different type of experience and they delivered.

[sikbeta]

Ah...look what he said, obviously this Jason Vandenberghe guy is xbox360 fanboy

/jk

Wii owners, at least you don't have to deal with an OVERSATUATED FPS market, I mean Yeahh..the graphics, but what's the point if Devs only make da Average Shooters, I admit that I LOVE my PS3 and I thank GOD for the FIRST Party Exclusive Games but seriously we need more VARIETY of Games from Third Party Devs in this Gen, you don't have to DEAL with 70%-FPS-Market and N First Party Games Help you with that

Amazing First Party Games >>>>>>>&g t;>>>>>>>& gt;>>>>>>> > Average Third Party FPSs

[ape007]

and red steel 2 definitely look like a breath of fresh air

already got motion +, the wii remote felt more natural than ever, it has TONS I mean TONS of ideas and red steel 2 looks sweet

but I guess that sony ps3 motion controller gonna implement all these ideas in HD cause quite frankly nintendo seems forgotten about it

[Gr81]

Looks pretty nice to me..but maybe people wouldn't consider that 'realistic?'

But forgive me for a second while I have to ask why "realism" is needed for VIDEOGAMES?

I actually often game to escape reality. Golden era NES/SNES/Genesis of games never relied on realistic graphics to sell a game. Games relied on content. I miss the days where some things were left to the imagination. I guess I'm old school.

But has anyone noticed that an Alice in Wonderland fantasy 2-d platformer has sold more than any "realistic" game this gen? I'm talking about NSMB. Compare those sales to an UC2 or MGS4 or GTA or RE. Any game that strives for realism is missing the point of a 'game' imo.

Not saying graphics don't play an important part in the creation of a game. Just that it is important not to let them become the main focal point of one.

[ChickeyCantor]

Agree,
Thats why i dont like the whole hollyfied idea of games these days.
A game is good from the Core, not so much from the jacket thats put on, they only add up to the experience.

[EvilTwin]

Well put, Arius.

However, I think the whole "realistic visuals" thing is a bit of a nebulous concept. Metroid Prime and Halo are considered core games, but the visuals are sci-fi, not "realistic" like COD4. But I'd wager a lot of people would say "Halo is realistic, Mario isn't." IMO, they'd only be half right.

Heck, I remember with Zelda people were saying "I'm so glad LoZ:TP is going back to a realistic style," and I was like...huh? Sure, WW was cartoon-y, and TP is comparatively more realistic...but it's still a highly stylized game. I'd hesitate to call it "realistic."

If you want your game to age well, a more stylized art theme is the way to go, IMO.

[OhMyGandhi]

I agree with Arius Dion...somewhat.

Games do NOT need to look realistic so long as they have an excuse, same thing goes for stories in video games.

While nicer graphics ARE appreciated and deeper more thought provoking storytelling is also appreciated, they aren't necessary.

BUT. I do believe that when a game BRAGS about it's realistic graphics (as games like Conduit do) they need to truly back it up with an honest portrayal and in comparison with hardly released during the same period time.

If I have to hear ONE MORE TIME that some person "Lost" themselves in old school games...that's fine. But your nostalgia and old standards I firmly believe need to be updated and refined to meet present day.

Old gaming conventions can work in any game of any age, 8 bit graphics, music, and story is something to be reckoned with, but I must say, rarely have I gone back to the "old days" of gaming because of some strange sickness where next generation games are simply "annoying" or not "as fun" or "engaging" as ones made yesteryear.

[raztad]

As an important segment of gamers has grown old it's important for the industry to cater that mature audience. Are you really expecting 30+ be playing NSMB for ever? come on. Fun gameplay is fundamental, but if something experiments like HR show is that storytelling, visuals are becoming more and more important.

I have several really fun games but I lack the the motivation to go through them because they lack a good story. Arcade games are fun for a couple of minutes or like time wasters, but a good and interesting story drive people to beat them.

[n4f]

see that i totally agree with aerius. its a game. what so amazing about mario, he does impossible thing riding a dino eating turtle(now he does it in space)
best example is gta4( for me and to many) its the worst in the series cause they base it to much on reality. reality is not fun.
san andreas was so good for so many thing. there was more content in it with worst gfx and gta4 has better gfx and it base of reality(which is boring)

[tunaks1]

i guess it all has to do with preference but i would never choose HR over NSMB, HR lacks the most important thing in a game, gameplay. A story can be amazing but if it lacks any kind of fun gameplay. The same experience in HR can be found in a movie or a novel but show me a book that evokes "pleasure"(odd choice of word) like playing NSMB with some friends. Without solid gameplay I wouldn't have any motivation to continue and watch the story unfold. I guess its all preference though.

[ChickeyCantor]

"But your nostalgia and old standards I firmly believe need to be updated"

I dont think its a case of Nostalgia.
You dont play game for the sake of nostalgia, you play games because they are fun.
Many old games just stand the test of time. No matter how the industry has changed regarding design and what not, the old games i play are just Fun to play.

Not every game needs to be going by todays standard.
If thats the case then i think Games are loosing their definition.

[pcz]

Sounds like a cop-out to me. Instead they churn out some horrible looking cel-shaded game that is the bastard child of every game that has ever gone before it. Yeah, great idea.

Resident Evil 4 Was 'realistic' and that was a GameCube game.

A software company/publisher that bites the hand that feeds them are morons. Just makes me not want to buy the game even more than i already don't.

[ChickeyCantor]

Not really,
I mean look at the game-play footage, they have implemented some nice effects that go well with this style.

CelShaded is no-way bad unless the artsyle attached to it fails in many ways.

Wind Waker is still an awesome looking game imo.

[TheBand1t]

While the claim is BS, I do prefer stylized over realistic games.

[pcz]

I just hate the cel shaded graphics in this game, in Wind Waker it worked because it was relevant to the game, it was trying to be a cartoon in style. The cel shaded graphics had context.

The cel shaded graphics in this game seem to be just for the sake of it. Probably to hide what were unsightly graphics.

[tunaks1]

"The game looks like a rip-off of Timesplitters to me."
wow, I dont even know what to say, you are seeing something different

"Wind Waker it worked because it was relevant to the game"
This is trying to look like a comic book...
Cel shaded could work with any game

"The cel shaded graphics in this game seem to be just for the sake of it. Probably to hide what were unsightly graphics."
This one some of the best looking 3rd party efforts on the Wii, looks really nice, and MORE importantly RUNS at 60fps

[tunaks1]

If developers never tried to attain realism we wouldn't progress graphically wise. RS2 looks great stylized and I wouldn't want it to have a realistic look.

[Shnazzyone]

as long as they keep it up this guy can go as surreal as he likes. realistic is fine but i think it takes way more creativity for a developer to go for an stylized approach. I encourage thinking outside the box any day of the week.

[Mahr]

I'm not certain I'd go so far as to say there's 'No point' in doing Wii games with realistic art styles, but I would agree that in general such games don't really play to the system's strengths as well as games with more stylized graphics do.

That said, while I rather like Red Steel 2's art direction, I'm not quite sold on the game's underlying play mechanics, which goes against a lot of the Wii's core design philosophy.

[TrollSlayer]

to me the game seems to be playing exactly to the design philosophy. using the unique strengths of the console to creat a game possible no where else

[Mahr]

Well, fair enough. But when I say core design philosophy, I mean the idea that a game should be playable first and foremost. If the game looks good but is unsatisfying to play from a mechanical standpoint, then that's an issue.

I'm hoping that when the game actually comes out, it can sell me on its design, but as it currently stands, there are a couple of things that concern me.

[Samus HD]

the only company that is making a lot of games with wii motion plus. i like them

[ZoidsRaven]

I was just wondering how much Resident Evil 4 sold on the Wii... What does that have to do with this article? More than you know. 7_7