Interactive maps; first-person shooters with gyroscopic controls and wild new multiplayer modes are just a few possibilities on the table according to Ubisoft.
When Nintendo introduced the new Wii U controller, they offered only a glimpse of the controller's possibilities. So for the second Nintendo developer roundtable, they invited Ubisoft to show off some of their games and their plans for the new controller.
Ghost Recon Online, which was announced during the Nintendo press conference, was the first game to be shown.
"We've had to rethink the way we do user interface and redesign the user experience," said senior producer Hugues Ricour. "When we started playing with the controller, we realized it was really fun to drag and drop and throw things between screens."
Out of that came a gun customization interface that involves the simple of dragging and dropping different components onto a weapon.
But even more important is what they've done with the map. The Wii U controller screen can be used in much the same way as the Nintendo DS to display a map, but Ubisoft is going a bit further than that. This map is completely interactive, and integral to the tactical experience. The screen makes it possible to coordinate more easily with teammates, and the touchscreen makes it possible to throw down markers that other players can see on their screen. A special drone will also show enemies from a top down angle, and the gyroscope can be used to guide missiles.
Killer Freaks from Outer Space, meanwhile, uses the controller as the basis of a new multiplayer mode. Announced earlier tonight, this Wii U exclusive game has a mode called "Realtime Enemy Director" that functions as a kind of cross between Horde Mode and Left 4 Dead's AI Director. Using the controller's touchscreen, it's possible to rain down foes to try and overwhelm your opponent while they fight them off and try to survive.
The gyroscope can also be used to aim the gun, though that feature's ultimate usefulness will depend greatly on its sensitivity and precision. As a mark in its favor, the gyroscopic controls were adequate to take out the small, fast aliens who swarmed in from every side, suggesting that it may in fact be useful in multiplayer gun fights.
The final game shown was Assassin's Creed, though it's not clear yet whether it will be a port or an entirely new game. Ubisoft's Marc Parenteau used the opportunity to talk a bit more about the technical side of the Wii, referring to the powerful multi-core architecture and larger memory sizes. He also said it will be relatively easy to import engines and assets from other platforms.
And as with the other Ubisoft games, the new controller offers new opportunities for Assassin's Creed developers. Possibilities include a map for the second screen; interactive database; faster weapon selection and new puzzles.
As for whether the Wii U is more powerful than the Xbox 360 or PS3, Parenteau said it was too early to say for sure.
"The hardware is still evolving, and the dev kits are not final," he said. "We've also been working on our other engines for sometime, and we need some time to catch up. So to compare it now wouldn't be fair."
Nevertheless, the Wii U's controller offers up some intriguing new gameplay possibilities. Whether it lives up to its potential will depend on whether other developers follow in Ubisoft's footsteps.
Source: Daily News from GamePro.com
Thursday, June 9, 2011