Next-Gen Rayman Game now Wii Exclusive?

[EvilBob46]

GoNintendo (http://www.gonintendo.com/) has some juicy info (http://gonintendo.com/?p=3907) from the latest issue of Nintendo Power Magazine. The biggest news perhaps is that the next-gen Rayman game, in development by Michael Ancel (designer of Beyond Good & Evil), is now being developed with only the Wii in mind (after originally being in development simultaneously for all consoles).

It’s (Wii) so different from the other consoles that we decided to reconsider everything…We believe in the Wii and building gameplay around the controller. So now we are designing Raving Rabbids specifically (It’s an EXCLUSIVE!) for the Wii. It’s not just an adaptation. It’s a very special project, because this is really a revolution for us. Now we have to focus on one version - the Wii version.”
Another quote from Xavier Poix:

“The more we heard about the Wii, the more interested we became. Then when we got our development kits, we knew that everything we dreamed of doing on this was possible. That’s why we changed our minds. We decided, ‘Ok let’s just focus on Wii’. That’s it. The other (versions) can come later.”
Ancel's comments seem to suggest the game is Wii exclusive, although Poix's would mean that Ubi Soft reserves the right to release a next-gen Rayman game for other consoles at a later date after the Wii version is complete. In any event, the developer's comments are certainly encouraging for the Wii hopeful.

[Johan]

Ancel is awesome (BG&E got no retail-sales love...a shame), but I have to say that if the Wii wants to appeal beyond the borders of pre-teens, Rayman is not the game to do it. Exclusivity (timed or complete...whichever) with this game only seems to appeal to the demographic Nintendo is already very appealing to...not really a win for Wii, imo.

[Freak705]

That's cool, but Rayman isn't my thing.

[Heretic Machine]

Rayman will have some pretty stern competition with Mario Galaxy... For me there would be very little choice between the two, I never liked Rayman that much.

[MajSheppard]

Actually I find this very discouraging, it will prob not sell good because it is a Rayman game. This might end up causing an early negitive to third party developers. I hope it does not snowball.

[Talltale]

I'm REALLY looking forward to the new Rayman.. those Rabbit facts crack me up. The game has that whole B rated sci-fi movie thing going on. I luvs it!

[ChaosDent]

Mario Galaxy is supposedly a Winter or Spring 2007 title, if Rayman makes launch the competition would be far less dire for them. If they make Raving Rabbids a partial or timed exclusive and market it strongly with the system they should do pretty well. The Rayman games have always been competent and original, Rayman 2 was outstanding.

[EternalGamer]

This is actually very good news for several reasons. For one, games are always better when they can just be optimized to the strengths of the hardware, especially when we are talking about hardware as different as the Wii. But the main reason is that it's probably a better fiscal decision. The Xbox 360 is not the market for platform fans or kids (the two market this game is aimed at) and the PS3 will not have a large enough userbase with a younger demographic for it to be worthwhile to develop for it either. But the Wii is like a 10 year old's dream come true (actually shooting fireballs, swinging swords etc.) and it's priced to be the "go to" item for the 8-12 year old demographic--the demographic that will eat this game up (along with us gamers).

And Mario Galaxy and Rayman can perfectly co-exist. Both look incredibly promising and there is certainly room for two high quality platformers on the system. God knows they are lacking elsewhere.

[gzsfrk]

For me, Rayman went downhill when it left its 2d platform roots and tried making the "jump" (pardon the pun) to 3d. Whereas Mario succeeded, I'm afraid our little handicapped (http://pressstarttoplay.net/comics.php?date=060713) friend just couldn't quite make the leap. (ba-dum, ching)

[theguido]

Here's the part I like:

"More about the controls are explained for Rayman. You can ride on top of a Warthog and you steer the animal tilting the Wii-mote left and right and you can flick the controller to pick up speed. Final version of the game is promised to have full destructable obstacles. You can swing (chained) cows (remind you about Earthworm Jim) while holding the B trigger and you swing the Wii-mote over your head to swing the cows and you can increase velocity to the point that you let them go. One of your goals in the game is to slam the bathroom stall doors where the Rabbids are sitting on the toilet before they use a plunger against you. There is an FPS sequence in the game where you are dropped on a desert island wearing only a fig leaf and you are up against an army of Rabbids while armed with a plunger gun."

Awesome.

[EternalGamer]

Whoa, I get to swing cows around my head with the Wii remote? Killer app, I say. Who needs Gears of War?

[gspot]

I have to say that if the Wii wants to appeal beyond the borders of pre-teens, Rayman is not the game to do it. Exclusivity (timed or complete...whichever) with this game only seems to appeal to the demographic Nintendo is already very appealing to...not really a win for Wii, imo.

I have said it a million times if I have said it once- gameplay wins. Yes, it's got bright colors and has a younger audience appeal. If it's fun, then that doesn't matter. If it's a 10 out of 10 concerning platformers and has barney as the main character, then I don't care and I will play it.

I don't think Nintendo would (or should) prevent a release of something in case they attract the wrong demographic, I think they want to release good games for their system.

Looks awesome by the way. Can'twait.

[EternalGamer]

Ancel is awesome (BG&E got no retail-sales love...a shame), but I have to say that if the Wii wants to appeal beyond the borders of pre-teens, Rayman is not the game to do it. Exclusivity (timed or complete...whichever) with this game only seems to appeal to the demographic Nintendo is already very appealing to...not really a win for Wii, imo.


This is bad logic. Disney films constantly outgross most other big bugdet "adult" type fare. Why? Because they appeal to a broad demographic, one that is not limited to kids and preteens but definitely includes them. In my opinion, Nintendo has demonstrated itself to be a lot more creative and original in its products than Disney, but the compairson remains valid. It is a fallacy of the worst kind to think you have to have lots of sex and violence to appeal to the mainstream.

I have no problem with either sex or violence in games, but that's the standard. Nintendo's less dark, more universal gameworlds are a refreshing break from the stereotypical Sci-Fi/Gangsta/Tolkien fantasy paradigms we get elsewhere.

[Feltoar]

Dont focus on what may or may not be exclusive. Focus on what was actually said: that they are focusing on the Wiis individuality and arnt worried about what the other consoles cant do.

[Kamalot]

Rayman 2: The Great Escape was platforming bliss, especially on the Dreamcast where the game really got to shine. The 3rd incarnation was a whole lotta 'meh' but I still go back and enjoy Rayman 2 from time to time.

I hope they recapture the magic.

[Kamalot]

This is bad logic. Disney films constantly outgross most other big bugdet "adult" type fare. Why? Because they appeal to a broad demographic, one that is not limited to kids and preteens but definitely includes them. In my opinion, Nintendo has demonstrated itself to be a lot more creative and original in its products than Disney, but the compairson remains valid. It is a fallacy of the worst kind to think you have to have lots of sex and violence to appeal to the mainstream.

I have no problem with either sex or violence in games, but that's the standard. Nintendo's less dark, more universal gameworlds are a refreshing break from the stereotypical Sci-Fi/Gangsta/Tolkien fantasy paradigms we get elsewhere.Quoted tor TRUTH :)

[MaiXu]

Whoa. Good, big news for Nintendo. Most promising comment? That everything they dreamed of with the Wii could be accomplished. That's awesome.

[MoJoBehaumat]

Yea I would have to agree, Rayman would be a nice title to show off Wii in a graphical sense, and the only way to do it right is to go back to the side scrolling days, I really kinda miss those type of games. It would be nice to see it go in a different direction. A polished 2D game will always be better off than a decent 3D game :D