Here is the test of a game a little different from others who present on the Xbox Live Arcade! For a long time some people were expecting a title in this genre: it is neither more nor less a game of chess.
You'll understand here the graphics are not great interest, the strength of the game residing in its gameplay. For novices in chess, the game will help you move your pieces, indicating all positions. You can easily learn, you entertaining. This may seem boring to spend a few hours to master this game, but you see, it becomes very addictive after a certain time.
You will appreciate that you Soyer novice or master, the sophistication of artificial intelligence. It will offer easy shots if you begin, or periods of stress if you have a good or very good level. The latter is very well planned. Okay, it is not at Deeper Blue, the super computer that defeated Garry Kasparov in 1997. Indeed, I doubt that you can compete with him! Each party will be unique, you'll actually feel to face a different opponent. The IA is also, in my opinion, one of the great strength of the game
In addition to the traditional parties you'll be able to make challenges, the seven For example, you must protect a piece in a given situation. These challenges make your brain (small or not) strain, believe me.
On Xbox Live, the developers have concocted a lot of interesting things. The first is the integration features of the Xbox Live Vision: you can watch your opponent, but also able to discuss with him. And like a chess game, at some level, does not last 5 minutes, you can play your game postponed. Specifically, this means not sending a message to the enemy, saying what you want room to move. Once you start the game, you can decide what to do! Practice when lack of time, or if one wishes to play with people who have a different time from ours.
Regarding graphics, I told you, it's very basic. You can choose between a 2D chessboard, simple, but not very intuitive. Otherwise a 3D model is also present, with the possibility of changing the texture of pieces: either the traditional wooden texture, or transparent parts ... But one thing that developers could improve is the animation pieces. This could be a little more scoring, using the power of 360, without going into the bidding chart.
Finally, I can say without too much wrong that this game is a must if you search for new gameplay from the Xbox Live Arcade titles! It is a clever entertainment, or he must think to beat your opponent. If you do not want to play foolishly and talk quietly with friends, take this game! The game costs 800 MS Points, but a free demo version is obviously available.
Ubisoft becomes gradually more and more American. Electronic Arts announced on August 3 last now have more than 20% of the voting rights in French society (24.86% to be exact), which enables it to influence significantly on the strategy for Ubisoft.
EA has not increased its capital in the company, but just had the opportunity to receive a "double voting right," because it has only 15.37% of the capital, against 13.4% for the Guillemot family, which owns 19.2% of the voting rights.
EA has not wanted to impose its staff to the board of directors of Ubisoft, leaving it a certain autonomy.
During an interview with the magazine Gamasutra, the CEO of Ubisoft, Yves Guillemot revealed that the French publisher and developer still considers the possibility of a merger with giant Electronic Arts.
"We always consider. The first option is for us to manage our own company for the increase. The second option is to work with the film industry, and the third is to merge. We believe that the market will grow very rapidly, and we can take a large share of this market, so we must not change the way things are going now. "
Ubisoft unveils its financial results for the fiscal year ending March 31 2007, which are also excellent. Its operating income is 34.6 million, a significant performance compared to last year, or the group had lost 1.4 million euros. The gross profits have increased by 91.7 million Euros, reaching 452.4 million. Administrative costs, general and sales increased from 187.2 million in 2006 to 181.1 million euros.
Net income has increased by 70%, from 11.9 million to 40.5 million. Spending on research and development when it increased: they are now up to 233 million euros, and were last year accounted for 170.4 million euros.
Sales reached a figure of 680 million euros, and the new generation of games represents 60% of that figure. The best sales for the group were Rainbow Six Vegas, Red Steel, Rayman Raving Rabbits, GRAW 2 and finally TNMT.
The group confirmed that they are waiting for the next fiscal year sales to the tune of 800 million euros and operating income representing at least 8% of sales. The first quarter should bring 120 million euros. The best sales for the coming year should be Assassin's Creed, EndWar, Haze, Lost, Naruto, Beowulf and Surf's Up.
The company added in its financial report: "Ubisoft hopes to see an increase in games on the Nintendo DS and Wii, this being due to a highly proactive in the area of casual players."
Yves Guillemot said: "The marked improvement in our operating profitability during the fiscal year 2006-2007 reflects the diversity and strong performance of our catalog of games as well as a tighter control of costs of general expenses, administrative, and sales (SG & A), but also marketing costs. Thanks to our strong results, we were able to generate 53 million euros in cash flow in our operating business, while continuing to implement our growth strategy, with investment in research and development above 22%.
"With the best line-up of games in its history, Ubisoft has laid the foundations to start a year 2007-2008 in excellent conditions, and is well positioned to gain market share with increased profitability in a sector high growth ".
You can listen below an interview with Yves Guillemot, PGD of Ubisoft, replying to questions from Stéphane Soumia in the show Good Morning Business BFM.
I had spoken in a few days ago, the French publisher and developer Ubisoft (yet it) has decided to create a new category of games, Games for Everyone. CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that he wanted to create a more diversified market based on the Nintendo DS and Wii.
In answering the British magazine MCV, he said the company was quick to respond to family games of the Wii, which has resulted in strong sales of their games.
"Our market approach is different now - we consider each set of machines has a population of consumers and customers, and we must be sure that we are good to each of them."
And it continues: "The key is not to think like we used to do things, we must consider that some machines require a different approach in the gaming industry than other consoles.
Finally, it concludes by saying that "the timing is right for us to increase our creativity and we open the market for video games por new consumers will be attracted by content that can learn to know, grow, and also feel better, all for entertainment. "
This editor would be the first to really understand that each machine had its "customers" and that it is unnecessary to make ports ridiculous, as Call of Duty 3 on Wii or Madden 2007 ... Each console his type of game is what other editors should also do it!
You've probably heard that E3 was sharply reduced this year, the invitations are very rare, and therefore, this international show of video games is no longer what it was before.
Ubisoft has therefore found the parade. They create the Ubidays, currently taking place in Paris. Nearly 600 journalists have made the trip to attend the show, which began with a speech nearly two hours led by Yves Guillemot, boss of Ubisoft.
He announced that E3 was only for Americans, and that therefore they were seeking another way to show their products. " Then he comes to the point: "We have therefore decided to E3 France, and this is the Ubidays."
As he explains, this exhibition aims to introduce new games Ubisoft, and specify what the division of casual players. Because the market for these players exist, the firm had sold almost 5 million units Petz game for Nintendo DS. This division will seek to conquer this market very promising. Games cuisine and fashion will be intended mainly for girls and the coaching jeux (mental and physical) will be for older audiences.
But these Ubidays will also aim to show the world what the new productions Ubisoft, as Assassin's Creed, Brothers in Arms, Ghost Recon, and Splinter Cell, which are intended for an audience accustomed video games.
Regarding films (an animation studio will soon open its doors in North America), Ubisoft said it "must seek to collaborate with those creating the films because these people are really excellent. They have a great know-how we can exploit, and good techniques we can use in our games. They can come and work in our animation studio, this would be a very good way to collaborate with them. "
On consoles, he admits they are indeed well established market and believes that this market will increase by 50% the coming years, and between 13 and 15% this year. "These machines are selling very well, and we believe that the Wii, the DS, PS3 and Xbox 360, we offer new games helping potential client to enter the market."
To conclude, we can not err greatly, say that Ubisoft is more confident in the future!
Yes, it has said Yves Guillemot, Ubisoft's boss, developer and publisher. He told the Reuters news agency that "Sony will have a different market share, lower than before."
He added that the Japanese firm must significantly lower the price of its console, but make suggestions.
This relates directly to his company, because we learn that Ubisoft is currently developing a game exclusive to the PS3 (maybe not so exclusive that it saw sales of the console).
