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Red Steel 2 MotionPlus-Only
Ubisoft’s sword and gunplay action sequel Red Steel 2 will only be compatible with MotionPlus enabled Wii controllers, the company has confirmed.
The game’s creative director told the latest issue of Nintendo Power magazine (via Nintendo Dpad) that the core experience wasn’t there without the soon to be released peripheral.
“It’s a huge risk,” Jason Vandenberghe said. “We have no idea what the penetration rate for Wii MotionPlus will be. We assume high. We would like it to be high.
“I would love to say to you that it’ll be compatible with just a regular controller, but the gameplay simply isn’t there without MotionPlus. That core experience just isn’t there without it.”
A Ubisoft rep confirmed to Edge this morning that Red Steel 2 will be a MotionPlus-only title upon its release later this year, but didn’t offer any further comment on the decision.
Set for release next month, the Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, “combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’s arm position and orientation, providing players with an unmatched level of precision and immersion,” according to Nintendo.
Update: Analysts discuss Ubisoft's Red Steel 2 MotionPlus-only risk
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Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court 30 Monmouth Street Bath, UK BA1 2BW
England and Wales company registration number 2008885
I think the brand Red Steel is still a well known brand due to the fact that it was released when the 'hardcore' mostly bought the Wii in it's early days before the casual gamer jumped on the bandwagon. That 'hardcore' which is probably in the millions for a new Nintendo console will, i believe, be very aware of the Red Steel brand.
Oh, and i actually enjoyed the first game's gunplay which was let down by the very annoying boss sword fights. The closest a console has come to replicating the superior PC mouse and keyboard control system.
I think motion+ plus and non motion+ games will bring confusion to the market.. Unless compatible games always come packed in with the add on. Or failing that a huge sign over the shop shelf saying 'Hey, you want that game, well you know you need to buy this add on too!?" Thats an extra £20 please.. ouch
The Wii games already have icons that show that a game requires the nunchuck or is compatible with the classic or Gamecube controllers. The icons also state whether the hardware is required or optional. So adding an additional icon for the Motion Plus will not be a problem.
There is concern over this title being Motion Plus Only!! Instead of " gushing fanboyism" one should look at the impacts of this being a Motion Plus only title. You will have to buy the game at$49.99 and then if you don't have the motion plus attachment, you will have to buy each one at $24.99. So if you buy the game and 2 Wii Motion Plus Attachments, you just shelled out $100.00US. No way that is a HUGE pass for me. I am Happy to see Red Steel 2 get the Motion Plus so it is a more refined game, but Red Steel 2, should come packed with at least one Wii Motion Plus Attachment, to bring in a larger purchasing audience, and who knows they may do that, something like the Game Plus one Plus for $59.99. If they just sell the game alone and your left to buy the attachments, then a HUGE audience will be lost. I love my Wii, but NO way am I putting down $100.00US for one game.
You're not accusing my comment for gushing fanboyism I hope, because I don't even own a Wii :). The trailer of Red Steel 2 is real-time because you need some very basic knowledge in graphics technology to clearly see it - unlike the "professionals" in the "Game Industry" that are still wondering :).
As for Ubisoft packing the Motion Plus with Red Steel - I don't think that distribution of this device is their obligation. Back in the late 90's just about every Playstation owner had Dualshock without even having a real need for it. It was just more heavy, felt more solid and had rumble, but besides people playing their racers with the analog stick it didn't bring anything new to the console. It was just a better controller and everybody had one (or two :). But Nintendo are going the dorky way again and just packing their new attachment with some funky game nobody of those that really need this device would buy. I think they should just make a new more advanced Wii Remote and start selling it with the Wii.
But you are only thinking on one game that requires the attachment. The Motion Plus is something that will be used in a large number of games over the years and that initial cost will be lessened the more games you buy that take advantage of it.
So when you buy a second Motion Plus capable game, that cost has just spread to $25 per game. Buy two more and the cost is $12.50 per game. eventually by the end of the console life cycle, the cost is pennies per game.
You are treating this like it is only good for one game. Think long term economics not short term.
Red Steel 2 is shaping up like a pretty decent title,but I would also like to see some improved FPS controls along the new melee combat. Hope they finally include some decent auto-centering instead of just the box dragging and bring first person shooting on the Wii where it needs to be :). And yes the graphics in the trailer are clearly real-time alright.
This cool, but I get the feeling Red Steel won't have the name recognition or marketing to really be big, and later Star Wars is going to do the exact same thing but be a huge hit.
Red Steel 2 with MotionPlus controls... that's going to be amazing! I can't wait