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Rayman Legends developer Michel Ancel and team appear in photo protest of Ubisoft's delay
News reported by 
(Editor-in-chief)
February 12, 2013, 18:55
 
Of course we all know by now about the controversial decision by Ubisoft to delay the finished Wii U version of Rayman Legends so it can appear in September next to PS3/360 versions that were announced. This spurred on fan outrage, which led to petitions, thousands of angry posts on Ubisoft's Facebook page, and more.

It appears that Rayman creator Michel Ancel is not happy with the delay either. Images sent to Eurogamer show Ancel and team posing with a sign that says ""Sortez nous Rayman. Soutient a Ubi Montpellier.", which Eurogamer translates to "Release Rayman. Support Ubisoft Montpelier."

The support for an immediate release of the game by the creator of Rayman itself, a high profile Ubisoft developer, will surely not go unnoticed. How will Ubisoft respond?





Source: Eurogamer

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Posted: 02/12/13, 18:55
 
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Wii U exclusive video on the eShop. Detailing the Wii U exclusive demo we are getting soon. That'll be Ubisoft's response.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 18:57
I felt like this deserved its own news post, because the more people that are talking about it, the better. I can feel some real momentum here. But we don't necessarily need another discussion here, we can probably stick to the original thread for that. Or not. Up to you guys.

@missypissy Ha ha. I hope someone reaches out to Ancel and sees exactly what he thinks about all of this. I'm especially curious about how he feels about the Wii U exclusive demo.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 18:58  - Edit:  02/12/13, 19:00
To have Michel Ancel himself oppose this delay will only increase the hate Ubisoft gets. They must already have a lot to deal with surrounding the news prior to this... I can't imagine they're very happy now.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 18:59
Man now Ubisoft is really going to shit on Ancel. Poor guy.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 19:01
This reeks of PR stunt on everyone's part. I hope I'm right and that it's coming soon...

Even an eShop only release (until September when the game drops on 360 and PS3) would be enough to tide angry fans over.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 19:03
@ludist210 I don't know if I'd say that I think that's what's happening, but I could see it being the case. After all of this hullaballoo, they'd hardly have to market it at all -- the gaming media and forums and developers have all done it for them.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 19:20
Apparently the reason for this whole fiasco is that Microsoft will not allow a game to be released on another platform before it is released on the 360. They reserve the right to deny it.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-08-24-why-microsoft-wont-publish-psn-firsts

And from what I hear, Sony won't allow it unless it has exclusive content. So it seems that Ubi is not the only ones to blame, we can be angry with Sony and Microsoft as well.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 19:33

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 20:00
ludist210 said:
This reeks of PR stunt on everyone's part. I hope I'm right and that it's coming soon...

Even an eShop only release (until September when the game drops on 360 and PS3) would be enough to tide angry fans over.

Could be the only way Ubi saves face here. The game would have to release on schedule for it to work, though, so I'm happy to remain jaded and pissed for the time being.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 20:08
Good for them. Ubi really messed this up!

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 20:17
@Earendil
Which makes me wonder- they're probably going to have to cut out or retool tons and tons of content to get it to work properly on the PS3 or 360; so surely that'd make the WiiU version different enough to not count as the same game.

If Microsoft and Sony must be special snowflakes with an exclusive edition of the game; then I'm sure Ubi Montpelier could add some "sorry for waiting six months!" costumes of popular Sony/Microsoft characters and call it a day. I think that's how some downloadable/indie games get around the restriction.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 21:04
Several on GAF are stating Nintendo should poach Ancel. I couldn't agree more. In fact, I would be SUBLIMELY comfortable with handing him the reins to our favorite rotund plumber.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 21:11
That's so cool! I really wish I could somehow support these guys WITHOUT supporting Ubisoft at the same time =\

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 21:12
@Earendil

I'm not going to lose focus on who's at fault. Ubisoft has the market clout to release when they want and on what platform.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 21:14
@Earendil

Are there really no examples of a game releasing first on Wii or PS3 and then going to 360? I feel like Ubisoft should have released the game on Wii U and then asked Microsoft if they wanted it. Would have been hard for them to say no, I imagine.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 21:26
Sometimes I wonder why I dislike MS and Sony compared to Nintendo. If the rumours are true that those 2 assholes had a hand in this then it doesn't take much for me to wonder. It sounds like more of an MS move than a Sony one though. MS is really digging themselves into a whole with me, and I fuckin' loved the 360.

Anyways a bit more on topic; I'm very pleasantly surprised and impressed that this big developer has grown a pair and is doing this. I really hope it goes somewhere. He seems like a man of integrity and this just helps drive the point home. He doesn't have to do this. And he could possibly get in trouble for it too.

I hope everyone learns a lesson here with this game and realizes the game industry's practices are just a little too fucking dirty sometimes.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 22:23
@Jargon That's what I was thinking. Even if this is the Microsoft position, you keep the game exclusive, launch it, and then talk about ports to other platforms? At that point I doubt Microsoft would say no.

But maybe they wanted to officially start on it without waiting, but didn't want to take the chance of starting on it without knowing it would be ok? I dunno.

Whatever the case. If this is truly a Microsoft thing, these publishers need to stand up to them and not let Microsoft dictate stuff like that, and this might at least light a fire in that regard.

Imagine if Nintendo had a similar policy. The Wii U wouldn't have any 3rd party games, lol.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 22:32
If that's in the contracts with Microsoft, then those are the shittiest contracts ever.

Or, in the case of Microsoft, the best contracts ever.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 22:48
@PogueSquadron The best contracts as long as they stay the dominant platform for developers. If they start sliding there though? Eh.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 22:52
If true, maybe it's time publishers took a stand? Nintendo's restrictive third-party enforcements got them plenty of ire back in the NES days too.

Maybe Ubi should just release this on the PS3 in September so it can hit the Wii U now without any problem. It'd make plenty of people happy, and show Microsoft that they can't bully third parties around.

Posted by 
 on: 02/12/13, 23:18
 
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