Ubisoft 2004 Annual Report Download - page 11

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UBISOFT > 2005 ANNUAL REPORT
Conquering Hollywood
On October 12, 2004, Ubisoft announced an agreement with Universal Studios Consumer
Products Group to release an interactivegame based on Universal Pictures’ upcoming
motion picture adventure, “King Kong”. Thus began a close collaboration between three-
time Academy Award®winning director Peter Jackson and the development team of
Michel Ancel, the creative genius behind Rayman®and Beyond Good & Evil™. The first
preview was unveiled at E3 2005 where Peter Jackson’s King Kong blew spectators away,
plunging them into an unprecedented interactive and emotional adventure. Peter
Jackson’s King Kong represents a revolution in the world of licensed games and is one of
the most highly-anticipated releases for the 2005 holiday season.
HIGHLIGHTS
THE GROUP 01
January 26/05 > Licensing deal announced with
Sony Pictures Consumer Products to develop
and publish videogames based on Sony Pictures
Animation’s first CGI motion pictures.
February 8/05 > Licensing deal with DIC
Entertainment to create videogames based on the new
tween property TrollzTM.
March 16/05 > Licensing deal signed with And 1®
will result in Ubisoft’s first sports videogame title.
FINANCE
December 20/04> Electronic Arts purchases
19.8% of Ubisoft’s capital, attracting international
attention to the company and its high potential.
December 23/04 >1.8 million units of Prince of
Persia Warrior WithinTM sold in 2 weeks.
February 7/05 > Extension of tax credits given by
the Quebec and Canadian governments; announce
creation of 1,000 new jobs in the province including
project to establish an annex studio in Quebec City.
March 11/05 > With 2 titles ready for both the
American and European launch of the NintendoDSTM,
Ubisoft nabs the top spot among independent
publishers on the platform in multiple territories.
March 17/05 > The successful launch of Brothers
in Arms Road to Hill 30TM adds another strong brand
to the company portfolio, whith sales reaching
1.7 million units for the last quarter of the 2004/2005
fiscal year.
AWARDS
June 9/04 > Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos
Theory™ receives three official Game Critics’ Best of E3
2004 awards: Best PC game, Best Action/Adventure
game and Special Commendation for Graphics.
January 05 > The editors of OXM, the United
Kingdom’s Official Xbox®Magazine, declare Ubisoft Best
Developer of 2004 at their annual awards.
February 1/05 >Game Informer names Ubisoft
2nd worldwide publisher.
March 16/05 > Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell Chaos
Theory™ is given an unprecedented 9.9/10 by Official
Xbox®Magazine1,and goes on to sell 2.5 million units
in the first week of its release.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT
EVENTS
May 3/04 > Deal signed with Square Enix for
European distribution of Star Ocean™Till the End
of Time™. The relationship is reinforced with the
announcement in July of a similar agreement for Final
Fantasy®XI.
January 3/05 > The first book in a series inspired by
Ubisoft’s game franchise Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell®
hit the New York Times’ Top 10 bestseller list for
paperback fiction.
February 1/05 > Creation of Ubisoft Campus a
continuing education program for Ubisoft teams, and
training program for students wishing to break into the
videogame industry.
March 30/05 > The resurrection of the Might &
Magic®brand is confirmed with Heroes of Might &
Magic®V.
1 - (US).