Ubisoft 2008 Annual Report Download - page 25

Creating new gaming experiences
At the heart of Ubisoft’s editorial strategy is the ambition to
successfully establish three new brands every two years. Recent
additions to the group’s long list of IPs include Tom Clancy’s
H.A.W.X.TM, Shaun White Snowboarding
and My Coach .
To add even more depth to our creative universes and facilitate
gamer immersion, Ubisoft’s talented people have developed a
number of proprietary technologies. Among these, the ANVIL engine
from Assassin’s Creed® which makes it possible for many animated
characters to appear on-screen at the same time thus creating a
more complex environment; the unprecedented use of the Nintendo
DSTM console as a virtual diary in My Secret World by Imagine®
or the integration of a pedometer for My Weight Loss Coach .
In Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X.TM , an existing technology is used in a
novel way to reinforce the sensation of depth; gamers are able
to replicate the ground topography in the game using satellite
geo-localization.
Reinventing agship brands
In addition to new IPs, Ubisoft has many established brands in its
portfolio, well-known among increasingly large and demanding
circles and capable of rallying fan communities around their iconic
heroes. These brands create considerable added value for the group,
generating recurrent sales, which is why Ubisoft makes it a point to
look after them, innovating and rening their concepts with each new
installment. Added features, technologies, characters and intrigues
are all ways of reinventing these established brands. With decades
of experience, Ubisoft now knows what it takes to keep a franchise
fresh as seen this past year with the release of the third installment
of Rayman and the Raving Rabbids .
Conquering new territory
Ubisoft’s brand portfolio is one of the largest and most balanced
in the industry. It includes games in many genres including action/
adventure, driving, first-person shooters, simulation, sports
and strategy not to mention the Games for Everyone range. The
acquisition of Massive Entertainment also enabled the group to
reinforce its expertise in strategy and online games. By positioning
itself as a pioneer on new platforms and technologies, Ubisoft
continues to ensure that it stays one step ahead of the competition.
The ability to always look to the future, to stay close to gamers in
order to better understand their needs and to offer them titles
that combine quality and innovation are what has enabled Ubisoft
to establish itself as a key industry player, one that shapes the
entertainment of tomorrow - today.
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ANNUAL REPORT 2009