Ubisoft 2008 Annual Report Download - page 6

A STATEMENT FROM YVES GUILLEMOT
andMontreal.Intotal,1,400newcreativetalentscameon
board.Theseadditionalresourceswillallowustodevelop
gamesforbothpresentandfutureplatforms.Wetherefore
continuetoinvestinthefutureandtoprepareforthearrival
ofthenext-generationconsoles.
Objectives for 2009-2010
Training new people brought on board and helping teams
acquire new skills so that we can uphold our reputation as
one of the best creators in the industry is our rst strategic
objective.
Tohelpteamshonetheirvideogamesskills,wewillconcentrate
ondevelopingour trainingprogramsandcampusesand
strengthentieswithtopuniversitiesandexternalpartners.
Video game creation today requires new skills, such as
storytelling, specialeffects orproductionvalue, already
well-knowntothelmindustry.Inordertointegratethese
skillsmorequickly,weplantoattractnewtalent-specically
fromthemovies-byrelyingonthereputationofourteamsand
opportunitiestocomeoutoftheeconomicdownturn.Wewill
alsocontinuetojoinforceswiththebestHollywooddirectorsto
co-producecreativeworlds,sourcesofinnovationandmutual
enrichmentforourteams.
We also intend to fully exploit both current and future
technologies so that we can continue to innovate and surprise
our consumers.
Wewillthuscontinuetoexploreallthepossibilitiesoffered
bypresent-dayconsolestoofferourconsumersnewgaming
experiences.Wewillalsocontinuetoanticipateandstudy
newtechnologiesselectedbyconsolemanufacturers-such
asthe3DcamerarecentlyadoptedbyMicrosoftortheTouch
PadfromApple.Thesetechnologieswillhaveamajorimpact
onthefutureofgamingandweneedtopositionourselveson
themquickly,aswehavesuccessfullydoneinthepastonthe
WiiTM.Wehavebeenworkinginparticularonthe3Dcamera
foroverayearnowandintendtointensifyoureffortssothat
wecanfullymasterthistechnologyanditsapplicationsfor
videogaming.
This year we want to get even closer to our players so that
we can improve the quality of their experiences within all
of Ubisoft’s creative worlds.
Itisbycontinuingtouseonlinetechnologyinparticularthat
wewillplaceourcustomersattheveryheartofourcreations
wherebyreinforcingtheirloyalty.UPLAY,ourcommunity
platform,willbeonlinebytheendof2009.Itwillgiveplayers
thepossibilitytoextendandsharetheirgamingexperiences