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Yves Guillemot

The Ubisoft CEO explains how the company is gearing up to be ready for new consoles and technology

GamesIndustry.biz The end of last year was a tricky time to launch a new IP - are you doing anything differently with the launch of new IP this year based on lessons learned?
Yves Guillemot

Yes, we learned a lot of lessons last year - the industry came with all of their games at the same time... when you look at it we have Assassin's Creed, a big brand, we have Avatar, which is the best movie for the end of the year.

So we have less new IP coming - we have lots of Wii products that we think will do well as well - but we're not coming with as many new IPs just because it's a more crowded industry now. There's less space for coming with too many new things.

GamesIndustry.biz Is it important to spread them out across the year?
Yves Guillemot

Yes - but also to give them enough time to make sure that when they arrive they're not only a big improvement in technology, but also that they're 100 per cent of their potential.

Previously in the industry, when we were coming to market with a big new technology I'd say that the press and consumers were really ready to have an experience with that technology - but maybe not so polished as with other games, because the novelty was a big part of the new experience.

What we saw last year is that because there are so many good games, you have to choose from so many things - even if you release a big, new, inventive game, you have to take the time and make sure you use the potential of that technology, but that you don't release something you don't feel is 100 per cent.

That's a big shift.

GamesIndustry.biz It's interesting to see how different companies are approaching that same issue, and how it will affect the market in the next 12 months.
Yves Guillemot

Yes, I think so.

GamesIndustry.biz Talking of new technologies, and linking back to your previous point about ramping up to be ready, one of the new products we'll see in the next year is Natal from Microsoft - do you think you'll be well-placed for that? Ubisoft was proactive in its approach to the Wii at launch, and it's yielded rewards, so are you hoping something similar may happen with Natal?
Yves Guillemot

I think Natal will be impressive, and bring something new to the industry. We've certainly been working on a 3D camera for a long time, before even Microsoft came to us with that, just because we thought it was a good way to improve the experience and make sure we can include more gamers.

So we want to be strong on that new accessory, that new way to play, but there are plenty of other things that will come along that will be interesting. That's what I love in this industry - always new things.

GamesIndustry.biz Finally - Sony announced the price cut for the PlayStation 3, and the new Slim model. How much impact will that have on you as a third party publisher?
Yves Guillemot

It's exceptional news actually - I think the machine is a great machine, with the Blu-ray. It's also going to be a smaller machine, and I think this will help Sony and the whole industry - because everybody will react, and so we'll be able to see it come to the mass market.

GamesIndustry.biz And are you happy with the price point in the UK?
Yves Guillemot

Yes, I'm happy they were able to move that fast, particularly in the UK.

Yves Guillemot is CEO of Ubisoft. Interview by Phil Elliott.