Michel Ancel, the creator behind Rayman and Beyond Good and Evil, has told Videogamer that he’s not entirely convinced that the Wii U is actually a next generation console in terms of sheer technical prowess. However, Ancel did confess that the Wii U controller is what he deems to be a true next generation device.
Asked if the Wii U is a next-generation machine, Ancel replied: “Not really. I think Wii U is next-gen in terms of interface.”
“I think people are going to copy it, because you’ve got this mix between tablet, touch screen and big screen – big screen and little screen – there are a lot of possibilities.”
Pressed on this issue – whether he expected Microsoft or Sony to cook up something similar – Ancel replied: “I don’t know if Sony will do it, or Microsoft – but yes, I think it’s a possibility. But I think the main thing is to have this – offering new ways to play is very interesting.”
– Michael Ancel, Ubisoft
As if the guy behind the Rayman series has any idea about next generation games, I mean look at the state of that series, is he looking for some more motion controls to make his Rabbids games?…
You’re being unnecessarily harsh, Ancel is a genius. Raving Rabbids happened BECAUSE of the Wii’s motion controls. They were originally going to make a platforming Rayman game, but ultimately decided that the controls weren’t satisfying enough to deliver the experience they wanted and they decided the system was better suited for minigames; thus, Raving Rabbids was born. Rayman Origins looks breathtaking and considering it’s development cycle it shows that the only reason we didn’t have it sooner was because Ancel understands control is an incredibly important aspect of gameplay and Interface, to some extent, should definitely inform design. I have no doubt that he will be one of the designers behind some of the most intelligent uses of the Wii’s innovative controls.
As if the guy behind the Rayman series has any idea about next generation games, I mean look at the state of that series, is he looking for some more motion controls to make his Rabbids games?…
I have to agree that technically speaking the Wii U doesn’t make enough of a jump to be “next gen”. But it is certainly more unique and innovative than anything else at the moment. Who will be the first to try something similar? My bet’s on Microsoft; they already are trying to beat the Wii’s motion-based controllers by attempting to remove the need for a controller entirely. Flailing my whole body around or barking orders like “Play” and “Stop”at my game console doesn’t appeal to me…
“Xbox pause” “Xbox play”
I love doing this. It eliminates the initial lag of reconnecting the controller. And you don’t have to shout, or even talk loud if you tune the Kinect with the TV at the same level as it is when you watch a movie.
The motion stuff is ridiculous though.
believe me sony and microsoft will probably copy nintendo just like with the wii
If Sony PS3 is to last for ten years + and the Wii U is comparable or a tad bit more powerful than that, why would we care?
Well its not NEXT GEN once it’s MADE. of course, this isn’t made yet, so it’s technically NEXT GEN.
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When will people understand that the term “next-gen” isn’t measured by power, but strictly by the period in which it is released?
I wonder how he even tries to evaluate the console itself, of which nearly no technical details are known right now.
To say that a system isn’t “next-gen” because of it’s graphical prowess is the same as saying that the progression of the game industry is only achieved by increasing a machine’s ability to render better graphics. Nintendo completely destroyed that warped model of progress with the Wii.
I honestly don’t know how much further graphics can go at this point anyways, and even if it does go up a bit with the next sony or Microsoft system It’s not going to be as ground breaking as the jump that was made from xbox to 360. And like Denty One said to say that it’s not next gen because of graphically power would be a false assumption.The way I see it every new cycle( 4-5 years) is a next gen system. Nintendo is starting a new cycle with the wii U therefore it is next gen.
Exactly, does this guy remember what Xbox 360’s graphics looked like. He should look up call of duty 2 for the xbox 360 and then lets see what he says.
Ugh please. It’s not next-gen to some people because Nintendo has only revealed a tidbit of what the Wii-U can do: split screen between tablet and TV, and HD graphics.
Wait till a couple of months to see all other incoming features and THEN we can judge if it’s next-gen or not.
I heard the graphical abilites may very well be double or triple that of PS3. Just think about this, it can easily run current PS3/Xbox games before it’s even released. It took developers years to get those systems’ games to look like they do now. And imagine how good a game made ground up for the Wii U will look.
Graphics and hardware don’t mean next gen when it’s released means next gen
1. How could he judge the power properly right now? The original footage @ E3 was from an early build. Those 360/PS3 visuals are AT LEAST what Wii U could do.
2. Come the PS4 in 2014, it’s possible they could implement these ideas into the next console, but they wouldn’t change the traditional Dualshock for it. They did it with Sixaxis, and look how that turned out. If anything, they’ll sell a specialized controller separately like everything else. In the meantime, they’ll be content transferring PS3 games to PSP and Vita (an idea backed by Kojima via Transfarring). I have no doubt Microsoft is already working to implement these ideas into the 720.
This guy is an idiot. It’s the “next generation” of Nintendo console. So yes, it’s “next gen.” When did that term start being used to describe graphics? Ugh…
He is right about gameplay. I want to see something like 4 swords adventures used on wii u using gameplay jumping from the big screen to the hand held.
doesn’t it being 50% more powerful than the PS3 and Xbox360 make it next gen? because apparently, only graphics matter for “next gens” now.
Wow, even more hate?
Fact of the matter is, Nintendo actually kicked off the next gen when they released the 3DS. The PS Vita AND Wii U are a part of this gen as well. Microsoft and Sony are just too broke as of now to make a home console, nor do they have any revolutionary ideas that won’t rip off Nintendo in some way.
Why are people such graphics whores these days? There are games on the original NES that are still better than some games today? Who gives a damn about graphics, not me.
Also When are we Getting a “True rayman” Game akin to the Game that WAS R:RR before he decided that the controls were
-+
t good enough and turned it into a party game, I liked Rayman 3 and the rabbids (not played origins but it coming on wii and 3ds? in november) but frankly I we got Wii motion+, classic pro, and soon Wii U controller for controls, I Can imagine customiseable controls for rayman and stuff. he better have a 3D rayman either in progress or Rayman Wii U (insert a random title u creative peps) with HIm Being the focus whether it revenge for the rabbids/ end their reign/stealing his spotlight, all his old enermies back for revenge or a new plot/story alltogether. NO MORE RABBIDS: DESPERATE REVENGE