Prince of Persia spinning off onto Wii?

  • By TomM_GScom, GameSpot
  • Posted May 30, 2008 5:17 pm PT

Source: French gaming blog LiveWii. What we heard: So, thought all those rumors surrounding the next installment in Ubisoft's famed Prince of Persia franchise would be settled after the game's official announcement and subsequent media briefings? Think again. According to Ubisoft's announcement in...

Source: French gaming blog LiveWii.

What we heard: So, thought all those rumors surrounding the next installment in Ubisoft's famed Prince of Persia franchise would be settled after the game's official announcement and subsequent media briefings? Think again.

According to Ubisoft's announcement in April, the Prince and his newly stylized digs would appear on the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC, with an entirely separate version also swinging to the Nintendo DS. The multiple versions seemed to resolve the discrepancy between recently retired industry tipster Surfer Girl's leaked title--Ghosts of the Past--and an application to trademark for Prince of Persia Prodigy, filed by series creator Jordan Mechner with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. However, conspicuously absent from Ubisoft's official reveal was a Wii version of the game, which Surfer Girl said in October was also on the way.

Despite the omission, it now appears as if Ubisoft is hammering away on a Wii version after all. French industry site LiveWii is reporting today that while their writer on hand at Ubidays failed to secure producer and onetime TV presenter Jade Raymond's digits, he did get confirmation of Prince of Persia for the Wii. The site does not indicate the source of their reporter's information. As for the details, LiveWii only states that the game was announced as a spin-off to the aforementioned recently announced Prince of Persia titles.

That a new Prince of Persia would not be coming to the Wii is a far more difficult pill to swallow than vice versa. Ubisoft has provided ample support to Nintendo's console--including just announced new installments in the off-kilter Rayman Raving Rabbids series and the all-new Shaun White Snowboarding--and it makes sense that the publisher would add one of its top franchises to the hot-commodity Wii.

Further, while Surfer Girl has proven to be far from infallible, her inside information has yielded tangible results more often than not. Also, the then-presumed pre-alpha fuzziness of her leaked image (bottom) takes on further significance if considered as a snap of a game for the Wii, which, unlike its current-generation counterparts, lacks a certain high-definition lustre. As it stands, the shot looks nothing like the sharp, cel-shaded look of the new Prince of Persia titles (top).

Despite the stockpile of evidence pointing to why Ubisoft would, and maybe should, bring a new Prince of Persia to the Wii, one massive red flag that should immediately be raised is the source. Would Ubisoft really give a small blog--and that blog alone--the scoop on a new Prince of Persia title for the Wii? Could it be that the reporter, as these things go, simply got his wires crossed during the high-profile event? Or did a representative for the French publisher let slip one bon mot too many?

The official story: US Ubisoft reps had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

Bogus or not bogus?: A tentative not bogus.

78 Comments

  • gogyyy

    Posted Aug 2, 2008 6:08 am PT

    well i hope its going to come out for ps2 because well it killed all the other consoles when they came out for ps2 ive got to say how you really suppost to do all the awesome moves on a wii you probably drop to the floor of tiredness then the prince might drop that be funny but wii needs more motion sensors they should have like straps to the body and all that anyone agree... cant wait for this game to kick off!!!!!!!!!!

  • Arxilla_uchiha

    Posted Jul 14, 2008 9:16 am PT

    i realy hope that this game comes out for wii! seeeing as i dont have a ps3 or xbox 360 >.> >.

  • DisAppInc

    Posted Jun 28, 2008 10:16 pm PT

    Even if it doesn't come to Wii, I may have to buy a 360 just so I can play PoP 4.

  • diaborah1

    Posted Jun 18, 2008 10:58 am PT

    im just hoping they dont ruin it with difficult controls and a stupid story ya know

  • vette68

    Posted Jun 5, 2008 2:30 pm PT

    I know im going to love this game because of the other great PoP games.

  • hatieshorrer

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 2:51 pm PT

    Capcom and, Nintendo have been successful at using the Wii remote and, nunchuk for every game genra, even when motion senceing isn't needed its amazing some companies have been so unsuccessful.

  • nintendoboy16

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 10:12 am PT

    Cool, but I hope Ubisoft works more on it though if it were to come on the Wii.

  • eezzy_rider

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 9:01 am PT

    not surprised, that explains the blocky graphics and choppy animations

  • fleetmenace

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 7:49 am PT

    ok bring PoP to Wii but please no motion sensing, use the classic controller for games please thats what it's for not all games will play good with motion controls thats why SSBB doesnt use it

  • phenomx13

    Posted Jun 3, 2008 6:44 am PT

    we will see how it will be ihope the story is good

  • AvIdGaMeR444

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 5:46 pm PT

    I'm sorry...this will be the worst Prince of Persia game ever made. I'm convinced of this. I have nothing positive to say about Ubisoft when it comes to them making Wii games. They have proven over and over they can't take Wii seriously. Just watch...this will easily be a terrible game and the worst Prince of Persia.

  • Timbydude

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 3:59 pm PT

    Better than another crappy Wii port...

  • coolman437

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 3:51 pm PT

    i'm sick of this series they need to end it forreal its turning into the endless mario series getting worst and worst each time being made

  • startrooper101

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 12:50 pm PT

    I'd be a happy camper if it does come to the wii

  • markimsoad

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 8:34 am PT

    will be amazing

  • khoofia_pika

    Posted Jun 2, 2008 5:35 am PT

    well,
    it would be great if another pop game comes to the wii... but i hope, this time its better than rival swords.

  • Marka1700

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 8:29 pm PT

    Can't say im too excited. Ubisoft and the wii don't exactly have a glorious history.

  • brod1337

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 8:23 pm PT

    rynmls: Because hardly anyone owns a PSP. DS has sold waaaaaaay more units. Processing power means very little.

  • rynmls

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 7:47 pm PT

    why is it that this game have a DS version and don't have a PSP version, psp was more powerful handheld than the DS..

  • Serbine

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 7:03 pm PT

    I for one ain't too happy to hear that we might get a spin-off rather than what the other system are getting because my fear is that it might turn out like what Namco did to us Wii owners that they gave us Soul Calibur Legend while the other two system get Soul Calibur 4 which really sucks.

  • bone-me posted Jun 1, 2008 5:02 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    bone-me

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 5:02 pm PT (hide)

    nintendo needs to get rid of the wii! what a waste.

  • NintendoWarrior

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 2:24 pm PT

    @ctg867
    What you're saying doesn't make any sense. How is it not worth making a quality game for Ubi if the ONLY quality game from them so far, Raving Rabbids, sold amazingly? In fact, you just proved my point, saying that all their other games were crap and didn't sell well.

  • SMR-Venom

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 1:34 pm PT

    Interesting, Ubisoft isn't that far off. However it better not be a stupid port.

  • prioritymail

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 1:23 pm PT

    I hope this isnt a dissapointment like assassin's creed on the ds...

  • link631

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 12:43 pm PT

    wii!!

  • HOMIE_G64

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 12:31 pm PT

    PoP better not change anything except graphics. I liked the how Rival Swords for the Wii was linear when all the other games are focusing on "depth" and "non-linearity."

  • vette68

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 7:04 am PT

    I cant wait for the new Prince of Persia to come out, really looking forward to it.

  • peeweeshift

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 6:46 am PT

    i think the pic is for wii or psp. do you think they wouldnt release it for handle if given the chance. that looks like what the psp is capable of or even the ds.

  • chang_1910

    Posted Jun 1, 2008 12:36 am PT

    if the wii version has a different story and bring something else (extra) to the table.. I`m in..

  • SolarShadow

    Posted May 31, 2008 8:27 pm PT

    "...failed to secure... Jade Raymond's digits..."

    Okay, I'm an aficionado of the ladies and all, but enough is enough with the unrelenting, leering "jokes" about Jade Raymond. Could the journalists start acting like journalists and leave the knuckle-dragging cracks about how she "smells nice" to the forum-posters? Please?

  • in2DarKneSs

    Posted May 31, 2008 8:08 pm PT

    I have to admit, with the upcoming PoP for PS3 I could really care less about a WII version. I do own a WII, but would not want it for that console.

  • ctg867 posted May 31, 2008 6:14 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ctg867

    Posted May 31, 2008 6:14 pm PT (hide)

    Last Prince of Persia game on Wii was a port of Two Thrones, a year and a half after it released. Side note, it also came out for the PSP. So what, not we're getting a port of Warrior Within or Sands of Time? Hell, you could just use Revelations, which was a PSP port of Warrior Within. So you could do a Wii port of a PSP port of a 4 year old last gen game.

    Hell, Ubisoft is doing the same thing with Brothers in Arms now. They're porting Road to Hill 30, which, when it releases, will be an almost 2 year old last gen game. And at the same time, Ubisoft is doing the actual sequel, Hell's Highway, for 360/PS3/PC.

    So with all honesty, I wouldn't be surprised if they just said screw it and release an old port of one of the first two Prince of Persia games instead of actually putting the time into an actual Wii version of Prodigy. Ubisoft takes a look at the games that sell on Wii, and realizes it's just not worth it.

    What big name stuff has Ubisoft put out so far that was actually good? Blazing Angels, Far Cry, Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell, and Driver have all been awful versions of games that were better elsewhere. Red Steel was a colossal failure. And No More Heroes flopped financially and only got some support from press that wanted something "different" and looked over all it's many, many faults. Only thing to actually sell a decent amount of copies for it's budget was Rayman Raving Rabbids, which they still just ending up porting everywhere anyway. And now Ubisoft is focusing a lot more on all the small, casual stuff instead of big name stuff, because they know the troubles of third party stuff on Nintendo platforms.

    Only things really doing well are Nintendo first party, Wii Play (since it's basically a control plus a free game), and Guitar Hero 3, since most Wii owners don't have any other console. Financially, doing a full fledged Prince of Persia game, that wont' even sell, just isn't worth it to them.

  • sandshark8

    Posted May 31, 2008 3:41 pm PT

    There isn't a reason why it shouldn't come to the Wii...

  • blitz806

    Posted May 31, 2008 3:27 pm PT

    This game can really make HARDCORE wii owners (like myself) very, very happy if this game is done right. Looks like it's up to Ubi now, all we can do is wait. I just hope this info is correct because I am fed up with ports for the wii and would rather have a spinoff instead of some sh*tty port.

  • SoraLink

    Posted May 31, 2008 3:07 pm PT

    prince of persia is a great game, i cant wait for this game

  • conformist

    Posted May 31, 2008 2:38 pm PT

    Please, Ubisoft, use your whole a$$ when making this game for the Wii, not just 1/2.

  • Nintendo_Ownes7

    Posted May 31, 2008 2:20 pm PT

    They might have Ample support but it isn't "Nintendo Quality support" like they promised.

  • adventureseeker

    Posted May 31, 2008 1:58 pm PT

    Another reason to have the illustrious 360/Wii combo

  • DSJAM

    Posted May 31, 2008 11:21 am PT

    I hope this is true and I hope it's a totally different game than the 360, PS3 one. Although I hope it has the same art style. Just build an original game for the Wii from the ground up. That way they can avoid comparisons of the versions and not shoehorn in Wii gestures to the other games design.

  • leezer4000

    Posted May 31, 2008 11:17 am PT

    this game was originally on the commodore 64 and amstrad not 2 sure bout the spectrum but defo in for a massive overhaul in this version lookin forward to it immensly plus warrior within on ps2 looked outstanding and a great game to boot

  • ftjx

    Posted May 31, 2008 10:04 am PT

    that pic. looks like SotC and to you fortunate not to know what that means here here is the full title of the game Im referring to
    Shadow of the Colossus

  • okassar

    Posted May 31, 2008 10:00 am PT

    Lolz,yes the Wii is capable,but if the whole game is downgraded....

  • heroofwinds1

    Posted May 31, 2008 7:51 am PT

    all prince of persia games are awesome so i hope that we will see a new prince of persia made from the start for wii and not a port like the two thrones..

  • TheCritic9393

    Posted May 31, 2008 7:47 am PT

    Before everyone starts getting excited, let's not forget the terrible port of The Two Thrones too the Wii....

  • HyruleanLink

    Posted May 31, 2008 7:33 am PT

    Time will tell.

  • Staryoshi87 posted May 31, 2008 6:56 am PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Staryoshi87

    Posted May 31, 2008 6:56 am PT (hide)

    Just change your name into Ubiport, geesh. Hate EA? Ubisoft is worse.

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