Ubisoft promises seven for Wii launch

In mid-July, one unnamed hedge fund manager told TheStreet.com that there was one publisher well prepared to reap success from the launch of the Nintendo Wii. Citing the high-profile game Red Steel, the source said only Ubisoft correctly tapped into the crowd-pleasing potential of the Wii, while other publishers were caught flat-footed by the console's successful stint at E3 2006.

Apparently the source's comment was an understatement. Ubisoft today revealed exactly how prepared it was for the Wii's launch--the publisher has seven launch titles prepped for the Wii's first day in stores. Previously, Ubisoft only revealed that Red Steel and Rayman Raving Rabbids would be available at launch. In comparison, the most prolific publisher for the Xbox 360's launch was Electronic Arts, who boasted five games.

"Media and analysts agree that Ubisoft has the greatest potential for reward with the new console's launch because we believed in it from the beginning," said Laurent Detoc, president of Ubisoft North America.

The five new titles should sound familiar to many gamers. Blazing Angels lands on the Wii after battling it out on the Xbox 360, Xbox, and the PC earlier this year. A game based on the Far Cry franchise will allow Wii owners to control hero Jack Carver with the Wii-mote. Also confirmed was a Wii version of Open Season, based on the movie of the same name, which also hits several other platforms. Ubi will also bring over a pair of racers--Monster 4X4: World Circuit (previously released on the Xbox) and GT Pro Series, from the developers of the GT Advance series.

None of the new games have been rated or priced. Ubisoft also revealed that it has many more titles scheduled for release on the Wii in 2007.