Ubisoft Kicks Asphalt to PSP
A cell phone game gets a handheld sequel.
Published: August 22, 2006
Folks in the mobile gaming industry (that's cell phones for those of us still using archaic terminology) have been saying that the platform is ripe for an explosion. Console hardware markers regularly reference the number of people and the amount of money that downloads to cell phones -- including games (though ringtones are far more prevalent) -- make every year as a justification for microtransactions.
And yet, despite all this, most hardcore gamers look at cell phone games with disdain, and for very good reason: they look and play like crap. Shoddy framerates, poor response time, and cell phones here in the States that just aren't powerful enough (or cheap and common enough) to really offer an experience that's on part with even an old Game Boy.
But that's not going to stop Ubisoft from pilfering one of the highest-rated mobile games Gameloft, the company's mobile division, has ever released and pumping out a PSP version with Shanghai-based Virtuos Games and Frence developer Gamesource at the helm. Aside from breaking our spellchecker, Virtuos has mainly concentrated on some basic contract work for other developers (porting, modeling), but it'll be interesting how (or even if) they flesh out Asphalt: Urban GT 2's gameplay for Sony's system with Gamesource leading the charge.
Tony Key, Ubisoft's VP of Marketing, seems to think so anyway.
“Ubisoft is excited to introduce the follow up to one of the best selling racing games on the Nintendo DS,” he gushed. “Asphalt Urban GT 2 is the most feature-rich racing game available for handhelds and will provide gamers with an exhilarating street racing experience.”
Best selling, perhaps, but not universally praised -- at least not like the mobile version was, which is a definite surprise. Still, the sequel will once again be returning to the DS, along with the aforementioned PSP version, though the latter won't hit until March of next year. If it manages to flesh out the whole powerslide-heavy racing concept, but updates it with plenty of customization and solid track designs, it could be... well, yet another solid racer for the PSP. We'll find out next year.
And yet, despite all this, most hardcore gamers look at cell phone games with disdain, and for very good reason: they look and play like crap. Shoddy framerates, poor response time, and cell phones here in the States that just aren't powerful enough (or cheap and common enough) to really offer an experience that's on part with even an old Game Boy.
But that's not going to stop Ubisoft from pilfering one of the highest-rated mobile games Gameloft, the company's mobile division, has ever released and pumping out a PSP version with Shanghai-based Virtuos Games and Frence developer Gamesource at the helm. Aside from breaking our spellchecker, Virtuos has mainly concentrated on some basic contract work for other developers (porting, modeling), but it'll be interesting how (or even if) they flesh out Asphalt: Urban GT 2's gameplay for Sony's system with Gamesource leading the charge.
Tony Key, Ubisoft's VP of Marketing, seems to think so anyway.
“Ubisoft is excited to introduce the follow up to one of the best selling racing games on the Nintendo DS,” he gushed. “Asphalt Urban GT 2 is the most feature-rich racing game available for handhelds and will provide gamers with an exhilarating street racing experience.”
Best selling, perhaps, but not universally praised -- at least not like the mobile version was, which is a definite surprise. Still, the sequel will once again be returning to the DS, along with the aforementioned PSP version, though the latter won't hit until March of next year. If it manages to flesh out the whole powerslide-heavy racing concept, but updates it with plenty of customization and solid track designs, it could be... well, yet another solid racer for the PSP. We'll find out next year.
