Ubisoft targeting Japanese market

At a time when some Japanese developers are decrying the stagnation of the Japanese market and calling for more western-style games, Ubisoft has taken the unusual step of targeting the Japanese market as one it wants to expand into.

According to an interview with Famitsu (translated and via 1-UP), Ubisoft wants to enter the Japanese market and eventually create products in the same vein as Final Fantasy.

The only problem, Corre claims, is that Ubisoft has never actually developed any RPGs internally - something he'd like to remedy.

"People often say that Japan is packed with hardcore gamers, and it's important to understand what it is they're looking for," he said.

"Our mission is to create hit games on the same level as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. We'd like to see everyone in Japan root for us. Perhaps someday our efforts will result in a major hit on the level of a Dragon Quest."

"We've made shooters, strategy, sports, action, and adventure games, but not any RPGs yet. Still, we're open to all possibilities. If we can get a quality team of RPG-oriented developers, I'd love to release one. If we have a chance to work with Japanese creators, then I'm sure we can make a game that appeals to the Japanese audience."

Corre also said that Ubisoft was looking to invest heavily in Japanese studios and that it already had at least one Nintendo DS game in development over there, though he didn't go into any greater detail beyond that.

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