Ubiart Framework is the engine that got its release début with Rayman Origins, starting its run off with one of the best 2D plat formers of all time.

Followed by the just as good Rayman Legends, these where both 2D platformers in an era where most people are only interested if they have a Nintendo logo on the box, but the next two games using Ubiart Framework really shows that its more then an engine.

Child Of Light is a sidescrolling RPG where you play a dead girl flying though a fantasy world over taken by fog and forest, all dialogue was written in poetic verse.

This could seem like a crazy move making something that the mass of gamers would baulk at, but just to make sure everyone knew it was a commitment and not an breakdown they made Valiant Hearts: The Great War.

Even with the Rayman games being risks and Child Of Light a crazy move Valiant Hearts stands as a statement of intent.

A game set at the deep end of the battlefields of World War one with a medic dog and a few silent humans as the cast, narration being the only words.

The Ubiart engine really does seem like the foundation of putting creativity above maximizing profitability, a way to make small, focused and Auteur driven.

Ubisoft as a whole will still be fuelled by hundred million yearly productions that being in billions but they seem to understand the need to divert even a little bit of that profit into projects that are allowed to fail, in a sense to small to fail.

After the Rayman games the releases have been digital only, meaning an even greater focus on the content over the form.

From the engine functionary that has been shown publicly it looks a lot like the more simple fan based one, like GameMaker or to a lesser extent Unity: a clean and easy interface that for quick iterations, a focus on 2D though it can handle 3D models and animation. This along with an easier path to many different systems means the inherent risk of these projects is spread across multiple SKUS, PS3, PS4, PSVITA, X360, XBONE, PC, IOS, ANDROID. Giving a greater chase of these more niche ideas finding their audience.

The post release buzz on Valiant Hearts is that its good, and there seem to be enough talk that it might catch on, and if it doesn’t any financial loss with be filled by a couple of hours worth of Assasin’s Creed DLC sales.

If the rate of Ubiart titles keeps up that Sony comment about bring back a PS1 era of creativity might come true, even if they aren’t the leaders of the charge.

Vodka Tales Blog