Ubisoft Licenses Scaleform GFx For Forgotten Sands Wii

UI tool company Scaleform says Ubisoft has licensed its Scaleform GFx middleware for menus, HUDs, animated textures and other features in the Wii version of upcoming title Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. Scaleform says its Flash-based GFx tech version 3.1 includes a "Lite" build configuration that lets developers trim code size by up to 30 percent by disabling non-essential functionality, helping it work better within the Wii's memory constraints. Ubisoft says the tool will allow it to create high-performing UIs while maintaining high framerates for the game. Scaleform president co-founder, president and CEO Brendan Iribe comments: "Memory constraints can easily limit the design of game titles by restricting the use of middleware, and reducing the scope of certain graphics and game play elements. "Scaleform GFx and its 'Lite' libraries are designed to enhance Wii games by enabling developers to design highly creative UI elements that have little to no impact on a game's performance and fit within the tight memory constraints of the Wii platform." Forgotten Sands is scheduled for release in May 2010, and Ubisoft has said will revisit the storyline of the popular 2003 Prince of Persia game The Sands of Time and its two sequels.