Ubisoft: "Super hardcore" games stopping industry from growing

Splinter Cell: Conviction creative director Max Beland has said that proper "super hardcore" games will stop bringing growth to the industry.

Speaking with Industry Gamers, he said the challenge was to "balance" both the core and less committed gamers with Conviction.

"I think it's a subject that is very touchy right now because as an industry we want to grow," said Beland. "We need to stop making games that are super hardcore. But we're afraid because we don't want to lose the hardcore people!

"At the same time, it's a challenge because the journalists - the people that rank us - are usually hardcore. So it's a real challenge to find a balance and make your game [appealing to all]."

He further added: "I don't like the word accessible because it makes it sound like you're dumbing down your game. But to me, Call of Duty is very accessible. So yes, it is something we want to do - I'd love for 10 million, 60 million people to play the games we make."

Splinter Cell: Conviction is due to release next week for 360, with an April 29 release for PC.