Square Enix President on Next Gen

[Kefkataran]

Just found this gem over at Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com). They have some very interesting quotes from an interview with Square Enix president Yoichi Wada about the next generation of gaming consoles that has already begun. From the article (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6155358.html?part=rss&tag=gs_news&subj=6155358):

"If we don't see some [next-generation] titles that differ from traditional games, the industry is in trouble. Nintendo's DS lineup gives you an idea of the potential... There is a demand for something new from the users... Entertainment is not a necessity, so the users don't know what they should demand. It's up to the creators to think about this."

It's good to see the president of a company generally known for making pretty "safe" titles talking about the need to branch out and be innovative like this. I think you can see some attempts at that (both successful and wildly unsuccessful) in the most recent Final Fantasy iterations. Look at Final Fantasy X vs. X-2 vs. XI vs. XII. While they might share the franchise name, they're all totally different games, both in terms of content and quality.

[holysin]

"Entertainment is not a necessity", huh?

Hey, I think this one should've been the quote:

"This is one of the reasons Square Enix will collaborate with Taito, a company that produces physical hardware," he said. "In our talks with Taito, ideas for an actual physical product have come up. In any case, we will be releasing some 'thing.' It's interesting in that it's not the sort of thing you expect from Square Enix."

I hope they're not making a handheld

[Zeal]

Then why the hell are they on Final Fantasy 13. Square is not even a shell of its former self.

[soco]

great so everyone and their mom has an idea of what should've been happening for a few years now, and still no one other than nintendo is doing anything about it. yay lipservice!

it's like peter moore talking about all this stuff. "if we talk about it, maybe we can fool gamers into thinking we've innovated by just making tiny changes to our existing games, and then ride on Nintendo's success!"

[Savok]

Look at Final Fantasy X vs. X-2 vs. XI vs. XII. While they might share the franchise name, they're all totally different games, both in terms of content and quality.
Keyword, what most of these people fail to realize is that new and different doesn't automatically mean good.

[Captain Awesome]

"I made this invention you see, it pats you on the back. It's easy to use and you can own one for only $19.99 + S&H. While supplies last!"

[jeffool]

I hope they're not making a handheldI hope they're making a creative addition to the Wii-mote.

[Mike Jones]

I hope they're making a creative addition to the Wii-mote.


Maybe they will remove the Gamecube from it.

[NoName]

I hope they're not making a handheld
I dono, a hand held that has a full library of RPGs, I'd buy that ;).

[EvilBob46]

Then why the hell are they on Final Fantasy 13. Square is not even a shell of its former self.

Publishers need to crank out sequels to make money, and when they have enough, they can invest into innovative titles and new franchises.

[Stormwatcher]

Square is indeed supporting both the Wii and the DS, I think there is some change in the air.

[Borys]

FFX-2 is very, very similiar to FFX. I don't understand where you are coming from Kef.

[Savok]

I think he means from an art design point of view, the whole girl power j-pop dress up angle they were going for, rather then FFX's with the Tidus "I look like a prat" thing.

[SexualChoc]

Square, please redo VII for PS3. Seriously, do that, and I won't ask for anything from you again. Shit, I'd even get a PS3 on launch.

[DeadScreenSky]

I think he means from an art design point of view, the whole girl power j-pop dress up angle they were going for, rather then FFX's with the Tidus "I look like a prat" thing.
The game's visual thematics might be different, but most of the art is entirely reused from the original FFX. The gameplay/combat demonstrates a much bigger change, but since it's basically a resurrection of various classic FF systems it's maybe not as significant as it could be.

[Kefkataran]

FFX-2 is very, very similiar to FFX. I don't understand where you are coming from Kef.

FFX-2 isn't similar to FFX at all. Obviously it's got most the same characters and continues the story, but the class-based battle system is completely different and even fairly changed from other class-based battle systems in Square's past. That and, as Savok pointed out, the strange J-pop influence stuff.

Square, please redo VII for PS3. Seriously, do that, and I won't ask for anything from you again. Shit, I'd even get a PS3 on launch.

I'd seriously be surprised if it doesn't happen. And as much as it goes against what they were saying about innovation here, I'm sure I'd end up buying it.

[MoJoBehaumat]

Hell if the redo FFVII, they better give me a new serving of FFIII :D

[Kefkataran]

Hell if the redo FFVII, they better give me a new serving of FFIII

If by FFIII, you mean FFVI, god I wish. So bad.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

They are redoing the real FFIII - it's coming to the DS in a month or two. New engine, redone translation, etc.





Edit - To clarify, by "real" I mean the original Japanese FFIII. I have no idea what it was released as here (if it was at all.)

[Kefkataran]

Edit - To clarify, by "real" I mean the original Japanese FFIII. I have no idea what it was released as here (if it was at all.)

It's actually the only one left that has never been released here. When the DS one is released, US gamers will finally have had access to every FF over here.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

It's actually the only one left that has never been released here. When the DS one is released, US gamers will finally have had access to every FF over here.


I thought that was the case, but I wasn't completely sure. Thanks for clearing it up. :) I'll probably buy the game - maybe it will be the first Final Fantasy I've ever played for more than 5 minutes!