President of Square Enix: Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest to be Multiplatform Next Gen

[Red Cloak]

An article (http://www.gamekult.com/tout/actus/articles/A0000042718.html) from Gamekult.com (http://www.gamekult.com/) outlines the possibilities of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest being developed on multiple next gen consoles.

Here's the article translated from French...

President of Square Enix Yôichi Wada entrusted today to Mainichi Interactive that there was a possibility of seeing plays Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest developed on "several" consoles news generation. Being given that they are there two series headlights which largely contributed to the success of PlayStation 2 in Japan, the advertisement with covered words of possible defectors or bearings is obviously to take with the serious one. The reasons evoked by Yôichi Wada are limpid: to develop such franknesses on several machines news generation will at the same time make it possible to increase the shares of market and to satisfy the players, while amortizing the production costs. The process was already engaged with the advertisement with the E3 last of a bearing Xbox 360 of Final Fantasy XI, but this recall supposes that it will definitively not act of an isolated case. For this reason, Square Enix recently indicated in an interview (http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy11/preview_6130110.html) granted to Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/) that new plays would be developed for Xbox 360.
I suggest using Babelfish (http://babelfish.altavista.com/) for translation:

[KNOTE]

this could be huge for microsoft and nintendo, if they are able to get the deals done.

[bobbler]

Interesting. Its hard to get a decent translation (and I couldn't find the original interview/quotes anywhere), but if this is the case then MS might actually be quite competitive in Japan and have a broader selection of RPGs this time around in the US. More power to 'em.

[Justin_McElroy]

Not to quibble, but how did

"An article from Gamekult.com outlines the possibilities of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest being developed on multiple next gen consoles."

become:

"President of Square Enix: Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest to be Multiplatform Next Gen"?

Just out of curiosity.

[StrifeSnake13*]

Interesting. The translation is hard to understand but it seems like nothing is confirmed, it seems like Wada said there is a possibility of it happening.

If they did go multi platform, they would most likely make it for the ps3 first and foremost because thats where their fan base is, then they could port from the ps3 to the 360 and or rev.

[Red Cloak]

Not to quibble, but how did

"An article from Gamekult.com outlines the possibilities of Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest being developed on multiple next gen consoles."

become:

"President of Square Enix: Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest to be Multiplatform Next Gen"?

Just out of curiosity.

Sounds like a quibble.

The interview with the president of Squeenix has him stating that very fact. Unless GameKult or the interviewer from Japan has some ulterior motive I would trust their reporting. BTW, Gamekult isnt the only site reporting this, I just chose it since they had the most comprehensive translation of the original interview.

[Red Cloak]

Interesting. The translation is hard to understand but it seems like nothing is confirmed, it seems like Wada said there is a possibility of it happening.

If they did go multi platform, they would most likely make it for the ps3 first and foremost because thats where their fan base is, then they could port form the ps3 to the 360 and or rev.

Right now their fanbase owns niether a ps3 or X360.

[51|RandoM]

Put square titles on the gamecube and I could end up a 1console+1pc person.

[Commissar Rob]

Well, that article was perfectly limpid.

And I plan on using "limpid" whenever possible.

Especially in regards to franknesses of communication in a business setting.

[StrifeSnake13*]

Right now their fanbase owns niether a ps3 or X360.

I'd say about 95% of their fan base owns a ps2 and will buy a ps3. The SE fan base is not going to jump the the 360 because they have a port of a FF or DQ game, Square-enix fans are some of the most loyal in the business. Most of SE's fan are ether living in japan or are JRPG fans that live outside of japan, sony always has the most JRPG's and japaneses sales so most of the SE fans will buy a PS3.

[EvilBob46]

The console(s) that get Final Fantasy XIII will be the winner in this regard, all the other spin-offs and oddballs Square produces regularly don't matter (and they plain out suck most of the time IMO).

[Red Cloak]

From the sound of the interview it wont be the spinoffs that are going multi, (talk of production costs and reaching a wider audience)it is the real meat and potatoes.

[Doctor Setebos]

[...] the advertisement with covered words of possible defectors or bearings is obviously to take with the serious one.I think that right there says pretty much all there is to say.

[bobbler]

If only I understood Engrish!

Where is a Rosetta stone when you need one?

[Kelegacy]

Multiplatform games can be good...if you only own one system. But more and more games are becoming multiplatform. Maybe someday all or most games will become multiplatform (barring 1st party games)...making owning all of the consoles meaningless.

I actually like exclusives myself, making mee feel my console purchase was worth it. Multi-games help out the developers and publishers, but if i know i can get all the games I want on one system, I'll do that. But FF being available on other platforms will hurt Sony. If they lost Metal Gear (which basically are already multiplatform games) and GTA (again, multiplatform) they dont have much else to hold on to besides a strong fanbase and powerful brand name. The Playstation name is infinitely more recognizable than the Xbox, "the box with an X on it".

Sony cant get any good news lately can it? Can anyone add SOME good news post for the company? Can ya?

[Heretic Machine]

Square-enix fans are some of the most loyal in the business. Most of SE's fan are ether living in japan or are JRPG fans that live outside of japan

...No shit? I thought they were all Red Chinese who hated J-RPG's. Learn somthing new every day.

[Paranoia]

The SE fan base is not going to jump the the 360 because they have a port of a FF or DQ game, Square-enix fans are some of the most loyal in the business.

Tell that to Nintendo!

[Furious Wang]

Well that's pretty much a bombshell but not unexpected. I expect a 50/50 split barring some huge Sony slipup.

[Kamalot]

I'd say about 95% of their fan base owns a ps2 and will buy a ps3. The SE fan base is not going to jump the the 360 because they have a port of a FF or DQ game, Square-enix fans are some of the most loyal in the business. Most of SE's fan are ether living in japan or are JRPG fans that live outside of japan, sony always has the most JRPG's and japaneses sales so most of the SE fans will buy a PS3.
Wouldn't their fan base buy whatever console supports the games they want to play?

I buy my console based on where the games I want are, not the other way 'round.

[Adam Blue]

Wouldn't their fan base buy whatever console supports the games they want to play?

I buy my console based on where the games I want are, not the other way 'round.

No, some gamers are hardcore for their team. Some people didn't buy the XBox just because Microsoft made it, even though the system has great games.

I would like exclusivity to be limited to first party titles. That way devs would put more effort into games.

[TrackZero]

I'd say about 95% of their fan base owns a ps2 and will buy a ps3. The SE fan base is not going to jump the the 360 because they have a port of a FF or DQ game, Square-enix fans are some of the most loyal in the business. Most of SE's fan are ether living in japan or are JRPG fans that live outside of japan, sony always has the most JRPG's and japaneses sales so most of the SE fans will buy a PS3.

I think the point of this is, it's now open so that those 95% of players with a ps2 can opt to get their Final Fantasy fix elsewhere with the next-gen (be it on the 360 or revolution).

[Achilles]

Wow I was just about to say that read like something hacked up from the mouth of babblefish. I must say the biggest win that the 360 could ever possibly have would be to get Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest at the same time or before the PS3. If it’s another Crystal Chronicles nobody will care. So whatever these new plays are they better be the right plays or it’s not worth very much in the news generation.And I plan on using "limpid" whenever possible.Whatever you do just keep them off your ship’s hull.

[bobbler]

Has anyone actually read the quote in question?

Pick your translation:
"The next-gen consoles have sets of users, and as a result the high-end users will want a gaming experience different from that of low-end users," he says. "Our intention is not to focus on one platform, but to distribute the share of our games among the consoles."
or
"The market for next generation game machines will be split into 'high end' and 'low end' according to the type of user. Rather than one hardware dominating, the various machines will carve out their own share."
There's probably more translations -- but none I've seen has said anything close to what all these sites are reporting. All it takes is one site to post their interpretation of a quote and all hell breaks loose.

I wouldn't exactly call that a confirmation of anything. It is only reinforcing what has been said previously -- that SE is supporting all platforms. Who knows. We might end up seeing FF13/DQ9 on all platforms, but this doesn't say either way.

Hurray for internet journalism!

[mister_slim]

As long as Aeris stays dead I'll continue to care very slightly about S-E.

[StrifeSnake13*]

...No shit? I thought they were all Red Chinese who hated J-RPG's. Learn somthing new every day
The point was that sony has the highest japanese sales and most jrpg's, so sony would be better fit for SE. Next time at least try to quote my whole sentence, it makes more sense that way. :cool:

Tell that to Nintendo!
SE fans left Nintendo for sony because sony got the entire franchise, not just a port.

[TRiLoGY]

I'd say about 95% of their fan base owns a ps2 and will buy a ps3. The SE fan base is not going to jump the the 360 because they have a port of a FF or DQ game, Square-enix fans are some of the most loyal in the business. Most of SE's fan are ether living in japan or are JRPG fans that live outside of japan, sony always has the most JRPG's and japaneses sales so most of the SE fans will buy a PS3.

Yup, I agree with you... Im a big Final Fantasy Fan. I will probably buy both X360 and PS3, But I will buy Final Fantasy games for the PS3 whether it is multiplatform or not..

[SMES]

Honestly I don't care about this, because I'm still waiting for Dragon Quest 8 to come out over here. Seriously, no voice acting to translate/re-record? WHAT'S TAKING SO LONG???

[Kamalot]

I will probably buy both X360 and PS3, But I will buy Final Fantasy games for the PS3 whether it is multiplatform or not..
What? Why?
What will you do when:
The hard drive in the Xbox 360 caches data reducing load times?
Xbox LIVE allows you to trade items and compete in challenges with friends?

Isn't it a little premature to decide which platform will showcase the best presentation of the game?

[TRiLoGY]

What? Why?
What will you do when:
The hard drive in the Xbox 360 caches data reducing load times?
Xbox LIVE allows you to trade items and compete in challenges with friends?

Isn't it a little premature to decide which platform will showcase the best presentation of the game?

hehehe.. Firstly, Final Fantasy doesn't have load times.. Plus im not bothered about being able to trade items with friends.. I prefer the Single Player experience when it comes to FF.. I have not even played FFXI (online). Also, I would rather add to my Existing Playstion FF collection which I will also be able to play on PS3.. Oh, and I believe that the PS3 is having its own Version of 'LIVE' (and online Community) so If I did ever want to trade Items etc I sure I would be able to. :)

[Twigz'N'Berries]

I'd say about 95% of their fan base owns a ps2 and will buy a ps3. The SE fan base is not going to jump the the 360 because they have a port of a FF or DQ game, Square-enix fans are some of the most loyal in the business. Most of SE's fan are ether living in japan or are JRPG fans that live outside of japan, sony always has the most JRPG's and japaneses sales so most of the SE fans will buy a PS3.

Wow...95% own a PS2 and will buy a PS3....95%!! That is a staggering number. Lets start by saying that PS3 has sold 90 million consoles. That means we multiply the percentage of those PS2 Squeenix fans by 90 million and we then multiply that by 95% and we get the install base for the PS3 from Squeenix alone!!!
Now, could you just kindly let me know exactly how much of those 90 million PS2 owners are Squeenix fans?

But I just thought of something...Sony doesn't really have 90 million PS2 owners. Some of those are repeat customers due to defective hardware. Some people have 2 PS2s. Some bought the system and let it collect dust. Others converted to the way of the Xbox (and vice versa).The question out there I guess would be how many active PS2 owners there are? Then we have to figuire out how many of those owners are Squeenix fans.

Can you answer these questions? As you obviously have access to better info as you can accurately state that 95% of Squeenix fans will by a PS3. Please postthat info whenever you can, thanks!

[Achilles]

Wow...95% own a PS2 and will buy a PS3....95%!! That is a staggering number... Now, could you just kindly let me know exactly how much of those 90 million PS2 owners are Squeenix fans?Whoa, this looks like a case of math gone horribly wrong. I think what he was saying was that of the current Squeenix fans who currently own PS2s, of which there are about 5 million or more; 95% of those are going to buy a PS3. Not 95% of people who own Playstation 2s are Squeenix fans, or 95% of the people who buy a PS3 are going to become Squeenix fans somehow.

I would disagree though, the fans of FF and Dragon Warrior will go to the platform that has the games they want. If that's two platforms you could see quite a split develop depending on which platform has the best version of their game. If they’re identical it takes Squeenix games off the table all together and it’ll be up to the other titles on the system to convince people over. For example I'm a Final Fantasy, Resident Evil and Team Ninja fan, so which ever console has support from all of those is the one I'm going to buy... is what I'd say if I was only going to buy one.

[StrifeSnake13*]

Wow...95% own a PS2 and will buy a PS3....95%!! That is a staggering number. Lets start by saying that PS3 has sold 90 million consoles. That means we multiply the percentage of those PS2 Squeenix fans by 90 million and we then multiply that by 95% and we get the install base for the PS3 from Squeenix alone!!!
Now, could you just kindly let me know exactly how much of those 90 million PS2 owners are Squeenix fans?

But I just thought of something...Sony doesn't really have 90 million PS2 owners. Some of those are repeat customers due to defective hardware. Some people have 2 PS2s. Some bought the system and let it collect dust. Others converted to the way of the Xbox (and vice versa).The question out there I guess would be how many active PS2 owners there are? Then we have to figuire out how many of those owners are Squeenix fans.

Can you answer these questions? As you obviously have access to better info as you can accurately state that 95% of Squeenix fans will by a PS3. Please postthat info whenever you can, thanks!


first; it was just an estimate but considering FF and DQ games have been sony exclusive for the last two generations, it's not far off. Second; I was saying that 95% of the square-enix fan base (4-8 million) own a ps2 and are likely to buy a PS3. Over half of SE's fanbase are japanese and I wouldn't count on them buying a 360 version over a ps3 version of FF or DQ any time soon.

All the consoles have repeat buyers, so if sony sold over 90 million then the real number is less but the same go's for MS's 25 million and Nintendos' 15-20 million.