Support NeoGAF

[L~A]

http://www.jp.square-enix.com/dqsp/

The first eight Dragon Quest games are coming to smartphones soon.

Please look forward to it.

Ladies and gentlemen, bow to your FOV 30 future!... Seriously, what's up with the FOV? That Monster Hunter game got it too... who thought this was a good idea? This is giving me some claustrophobic vibes here. : /

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

I have both, but I barely use the 3DS other than for Mario, Zelda and Fire Emblem and I was never a fan of DQ7.

But DQ8.... that hurts..

Didn't really get to play VII or VIII. I know VIII is considered to be the crown jewel entry by most fans. I just assumed since they re-did VII, we would naturally get it here in the west and a 3DS remake/re-release of VIII would follow. But SE's all about treating their fans like ass so I should have known better. (Should these...ports come to the west), SE I guess would be more interested in chasing the average Angry Birds/Bejeweled players' wallets. With a traditional DQ game. I'm sure that'll work out just swell.

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

Mobile phones nowadays are quite powerful, but yeah you're right, it could be a dumbed down port. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

iOS/Android FF ports don't have microtransactions or ads, so hopefully these DQ ports won't have any too.


IIRC DQ games have appeared on mobile phones previously.

I know the ports won't get IAPs, but I fear for any new DQ game that comes out for smartphones in the future. You can be sure they will have a lot.

 

[SuperSah]

Ladies and gentlemen, bow to your FOV 30 future!... Seriously, what's up with the FOV? That Monster Hunter game got it too... who thought this was a good idea? This is giving me some claustrophobic vibes here. : /

Wait, it's portrait?

Looks cramped as hell..

 

[MLH]

Will Japan respond well with one of their most beloved franchise turning direction towards smartphone, I wonder.

This is the most important question, SE are relying on smartphones to 'save them', as a gamer I feel betrayed and insulted by smartphone games, I wonder how Japanese gamers will feel. I imagine sales will be decent, most people don't care.

Also I wonder if they are prepping the market for DQXI on smartphones? (T_T)

 

[Soriku]

DQ8 re-release...maybe there is a chance.

Yeah, it's happening on smartphones dude. Lol.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

Not interested in the 3d games that much, but the SNES ports will get some love on my iPad for sure. I never did get around to DQ6...

edit: oh yeah, I forgot about all the butthurt that comes when SE announce smartphone releases. Get over it you whiny dinosaur bitches.

 

[Nocturno999]

It doesn't bother me but they should get rid of that crappy joystick type of movement.
It should be just tapping to move to designated point. Is not like these type of games require very precise control.

 

[Kintaro]

This is the most important question, SE are relying on smartphones to 'save them', as a gamer I feel betrayed and insulted by smartphone games, I wonder how Japanese gamers will feel. I imagine sales will be decent, most people don't care.

Also I wonder if they are prepping the market for DQXI on smartphones? (T_T)

As a US/Euro gamer or a Japanese Gamer? Because the writing has been on the wall for YEARS in Japan and gamers outside of the country were too hardheaded to see it.

Also, it's very sad to see someone "betrayed and insulted" by this. I know it's hyperbole but...come on.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

This is the most important question, SE are relying on smartphones to 'save them', as a gamer I feel betrayed and insulted by smartphone games, I wonder how Japanese gamers will feel. I imagine sales will be decent, most people don't care.

Also I wonder if they are prepping the market for DQXI on smartphones? (T_T)

Can you unpack this? How do ports of old games (that you've likely already played) insult you as a gamer? It's a daft position to take. Something like All the Bravest, that's insulting to us as gamers. A move like this just opens up some great games to a potentially wider audience than it already has.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

This is the most important question, SE are relying on smartphones to 'save them', as a gamer I feel betrayed and insulted by smartphone games, I wonder how Japanese gamers will feel. I imagine sales will be decent, most people don't care.

Also I wonder if they are prepping the market for DQXI on smartphones? (T_T)

It'd be such a stupid move on SE's part at least here in the west. What percentage of DQ's demographic doesn't own some sort of a dedicated gaming device? What typical Words with Friends player is gonna be sold on a regular DQ game? There's practically no crossover. Unless DQXI is gonna be a Japan only release, or it's suddenly turned into the next Angry Birds, a cell-phone centric release would be leaving money on the table.

Can you unpack this? How do ports of old games (that you've likely already played) insult you as a gamer? It's a daft position to take. Something like All the Bravest, that's insulting to us as gamers. A move like this just opens up some great games to a potentially wider audience than it already has.

I haven't had a chance to play DQ games before DQIX, and I don't understand why a core series is getting a seemingly exclusive re-release on a predominantly casual platform. Of course, this is assuming these ports get a western release at all. If not, then this all a moot point.

 

[Kintaro]

It'd be such a stupid move on SE's part at least here in the west.

Stop. Dragon Quest does not matter in the West. If it did, we would see more of them. SE has probably given up that ghost.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Stop. Dragon Quest does not matter in the West. If it did, we would see more of them. SE has probably given up that ghost.

If they're just not gonna bother with the series in the West anymore than that's a different thing entirely.

 

[SmokyDave]

This is the most important question, SE are relying on smartphones to 'save them', as a gamer I feel betrayed and insulted by smartphone games, I wonder how Japanese gamers will feel. I imagine sales will be decent, most people don't care.

Also I wonder if they are prepping the market for DQXI on smartphones? (T_T)

As a gamer I fucking love smartphone games* and thank the gaming lords that the portable market isn't utterly dominated by piss-weak region-locked hardware.

I'd imagine Japanese gamers will be pretty pleased. They seem to be far more open to this sort of thing than we are in the west.

*For the most part. There are some proper turds, but what format isn't that true for?

 

[Celine]

I didn't noticed this, but 3DS owners must be feeling with DQ7 what us Vita/PSP owners feel with all this Agito/Type-0 stuff. Although al least we are getting positive signs of Type-0 localization.

Why?
We get to play Bravely Default in 2 months and DQVIIR is just 8 months old.
Now if we don't get it in 2014 then should start to worry.

I see a lot of people worried if DQ XI will be or not on the 3DS, when after IX and X they should be more concerned about getting a decent DQ at all. I don't want another MMO or an MMO camouflaged as a single player game, which seems just the direction the series is taking.

Right now, I'm more concerned that we might never get a great DQ rpg. DQ VIII might the last one of those sadly.

Agree.
Never played X but I was a bit disappointed in DQIX (still a very good RPG).
DQIVR and DQVR are the jewel on DS.

 

[MLH]

As a US/Euro gamer or a Japanese Gamer? Because the writing has been on the wall for YEARS in Japan and gamers outside of the country were too hardheaded to see it.

Also, it's very sad to see someone "betrayed and insulted" by this. I know it's hyperbole but...come on.

Euro Gamer,
Betrayed is a bit hyperbole yes, but I'm trying to say I really hate smartphones for gaming: all we ever get from them is low quality. Cheap, poorly optimized ports and F2P services that are anti consumer.

These ports may be of high quality; the way they are played may not even change, no micro-transactions, no butchered game mechanics. But it doesn't change that the vast majority of other games from these publishers that are cheap cash-ins. It hurts me as a passionate gamer.

 

[Kintaro]

If they're just not gonna bother with the series in the West anymore than that's a different thing entirely.

<looks around>

Do you see Dragon Quest X or Dragon Quest 7 for 3DS here in the West? =)

These ports may be of high quality; the way they are played may not even change, no micro-transactions, no butchered game mechanics. But it doesn't change that the vast majority of other games from these publishers that are cheap cash-ins. It hurts me as a passionate gamer.

If they are so bad, why do you care? Why do they even register with you as a gamer? This isn't passion, its an inability to let go.

 

[tolkir]

Looks like the last bullet of Square-Enix. That Luminous engine must be expensive.

iOS money will give us KH3 and FFXV. Believe.

 

[RockmanWhore]

I'm okay with that, if they plan on release them on Andoid and in our gaijin countries. Turn based RPG and mobile phone are a nice match.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Why?
We get to play Bravely Default in 2 months and DQVIIR is just 8 months old.
Now if we don't get it in 2014 then should start to worry.

Bravely Default at least got a Western release confirmation, despite the (at the time) far off release-date. Neither SE nor Nintendo have made a blip about even localization for DQVIIR. At least let us know it's not gonna be 3DS's Type-0.

<looks around>

Do you see Dragon Quest X or Dragon Quest 7 for 3DS here in the West? =)

It's not looking good, but SE could just be taking their time for whatever reason.

 

[Dark_castle]

Wait. Once they:

- Release FFXV
- Localize Type-0
- Release FF X/X-2 HD
- Release KH 2.5 HD and KH 3
- Announce and release FF XII HD
- Localize Dragon Quest VII 3DS
- Localize Bravely Default

THEN, they have my permission to die.

There.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

It'd be such a stupid move on SE's part at least here in the west. What percentage of DQ's demographic doesn't own some sort of a dedicated gaming device? What typical Words with Friends player is gonna be sold on a regular DQ game? There's practically no crossover. Unless DQXI is gonna be a Japan only release, or it's suddenly turned into the next Angry Birds, a cell-phone centric release would be leaving money on the table.



I haven't had a chance to play DQ games before DQIX, and I don't understand why a core series is getting a seemingly exclusive re-release on a predominantly casual platform. Of course, this is assuming these ports get a western release at all. If not, then this all a moot point.

The platform is as 'casual' as you make it. They don't only play Angry Birds, you know? In depth and hardcore games also get releases on the platform and seem to do pretty well - I've played FFIV and FFT on mine, as well as stuff like Bastion, XCom, Baldur's Gate, KOTOR and more games than I can even remember at this point. So to me as a player this is great, they're releasing these games on my RPG/adventure platform of choice.

'Hardcore' gamers need to get this idea that phones=casual out of their head because it's outdated bullshit, and it shows you up as not knowing what you're talking about. For these kinds of games a touch interface works very well indeed, and the portability of having it with you at all times is a massive bonus.

 

[Magicpaint]

Not surprised. I've been bracing myself for this kind change for a good while now. I hate that DQ's future rests on mobile platforms but if that's where it goes then I'll begrudgingly follow! They're watering the ground for DQXI, for sure. Though I'm surprised they didn't bother with DQIX?! Maybe they're saving it for a remake or something.

 

[Busaiku]

It's not looking good, but SE could just be taking their time for whatever reason.

Can't forget Dragon Quest Monsters Terry's Wonderland or Rocket Slime 3 (unless you're Square Enix).

 

[Glass Rebel]

The platform is as 'casual' as you make it. They don't only play Angry Birds, you know? In depth and hardcore games also get releases on the platform and seem to do pretty well - I've played FFIV and FFT on mine, as well as stuff like Bastion, XCom, Baldur's Gate, KOTOR and more games than I can even remember at this point. So to me as a player this is great, they're releasing these games on my RPG/adventure platform of choice.

'Hardcore' gamers need to get this idea that phones=casual out of their head because it's outdated bullshit, and it shows you up as not knowing what you're talking about. For these kinds of games a touch interface works very well indeed, and the portability of having it with you at all times is a massive bonus.

All of these are ports.

Now take a look at Square-Enix' original efforts on smartphones. If you can't see why people are worried, I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Morfeo]

This is good news as it means more people get to play these awesome games. However, why not also release them on 3DS and Vita? That would be awesome for us that still like to play on dedicated handhelds. And what about Virtual Console, PSN, GOG and Xbla?

It is also important that these games get a serious price, and not 0.99 or whatever. They have value, and it would be suicide for SE to start to devaluate its own bread and butter by cultivating an audience that expects these games to come more or less free.

 

[The Spoony Hou]

And to remember myself, a few years ago, thinking that a DQ8 for DS with chibi graphics would be the shit...

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

The platform is as 'casual' as you make it. They don't only play Angry Birds, you know? In depth and hardcore games also get releases on the platform and seem to do pretty well - I've played FFIV and FFT on mine, as well as stuff like Bastion, XCom, Baldur's Gate, KOTOR and more games than I can even remember at this point. So to me as a player this is great, they're releasing these games on my RPG/adventure platform of choice.

'Hardcore' gamers need to get this idea that phones=casual out of their head because it's outdated bullshit, and it shows you up as not knowing what you're talking about. For these kinds of games a touch interface works very well indeed, and the portability of having it with you at all times is a massive bonus.

Assuming the games aren't downgraded in any way, it still leaves the issue of forced touch-screen only controls. Sure, there are attachable gamepads and what not, but throw that into the equation and now the "convenient" and "portable" cell phone just became less portable than my dedicated gaming handheld.

 

[mao2]

Merely appearing on smartphone is different than turning the focus towards smartphones. The latter is I think Square will turn DQ series (and their every fucking goddamn brand under the sun) into.

That's true. I used to moan and groan every time Square Enix announce a new title for mobiles, but after owning an Android phone, I've unfortunately learnt to accept the inevitable... :/

I know the ports won't get IAPs, but I fear for any new DQ game that comes out for smartphones in the future. You can be sure they will have a lot.

If DQXI is filled with IAPs, then F U Square Enix. Otherwise, I really wouldn't mind a brand new, well-made mainline DQ for smartphones.

 

[SmokyDave]

All of these are ports.

Now take a look at Square-Enix' original efforts on smartphones. If you can't see why people are worried, I don't know what to tell you.

That's definitely an issue. It's not an issue you resolve by producing less original content though. Hopefully they'll find a happy medium. Don't forget, the handhelds support IAP too. If that's the way they want to go, they'll go that way regardless of platform.

Assuming the games aren't downgraded in any way, it still leaves the issue of forced touch-screen only controls. Sure, there are attachable gamepads and what not, but throw that into the equation and now the "convenient" and "portable" cell phone just became less portable than my dedicated gaming handheld.

I'd wait until the pads are actually released. I can't see them being bulkier than an entire dedicated handheld.

 

[Enkidu]

Porting these games to smartphones seems like a good thing. However this is yet another Japanese game that is played in vertical orientation. This can't be a coincidence, why would anyone want to play these types of games in portrait mode?

 

[Celine]

Bravely Default at least got a Western release confirmation, despite the (at the time) far off release-date. Neither SE nor Nintendo have made a blip about even localization for DQVIIR. At least let us know it's not gonna be 3DS's Type-0.

I don't think [Nintendo] want to overlap BD release with DQVIIR.
In 2014 will see.

 

[What The Forest Taught Me]

Darn it Square Enix, at least make a portable port for all hand helds >_<

Haha yes, the Anti-Banderas--

 

[MLH]

If they are so bad, why do you care? Why do they even register with you as a gamer? This isn't passion, its an inability to let go.

Let go of what? My idea of what games should be? A story/ adventure that developers have crafted from their hearts, most developers are never in it for the money, it's always the publishers, which is to be expected.

...I suppose if I can let go of any emotion for Capcom, despite holding a number of my favourite franchises, I can now do the same for Square Enix. TBH I seen it for a while, SE financial reports, It was no secret where they are heading, so I suppose that is what you are saying when you are telling me to let go; changing business practices.

I've gone off topic on a rant now, so I'll shut up.

 

[Magicpaint]

To those wondering about what this means about the future of Dragon Quest, I would like to bring you all back to this thread.



The main thing we can take from this is that the days of platform exclusivity for Dragon Quest are most likely coming to an end, at the very least.

Yeah it's surprising though. DQIX being the best selling DQ game ever and it seems it apparently wasn't profitable enough for them with that model of exclusivity? When DQXI happens on smartphones it will be VERY interesting to see how they handle content and pricing.

Hasn't earned... the right? DQM and DQVII remakes sold a lot (~900k each) and DQM2 is coming too.

DQVIIr remake sold over 1.2m copies, actually. But yeah not enough etc etc.

 

[Aeneas]

Sigh...

I had enough waiting for a remake/port of DQVIII, I am just plugging my ps2.







fu square.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

gulp

Now I'm not so sure about XI being a 3DS game.

Shoot me now please.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

All of these are ports.

Now take a look at Square-Enix' original efforts on smartphones. If you can't see why people are worried, I don't know what to tell you.

Yes exactly. Which is why I'm excited for ports of the DQ games coming to iOS. As a port platform it's fantastic.

SE's original efforts everywhere for the past decade have been patchy as it is, their original stuff on phones is little better or worse.

 

[Jedeye Sniv]

Assuming the games aren't downgraded in any way, it still leaves the issue of forced touch-screen only controls. Sure, there are attachable gamepads and what not, but throw that into the equation and now the "convenient" and "portable" cell phone just became less portable than my dedicated gaming handheld.

You don't need buttons for a JRPG, end of story. Fuck, even hard platformers work well.

The resistance against touch interfaces is mostly from ignorance of the platform. Play some games on there and your opinion may change, it works just fine.

 

[mclem]

Including 8 but excluding 9 seems like a strange decision. 9 ought to be less demanding on the hardware. Is it just because 9's recent enough that they don't want to give the impression of "Just wait for it on smartphones"?

 

[Zee-Row]

I guess that's that.

 

[SmokyDave]

gulp

Now I'm not so sure about XI being a 3DS game.

Shoot me now please.

Man, you'll lose your shit when the Monster Hunter 5 announcement drops.

 

[Kouriozan]

Square Enix is really in need of cash I guess... I foresee tons of Studio closing next gen too :s

 

[Mr YuYu]

You don't need buttons for a JRPG, end of story. Fuck, even hard platformers work well.

The resistance against touch interfaces is mostly from ignorance of the platform. Play some games on there and your opinion may change, it works just fine.

Opinions rite? I really tried to play 'normal' games (f.e. Secret of mana, Shining force,...) on my Iphone but the virtual d-pad takes out all the fun for me. So in my opinion, even a JRPG requires buttons to be played in a decent way. Touch screen controls just don't cut it.

 

[Soriku]

gulp

Now I'm not so sure about XI being a 3DS game.

Shoot me now please.

Being on smartphones doesn't exclude 3DS. Just look at Theatrhythm FF: Curtain Call being announced for the 3DS when everyone was expecting it for smartphones (it'll likely be ported to smartphones like the first game but the point is that it's not just one or the other). And it's not like they're not making DQ for the 3DS anymore anyway. There's a new DQ Monsters game for 3DS coming.

Man, you'll lose your shit when the Monster Hunter 5 announcement drops.

Traditional MH wouldn't work with touch controls like a turn based RPG like DQ.

 

[Magicpaint]

Including 8 but excluding 9 seems like a strange decision. 9 ought to be less demanding on the hardware. Is it just because 9's recent enough that they don't want to give the impression of "Just wait for it on smartphones"?

But that doesn't work since DQX was announced the other week for smartphones.

 

[SmokyDave]

Opinions rite? I really tried to play 'normal' games (f.e. Secret of mana, Shining force,...) but the virtual d-pad takes out all the fun for me. So in my opinion, even a JRPG requires buttons to be played in a decent way. Touch screen controls just don't cut it.

Virtual d-pads are a quick solution for ports. Original games ought to use something a little more suitable, such as 'tap & hold to move' or similar. It can be done, the games just need to be written with the platform in mind, which these ports aren't.

Traditional MH wouldn't work with touch controls like a turn based RPG like DQ.

I know, man. I'm just giving Sammy a friendly poke with a stick.

 

[Soriku]

They're excluding 9 because 9 sucks.

 

[Magicpaint]

They're excluding 9 because 9 sucks.

Lies. DQIX is great.

 

[Breakfast at Noon]

but.. i want them on my VITA :'(