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[SatelliteOfLove]

The big message I hope to communicate is that the percentage of actual gamey-game games in this will be miniscule. With SE's caustic indifference to their talentbase, it's more than possible. THAT'S the problem.

So SquareEnix is becoming financially solvent by moving away from portable consoles/HD Consoles and betting the farm on iOS.

Spoiler

Damn it!!

And their management is so proud doing SOMETHING right for once, you can just smell it.

 

[DigitalDevilSummoner]

There's a difference between most western publishers who are treating it as a shovelware dump off platform so they can make a quick buck to fund their legitimate games and Square Enix who seems to be taking the platform seriously at the expense of their console/PC development.

You said it yourself, Square Enix is not a western publisher. We always single them out -for some reason- from the state the Japanese industry is at.

Simple question: What are we comparing their AAA/AA output to, PSone era ?

... that loosely resemble what I actually want from the company and what they're still capable of creating?

No, they are not capable of creating an annual output of games like Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Valkyrie Profile, Secret of Mana like they used to because the development costs have changed and they don't appeal that broad of a market anymore.

 

[mrpeabody]

"Sell-out type" What does that mean? Sell out as in games that are gonna sell out or that they are selling out going the western route or some shit?

It's a strange phrase. From context, I would guess "games that sell out", i.e. have potential for blockbuster sales?

 

[Toth]

You said it yourself, Square Enix is not a western publisher. We always single them out -for some reason- from the state the Japanese industry is at.

Simple question: What are we comparing their AAA/AA output to, PSone era ?



No, they are not capable of creating an annual output of games like Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Valkyrie Profile, Secret of Mana like they used to because the development costs have changed and they don't appeal that broad of a market anymore.

Bingo. The market just isn't there anymore. Unfortunately, as a business, it is hard to justify throwing good money after nostalgia. They seem to be taking a 'feel-out' thought process now: Release a small budgeted project related to the old franchises, measure sales and feedback, and then focus on higher budgeted projects if there is a good profit outlook.

edit: I would also like to add that sales of FFX-HD will mean nothing more to SE than the potential profitability of HD titles. FFX will sell on nostalgia value alone. I doubt SE would think, "Nice sales, let's make a new game like FFX," but rather, "Wow, people enjoy playing those old classics. Let's do some HD with 12 or maybe VP?"

 

[Shion]

No, they are not capable of creating an annual output of games like Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Valkyrie Profile, Secret of Mana like they used to because the development costs have changed and they don't appeal that broad of a market anymore.

That's only true when it comes to consoles.

We'll never see a AAA Chrono or Mana game with a massive budget behind it.

But 3DS and Vita provide a market where games like Chrono, Mana etc. can still exist with PS1 and PS2-era budgets.

 

[Whompa]

operating - half a billion

holy shit...Dump that all into FFXV! GO FOR BROKE SQUARE!!!

 

[Juken]

I don't think anyone is expecting them to get to PS1 levels of quality/quantity of output, but there is a huge gap between that and what we've gotten this gen in my opinion.

I find it very hard to believe that this generation is the best they could have done. Throwing in the white towel after such a poor attempt at console development is a shame.

 

[Mesoian]

And people say Square Enix is dead.

Dead in the fact that the stuff that's making the most profit overseas is stuff that doesn't appeal to gamers in any region.

Squenix is one of the best pachislot companies out there. I don't care about that.

And Versus 13 should still be released on ps3.

SE has already made the most sensible decision, and that is to support the smartphone platform, and not focus heavily on the schizophrenic buying habits of westerners, but focus on what they know, the Japanese market. The home console product category is in decline in Japan, MS and Sony both see this and won't be releasing their systems till later. Why should SE get behind a platform that treats the Japanese as second class, when their games are primarily targeted to the Japanese market?

Because in 2015 when FF15 comes out, everyone will have moved on, whether they like it or not.

That's like asking why Nintendo doesn't put out a version of a link between worlds for the DS.

I find it very hard to believe that this generation is the best they could have done. Throwing in the white towel after such a poor attempt at console development is a shame.

I don't think anyone, at that company or otherwise, believe that to be the case, regardless of what they tell their shareholders.

 

[Shengar]

The Phoenix Down will arrive in the form of a Fantasy based on Reality.

That particular line is pretty funny and gimmicky to me. Not saying the game will be bad because of that of course, but within my understanding that likes saying giant enemy crab is historically accurate, to a lesser extent.

No, they are not capable of creating an annual output of games like Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Valkyrie Profile, Secret of Mana like they used to because the development costs have changed and they don't appeal that broad of a market anymore.

The question is why they are not capable? Is it because budget doesn't worth the profit? To my observation, it's like SE shoot themselves in the foot by creating something that isn't beneficial for the genre they excel at, like building ultra realistic graphic engine that in some way or another, become limitation to other department like writing since the budget would astronomically high if they pursue the same diversity. Why would not try to create cel-shaded Draqon Quest game for console? The market changed but it's like SE don't want to change their approach on creating console games.

 

[Glass Rebel]

No, they are not capable of creating an annual output of games like Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Valkyrie Profile, Secret of Mana like they used to because the development costs have changed and they don't appeal that broad of a market anymore.

That has more to do with SE being a terribly managed company than anything. The talent is still there as we can see from the odd fantastic game and hints of greatness in others but the development history of many of their games implies huge issues when it comes to coordinating the teams, time and budget.

 

[Mesoian]

That has more to do with SE being a terribly managed company than anything. The talent is still there as we can see from the odd fantastic game and hints of greatness in others but the development history of many of their games implies huge issues when it comes to coordinating the teams, time and budget.

Absolutely. They certainly could branch out to a model of smaller teams making more personalized games on a smaller budget for mobile platforms, but they make too much "dumb" money off of remakes to take risks on new ip's, and they certainly aren't going to spend marketing money to get the word out that said games even exist. Instead, they put all their eggs in one basket with the final fantasy series and hope to ride that wave as long as they can, even though it's the biggest mainline franchise critical failing they've ever had.

"But it's making money, so let's keep doing it, and hope that the next one will bring us back to our former glory. Right guys? Right."

 

[clem84]

That's only true when it comes to consoles.

We'll never see a AAA Chrono or Mana game with a massive budget behind it.

But 3DS and Vita provide a market where games like Chrono, Mana etc. can still exist with PS1 and PS2-era budgets.

That's what I'm thinking. If from now on Dragon Quest survives on portables, that would be fine by me. As long as we're getting the games that's all that matters. If DQ11 is announced for 3DS and Vita and it's being localized in the west I would jump for joy. Sadly, seeing the way they're treating DQ7 on 3DS, it's doesn't look likely to happen.