Square Enix: Wii a Toy & Sony is Confused
Plus: its publishing catalogue is misunderstood
Posted 5 Dec 2007
Square Enix's president, Youichi Wada.
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Here's what the president of the Final Fantasy publisher had to say while talking to the Japanese arm of CNET:
"The Wii is the antithesis of the Xbox 360. It's strictly for hardcore gamers. The attachment rate for the Xbox 360 is much higher than for the Wii. People who buy the 360 really like games... I think the current trend is that most people aren't buying the Wii as a game machine, but as a toy... It seems that Sony isn't sure what it wants to do. Is it making high-end electronics or a game console for gamers? I want them to clearly define their console."
Wada also opined about Square's publishing line-up and the industry's perception of it, saying, "It's not that we are not investing in new franchises. It's necessary to do new games, franchises and remakes. With remakes, we're trying to expand the outlook of that world.
"If you look at our profits, franchises are 60 percent of our business, while new IPs are 40 percent. There's a misconception that we rely only on Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, while these titles only make half of our business. It's just that people keep asking for new instalments".
So there you go. Square's misunderstood. Still, it can't be feeling too sorry for itself after the almost ridiculous success of Dragon Quest IV in the Japanese Charts last week.
So, the 360's doing okay as far as Wada is concerned - but Nintendo as toy-maker and Sony as confused corporation? That's got to sting a little. Especially given that the Final Fantasy games are traditionally almost exclusively released on Nintendo and Sony platforms. Is he right? Let us know in the Forum.
Translation courtesy: Kotaku
Comments
Showing the most recent 20 comments. Go to the forum to read all 35 comments
17/35
ohh I'm just in a silly mood & thought, in your words "I'd pull your chain", what you wrote was cool, I was just
having a laugh, sorry no offense intended....
having a laugh, sorry no offense intended....
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18/35
I see...your response threw me for a loop...I reread what I wrote like 5 times looking for what could have possibly triggered such...no worries...SS4 has me in a confrontational mood, and I been up all night waiting for a friend to call me so I can pick him up from the airport (delays, I think theres storms out West, hes flying in from Vancouver)
19/35
ohhh my worst nightmare flying through storms!.... hope he makes it in one piece. If its any comfort i thought i'd be sensible & not go on COD4 on Live last night & have an early one!. Only to wake up this morning feeling like Jim Morrison had come back from the dead to take me out on a drinking competition with Oliver Reed!!..... so your better off giving sleep a miss, its the devil work!! haha.
20/35
U playing Mass Effect at all?
I started a character thread in Gaming Banter...
I love flying in storms myself (I love storms period, used to sit on the roof of the garage and watch them roll in over the American Bottom)...about the only things that really scare me are sea snakes and snapping turtles...
Not really sure why sea snakes scare me so much. I know exactly why snapping turtles scare the crap outta me though.
I started a character thread in Gaming Banter...
I love flying in storms myself (I love storms period, used to sit on the roof of the garage and watch them roll in over the American Bottom)...about the only things that really scare me are sea snakes and snapping turtles...
Not really sure why sea snakes scare me so much. I know exactly why snapping turtles scare the crap outta me though.
21/35
YES!!, its awesome, thats another game that you think, "i'll have a quick go", next thing you know it 3 in the morning! haha, sign of a very good game. I'm not that far into it, i've got to the bit were you fight Benezia
on Novaria?, (the blue women!) i think i need to l;eave the fight & come back when i've levelled up some more because at the moment i'm getting raped!... its really tough. sorry for that rant, do you like it by the way?
on Novaria?, (the blue women!) i think i need to l;eave the fight & come back when i've levelled up some more because at the moment i'm getting raped!... its really tough. sorry for that rant, do you like it by the way?
22/35
Its got its flaws, but its a worthy RPG...I'm a bit miffed about the conversation controls...X button skips through dialog...it shouldn't choose dialog as well...
My first play through I did Noveria almost dead last, so I guess I was better off...you aren't going straight for Benezia are you? I'm pretty sure she's invulnerable, she didn't seem to notice a few shotgun blasts, you gotta take out her goons. If the commandos are giving you grief mebbe damping could help.
My first play through I did Noveria almost dead last, so I guess I was better off...you aren't going straight for Benezia are you? I'm pretty sure she's invulnerable, she didn't seem to notice a few shotgun blasts, you gotta take out her goons. If the commandos are giving you grief mebbe damping could help.
23/35
i might have got her mixed up..... is she the blue women on the snow station with all the big alien bugs???...
24/35
I agree, innovation for the sake of innovation is a dead-end road. But a industry with a lack of innovation is the same thing. In my view, the one with the best implemented innovation wins.
The problem of MS being anti-innovation, they aren't, they just lack it in great shovels and always seem a generation behind in following trends. That's good for people who like having a constant flow of good, if albeit run of the mill, action/sports/RPG's and so forth but there are many who just quit gaming because they want more. Microsoft so far hasn't given any incentive to deliver this 'more'. So the Xbox360 also has the perception (just or not, don't know) that it really is about hardcore gamers, because the well-implemented innovationseeking hardcore gamers have or quit or bought themselves DS's and stopped bothering (i know, generalising, nog good, needs more nance, lack of info).
Frankly, he didn't say anything bothersome, he just reacted, bit bluntly, correctly towards my not well enough explained post. Now if you'll excuse me, i have a entry-exam for diplomats to attend too.
The problem of MS being anti-innovation, they aren't, they just lack it in great shovels and always seem a generation behind in following trends. That's good for people who like having a constant flow of good, if albeit run of the mill, action/sports/RPG's and so forth but there are many who just quit gaming because they want more. Microsoft so far hasn't given any incentive to deliver this 'more'. So the Xbox360 also has the perception (just or not, don't know) that it really is about hardcore gamers, because the well-implemented innovationseeking hardcore gamers have or quit or bought themselves DS's and stopped bothering (i know, generalising, nog good, needs more nance, lack of info).
Frankly, he didn't say anything bothersome, he just reacted, bit bluntly, correctly towards my not well enough explained post. Now if you'll excuse me, i have a entry-exam for diplomats to attend too.
25/35
yeah thats her...she calls in asari commandos (biotic users) and geth to fight for her, as you kill them her power goes down, then you can confront her. You can run around and maybe find a place to hide behind a crate while you heal up or wait for powers to recharge.
26/35
So i dont stand a chance at the moment?... i can get the guards killed, but then i cant seem to have anything that will affect her?,
27/35
No...well, I don't know...I always had her daughter along, and after I killed all her goons she talked to me.
But what I'm saying is, you can't kill her at all until you kill all the goons first. After that I'm sure our weapons would be effective, but not before...you can't take a shortcut and kill her first...I half-heartedy tried...
But what I'm saying is, you can't kill her at all until you kill all the goons first. After that I'm sure our weapons would be effective, but not before...you can't take a shortcut and kill her first...I half-heartedy tried...
28/35
No I've done the guards & she standing up @ the back on her own & it only me left because my two guys are dead! & even if one of them survives if he/she puts there head out to take a shot at her she annihilates them!, so I don't think I'm gonna get it done at this stage, im a Vanguard so I cant shoot for s**t with anything but the shotgun & pistol, so I think I need some more XP to get my weapon skills up.
29/35
You need to go get her daughter, I guess. I'm pretty sure that'll work.
I rarely used anything but a pistol on my first playthrough.
Also, go do the mission on the moon...
I rarely used anything but a pistol on my first playthrough.
Also, go do the mission on the moon...
30/35
I can leave the fight because i saved it right before i went in, so if i go back to the normandy i can go straight to the moon mission??.
31/35
Don't see why not...moon mission unlocks specialty class, I think
32/35
I thought this thread was about the Wii being a toy or something!!!
33/35
Its suppose to be but some people don't know how to stay on topic.
I'll kick it back into topic.
I really think this is all a dose of sour grapes by Square Enix. In truth Square don't feel safe (yes. even with Sony having invested money in them), which is also why there's no real criticism of PS3 and Sony in this news.
Square have done little on 360 or Wii, so its easy to rag on them. If Square had any real faith they'd be putting their money where their mouth is, in a similar way to Capcom are, across all systems.
I'll kick it back into topic.
I really think this is all a dose of sour grapes by Square Enix. In truth Square don't feel safe (yes. even with Sony having invested money in them), which is also why there's no real criticism of PS3 and Sony in this news.
Square have done little on 360 or Wii, so its easy to rag on them. If Square had any real faith they'd be putting their money where their mouth is, in a similar way to Capcom are, across all systems.
34/35
Bah, they until and unless MS starts selling 360's in Japan, they're stuck.
35/35
This statement came after Square decided Nintendo was too stubborn let their users get at least near full access to the gaming online world.
Which then I could understand why he says the Wii is a toy, or at least in the terms that Nintendo isn't making it a full fledged gaming console - which in order to be you'd have to allow for a certain interaction between users in a game online.
Just like how multiplayer games were the standard by 2000, now online multiplayer and offline multiplayer are the standards for 2008.
What he said is sad but its holding true, I may even have to agree about his Xbox360 part, as sadly Microsoft has managed to make a gaming console that can do many other things, while Sony has made a electronic device that does all the other things and plays games too.
But on the developers end, the solution should be simple should Square had the vision for it on the Wii (in regards to their attempt to extend their FF XI franchise.) Simply put nameless faces, just because the players cant chat or send messages doesn't mean they can't play the same game.
Players Wii name can still be displayed in any Wii title online; which is more than enough to hold a game online. When two players have share a friend code, then all communication can be held. Perhaps Square even forgets the Wii supports Bluetooth 2.0 and 2 USB ports on its rear tray.
All in all a Nintendo Wii, Mii forum channel or communications link would be interesting. (This is beside the point)
Just like Suda51 fell into dismay at the failure of his title in Japan. Square seems to have lost their inge
Which then I could understand why he says the Wii is a toy, or at least in the terms that Nintendo isn't making it a full fledged gaming console - which in order to be you'd have to allow for a certain interaction between users in a game online.
Just like how multiplayer games were the standard by 2000, now online multiplayer and offline multiplayer are the standards for 2008.
What he said is sad but its holding true, I may even have to agree about his Xbox360 part, as sadly Microsoft has managed to make a gaming console that can do many other things, while Sony has made a electronic device that does all the other things and plays games too.
But on the developers end, the solution should be simple should Square had the vision for it on the Wii (in regards to their attempt to extend their FF XI franchise.) Simply put nameless faces, just because the players cant chat or send messages doesn't mean they can't play the same game.
Players Wii name can still be displayed in any Wii title online; which is more than enough to hold a game online. When two players have share a friend code, then all communication can be held. Perhaps Square even forgets the Wii supports Bluetooth 2.0 and 2 USB ports on its rear tray.
All in all a Nintendo Wii, Mii forum channel or communications link would be interesting. (This is beside the point)
Just like Suda51 fell into dismay at the failure of his title in Japan. Square seems to have lost their inge
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Despite feeling a certain amount of responsibility for keeping the MS fanboys in line, I usually leave you be, unless you get too obnoxious...so I'm wondering where this came from...
Anyway I dunno what you're talking about...I'm dead sexy...