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SQUARE-ENIX.. NO MORE CREATIVE GAMES!
Posts
Tau
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CloseMore detail from Square president,
no more non-mainstream games allowed
Link!
...and so begins the low-risk future of the gaming industry. Prepare to see more cookie-cut games playing off the same tried-and-true formulas. Companies either can't afford to or won't chance many ideas that may flop.
Sad days...but I've expected it since before this generation started, where devs complained about The high cost of developing for this generation of consoles. the number of engineers and artists necessary make mean high costs...which mean less room for creativity (who can afford it?).
*sigh*
no more non-mainstream games allowed
So you enjoyed The World Ends With You? Too bad. You won't be seeing anything remotely like it from Square-Enix anytime soon, according to company president Yoichi Wada, who recently issued an ultimatum to his staff: if any games are made that don't fit into the mainstream's circle of interest, job cuts will follow. So long, unique concepts that break the mold!
This was supposedly part of a heated business meeting in which Square discussed the results of their 2007 fiscal year, which were none too sunny, showing general profits down 20 percent and taking the worst of it in overseas sales.
Business is business, but I have to say my heart sank when I read those words. If Square was doing anything I was excited to see, it was things outside the Final Fantasy spectrum, but financial troubles like this certainly excise any hope of experimental titles in the future (at least until the numbers improve). I'm glad to see the giant falter a bit, if only in hopes that the results will push them towards a more focused future.
Link!
...and so begins the low-risk future of the gaming industry. Prepare to see more cookie-cut games playing off the same tried-and-true formulas. Companies either can't afford to or won't chance many ideas that may flop.
Sad days...but I've expected it since before this generation started, where devs complained about The high cost of developing for this generation of consoles. the number of engineers and artists necessary make mean high costs...which mean less room for creativity (who can afford it?).
*sigh*
Sometimes Square Enix aren't creative enough not the otherway around. I understand the profit side of things, it's game like KH and World Ends With You that sets them apart. Perhaps this is a faze, if not, what the hell are they gonna make?
I think the world is ripe for a video game revolution. But rather, a retro-lution, in which young, motivated developers like us provide the creativity, just like it was done back in the 80's. It's good to see companies punished for lack of vision/effort.
VideoWizard
2842
Endless remakes. Now we can practically GUARANTEE another Final Fantasy I-VI remake set. Yet, they still won't give Final Fantasy VII-IX the time of day. However, for those looking for a new Dragon Quest I-III remake set, this probably will be the first step toward it.
And TWEWY sales don't really have much to do with this, because it wasn't out until April overseas, or Fiscal Year '08. Come to think of it, what DID Square-Enix release here last year? Dragon Quest Swords barely counts, having been released in February. And of course Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker in November. But that's about it, I think.
The fact that I can only think of two titles in the entire April-March time frame is not a good sign. I'm aware of Final Fantasy I and II, but that's a rehash with RMVX graphics. It sounds like the Anniversary Collection didn't do too well.
And TWEWY sales don't really have much to do with this, because it wasn't out until April overseas, or Fiscal Year '08. Come to think of it, what DID Square-Enix release here last year? Dragon Quest Swords barely counts, having been released in February. And of course Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker in November. But that's about it, I think.
The fact that I can only think of two titles in the entire April-March time frame is not a good sign. I'm aware of Final Fantasy I and II, but that's a rehash with RMVX graphics. It sounds like the Anniversary Collection didn't do too well.
It's been 9 months since I bought a SE game with no change to that trend in sight, so oh well.
At least, specifically for SE. This is just part of a depressing trend in video games that's just reinforced by the market. Well, there's always amateur games and their hidden gems :)
At least, specifically for SE. This is just part of a depressing trend in video games that's just reinforced by the market. Well, there's always amateur games and their hidden gems :)
I still don't see why people love TWEWY so much. Generic cookie-cutter characters, uninspired story (No, really. The story is typical anime shit.).
And being set in urban Japan somehow makes it unique. Give me a break. SquareShit makes so many old-skool village/dungeon/technological settings that when they change it to something only slightly different, people go apeshit and call it "creative."
Ell Oh Ell.
And being set in urban Japan somehow makes it unique. Give me a break. SquareShit makes so many old-skool village/dungeon/technological settings that when they change it to something only slightly different, people go apeshit and call it "creative."
Ell Oh Ell.
Oh well.
This may sound like blasphemy to everyone, but lately a lot of SE's attempts to be 'creative' usually just suck shit. A prime example of how thinking outside the box does not in any way assure quality. SE can just shove their experimental shit up their asses, give me remakes and retellings of the older (read: better) games any day of the week over anything new.
And yes, I am completely serious.
This may sound like blasphemy to everyone, but lately a lot of SE's attempts to be 'creative' usually just suck shit. A prime example of how thinking outside the box does not in any way assure quality. SE can just shove their experimental shit up their asses, give me remakes and retellings of the older (read: better) games any day of the week over anything new.
And yes, I am completely serious.
Shadowtext
120
author=Viscount Vid the Venerable link=topic=1226.msg18375#msg18375 date=1212164089Fair enough, but if TWEWY were selling like hotcakes, I think the boss wouldn't be so cheesed. Anyway, the Japanese sales would be pretty important here, too. I'm pretty sure that even with the larger number of gamers in America, Japan's the more lucrative RPG market.
And TWEWY sales don't really have much to do with this, because it wasn't out until April overseas, or Fiscal Year '08. Come to think of it, what DID Square-Enix release here last year? Dragon Quest Swords barely counts, having been released in February. And of course Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker in November. But that's about it, I think.
More likely than not, I imagine he just saw sales are dropping, and even if the outside-the-box games were selling fairly well (that is to say: more than making back their budgets, not selling well compared to Final Fantasy), he'd zone in on them as problems because they cost more to make than remakes and don't sell as many copies even on a good day.
-_- Honestly, though, what does he expect? Video games are a luxury item and a dollar doesn't go as far as it used to. American sales are going to be less than every company wanted, I imagine.
demondestiny
889
I am horrified at this but as long as the final fantasy series keeps going i don't really care.
author=Daemon of Caerbannog link=topic=1226.msg18416#msg18416 date=1212190641Why, they released like one creative game in the past 6-7 years.
I am horrified at this but as long as the final fantasy series keeps going i don't really care.
Shadowtext
120
-_- The standards of which games count as creative and worthwile in the amateur RPG making community exhausts me sometimes. Especially when you see the bulk of its output. No appreciation for success, no forgiveness for failures.
VideoWizard
2842
author=Shadowtext link=topic=1226.msg18415#msg18415 date=1212190615author=Viscount Vid the Venerable link=topic=1226.msg18375#msg18375 date=1212164089Fair enough, but if TWEWY were selling like hotcakes, I think the boss wouldn't be so cheesed. Anyway, the Japanese sales would be pretty important here, too. I'm pretty sure that even with the larger number of gamers in America, Japan's the more lucrative RPG market.
And TWEWY sales don't really have much to do with this, because it wasn't out until April overseas, or Fiscal Year '08. Come to think of it, what DID Square-Enix release here last year? Dragon Quest Swords barely counts, having been released in February. And of course Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker in November. But that's about it, I think.
More likely than not, I imagine he just saw sales are dropping, and even if the outside-the-box games were selling fairly well (that is to say: more than making back their budgets, not selling well compared to Final Fantasy), he'd zone in on them as problems because they cost more to make than remakes and don't sell as many copies even on a good day.
-_- Honestly, though, what does he expect? Video games are a luxury item and a dollar doesn't go as far as it used to. American sales are going to be less than every company wanted, I imagine.
Well, if TWEWY didn't sell well in Japan, why did they release it here? Usually, original titles that don't do well in Japan do WORSE in the states.
Shadowtext
120
author=Viscount Vid the Venerable link=topic=1226.msg18430#msg18430 date=1212208547Hey, I don't have sales figures or anything, but given the reaction I've seen on the tubes, I would expect that TWEWY was a modest success. Enough to localize maybe (but then again, Squenix localizes everything that isn't an International Version or Final Mix of a title that was already released in America these days), but not enough to make it safe from the anger of an executive whose stocks dropped and sees a game they devoted time to that didn't make as much money as their newest remake of Final Fantasy 1 and 2.author=Shadowtext link=topic=1226.msg18415#msg18415 date=1212190615author=Viscount Vid the Venerable link=topic=1226.msg18375#msg18375 date=1212164089Fair enough, but if TWEWY were selling like hotcakes, I think the boss wouldn't be so cheesed. Anyway, the Japanese sales would be pretty important here, too. I'm pretty sure that even with the larger number of gamers in America, Japan's the more lucrative RPG market.
And TWEWY sales don't really have much to do with this, because it wasn't out until April overseas, or Fiscal Year '08. Come to think of it, what DID Square-Enix release here last year? Dragon Quest Swords barely counts, having been released in February. And of course Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker in November. But that's about it, I think.
More likely than not, I imagine he just saw sales are dropping, and even if the outside-the-box games were selling fairly well (that is to say: more than making back their budgets, not selling well compared to Final Fantasy), he'd zone in on them as problems because they cost more to make than remakes and don't sell as many copies even on a good day.
-_- Honestly, though, what does he expect? Video games are a luxury item and a dollar doesn't go as far as it used to. American sales are going to be less than every company wanted, I imagine.
Well, if TWEWY didn't sell well in Japan, why did they release it here? Usually, original titles that don't do well in Japan do WORSE in the states.
I'd quote the fellow that said, "Wait, SE was creative?"
I haven't even played any FF game seriously since IX.
I haven't even played any FF game seriously since IX.
demondestiny
889
author=Tau Furlough the Wayfarer link=topic=1226.msg18417#msg18417 date=1212191003author=Daemon of Caerbannog link=topic=1226.msg18416#msg18416 date=1212190641Why, they released like one creative game in the past 6-7 years.
I am horrified at this but as long as the final fantasy series keeps going i don't really care.
I think most of there games are creative, although the remakes of final fantasy 1 and 2 weren't all that great.
