Square-Enix Established In LA, Planning A "New Experience"
See Full ImageFor the duration of this generation, it has been clear to most everyone that Square-Enix's focus is to appeal to a wider worldwide audience. Specifically, they wish to cater more to the Western gamers simply because they already have the Japanese crowd in their back pocket.
Therefore, it makes perfect sense to have a studio right here in the United States. Square-Enix's new development studio has officially opened its doors in Los Angeles, and ArsTechnica recently spoke with Game Development Manager Fumi Shiraishi to learn more about the studio's goals and expectations. The first thing Shiraishi did is to clear up the idea that Square-Enix is "shifting" its focus; he says it's more accurate to call it a "growth:"
"Square Enix isn't necessarily shifting, it's more of a growth. The stuff [games created by Square Enix in Japan] does what it is supposed to do...but the Japanese market isn't growing. It's a different approach entirely. We're not deliberately focusing on the North American audience. We're just trying to make a good game."
Some of you may be saying, "well, yeah, but what difference does it make if they have a Japanese team in LA? ...they're still Japanese." Well, not so fast. The studio is mostly comprised of experienced Western developers and as Shiraishi said, "it's not a good idea to make a game for people you don't understand." And although he can't tell us what the game is, he did say they're not "trying to make a game with a Western looking main character and with blood and gore;" they're merely trying to create an entirely new experience. As for the intended platform(s)...well, he admits it's a big decision and he added: "Square Enix as a whole fell behind in multi-platform development."
We're not exactly sure what that means, but it'll certainly be interesting to see what this new LA-based studio comes up with. Stay tuned.
3/20/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (21 posts)
JofaMang
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 11:26:34 AM
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A Squeenix Exec admitting fault? The cries of (rightfully) impatient FF fans everywhere are not falling on deaf ears. It might be only a small one, and far short of an apology or compensation, but I think they are definitely throwing us a frickin bone here.
Considering the topic of the interview (launch of western studio) and the fanbase most effected by these delays, this would be the right place to start making amends.
Its entirely possible that I am optimisticly grasping at straws, that my beloved FF franchise doesn't have to be made by a cold psychopathic corporate machine.
Last edited by JofaMang on 3/20/2009 11:28:16 AM
1 up, 0 down
illegalprelude
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 12:56:41 PM
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3 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 3:04:55 PM
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NightHawk17
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 1:13:52 PM
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1 up, 1 down
Juanalf
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 2:09:35 PM
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1 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, March 21, 2009 @ 1:05:19 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 3:08:56 PM
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Seriously though, I'm in the US but "Western expansion" means including the UK as well, and PS3 is king there, even if the dummies here haven't gotten a clue yet. It's nice of this guy to admit SE effed up, but he dodged the question. He knows where their games are headed. Whatever SE says is true, is actually the opposite of what is really going on.
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ps92117
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 3:14:03 PM
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coverton341
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 4:25:50 PM
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(read "We realize now that we screwed up by leaving FFvXIII as a PS3 exclusive instead of migrating it over to the 360 so at GDC we are announcing that it is now multiplatform. That's right it will be on the 360 and the PC. Oh and FFXIII will no longer be on the PS3 outside of Japan it will be on the 360 and PC worldwide.")
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Mystearica
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 4:28:12 PM
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jdt1981
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 5:07:12 PM
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King James
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 5:44:08 PM
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<Square-Enix America Staff Meeting>
Director: Thank you all for joining SE-A. We have a lot of work to do.
Game Designer 1: What games are we planning to make?
Director: Square-Enix wants to appeal to that American Market. That's where we come in. We are going to make three XBox360 titles...
Lead QA Tester: (interrupting)Are we going to make any PS3 or Wii titles?
Director: You're fired. I said the American market which means, we are making XBox360 games. Three of them. I want to make an action/adventure, and 2 shooters.
*Game Designer 2 raises hand slowly*
Director: *Points at Game Designer 2* Yes?
Game Designer 2: Wouldn't be more lucrative to make multi-platform next-gen games?
Director: *sighs* You know what? You're fired too! We are making XBOX360 games. If anybody has a problem with that, feel free to ask me about. I will be more than happy to explain to you our simple Square-Enix mission statement. It's three equations:
1) American Market = Money
2) XBox360 = American Market
Therefore, the third equation is simple folks...
3) XBox360 = Money
Any questions? *looks around room*
(Room is silent)
Director: Good, meeting's adjourned. Go make those games.
Last edited by King James on 3/20/2009 5:44:28 PM
6 up, 2 down
robinhood2010
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 8:53:01 PM
Im sure you have said this before...
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NightHawk17
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 10:49:43 PM
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Karosso
Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 10:33:41 PM
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Sad thing is, all you just wrote makes a lot of sense :(
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PANICinc
Saturday, March 21, 2009 @ 11:23:28 AM
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Qubex
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Friday, March 20, 2009 @ 11:15:33 AM
Knowing what Square Enix can do, surely they can do the same for whatever "western" experience they want to create... who knows, we'll just have to wait and see...
Q!
"i am home"
Last edited by Qubex on 3/20/2009 11:16:20 AM