Dear Square-Enix: You're Wrong
Final Fantasy VIII apologize to all our readers if it seems like I'm beating a dead horse, but yesterday's comments by Square-Enix president Yoichi Wada have got me seething. All I can do is think about the piece I wrote about how the publisher clearly doesn't care about retaining their old fans, but would much rather gather new ones.
I guess I just can't believe the quote that says anything made for Americans should be made by Americans, or some such nonsense. It's painfully obvious that Wada and Co. clearly believe two things: 1. the cultural divide between East and West cannot be bridged unless one side utilizes the help of the other, and 2. that everyone who grew up with an industry where 99% of all top-quality products came from Japan have jumped ship. They simply don't care anymore. As for the first inaccurate belief, I recognize that Western developers are starting to rake in some heavy sales for huge franchises, thereby eclipsing what used to be the biggest franchises in the world from Japan. But I absolutely refuse to believe that something like Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots could be considered a commercial or financial failure, and if Rising had remained exclusive to the PS3, it would've been very interesting to compare the sales of both titles.
In regards to number two, I'm just utterly confused. So, all Western gamers, including the veterans who would once hear a game was Western-made and be all skeptical, want a total shift? Really? They don't want what they used to love? They've all moved on to abandon Japanese-style gaming entirely? You know, just because gaming has become more mainstream than ever doesn't necessarily mean that everyone suddenly has the same tastes. It's too stereotypical to believe that Westerners don't have any patience and only care about shooters. It just is. At the same time - and I hate to say this, because it invariably draws out the increasingly bitter Xbox 360 fans - it may be that Microsoft's success has really messed it up for those of us who really adored JRPGs and other Japanese efforts in the past. Perhaps it's logical to assume that because the 360 simply can't sell in Japan and is immensely popular here, the differences in taste and preference really are insurmountable.
So I get why Square-Enix thinks this but what I don't get is why they don't even bother to try to cater to their long-time fans. Say I opened up a business selling a certain product. For a while, I was the only source for quality in that particular industry. Then, one day, a competitor started to rise quickly and before long, I found myself floundering. Yes, I would certainly assess what makes the competitor's product more interesting in the eyes of our shared consumer group, and I would attempt to adjust ('cough' Move, Kinect, 'cough'). But I'm still in business and I know I still have fans who enjoy my product; who go out of their way to find it. So do I expand my shelf space to include fresh product that might appeal to the consumers my competitor grabbed, or do I replace all my product with what I believe those consumers want? ...why in God's name would I eliminate the only thing keeping me afloat?
Few of your followers have changed all that much, Square-Enix. We don't all scoff at what Xboxers might consider "old-fashioned" turn-based RPG gameplay. We haven't all suddenly and inexplicably shifted our personal tastes to Halo and Gears of War. We don't all need a Final Fantasy that barely holds any traditional RPG likeness because we don't have the patience to sit still for two seconds. In short, we are not all in the same boat. The idea that you need anyone else to create products your avid followers wish to buy is absurd, and it's even more absurd to ignore us. Rant over.
Tags: square-enix, final fantasy, business
7/5/2010 9:21:08 PM Ben Dutka
Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter
Comments (144 posts)
Highlander
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 9:38:48 AM
That's nice. Why don't you simply not post any more unless you have something less offensive to say?
5 up, 0 down
Alienange
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:49:33 AM
4 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 2:08:13 PM
well I wouldn't go that far, I'm not American, and I thought it was pretty crass and tasteless. But hey, perhaps maturity is overrated?
4 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 2:37:17 PM
Underdog15 <--- also finds the comment incredibly crass and ignorant.
What's funny about comparing a video game developer's attitude surrounding $$'s to the instant destruction of an entire city slaughtering thousands of innocent people? I know you're probably a fan of shooters, as are most, but even shooter fans don't find war hilarious.
<sarcasm> I mean, hey, while you're at it, why don't you just poke fun at the holocaust? </sarcasm>
Last edited by Underdog15 on 7/6/2010 2:39:19 PM
3 up, 1 down
Highlander
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 2:55:54 PM
Last edited by Highlander on 7/6/2010 2:58:38 PM
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 3:41:36 PM
I am Canadian, through and through. I have many friends and family connected to military both currently and as far back as WWII (Grandfather was a bomber pilot for the RCAF). My wife's grandparents grew up in Holland and her grandmother, with whom we are both very close, were liberated by the Canadian army in her small Dutch town. (And prior almost found out by the Germans for hiding Jews!!)
Needless to say, I have a very good understanding of the importance and terror associated with WW2 and even current warfare. (An ex-girlfriend is actually an officer in the navy now! lol. The best man of my wedding is a Master Corporal for the militia, and has spent many terms in Afghanistan)
And let me tell you, the entire WORLD was filled with terror after the dropping on Hiroshima. No elderly family member of mine alive during that time would EVER speak of that event with a smirk on their face, and to hear that done, I'm sure would fill them disgust and recurring nightmares.
Money and SquareEnix.... and Hiroshima....
Seriously? Really??
The Howlett side of my family (my last name) who all immigrated from England, my uncle who works now at the University in Liverpool as a Professor of Law (David Fraser. My mom's brother. Look him up!) would never find that funny and would tremendously disagree with you about how that could possibly be acceptable English humor.
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 8:14:28 AM
Of course, with you as a chubby wubby kid, I'm sure an ex-university athlete like myself wouldn't have a problem in the physical realm, either.
I think you're just one of those people most of us roll our eyes at as they holler at the top of their fat-albert sounding voice trying to insult people since insults are the only way anyone will pay any attention to them. Lord knows you won't ever have any real contributions to any type of intellectual conversation to which it is worth paying any heed.
Either way, you present no threat. I now await your response pretending to act like I didn't insult you back because what I say doesn't matter to you. I'm sure your number one philosophy in life is "When owned, try not to care. That way it hurts less, and I can use a comment like 'What you say don't matter' to make it feel like I've had some sort of rebuttle."
And yes, I realize your philosophy is both porous and has poor grammar. You should have used "doesn't" instead of "don't". I run into 20-year olds like you on a regular basis, dude. I work at a youth centre, and your psyche is anything but unique. Do you have any idea how many young adults with bleak futures think it's ok to insult saying whatever they want because "it's a public place" or my favorite excuse, "it's a free country"?
Lots.
You see, that's the problem with people who develop life philosophies based on a large series of "stick-it-to-the-man" comments. There's no substance. It's merely a large variety of insignificant and poorly thought out loose-tongue lash-backs.
You're destined to receive little to no REAL respect for your point of view. I know I know.... "You don't care". And that's fine. But at best, you can merely hope to make it as high up the corporate ladder of life to the coveted position of 'entry-level'. And that's if you REALLY try.
I suggest you have more respect for those who have lost their lives and loved ones unfairly in events like Rwanda, the Holocaust, and Hiroshima. If you don't have the decency to stay away from mocking immense tragedy like that, then I'm afraid you're in for a meaningless travel through life. I seriously doubt you will ever find real meaning in life, and based on your perceptions, I'd say your own personal meaning is something you're struggling with right now.
Guys like you are an open book, dude, with nothing to fight for but your right to HURT people.
How lame.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 7/7/2010 8:33:28 AM
1 up, 2 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 1:50:37 PM
Why footnote when you have a flag-bearer at your disposal? Which I had that for many of my essays in university!
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 2:01:52 PM
*Wish* I had that. ^.^
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 2:05:54 PM
1 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 2:13:56 PM
"Do you have any idea how many young adults with bleak futures think it's ok to insult saying whatever they want because "it's a public place" or my favorite excuse, "it's a free country"?"
People have written entire books about the weakness of people's psyche's who speak like this. Research has even gone to the point of pointing out that those types of people are typically represented in impoverished and high crime regions. Basically, there's a very high coefficient of these types of insulters to people who may not have had the best luck in life.
So it should come to no surprise, that the people with these negative attitudes are also 'down-and-outers' with a grudge. Because.... everything bad that's happened to them is basically the fault of everyone but them.
Yes, that's right. You're right Highlander. It's been discussed at a high level of academia. People who talk like that, very likely, have no understanding of accountability. They are the same ones who think their 'down-and-outedness' is everyone else's fault but their own.
Funny thing is... this ohyes guy is someone proud of his porous and damaged psychology. (Which is common. These types of people don't even realize they're broken)
0 up, 0 down
Hitch
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 9:52:40 PM
Reply
Because I can't understand a situation where a foreign product isn't selling good in my country, but I want to go to that country that is making it anyway and give them my 100% focus and just forget about my home country.
The West isn't trying to appeal to the East so why is the vice-versa trying so hard to make it happen.
Kind of like a guy that dumps his girlfriend(or vice-versa feminists), but he/she just can't let go. They eventually become pushy and the "dumper" starts to hate the "dumpee".
Last edited by Hitch on 7/5/2010 9:56:22 PM
1 up, 2 down
gangan19
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 4:08:06 AM
0 up, 0 down
FatherSun
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 7:56:07 AM
There are so many metaphors I can use in describing Wadas statements. Quantity over Quality. Sacrificing the quality for the sake of sales. Love versus Lust. Whereas the experiences we Love lose out to the Lust for sales Wada is after. Sell out!!
Just one more thing. Maybe there are more sales in the Western market because there just may be more people over here.
2 up, 0 down
DazeOfWar
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 9:58:07 PM
Reply
If they make it we will play it.
6 up, 0 down
Jordahn
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:02:02 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:20:57 PM
If you can play Resident Evil and Call of D00ty better than Super Mario World, that's really something.......sad.
8 up, 0 down
Akuma07
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:19:27 AM
2 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 10:20:59 AM
The rest made my Mikami are brilliant though.
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:02:50 PM
Reply
I knew you had a good rant working it's way to the top Ben. Nice one!
BTW just to add further ire, here is a nugget I mentioned in the thread yesterday about SE. Apparently NamcoBandai has decided to bring their IdolMaster series to a home console. You know the IdolMaster game, a J-pop infused ball of anime cuteness dressed up as a game? The series of game that sells by the truck load on the PSP in Japan.
So guess which home console NamcoBandai has apparently selected to bring their IdolMaster games to?
Yep, that's right, the Microsoft Xbox 360.
You mentioned business sense right? How in hell does this make business sense? It's a specifically Japanese game that sees minor sales outside Japan at best. And yet they chose the Xbox360.
::blank stare::
Why? In what world does that make sense? Ah yes, the same world that Square Enix inhabits, a world dominated by the checks written by those paste eating mouth breathers in Redmond - aka Microsoft. The only way this makes sense is if Microsoft has sponsored the development.
So. Wada is confused or insane, or both. He is apparently not alone. I find it interesting that the japanese game companies that have taken their 30 pieces of silver from Microsoft, are also the ones having the most trouble coming to terms with this generation of video game console. Connection?
I'm gonna just say it, and I think we're all beginning to think it. Microsoft has wounded the gaming industry. Microsoft has damaged the industry, and gamers. They continue to cause further damage. If it doesn't stop, Microsoft has the potential to do enough damage to gaming to cause the industry to stall - for a while. I don't think they can kill it single handed.
But they are demonstrably bad for this industry, and their constant meddling in the development of multi-platform games has prevented gamers from seeing many, many games that have sunk without a trace thanks to a horrid choice of platform.
God, how I hate Microsoft.
Last edited by Highlander on 7/5/2010 10:07:50 PM
25 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:08:37 PM
http://www.joystiq.com/2010/07/03/idolmaster-2-announced-for-xbox-360-coming-in-2011
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:10:11 PM
Capcom? IdolMaster games come from NamcoBandai. I even checked the website to be sure.
2 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:14:07 PM
Hopefully the game industry will find away to over come this bs like Apple did. Apple is now the leader in the US tech industry. They finally pulled ahead of MS. I hope Sony and Nintendo can crowed MS out of the market much like Apple is doing now.
11 up, 0 down
Deleted User
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:16:24 PM
Amen to that, brother. I wish the 360 fanboys would wake up and smell the coffee but they are just as clueless as Wada is.
8 up, 0 down
Vitron
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:22:16 PM
No,not about NamcoBanadai and IdolMaster, its about Capcom also spouting s**t advancing to western style
Last edited by Vitron on 7/5/2010 10:23:22 PM
3 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:25:22 PM
Makes no sense to me.
9 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:45:49 PM
Indeed you are correct, Capcom. I mis-understood your post. Thanks for the follow-up.
5 up, 0 down
main_event05
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:13:43 PM
I still firmly believe that Capcom/Nintendo is still steaming about the rise of the Playstation form what I call Nintendo's biggest mistake ever.
5 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:17:24 PM
Nintendo has made me happy this generation. We should have seen more games like Zelda and Metroid a bit sooner but they are coming.
Capcom has disappointed this generation. Their best games are Super Street Fighter IV and Tatsunoko vs Capcom.
sad....
0 up, 0 down
main_event05
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:36:08 PM
So, that's why I say Nintendo tries to get over on Sony every chance they get.
Last edited by main_event05 on 7/5/2010 11:41:01 PM
5 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:45:08 PM
4 up, 0 down
main_event05
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 12:41:11 AM
in response to
"What amazes me about Capcom is they complain about the 360's lack if disc capacity with just about every game they release and they say the PS3 is more profitable for them yet they continue to focus their efforts on the CrapBox".
Just part of the bigger picture that is Nintendo's vendetta against Sony since they are now owned by Nintendo. Sure they developed for the PS cause it was a cash cow, but as soon as a semi-profitable alternative came around they jumped ship, even though that ship was a speed boat as opposed to a yacht.
0 up, 0 down
TEG3SH
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 9:58:47 AM
awesome post as usual.
@ jawknee
see we can agree on somrthing.lol
@ artcile
most japanese companies are dead to me this gen. most of them
@ ben
there is a sky ad covering the comment box cant see what i'm writing fix it please :)
0 up, 0 down
Arvis
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:03:21 AM
-Arvis
1 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 2:41:52 PM
In terms of Capcom... I want another Mega Man X game... on the PS3.
Last edited by Underdog15 on 7/6/2010 2:47:22 PM
0 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:08:48 PM
Reply
This pretty much sums it up. Mediocrity sells like hot cakes and the 360 is Wada's International House of Pancakes.
Square is done. To nail that final nail in the coffin all they need to do is get Nomura to make his FPS he's talked about in the past. Once that happen's, the transition from Greatest Japanese RPG developer EVAH! to just another washed up game company will be complete.
The only games Square seems to be getting right this generation are PSP games. Their PS3 support has been utter garbage and their 360 games have pretty much been crap too for the most part. Shame to see companies like Square and Capcom go the way of the dodo.
5 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:11:44 PM
"it may be that Microsoft's success has really messed it up for those of us who really adored JRPGs and other Japanese efforts in the past."
But as I said above, I think it goes wider than simply JRPG games. I think Microsoft has damaged the entire industry and generation and acted as a spoiler on potentially countless projects that we will now never see.
5 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:15:27 PM
Last edited by Jawknee on 7/5/2010 10:16:06 PM
5 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:22:00 PM
Reply
We are now witnessing not the death of the traditional JRPG, but the execution of it. SE is spearheading that execution by proliferating this (essentially racist) propaganda. I know I'm not the only one to take personal offense to statements like theirs. Never in history have games needed to be made by their respective countries in order to prosper. All that matters is that the game is good, and some day all the fluff isn't going to add up any more.
6 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:27:16 PM
From now on Level 5 is getting my support and Squares's games are bargain bin purchases for me.
7 up, 0 down
King James
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 12:01:10 AM
Awesome pic! I think this is your best one so far.
Oh and although your comment is a lil' misguided and hyperbolic. I see what u're getting at.
Last edited by King James on 7/6/2010 12:05:30 AM
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 12:53:30 AM
1 up, 0 down
RadioHeader
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 6:20:46 AM
...He still won the first 10 rounds though -_-
0 up, 0 down
SoulController
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:28:39 PM
Reply
@Highlander
I have been saying the same thing for years. Any of my close gamer friends will tell you, I called Microsoft being a cancer to this industry from the beginning!
Things are getting better for "real gamers" though. Sony is continuing to push the envelope with their exclusives but we need to continue this movement of calling out these tweet gamers! All of this nonsense needs to stop or Microsofts influence and unlimited cash will continue to dumb down our games.
6 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:14:53 PM
4 up, 0 down
GuardianMode
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:12:09 AM
1 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 4:24:16 PM
MS want's to be Sky-net and control the world, at any cost.
Even at the cost of it's own repeatedly gimped up failures.
MS is not only the scrounge holding back the future of gaming, MS is the #1 scrounge of planet Earth.
1 up, 0 down
Alienange
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:33:54 PM
Reply
Unfortunately for us, SE has the Final Fantasy name and apparently, whatever thirty second clip of CG that carries the name becomes a day one buy for millions of gamers regardless of actual content.
So why cater to old customers? They can test the waters all they want and keep the FF fish on the hook to keep themselves well funded.
3 up, 0 down
Swavey
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:34:43 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:35:15 PM
Reply
FF7..... their uh....
STRATEGY *FREAKIN* GUIDE
(never even MIND the actual game!)
Sold over a MILLION COPIES...
For frigs sake... the Strategy Guide!!! That's more than many WESTERN games sell actual games!
What about all those PS1 Final Fantasies on PSN? What the HELL do Square-Enix think their popularity (top ranked of ALL PSN'S!) is so huge STILL!
It's like their just hand-picking the stats they want to study to come to the conclusions they want.
In the words of Charlie Brown...
AAAAAAUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!
Last edited by Underdog15 on 7/5/2010 10:36:16 PM
5 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:01:07 PM
3 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 4:43:11 AM
0 up, 0 down
SoulController
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:37:02 PM
Reply
I took offense to Wadas comment as well. One of the great things about this industry is 90% percent of the time, gamers always support the games with the best reviews. So Wadas pretty much talking out of his ass and making excuses on why Square hasn't been doing well this generation. Square signed a deal with the devil favoring Microsoft.
3 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:02:56 PM
I, for one, enjoy experiencing the various aspects of other cultures in my games.
3 up, 0 down
CHAOS THEORY X
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:44:33 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:50:16 PM
Reply
They're Worldwide
They weren't limited to the West like Microsoft's consoles are.
Playstation has always allowed companies like Squeeeeenix to sell to the world.
Microsoft's consoles are "forcing" Japanese devs to cater to the Americans/British.
Microsoft poisoned gaming with their FPSs
That's their specialty. You can see this clearly if you were ever a PC gamer. Half Life, Doom, Team Fortress, Crysis. This is all stuff that Microsoft opened the doors to. Sadly it seems like it's here to stay.
---
Currently have 0 Squeeeeeeenix games since FFXII: Revenant Wings (DS). And that was back in 2007.
PS: Let's see how well their EIDOS games will do lol
5 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:52:44 PM
How is Reverent Wings? i was going to get it but never did. Worth the money?
0 up, 0 down
Alienange
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:53:35 PM
0 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:06:24 PM
It's a hit and miss
Hit if you love XII's characters
Miss if you hate RTS games. The gameplay is a point and command system. Soooooo you could actually end up pointing and ordering more than you'd really care. Sadly, it's not even that you point you have to command the cast (Vaan, Penelo, etc.), but you ALSO have to control monsters that you summon. If you've ever played an RTS game you can picture how this works out. Tanks and DPS characters/monsters in the front, mages in the back, etc.
BUT it's not bad. If you don't mind the "point & command" system you'll definitely enjoy the game. You can summon Aeons and PWN the enemies troops. Something which I really missed in FFXII, the summons here are amazing! Crucial even, if you don't use the Aeons you'll have a hard time beating the game. Balthier has some amazing specials, each character have really impressive moves. By the way, the game's pretty tough, definitely one of the hardest FFs I've played.
The story's great, it introduced new characters and brought many of the old ones back. They truly bring closure to the story with this game, something VERY rare in jrpgs. So if you loved the characters/world of FFXII you'll like it.
Sorry for the mini-review. I just can't bring myself to say "yes buy it!" And I'd hate to say "the game is bad because it's an RTS-rpg." There's a lot to consider. As far as to what I'd give it, a solid 8. Would've been a 9 if it was turned based.
@Alienage,
lol well they're the only ones who actually buy the 360 in Europe. France and Spain is ps3 land, and I hear Germany is like that as well. That only leaves Italy which I'm sure is mostly ps3 based.
Last edited by Scarecrow on 7/5/2010 11:10:02 PM
2 up, 1 down
Jawknee
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:09:53 PM
2 up, 0 down
Ricochet
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 10:51:26 PM
Reply
I'm not defending him or anything but it would make more sense of him to say that "We should stick to what we are good at (aka Final Fantasy VII) and being Japanese (or foreign if you would like to call it) in it's entirety can still get a huge fanbase on the West."
To make it simple, the quote should be as such:
"As a Japanese company we do what we do best - to make Japanese-based games, if the West LOVES the way we make our games then we will continue to stick to the formula. Vice-versa on Western based companies."
I agree with him on one point though is that NO game can achieve globalization, the closest franchise I know of to that is Mario.
Last edited by Ricochet on 7/5/2010 10:52:56 PM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:11:46 PM
It's like taking really good Indian, Chinese or Japanese food and making it for American consumers, UK consumers, Australians Canadians, Germans, Brazilians, etc... By trying to make such cuisine palatable to all those audiences, all of the things that make it special are lost to avoid offending the tastes of one group or another. In the end you are left with something that's not unlike an ethnic version of a TV dinner. Sure, it's edible, but is it any good?
I think the same is true of games. When a developer/publisher goes out to make a game that works for all audiences they dilute everything that makes the game special. The result? A game that plays similar to so many other games. A turn based RPG turns into an Action RPG - for example. Just as there are actually plenty of people in the US and UK that like really good Indian, Chinese and Japanese food (the real thing, not the all you can eat buffet kind); there are also plenty of people that love turn based RPGs, strategy RPGs, games like the IdolMaster series, etc...
That doesn't mean that the game has to be made more western. If you do that you remove the very thing that those people like about the original game.
Multi-culturalism and racial integration and equality do not mean that everyone's culture is diluted with everyone else's. It means that everyone's culture is as valid as everyone elses and we should all learn about and celebrate those cultures and differences.
Infinite diversity in infinite combination (anyone who knows the reference get's kudos).
2 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:29:27 PM
0 up, 0 down
gumbi
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 8:26:01 AM
1 up, 0 down
Mamills
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:05:54 PM
Reply
i really hope they go down, then maybe, just maybe they will play their final card. That FF7 remake
3 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:06:37 PM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Milonakis
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:15:02 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:18:28 PM
1 up, 0 down
Milonakis
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:26:04 PM
2 up, 0 down
hellish_devil
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:30:08 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:34:55 PM
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 12:27:03 AM
But how much does anyone want to BET that if S-E had maintained a FF formula we all recognize, and kept it exclusive to PlayStation to fully take advantage of the PS3, FFXIII would've sold just as much as the PS3/360 sales COMBINED, or more...
9 up, 1 down
King James
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:11:33 AM
1 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 4:48:41 AM
0 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 10:33:57 AM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 10:49:19 AM
Yes, I remember that. I wish someone would get him on camera and ask him to comment further about it.
1 up, 0 down
AntDC
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:46:43 PM
Reply
I thought they'd realize how bad the idea of "westernizing" was after FFXIII came out and got critised so badly for it. Guess not huh? If there's one thing I hate more than a company that continues to insult their old fans, it's a company that can't admit its wrong and move on.
6 up, 0 down
hehateme
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 11:53:16 PM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:02:10 AM
0 up, 0 down
King James
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 12:00:20 AM
Reply
Last edited by King James on 7/6/2010 12:02:25 AM
3 up, 0 down
King James
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:08:43 AM
0 up, 0 down
Xra897
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 12:02:30 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
BigBoss4ever
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 12:24:49 AM
Reply
"just shut up your shithole, just shut up and disappear!!!"
-- Wada alone is the single worst sinner responsible for the disappearance of classic JRPGs.
Last edited by BigBoss4ever on 7/6/2010 12:36:18 AM
0 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 12:50:49 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
King James
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:09:57 AM
Last edited by King James on 7/6/2010 1:10:12 AM
0 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 4:51:00 AM
0 up, 0 down
556pineapple
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:13:11 AM
Reply
Due to my parents' dislike of video games when I was growing up, my gaming time was very limited, and it only started expanding when I got my PS3 and bought my own games. Because of this I missed out on all of the Final Fantasy games, and recently decided to play FF VII. I admit, being used to more Western style games, it was a little daunting and over-complicated at first, but I persisted and am getting the hang of things pretty decently now, and enjoying all of the little intricacies.
Now, they shouldn't do away with it entirely just because a new dominant style of games. Keep the old style games, adapt them as necessary to fit the current standards in mechanics and technology, and start experimenting with some newer style games that are entirely separate. The one feature I find too old-fashioned, and really annoying about FF VII is the fact you have to go back to your last save each time you get a game over, and the relative infrequency of game saves. (I was absolutely PISSED tonight when my party was killed by a dragon, not two feet away from a save point, and I had to re-do nearly an hour and a half of gameplay because of it. Needless to say I'll do it again tomorrow.)
In short, I think you hit the nail on the head, Ben. It's completely foolish to throw away the style they grew famous on. If they get rid of their old fans, and don't make many new ones, they'll be in major trouble.
1 up, 0 down
kokoro
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:17:13 AM
Reply
I've always wondered why Microsoft chose to enter the game industry. Clearly, it's not lucrativity they seek, with the original xbox yielding large financial loses. I think for them it's about being the 'best', regardless of what it is they are doing. By entering the game industry, they are saying "Look, see. We can take over any industry we like- because we're microsoft". They want to be the 'best' with minimal effort and this is most evident with their supposedly revolutionary 'kinect' (basically a pimped up Eye-toy) and their Xbox360 slim, which apparently was concocted before the ps3 slim.
Fortunately, Microsoft hasn't usurped the gaming industry with it's mediocrity. Having just played Uncharted 2 (yes I know I'm delayed- the university semester just finished for me) I see a bright future for gaming. I'd have to say that Uncharted 2 has made monumental strides in gaming. The blurring of the boundaries between real time game play and cut scenes, and the level of realism that the characters display is almost supernatural. It was without a doubt one of the greatest gaming eperiences I've ever had, and one of the most immersive ones too.
5 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 2:09:41 AM
Microsoft's internal business strategy is known as embraced, extend, extinguish.
1. Embrace: Development of software substantially compatible with a competing product, or implementing a public standard.
This was when the original Xbox came along at great costs to MS.
2. Extend: Addition and promotion of features not supported by the competing product or part of the standard, creating interoperability problems for customers who try to use the 'simple' standard.
This was when XBL was developing to become a a de facto 'gold standard' for online gaming.
3. Extinguish: When extensions become a de facto standard because of their dominant market share, they marginalize competitors that do not or cannot support the new extensions.
This was to be what happened with the launch of the 360. XBL was ingrained as a defacto standard for online gaming - after all Sony had nothing, so XBL was the only 'game' in town so to speak. Sadly for MS, PS3 launched with PSN, and Sony were smart enough to see what MS was doing and their killer feature was free online.
Honestly, anyone who knows, I mean truly knows, Microsoft and their business practice can recognize the strategy. Since they weren't able to extinguish, MS is going back to the embrace stage by throwing money at developers in the hope of bringing all the major games to their platform. Thus embracing all game genre. Next they will try to use a proprietary product to extend their reach by incorporating custom features. So they try to use XBL as their trojan horse along with their fat check-book (Kinect, exclusive downloadable content, timed exclusives, etc). And again they will try to extinguish.
Microsoft are nothing if not predictable.
Last edited by Highlander on 7/6/2010 2:11:48 AM
4 up, 0 down
kokoro
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 3:27:24 AM
1 up, 0 down
SayWord
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:43:36 AM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
___________
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 2:31:10 AM
Reply
but ive gotten over this, i mean how long can one b*tch about the same thing?
get over it and move on!
0 up, 3 down
kraygen
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 4:53:03 AM
LOL agreed, I think this has got to be the most ridiculously ironic statement I've ever read.
3 up, 1 down
___________
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 9:14:08 AM
ill bi*** about something once, maybe twice than ill leave it to disappear.
plus theres no point bi***ing about this, because $E are not going to change.
0 up, 4 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 10:18:18 AM
4 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 10:32:47 AM
::facepalm::
3 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:14:35 AM
lol. seriously? Uncharted 2 look like last gen? What's that guy smokin'?
I don't think so. Facepalm indeed, my friend! Facepalm indeed!
It wouldn't even be possible.
(I would love some feedback on this next part, Highlander, cause I don't know as much about the technological realm as you, and I might be VERY wrong about what I am about to say, but it is my understanding none-the-less.)
Although the 360 has enough processing power to run detail in 1080p, is a DVD not limited by it's storage space? Wouldn't they have to compress the data to the point where expanding the data again would be a sort of distorted and untrue 1080p resolution?
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:24:58 AM
Last edited by Highlander on 7/6/2010 11:25:52 AM
1 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:14:45 PM
0 up, 0 down
Lawless SXE
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 3:25:34 AM
Reply
So, Square-Enix thinks that they've failed to appeal to the Western market for what reason exactly? I read somewhere that the swing of PS3 to 360 sales of FFXIII is 5:1 (that of course includes the Japanese exclusivity numbers), which puts it at something like 4.2 million PS3 buys to 0.8 million 360 purchases. What I would like to know, but am too uninterested to check out, is the sales numbers of S-Es 360 exclusive titles worldwide and compare them to the worldwide sales of Demon's Souls, White Knight Chronicles, Valkyria Chronicles and whatever other PS3 exclusive RPGs are out there.
Targetting the Western market and developing exclusively for the 360 are not the same thing. The reason I think Wada sounds so xenophobic isn't that he thinks westerners are uncultured, unsophistocated (that doesn't look right), and all the others things that y'all were saying in the original article. Look at it from a Japanese perspective would ya? No matter how well their titles sell over here, they are unable to even come close to titles such as Halo, CoD, and many other shooters. They still sell moderately well though. On the other hand, those games barely register as blips in the Jap. market. I think the problem is in the Eastern market refusing to adapt to styles that are based predominantly on our desires.
Developers see this, and consider their own sales numbers outside of their own regions, and they come to the conclusion that we all have the same problem. How untrue that is. I think the problem is, that Wada, and many others like him, see the American, European and Australian markets as one colossal beast, with a mob mentality to gather and purchase a certain type of game. It matters not on the minor cultural differences between the three regions, because we are all so similar anyway. It is still wrong. No matter how people try to spin it, the Western market is far more diverse than most people realise. Particularly those that have been involved in gaming for a long time, because they are the people that can go and blast away on a game like Killzone for a couple of hours, then skip over to SMG2 to get a fix for their inner child before chucking on a great, old-school RPG to give their brains a good workout before bed.
Sure, the younger, and now dominant market seems to go head over heels for shooters and Wii games, but there are still others out there, like many on this site, young and old, that legitimately enjoy the buffet that games have to offer.
TL;DR: I lost the point of my post a long time ago and went off on a completely different tangent. That being said, Ben is right, only he didn't put enough emphasis on his words. Square-Enix, Yoichi Wada, Capcom, etc. Why don't you all put your goddamn heads out of your stinkin', money-grubbing rear ends, and smell the truth. While on the surface it may seem that 360=West and West=Shooter-Heaven, that is wrong. The West is more diverse than you can grasp. So piss off, and get something right before you come back.
TL;DR: Shut up, Lawless.
2 up, 0 down
kraygen
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 4:58:36 AM
Reply
3 up, 0 down
Masry_XI
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 5:40:36 AM
Reply
So Square Enix:
1-Do a FF VII remake already.
2-Release FF X HD for the PS3.
3-Finish FF versus XIII , and make that game your masterpiece.
Everyone is Happy.
End of Story.!!!
0 up, 1 down
Masry_XI
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:04:30 AM
Dude your really funny man .....NOT !!
0 up, 1 down
Jawknee
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:45:59 AM
4 up, 2 down
Underdog15
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 1:13:36 PM
In other words, he's pissed that Squeenix keeps screwing their fans. He is not saying he hates Ben's topic choice. I think Jawk is just trying to defend the editors choice of topic discussion thinking that Masry is getting mad that it's brought up again. Based on posts, I think both of you agree with similar standpoints on Squeenix's behavior.
2 up, 0 down
TheOldOne
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 7:11:11 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Riku994
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 7:48:32 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Wissam
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 7:51:21 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
JackC8
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 7:52:15 AM
Reply
Oh well, they'll apparently keep changing their games to appeal to the Halo and MW2 fans, until such time as they either go bankrupt or get a clue. I always enjoy a good comedy :)
1 up, 0 down
WolfCrimson
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 7:52:20 AM
Reply
;)
2 up, 0 down
VicTheMighty
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 9:20:50 AM
Reply
That would be a great ck slap to wada's face! Then he can stop spouting nonsense about how he has to westernize his life.
0 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 9:26:22 AM
Reply
Whenever he opens his mouth he just gets on my brain cells!!!
Bobby Kotick may be an ass too, but at least the guy is still making the fans of any Activision franchise happy!!
0 up, 0 down
DeathOfChaos
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 9:53:54 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
main_event05
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:28:56 AM
Reply
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:42:13 AM
2 up, 0 down
main_event05
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 5:56:29 PM
0 up, 0 down
FxTales
Tuesday, July 06, 2010 @ 11:10:06 PM
Reply
Oneday, perhaps.
0 up, 0 down
Mounce
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 10:29:26 AM
Reply
FF13 sold around 1.5 million on 360.
Even with the 'betrayal' of Enix and making XIII to the 360, it still shows that the majority of people WANTING the big Final Fantasy titles STILL remain on the Playstation branded consoles and indeed as you said, we, those who enjoy the classic Final Fantasy games, have not jumped ship, we are not Halo-FPS-loving-Brown-Zero-Plot-and-no-story styled gamers.
We want classic RPG's that we can dive into happily without coming out in a pile of feces.
0 up, 0 down
Underdog15
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 10:52:49 AM
And ya know, it's stats like this that Wada seems to comPLETEly ignore!
0 up, 0 down
Highlander
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 4:00:23 PM
1 up, 0 down
SethB
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 12:05:59 PM
Reply
1 up, 0 down
shadowscorpio
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 2:22:52 PM
Reply
-fin
Last edited by shadowscorpio on 7/7/2010 2:23:21 PM
0 up, 0 down
shadowscorpio
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 2:25:44 PM
Reply
Wada can dissapear.
I have an account at Square-enix members. Think I'll be messaging them.
But for right now I'm going to go play the game by NIS called Trinity Universe. later
Last edited by shadowscorpio on 7/7/2010 2:27:03 PM
0 up, 0 down
THE NTMIDTR
Wednesday, July 07, 2010 @ 6:20:40 PM
Reply
Anyway... as I finished in that comment... shut up, have an original idea, hire talented people and create the next "must own game"
Otherwise, go be a "company man" in Japan.
0 up, 0 down
AMG
Thursday, July 08, 2010 @ 2:57:48 AM
Reply
I was feeling good about the SquareEnix merger last generation, but I've been nothing but disappointed so far this gen.
0 up, 0 down
Kabuki
Thursday, July 08, 2010 @ 5:26:35 PM
Reply
I know some pretty avid RPG-haters and I've always defended SquareEnix and the FF games. I like the occasional FPS, too, but I prefer the JRPGs over anything else.
But this last year SquareEnix has just been really disappointing to me. I never really got into FF XIII and please don't tell me "wait till your 6 hours in!" I've already been told I'm not a true FF fan for not liking it as much (chew me out as much as you want, I've already heard it all). I can go back and play FF7 for hours, though, without getting bored.
I don't know, I'm still looking forward to FF Versus XIII...but wow what a way to offend and distance people, SquareEnix...
0 up, 0 down
Maideninblack
Friday, July 09, 2010 @ 11:30:41 AM
Reply
0 up, 0 down
Vitron
Reply
Monday, July 05, 2010 @ 9:51:00 PM
Just keep Final Fantasy as it is..
Then just make another title to satisfy your insicurity over western gaming