John-ShepardSquare-Enix's new direction as a company has been a sore spot amongst the loyal, long-time followers. The question is, will new IPs help to restore their faith?
According to Examiner.com and citing Square-Enix's recent financial briefing, it's clear that the publisher wants to continue to grow and expand. The three key factors discussed were Globalization, Becoming Network-Centric and Strengthen Own-IPs. For the fiscal year that stretches through next March, Square-Enix intends to "create new AAA brands" so as to "reinforce their internal intellectual properties." Obviously, this means making some new titles to go alongside their large stable of Final Fantasy , Dragon Quest , Kingdom Hearts , and the freshly acquired Hitman and Tomb Raider franchises. But we've already heard of these; what we're interested in is the possibility of new IPs, which could really help to restore the publisher's image. They made more than a few in the RPG realm back in the PlayStation era, but the new IPs on the PS2 didn't fare so well…maybe they should give it another shot.
You can only rely on your franchises for so long, right? Don't we all need a bit of a change every now and then?
I fear Square will be unrecognizable by this generations end. Same with Capcom.
Yeah, i get the feeling these games are gonna try and cater to a western audience. Just hope they get it right.
I never knew what japanese games were, so its a shame to lose them. Might get valkyria chronicles (or whatever it was called) but probably not. To much else to spend my money on
FFVII Remake. Forget new ips! Wait no. Make FFVII Remake THEN make new ips. better.
I'm afraid these new IPs will be completely unrecognizable since they will be a messed up version of mostly Western games with a tinge of Eastern influence. I wish they would try to make a solid JRPG or six but I just don't see that happening every since they were bitten by Microsoft and became zombies.
Instead of eating human flesh they make mediocre games.
and take huge bites out of established franchise's content.
As much as I love WKC, I really want Square to push Level-5 into making another Dragon Quest. I'm going to lose my mind if I don't get to kill blue slimes on my PS3 soon. Six years is too long!
so is this new games going to be multiplatform or exclusive, since Mr. Yochi Wada is thinking about brining ff vs 13 to the 360
i am shocked ben did not talk of this
The good ol' days of quality gaming are almost gone. Demon's Souls was the last of the rare hardcore RPG breed.
I miss the time of wonderful exclusives, when Playstation, Nintendo 64, Dreamcast and PS2 ruled the gaming world.
Nothing can touch those glory days, when it was quality over quantity. No sequel was cheap or rushed for a quick buck.
Sonic was doing well in 3D with Sonic Adventure. Mario 64 showed us how a 3D platformer could be done right. MGS2 introduced Hollywood film quality gaming. Shadow of the Colossus showed us the true art of the videogame.
I am no longer excited about game releases. Demon's Souls, Gears 3, Mass Effect 3, Gran Turismo 5 and the Last Guardian are the only big games I'm actually excited about. Others… just feel like giving em a go, but the excitement is no longer there.
I guess it's cos MS and COD have shown that the money is in mindless shooters and online multiplayer death matches. Nintendo have shown others that money is in gimmicky motion controls that no one plays after a month.
So, quality is slowly dripping away as the popularity of shooters and online deathmatches start reigning supreme.
I am a single player, story-based gaming nut. I love a good quality adventure. Zelda, Final Fantasy VII, Uncharted 2, Super Mario, God of War, Gears of War, Resident Evil 4, Metal Gear Solid, all of them up there as my favourite games and franchises. (FF XIII is only exception, haven't played it since first half hour on day 1)
Damn you Microsoft. Damn you and your greed to buy your way into the competition rather than competing with quality, like Sony and Nintendo fought so hard to do.
I definitely feel Square Enix needs to take a chance with new IPs. However, I think fans of company are becoming alienated as Square Enix attempts to extend their reach to western audiences.
I think they should keep trying to find a style that pleases everyone, but don't forget about those who supported you from the very beginning.
ATLUS is the new Squaresoft, they have been that for many years now.
The Shin Megami Tensei games are amazing and fun.
True. Looking forward to Persona 5 for sure.
If you check the recent psblog I asked Aram about Persona 5. Unfortunately he is a sly one..
Translation:
"Globalization": appeal to the xbot FPS crowd.
"Becoming Network-Centric": We were told to come up with three key factors, but only had two.
"Strengthen Own-IPs": Continue making sequels, just as we've always done.
Make your new FPS IPs, and return FF to how it once was
*Sigh* Another day, another stupid thing from Square Enix…
All I want is the Kingdom Hearts franchise back to the current main Sony console and Final Fantasy Versus XIII exclusive for the Playstation, just that, keep all the future Kingdom Hearts games and Final Fantasy Versus XIII exclusively on the Playstation and after that you can do all you want, I don't care anymore, don't hurt us Playstation gamers anymore than you have already.
SE is trying to sink themselves underneath the quicksand of mediocrity.
SE is taking the same path Activision took to decrease quality and increase money.
Won't be long and SE will be a forgotten company whose best games are that of before 2002.
The "trend" is taking over. All hail the current "in" thing. This gen, it's online shooters. Forget story, forget long quests. MW has changed everything.
All be like Modern Warfare and your game will see over 8 million in sales too.
(groan)
I fear these new IPs of theirs are going to suck. Even Nier doesn't look that great(Replicant does indeed look better but still meh but at least it's more like my interests than Gestalt).
I guess on the bright side I could think of it as if these new IPs do suck then I can save my money and not buy games from Square Enix and put my money more on Gust, NIS, Idea Factory, and so forth that still develop games I enjoy without making some lame Western-ish game.