Square-Enix's New Business Strategy

[Flaming Ice]

Don't watch the Final Fantasy Tactics S trailer. Just don't do it. It'll crush you to see what Square thinks a TRPG is these days.

So many good systems which have proven to be able to handle JRPGs and TRPGs (and which have done well financially), and yet Square is not taking advantage of them at all.

lol..too late.


Yeah, I think ios games are supposed to be cheaper to make so it'll run them up a bit of $$$ (get some more profit to make our games!)


But we still need good console games

[Del Murder]

Ok, I've read this. Here's some thoughts. I'll only focus on the HD segment (the games we care about) because that's what matters to most of us. Overall, this presentation was interesting but very concerning to me regarding the future of great SE RPGs being released for English-speaking regions. Here's their new strategic initiatives for the HD segment:

-Overhaul the large-scale long-term development
This one actually sounds great because it will result in a shorter development cycle, which most other big-name companies are already using. SE really needs to catch up in this regard. It also means more fan outreach during the development process, which is also good.

They mention a model where developing a game for many years with no revenue only to release it for a potential all-at-once revenue stream is outdated, and I agree. However I am concerned with what their idea is to realize 'gains' during the development process. Paid demo versions of games? Releasing incomplete versions of games only to add-on more later for a price? (oh gods no) Some kind of Kicksterter-type pre-funding? Or does this just mean they'll make some smaller titles that use the same engine while they build the 'main' epic-scale game to work out the kinks along the way (like they used to do with the FF games)? I like that last option.

-Target smart devices as a game platform
This one is concerning because I don't really like phones and tablets as a gaming device, but there is promise here. They did mention making more of the traditional console games, only making them for smart devices. So less ATB and more FF Dimensions. One extreme would be if these games for smart devices actually replace SE's handheld and console market (and this is a possibility). Hopefully they find a way to make use of the growing smart device market and continue to satisfy their die-hard console and handheld fans with games of this type.

It also mentions different revenue options, which means more pay-to-play type stuff, which is not my thing. I like buying the whole game with one purchase and this is definitely not the direction they appear to be going.

-Construct a product portfolio tailored to consumer tastes in respective served regions
This one is the biggest concern, because it possibly means the end of JRPGs released in English regions, save the main FF series or KH. JRPG is a niche market in the US these days and may not be suited to our 'tastes'. It might mean the end of Type-0, Versus, DQX, or other RPG IPs (TWEWY, FF Tactics series, 4Heroes) in the US or European markets. Instead we'll get more action titles like Sleeping Dogs and Tomb Raider, which I'm sure plenty of people like, but not as a replacement for the games that made us follow this company. Not a lot of detail was here, but it did mention 'various projects cancelled in March 2013' which is not a good sign.

[Freya]

Skyblade, FF Tactics S can't be a cash grab WHEN IT'S FREE.

[Skyblade]

Skyblade, FF Tactics S can't be a cash grab WHEN IT'S FREE.

League of Legends is free too, yet there are people who have spent thousands of dollars on it.

[Roogle]

[*]Getting serious about putting high-quality games onto smartphones and tablets

This could be good news if the games that they decide to release are along the same lines of Final Fantasy Dimensions. I heard that game was pretty good.

Smaller games that are set to be released on high-end smartphones and tablets can be similar to the older games. This would be decent as it would allow them to continuously borrow from the past and create iterations of games that originally gave them so much popularity in the first place. The only thing that they would need is the proper creative resources. Imagine a game that played similarly to, say, Chrono Trigger without being Chrono Trigger itself.

[YaakaKhiladi]

Not a big deal it was......!
Just go out there and read the facts carefully....!
It is quite easy to find such an easy ways If we are really interested to have some good results.....

[Mirage]

Point Two.


WHYYYYYY?!


Is it really too much to ask that they put games on a system which have a decent control setup?

Yeah, we need a tactics 3ds........

Because they are admitting that FF: ATB was a trout money grabbing attempt and they shouldn't pull that again

They "pulled" FF13 again 2 times after fans complained

What did they pull? FF13-2 was pretty fun.

[Quindiana Jones]

I'm definitely gonna eat more healthily and do more exercise this year.

[Spooniest]

Sounds like a lot of high talk to me.

At a music performance in a listening room, when they're playing to an audience that knows their songs, the performer will simply say "What do you guys want to hear?"

I feel they are too high-minded and out of touch with us. They refuse to simply talk to us in plain English. I know they all know plain English, because Japanese schools teach it as early as 8th grade, if not earlier.

I respect their work, but this is the wrong way to talk to your fans.

[black orb]

-- Increased engagement and interaction with gamers during the design process, as well as a quicker production rate

>>> Good idea but this may backfire.
quicker production rate? so they admit they have been lazy all this time? lol..

-- Getting serious about putting high-quality games onto smartphones and tablets

>>> Well played SE, that market is on fire. Tablets will end smurfing everything, laptops, handhelds consoles, etc..

-- Coming up with a new definition of "blockbuster" games, especially in respects to how different areas of the world view and purchase video games

donald-trump-youre-fired.jpg