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I believe deus ex is delayed because it will make money BUT releasing it now would add that money to 2010's financial report. By delaying it until the start of 2011's fiscal year they can satisfy the shareholders by saying "sure we had a shitty year in 2010 but look at the bounty we reaped in 2011"
From a business stand point it makes perfect sense.
To the average person/gamer it's utter bullshit.
From a business stand point it makes perfect sense.
To the average person/gamer it's utter bullshit.
More remakes like Chrono Trigger and FFIV DS, and less bullshit. EVERY time they make a remake, it's good, it gets great reviews, and people buy the shit out of it.
@Magnalon - If memory serves Square actually complained about the Chrono Trigger DS port not selling as well as they'd hoped...I recall one guy saying "If you really want a sequel, buy this one!" Wish I had a link...
According to VGChartz, it sold 1.06m - pretty high, but you're right, not as much as they hoped.
Still, I bet it outsells "Mindjack" - or whatever garbage they're putting out nowadays.
Still, I bet it outsells "Mindjack" - or whatever garbage they're putting out nowadays.
for me, Square Enix's best game to ever greenlight-ed(though not developed) on is Just Cause 2. Maybe Square Enix will regain it's composure by this year eh?
You do realize that they said it would take something like 10 years to remake final fantasy 7. I honestly feel like 7 is just fine the way it is, and doesn't really require a remake. If you want to play it with better graphics get the pc version and mod it.
As far as your statement about them being brought down to earth I really think they started going down hill about the time Final Fantasy 10 was released. I do have to say though I did enjoy reading your blog as it's always nice to see how other people feel about the big names in gaming.
As far as your statement about them being brought down to earth I really think they started going down hill about the time Final Fantasy 10 was released. I do have to say though I did enjoy reading your blog as it's always nice to see how other people feel about the big names in gaming.
Blankly, the last good Square Enix game was blank. After blank it all went blankhill.
Blankly speaking.
Blankly speaking.
I think it says something about a company when everyone is still just talking about their SNES and PS1 releases, begging for re-makes and sequels. Its like the last decade past them right by.
Let's just get this fact out in the open...Dragon Quest had a good year in North America and Final Fantasy had a horrible one. We are living in BIZARRO WORLD PEOPLE!!!!
Also, another Square Enix end of the year post that doesn't include Nier. sucks that Cavia went under as they did some really bizarre stuff.
Oh, and I don't want to see HD Cloud Strife wearing a dress. I'm just not sure that's the direction FFVII should take. FFVIII however definitely needs a remake.
Also, another Square Enix end of the year post that doesn't include Nier. sucks that Cavia went under as they did some really bizarre stuff.
Oh, and I don't want to see HD Cloud Strife wearing a dress. I'm just not sure that's the direction FFVII should take. FFVIII however definitely needs a remake.
I don't know what I want from Square Enix. A VII remake would be fine but really, I don't think it would be fiscally advantageous for them to do it, at least on the PS3. Sure, people would get it but I think a lot more people would skip it. I have fond memories of the game but shit, I bought it the day it came out and played it and watched others play it enough to know I'm through with it.
In my velveteen nerd heart an HD remake of Final Fantasy III would be amazing but that's just nostalgia talking. Maybe they can just grow and evolve the Final Fantasy brand into something less convoluted and stale and give us a damn fine RPG.
In my velveteen nerd heart an HD remake of Final Fantasy III would be amazing but that's just nostalgia talking. Maybe they can just grow and evolve the Final Fantasy brand into something less convoluted and stale and give us a damn fine RPG.
Yeah square has been a let down this Gen, they seem so out of touch lately, hell it took them till 2010 to get a game on the ps3 . Ff13 was disappointing and the star ocean tlh port didn't have anything worth mentioning despite coming a year later. C'mon square you gotta do better than that.
I am becoming somewhat disheartened with Square Enix as well. It does seem as if they have a bit of a disconnect with their audience. I'm hoping they pull out some stops for 2011. Also, it is my belief that they already have a FFVII remake done and are storing it for when the video game industry implodes.
Manasteel is right about the unfortunate lack of Nier in this blog. People should go play that. Now.
"To the average person/gamer it's utter bullshit." Maybe Average Joe should hunt down those shareholders.
Here Here! Great post. I really agree with the sentiment that Squeenix is telling the fans what they want instead of listening to what they want. And I am one of those people begging for a FFVII remake. That would be gaming gold.
For me, Atlus is the new Square.
I heart Atlus. I want a woman's womb inserted into my body so I can have it's babies.
I heart Atlus. I want a woman's womb inserted into my body so I can have it's babies.
Versus XIII is the only reason I still care a bit about FF, so while I agree with a lot of what you said, I will also say that I am much more interested in the side games than the main games... Although that has been the case since FFX.
I don't know, Square has been releasing some bullshit in the mean time over the years. Anyone remember that stupid Dragon game on PS2? Or the Bouncer? They've certainly had their fair share of garbage, but it looks like those same design philosophies are flowing into their main releases.
I would understand if they were trying new things and attempting to innovate in their respective genres, but dumbing down an RPG to the point of not even needing to actively participate doesn't make sense to me.
I would understand if they were trying new things and attempting to innovate in their respective genres, but dumbing down an RPG to the point of not even needing to actively participate doesn't make sense to me.
Watching SquareEnix not remake FFVII is like watching someone win the lotto and then say “Ehh, I’ll pick it up next week” and then they don’t pick it up for about four years.
@BulletMagnet They said that about Chronotrigger too ?
I recall them pulling the "If you want a sequel buy this one" card with Dissidia.
But as far as the article goes I pretty much totally agree a game released by Square used to be a no brainer, you bought it and it was awesome. Now it seems like they are releasing mediocre games and slapping SquareEnix on them so they will sell. I fear that gone are the days when you can look Square being the publisher alone and know its quality, here to stay are the days of waiting for reviews to come out because you just can't trust them anymore.
I recall them pulling the "If you want a sequel buy this one" card with Dissidia.
But as far as the article goes I pretty much totally agree a game released by Square used to be a no brainer, you bought it and it was awesome. Now it seems like they are releasing mediocre games and slapping SquareEnix on them so they will sell. I fear that gone are the days when you can look Square being the publisher alone and know its quality, here to stay are the days of waiting for reviews to come out because you just can't trust them anymore.
No more remakes and no more side stories. More original games in the vein of Square's old games before Sakaguchi resigned. For the love of god no more remakes. It might displease someone who calls themselves SephirothX and wants to play the same game over and over, but it would cost too much and just be a waste of time. The one thing that Square Enix (As a developer) hasn't done in the past 5+ years is make an original game that has the strengths Squaresoft has been known for.
Really, what people want from SE is an RPG that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Rather than spending however many billion dollars they did for all of XIII's self-masturbatory cut scenes, they should have given the characters some actual characterization. Customization, actually tactical combat (rather than a reckless mad dash to get a fast battle time), a sense of exploring a world. Final Fantasy X was very clever about pushing you down a linear path. You never felt like you were going in a straight line. There were people to talk to, actually useful things to purchase, characters to level up in multiple directions of your choice. The world was a living, breathing place, rather than just a long, pretty piece of string to follow. Not until reaching Pulse did I feel like any area in FFXIII was an actual environment where people could exist, and Pulse was ruined by being a long, meandering, pointless waste of time.
If anyone played The Last Remnant on PC (on 360 it's a buggy mess) they'd realize it was probably SE's closest grab at greatness since their old glory days. It made some missteps in attempt to innovate, but definitely played to a few of SE's world-building strengths. If the game had received the amount of resources and attention FFXIII had, it would likely have been a huge success.
tl;dr: SE should stop masturbating over graphics and play to their strengths.
Really, what people want from SE is an RPG that doesn't try to reinvent the wheel. Rather than spending however many billion dollars they did for all of XIII's self-masturbatory cut scenes, they should have given the characters some actual characterization. Customization, actually tactical combat (rather than a reckless mad dash to get a fast battle time), a sense of exploring a world. Final Fantasy X was very clever about pushing you down a linear path. You never felt like you were going in a straight line. There were people to talk to, actually useful things to purchase, characters to level up in multiple directions of your choice. The world was a living, breathing place, rather than just a long, pretty piece of string to follow. Not until reaching Pulse did I feel like any area in FFXIII was an actual environment where people could exist, and Pulse was ruined by being a long, meandering, pointless waste of time.
If anyone played The Last Remnant on PC (on 360 it's a buggy mess) they'd realize it was probably SE's closest grab at greatness since their old glory days. It made some missteps in attempt to innovate, but definitely played to a few of SE's world-building strengths. If the game had received the amount of resources and attention FFXIII had, it would likely have been a huge success.
tl;dr: SE should stop masturbating over graphics and play to their strengths.
I have to agree with mattrodoid, minus the combative, childish tone of his post. DQIX was my DS GOTY, and I thoroughly enjoyed my 85 hours with FFXIII.
I genuinely hope that SE releases some games that please the rest of you in the near future, though. I can't help but want my fellow RPG fans to be happy, I feel a kinship of shared experiences with you guys, and it has to suck to be disappointed by a company that's meant so much to you in the past.
I genuinely hope that SE releases some games that please the rest of you in the near future, though. I can't help but want my fellow RPG fans to be happy, I feel a kinship of shared experiences with you guys, and it has to suck to be disappointed by a company that's meant so much to you in the past.
My problem with Square Enix games is they're too complicated. Call me simple minded, but if they have to map twenty separate commands to each button for just the combat, it's too much for me to handle. I guess I just don't have the super-brain required to handle any RPG more complicated than Golden Sun.
Nier was great. I'm glad I got to work on that. However, Front Mission Evolved was a steaming pile and makes me think that Square Enix cutting my job was actually an act of mercy.
Backlog: an accumulation of jobs not done or materials not processed that are yet to be dealt with (especially unfilled customer orders for products or services)
@mattrodroid
"People that complain about FFXIII as much as they do have no creativity, imagination and/or respect for innovation."
Do you care to back that up, or do you just like to show up and make ridiculous statements without any semblance of defense? This sounds like the argument of an eight-year old.
[Not to mention that that sentence is semantically horrible: "people who complain as much as they do", wouldn't that be everyone?]
"People that complain about FFXIII as much as they do have no creativity, imagination and/or respect for innovation."
Do you care to back that up, or do you just like to show up and make ridiculous statements without any semblance of defense? This sounds like the argument of an eight-year old.
[Not to mention that that sentence is semantically horrible: "people who complain as much as they do", wouldn't that be everyone?]
"instead we get shit like nobody really wants like Type-0 or Versus XIII"
While I do agree XIII sucked, Versus is still a title people want, even more so after the sucky xiii, so you fail
While I do agree XIII sucked, Versus is still a title people want, even more so after the sucky xiii, so you fail
I have to disagree with this article simply because of the way it dismisses the other two announced games for the Fabula Nova Crystallis, Agito and Versus look fantastic and I've only heard eager anticipation from fans, particularly for versus.
Also, I'm a die hard kingdom hearts fan, so I'm not in any huge rush to get to KH3 and start a bullshit new series with a new villian (which is not speculation, Nomura has confirmed that KH3 will mark the end of the "Xehanort Saga", starting a new series of KH games: http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/24/tetsuya-nomura-talks-kingdom-hearts-3-and-beyond/) I like my KH as a mostly comprehensible series with a totally kickass and hard to kill Xehanort.
Other than that though I agree this was a bad year for SE, and they really have become disjointed from their fanbase. All I would really ask of them though would be to release Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 Professional in America, I could care less about a billion HD remakes, I'd rather play my RPG's portable, and then with as much monster cattching/raising/breeding I can get my hands on.
Also, I'm a die hard kingdom hearts fan, so I'm not in any huge rush to get to KH3 and start a bullshit new series with a new villian (which is not speculation, Nomura has confirmed that KH3 will mark the end of the "Xehanort Saga", starting a new series of KH games: http://www.siliconera.com/2010/03/24/tetsuya-nomura-talks-kingdom-hearts-3-and-beyond/) I like my KH as a mostly comprehensible series with a totally kickass and hard to kill Xehanort.
Other than that though I agree this was a bad year for SE, and they really have become disjointed from their fanbase. All I would really ask of them though would be to release Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 Professional in America, I could care less about a billion HD remakes, I'd rather play my RPG's portable, and then with as much monster cattching/raising/breeding I can get my hands on.
@wisearse
agree, i never had so much fun on a Sanbox game, it even surpaces San Andreas in that aspect, it was the second best Sanbox game besides RDR in 2010 imo
agree, i never had so much fun on a Sanbox game, it even surpaces San Andreas in that aspect, it was the second best Sanbox game besides RDR in 2010 imo
I also wanted to say that I think Square has been off their throne for a while.
SaGa Frontier 1997
SaGa Frontier 2 1999
Legend of Mana 1999
The Bouncer 2000
Unlimited Saga 2002
Romancing SaGa 2005
Dawn of Mana 2006
I think all of these games were sub-par or just plain bad. And that doesn't include anything released in the last 5 years. Keep in mind, I'm only posting Square Developed US releases here.
Atlus > Square Enix
SaGa Frontier 1997
SaGa Frontier 2 1999
Legend of Mana 1999
The Bouncer 2000
Unlimited Saga 2002
Romancing SaGa 2005
Dawn of Mana 2006
I think all of these games were sub-par or just plain bad. And that doesn't include anything released in the last 5 years. Keep in mind, I'm only posting Square Developed US releases here.
Atlus > Square Enix
Their last good game was TWEWY.
The latest DQ had some flavour, but really, I can't remember any other SquareEnix game since then that made me flip out over its greatness.
And as awesome as FFXIII Versus looks like, I'm skeptical.
Oh, and Atlus also pretty much became the new SE to me too.
In any case, nice post and grats on front page. While I think people might have different views then you on some of the finer points, there certainly seems to be some misscontent directed at SE thrughot the gamer community.
The latest DQ had some flavour, but really, I can't remember any other SquareEnix game since then that made me flip out over its greatness.
And as awesome as FFXIII Versus looks like, I'm skeptical.
Oh, and Atlus also pretty much became the new SE to me too.
In any case, nice post and grats on front page. While I think people might have different views then you on some of the finer points, there certainly seems to be some misscontent directed at SE thrughot the gamer community.
@ KingSigy
If that 'dragon game' doesn't happen then Nier never comes to fruition as Nier's world is the result of Drakengard's (or 'that dragon game' as you prefer) insane 5th ending.
And say what you want about Drakengard and it's sequel. The stories of those games are fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Yeah, the gameplay of the first was pretty bad and the second, while it made strides, wasn't anything but average. But the story, the characters, the world, the dark atmosphere that Cavia put into it's games, the short stories attached to each weapon which were equally amazing. There is nothing that even comes close to matching those games.
Now Cavia is gone... Well, absorbed by it's parent company technically. But there's little hope of getting more awesomeness like Nier and for that I am truly saddened. No Drakengard 3 and no more new original IPs from Cavia who had slowly, at least for their original titles, been improving by leaps and bounds.
If that 'dragon game' doesn't happen then Nier never comes to fruition as Nier's world is the result of Drakengard's (or 'that dragon game' as you prefer) insane 5th ending.
And say what you want about Drakengard and it's sequel. The stories of those games are fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. Yeah, the gameplay of the first was pretty bad and the second, while it made strides, wasn't anything but average. But the story, the characters, the world, the dark atmosphere that Cavia put into it's games, the short stories attached to each weapon which were equally amazing. There is nothing that even comes close to matching those games.
Now Cavia is gone... Well, absorbed by it's parent company technically. But there's little hope of getting more awesomeness like Nier and for that I am truly saddened. No Drakengard 3 and no more new original IPs from Cavia who had slowly, at least for their original titles, been improving by leaps and bounds.
@Billy Monks
Let me translate what you said: "Let Squareenix do what they used to do. But dont let them revist what they used to do"
Sounds kinda stupid when you break it down huh? Maybe you should think about what you say before you start running your mouth because I actually express what my favorite game(s) are through my online handle, eh?
Let me translate what you said: "Let Squareenix do what they used to do. But dont let them revist what they used to do"
Sounds kinda stupid when you break it down huh? Maybe you should think about what you say before you start running your mouth because I actually express what my favorite game(s) are through my online handle, eh?
I can refute this sentiment with three words: Dragon Quest IX.
Still, yeah, SquareEnix's bigger efforts had a really poor showing. Final Fantasy just isn't what it used to be, but Dragon Quest had its most phenomenal entry in the series to date.
Still, yeah, SquareEnix's bigger efforts had a really poor showing. Final Fantasy just isn't what it used to be, but Dragon Quest had its most phenomenal entry in the series to date.
Man, fuck off with this "face facts FFXIII is a disappointment" bullshit. You guys have been at it for almost a solid year now. It's pathetic. Isn't enough enough? I mean really. We get it, you didn't like it. But guess what? Lots, and lots of people did. And a sequel is likely on the way.
Please do us all a favor and skip it. No one is forcing you to get it.
Please do us all a favor and skip it. No one is forcing you to get it.
And the people who constantly bitch about a FFVII remake drive me fucking crazy. If you are dying to play FFVII that much ... GO PLAY FFVII. If you are dying to see what they look like in HD, WATCH ADVENT CHILDREN. I mean, how spoiled can you be? What else do you really want? They already gave you Crisis Core, and Dirge of Cerberus on top of that.
So what if they made a tech demo? It's a tech demo. Get. Over. It.
So what if they made a tech demo? It's a tech demo. Get. Over. It.
Square could get back on track by firing Nomura, and give Yoshitaka Amano all the funds and creative freedom he needs to create a new Final Fantasy experience.
@ Shinta 2,
"If you are dying to play FFVII that much ... GO PLAY FFVII. If you are dying to see what they look like in HD, WATCH ADVENT CHILDREN. I mean, how spoiled can you be? What else do you really want? "
How is watching a crappy movie anything like playing a video game? Is it so much that some people want to see an HD remake of a beloved game? Particularly when we're getting swarmed with HD remakes left and right these days, I don't think it's out of the question. Relax, dude.
"If you are dying to play FFVII that much ... GO PLAY FFVII. If you are dying to see what they look like in HD, WATCH ADVENT CHILDREN. I mean, how spoiled can you be? What else do you really want? "
How is watching a crappy movie anything like playing a video game? Is it so much that some people want to see an HD remake of a beloved game? Particularly when we're getting swarmed with HD remakes left and right these days, I don't think it's out of the question. Relax, dude.
Square Enix became shit the moment they merged with Square Enix.
You should've also mentioned how Star Ocean was definitely one of the best RPGs to play back in the day. And they fuck that up too with Until the End of time.
You should've also mentioned how Star Ocean was definitely one of the best RPGs to play back in the day. And they fuck that up too with Until the End of time.
@ EggmaniMN,
"Uh, FF13 was fantastic,"
Does not compute. Seriously, you could have used "good", "decent", "fun to play", something.. but fantastic? I think that's really stretching. Leave the word "fantastic" for games that are..... actually fantastic. Like some of the previous iterations of Final Fantasy, for example.
Btw, I love how you totally forgot to mention the horrible games SE have been releasing. FF XIV for example. Guess that missed your radar somehow?
"Uh, FF13 was fantastic,"
Does not compute. Seriously, you could have used "good", "decent", "fun to play", something.. but fantastic? I think that's really stretching. Leave the word "fantastic" for games that are..... actually fantastic. Like some of the previous iterations of Final Fantasy, for example.
Btw, I love how you totally forgot to mention the horrible games SE have been releasing. FF XIV for example. Guess that missed your radar somehow?
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