I was extremely happy to hear that the Star Ocean PSP remakes finally got US release dates. After taking care of some business, I went to the Official NA Square Enix website to see if they had put up an official site for Star Ocean: First Departure. I was suprised to find that they had actually put up a big Star Ocean Portal site, a-la the Japanese "Eternal Sphere" website.

I was, however, disheartened to find that the websites look completely thrown together and ugly. I mean compare the US Star Ocean Portal Site in comparison to the Japanese Star Ocean "Eternal Sphere" Portal Site, along with the First Departure websites for both.

First you have the main pages -

The Japanese Version:


The American Version:


Notice how the Japanese Version has a bit more of a clean design, complete with update logs, news about the games, and recent entries into the "Eternal Sphere" blog. I mean, hell, it actually has a blog.

The American Version has a very plain layout, and looks like it was thrown together last night. I can understand the lack of a blog, update and news columns considering the fact that it was JUST put up, and also that most official websites don't have blogs.

Now take a look at the Star Ocean: First Departure websites for both -

The Japanese Version:


The American Version:


The Japanese version has a very clean design about it. The Tabs at the bottom of the screen are relatively small, they are clearly labled, and they expand when you roll over them with a whole bunch of different options for each section. Each section is accompanied with various pieces of Artwork and Screenshots along with text boxes and very slick section transfer animations.

Then the American version has two stars that only reveal what section they go to when you mouse over them, and the sections themselves are very bland. The information page looks very thrown together, and the other section is entitled "Pre-Order Now" and only offers links to three retail chain websites. Now I'll let them off a bit easy considering this site was just put up, but couldn't they have at least put some information about their product other than when it's coming out and where you can pre-order it at? Things like the Story? The Characters? ANYTHING?

I know I'm probably being overly judgmental, but come on Squeenix. How do you expect to attract more interest in your games if you don't even give them a decent site. Hell, it doesn't even have to be flash. A well laid out, normal website could do a lot more for your product than a lame, poorly done Flash site with horrible sound bites.

Square Enix isn't the only culprit of putting out bad Official Game Sites. There are many that could be better than what they are. For example, the US Dynasty Warriors 6 website in comparison to the UK Dynasty Warriors 6 website. Granted, I don't think the Warriors series has a big a following here in the US as it does in the UK, but the fact still remains that the US site is definitely inferior to the UK site. The US Site is lacking in information about the game and it's characters, whereas the UK site has a ton of information on both, not to mention a little mini-game that allows you to unlock new wallpapers and stuff.

Naturally, there are sites that are very well done here in the States. For example, the Infinite Undiscovery website is kind of bare, but looks great. The official NA site for Final Fantasy IV DS is very well done, which you'd expect from a Final Fantasy website. Perhaps the fact that Star Ocean isn't Final Fantasy is the main reason SO's websites didn't get more lovin'.

In the long run, I guess a website doesn't mean that much. I mean, after the game comes out, it rarely gets visited. Not to mention, there are a ton of outlets to get info, videos and screenshots of upcoming games online. I guess I'm just bitter that Star Ocean isn't getting any love from the webmasters at the NA Square Enix website. I mean even their new iPod game got a better site than Star Ocean did.

Grumble.

Ura-