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Square Enix: Sony, straighten up. You're confusing us [Update] photo

Square Enix and Sony have been best buddies since the very beginning, but Square Enix president Yoichi Wada now says that their old friend needs to straighten up, and that they might be hindering their own success.

Wada is referring to the lack of consistency in Sony's marketing of the PS3. His feeling is that the marketing of the system as a home entertainment hub, and then the shift to pushing it as a games console confused potential buyers. In a Reuters article, Wada said that Sony's future "would be tough if its marketing strategy is not straightened up".

"Sony first unveiled the PS3 as a mighty home electronics product," said Wada. "Then, after some badgering from game companies, it shifted the position of the console closer to a game machine."

Hopefully this doesn't mean bad things for the magical marriage of all things PlayStation and Final Fantasy, but we know that Square has a history of suddenly "ditching and hitching". With the way things are going now (Final Fantasy re-releases, Dragon Quest exclusives), it almost seems like Square Enix is going full circle, moving back to their original best buddy, Nintendo. 

This makes Square Enix sound like a fair-weather friend, doesn't it?  

[Update: in an almost perfectly timed response, our favorite hair palace posts the definitive declaration from Sony Computer Entertainment boss Kaz Hirai himself: "I'd like to clearly say, 'The PS3 is a game machine.' It's nothing more than that." There you have it, folks. Hear that, Nintendo?]

[thanks, JV] 








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Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools. Meet the rest of the team



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32 comments | showing # 1 to 32
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DeusPayne's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 10:33
DeusPayne
I wouldn't call it a fair weather friend so much as just wanting the best medium for their games. They are a business that wants exposure, and if Sony can't deliver, Nintendo can.
Johnny Blaze's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 10:36
Johnny Blaze
bout time Sqaure Enix took their balls out of Sonys mouth... Share them bitches with some other people...
Johnny Blaze's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 10:36
Johnny Blaze
bout time Sqaure Enix took their balls out of Sonys mouth... Share them bitches with some other people...
Johnny Blaze's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 10:36
Johnny Blaze
bout time Sqaure Enix took their balls out of Sonys mouth... Share them bitches with some other people...
bipolar beers's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 10:42
bipolar beers
a final fantasy 7 remake would just squash all the problems between sony and square and make both companies a lot of money.
Coonskin05's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 10:48
Coonskin05
ZOMG, FFXIII is going to be on the 360!!!
Pistolaero's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 11:15
Pistolaero
I like how websites ridicule fanboys (which should be ridiculed because that kind of attitude is just straight up ignorant) but then you guys post this kinda shit to further egg them on. They don't need anymore fuel dammit.
Corncobtacular's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 11:19
Corncobtacular
When i was reading this post the first thing that came to mind was "goddamn Sterling, stop riling up all the fanboys"....then i actually checked the author
waves's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 11:32
waves
It's true. It's time they left the white room and sold the system on it's strengths.

And no, creepiness is not one of it's strengths.
Bob Muir's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 11:32
Bob Muir
Did anyone else notice that SquareEnix recently called the White Engine cross-platform middleware? Could just mean that Square's next-gen (current-gen, dammit) MMO will be on both PS3 and 360...or it could mean something more...
ajaxender's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 11:32
ajaxender
Hey, theyre kind of right. Sony does need to get their shit straight for the ps3, theyre not alone in the market like they (nearly) were with the ps2 (yes yes, dreamcast was there but for whatever reason it may as well not have been).
Oh, dont forget last remnant is not ps3 exclusive, its on 360 also. Its good that square is moving away from the sony exclusives, it seems to make them invent some new ip's (when theyre not makin FF remakes and sequels anyway)
DeusPayne's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 11:40
DeusPayne


Don't know why, because I can.
KyleGamgee's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 11:59
KyleGamgee
I have no problem with Square Enix developing games for the system with the greatest market share.

Although Bipolar Beers is correct, a FFVII remake would be big bucks for the two companies. Which two companies seems uncertain. Square Enix sounds like it's trying keep it as Sony. I don't see this as a bitch-slap, I see it as a friend trying to help a friend.
corneliuscack's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 12:04
corneliuscack
hmm, if SE goes back to nintendo, then i'll be waiting for the next ehrgeiz 2 to come out.



...ok, im lying. lol
corneliuscack's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 12:06
corneliuscack
*for the wii


ah fuck it, mission phailed.
Aaron Mxy Yost's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 12:12
Aaron Mxy Yost
No such thing as friends in business. They're about selling software, not being loyal to a single company.
Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 12:30
Justice
Haha they're so right though.
Joe Burling's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 12:30
Joe Burling
but...but...but... Kutaragi said it was a PC... how can it be "nothing more" than a "game machine"? I feel dissillusioned...
Dale North's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 12:47
Dale North
what exactly would I be a fanboy of, judging from this post?
zardoz's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 12:56
zardoz
The PS3 doesn't know what it is, and Sony dosn't know what they want it to be. They thought the future of videogames was a multimedia hub, they were very wrong.

The same problem exists with the PSP, it's a mess with an identity crisis. Gaming has superficial links with other digital media, and a lazy observer will look at those links and make the wrong assumption that those links can be combined into one convenient package, the truth is that this is doing games an injustice, intercative entertianment is a powerful medium in it's own right, it doesn't need any connections with passive media. If Sony perhaps respected or even understood interactive design more, then they would not try to water down the games industry in order to benefit their multimedia agenda.

Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 14:24
Jim Sterling
Dale: You dared to say something bad about Sony, you are now a child murderer.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 14:51
Sharpless
FFXIII on the 360. It's happening. Mark my words, as I demonstrate my supernatural capabilities of prediction. MARVEL! It's a shame I don't care about the series, though.

Seriously, though. Cross-platform? Yeah. Suck it, Sony. Your pure white chilluns are preparing to marry distinguished African-American gentlemen. Deal with it.
Dennen's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 15:41
Dennen
@Sharpless: I predict you will have some serious trouble in the toilet issues down the road. My prediction is stronger than yours. And it shall be done *nod*

On a more serious note. I don't know about this whole cross-console business. I think it's completely possible if the PS3 keeps going South, but at the same time, I can't imagine why they would create such a beautiful engine for a game and let it just go to waste on one single game. Assuming all goes decently in 08 for Sony, I would have to say that XIII will not lose exclusivity and it'll most likely be some other game that makes the run over to the 360.

Now, returning to Wii is something I am having a hard time believing.. Square is arguably one of the largest graphics whoring companies in existance. They want more power. They want more pretty sequences and higher resolutions to make that look pretty... More than console wars, I wish they would return to making the games a bit dark.. That's what sold FFVII so heavily.
SourGr8pes's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 15:44
SourGr8pes
Where exactly is Squeenix going to go then if the PS3 doesn't take off? The 360? The same 360 that probably 6 Japanese people own? The Wii, with the processing power of a past gen system? Yeah right, unless Squeenix decides to humble themselves, crawl out of the uncanny valley, and go back to sprites.
Yeah, I can really see why they're pissed at Sony.
vexed alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 16:08
vexed alex
Next Final Fantasy confirmed for 360. Heard it here first on D'toid.


Hehe. So the PS3 is like a closet gay? It doesn't know what it's doing.

I hope that PS3 pulls closer to 360, especially with online so I can get my Live for free like I should be. Competition, especially close competition is always good for the consumers. It means I get cooler deals and features for meh 360. Know'd I mean, foolios? Sheah.
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 17:00
Fading Star
Dale, you are not a fanboy. There is nothing funny about that. Nothing....

FF...and Pizza. This is a good combination.

I would like to see how Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo perform in upcoming months. Square Enix, please make some different RPG games. Is that too much to ask for?
Scrixx's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 17:31
Scrixx
Well it seems that Sqaure is going with Nintendo while Level 5 is becoming Sony's new bestest buddy.

Hey not that bad of an idea, if any Dtoid Editor is reading, let's have a Square vs Level 5 Debate :)
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 20:17
Sharpless
@Dennen
I always have toilet trouble, man. That's like predicting that the Knicks are going to suck this year.
Steel Squirrel's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/07/2007 20:49
Steel Squirrel
Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm sold now that ol' Kaz informed me that the PS3 is a game machine, nothing more than that. Now, time to go purchase some Blu-Ray movies on my PS3 web browser and then print out my receipt.......
Boolean's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/08/2007 00:05
Boolean
http://www.cnet.com.au/games/ps2/0,239029672,240054965,00.htm

Kutaragi: "The PlayStation [3] is not a game machine. We've never once called it a game machine,"

Kaz: The PS3 is a game machine.' It's nothing more than that."

Looks like Square was right.
questworld's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/08/2007 01:21
questworld
I don't know, but I feel like there's more show of support for Sony to do better with their handling of the PS3 and yet if it was Nintendo, people are more obliged to dump them when they (the people - i.e. developers) slip up. Maybe it's just cynicism.
Inuboy1000's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/14/2009 20:31
Inuboy1000
Hmm... Sony is confusing companies, why does that not surprise me...???
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