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Square Enix wants Western fans, doesn't want an FPS photo

Square Enix has recently set itself up in LA and is hoping to win itself more Western fans. However, the Final Fantasy publisher has no intention on copying typical Western games full of guns and blood, claiming instead that there's "no point" in making an FPS.

"Square Enix isn't necessarily shifting, it's more of a growth," explains game development manager Fumi Shiraishi. "The stuff [games created by Square Enix in Japan] does what it is supposed to do...but the Japanese market isn't growing."

Shiraishi describes the LA studio's current project as "a different approach entirely," not willing to compare it to The Last Remnant, which was an RPG designed to appeal to Western gamers. "We're not deliberately focusing on the North American audience," he clarifies. "We're just trying to make a good game.

"... We're not trying to make a game with a Western looking main character and with blood and gore. The developers at Square Enix aren't afraid to try new ideas. There is no point in making another FPS. Out task is different."

I've been feeling very burnt out on Japanese RPGs and, indeed, Japanese development as a whole lately. I hope Square Enix finds something different that works. What I don't hope is that we end up with another Drakengard.


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38 comments | showing # 1 to 38

killias2's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:24
killias2
It's weird. I used to be a huge JRPG fan, but I just can't play them anymore. It's like something is broken in my head or something....
BlackFreefall's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:26
BlackFreefall
And fans certainly doesn't want FPS from Square Enix. (Dirge of Cerberus remember?)
Syn's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:26
Syn
Good, that's what I like to hear S-E. I'm tired of FPS's. They only really appeal to the basest of our instincts and aren't intellectually stimulating at all.
pascuz46's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:29
pascuz46
Maybe they'll invent a new genre, first person RPG...oh wait.
Midgetsnowman's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:33
Midgetsnowman
Maybe they'll invent a first person rpg that doesn't suck like Oblivion and fallout did?
RS1V's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:34
RS1V
Hey hey now, the first Drakengard was kind of cool. I guess the gameplay got a little repetitive but if you played through all the endings (or at least most of them) the overall experience was delightfuly disturbing.

Now as for Driving Emotion Type S or the Bouncer...
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:35
Chronic Logic
So basically what Squeenix is saying is that they're just going to make more JRPGs. I guess we don't have enuff ragtag bunch of misfits trying to save the world.
bluexy's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:35
bluexy
Square-Enix wants western fans, but are unwilling to make any substantial changes to their games to do it. You want western fans, you're going to have to appeal to their sensibilities.

They don't have to make games with, "western characters," but the least they can do is try to make them less than 100% Japanese. That would be a good start. I mean, for christ's sake wear a normal shirt and a pair of jeans.
grasslunatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:38
grasslunatic
Please Square-Enix get on with FF13 and Versus 13 already.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:42
Dan CiTi
Make a Gears of War type game starring Barret.
PrinnyMedic's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:42
PrinnyMedic
I hope they stay JRPG cause the last few games came out with a western audience in mind a they sucked cock

Don't fix what ain't broken
dip's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:44
dip
It might help if you release stuff on the console I own.
SuitcoatAvenger's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:51
SuitcoatAvenger
The only way this is going to work is if Squenix is willing to step out of its comfort zone.

That's means no more buckles, son.
Narishma's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:53
Narishma
Perhaps they would sell more JRPGs in Japan if they release them on a console that Japanese gamers actually buy? Just an idea.
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:54
brainderailment
Make something cool, not something full of teen angst and androgyny.
Pacopaco's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:55
Pacopaco
@PrinnyMedic
Some might argue that most of the JRPGs they've been putting out for the past 7-8 years have already been broken--or at least cookie-cutter cliched. Agreed that their attempts at Western audiences tend to fail on multiple levels, though. Could be a connection between the two...
Black Nexus's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:58
Black Nexus
Western expansion worked capcom but for some reason it doesn't seem to be working to well for square, I think the problem is thier games are so steeped in japanese culture to begin with its just how there seen, nobody considers them "western" to begin with and there getting ignored.Capcom had its roots with already set up with street fighter but as of right now square really doesn't have anything with that same effect, and trying to add western appeal to their current games ( star ocean TLH I'm looking at you) doesn't seem to work.

Ignoring the PS3 isn't helping either ( yes PS3 owners exist in america ,Some of us saw this recession coming )as their ignoring a potential peice of the market ( And this is really hurting them in japan, I never dreamed the day a star ocean game would fall off the top 15 in a week).

I'm sorry for some reason our mainstream( western ) audience requires blood and gore, and fps's, and fighting( our culture has become alot more violence oriented these days) and trying to capture that market without those things is like fishing without a hook and bait, don't expect much.
Vigor's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 14:59
Vigor
How about you release some games for the PS3 on the west,fucking idiots. Releasing Star Ocean strictly for the 360 is fucking retarted,probably why they are complaining about sales.
Midgetsnowman's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:01
Midgetsnowman
@Narishma

Tell that to the people who put out a jrpg with all the trimmings and cliches (albeit in a slightly realistic setting of a war), on said console.

what do you get? Valkyria chronicles. a game that sold like shit even in japan.
Luke Barnard's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:10
Luke Barnard
if square enix just took a way the random battles and turn based attacks but kept the jrpg atmosphere i think they may get a few more western fans. i personally dont mind the random battles, but turn based fighting fucking sucks.
Logo's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:10
Logo
I know what would get the western audiences! Another Einhander. Shut up all of you don't shatter my plans. SE needs to remake/make another Einhander.
kefkaesque's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:17
kefkaesque
Is that picture supposed to be of a new SE game or is it just random?

Either way I hope that SE continues producing their JRPG games even if they do get a big main stream fan base.
tgammet's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:37
tgammet
Drakengard was fun and crazy :|
Josh Tolentino's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:41
Josh Tolentino
@midgetsnowman

That's not really fair. VC exists in a niche genre (strategy RPGs) that even the most popular and well known titles can't match the sales of a high-profile JRPG.

It certainly did well enough to warrant DLC, extensive mechandise and an anime adaptation.

According to VGChartz (not the most reliable source to boot), VC global sales for the first 10 weeks managed about 310k+ sales. Compare that to the 10-week sales of Disgaea 3, a sequel in one of the most well-known SRPG brands, managed only 210k+ sales.

Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn's first 10 weeks managed 410k+ and FF Tactics: War of the Lions managed 610k+, but Fire Emblem is one of the longest-running franchises in SRPG history, and FF Tactics a fucking FINAL FANTASY game.

And yet none of those match the sales of a "core" title. New IP + Niche Genre = Soft Sales. VC did better in Japan because of the pub/dev connection to Sakura Taisen and the marketing blitz, but had none of that in the US, resulting in even softer sales.
jp007's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:53
jp007
Midgetsnowman:

"Maybe they'll invent a first person rpg that doesn't suck like Oblivion and fallout did?"

Wow, what is wrong with you?
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:58
Jim Sterling
"Is that picture supposed to be of a new SE game or is it just random?"

It's artwork from The Last Remnant.
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 15:59
Kyousuke Nanbu
@Nexus

That's a pretty ignorant statement, I'd say quality has more to do with sales problems, plenty of things that aren't blood and gore FPS do sell.

And personally, I can't play a traditional JRPG anymore, I think that's the problem here, everything Square dishes out at this point is the same stale crap we've been playing for years, I don't like it anymore, the JRPG's I've been enjoying recently are things that are outside of the norm like Shadow Hearts or the Persona games, hell anything Atlus publishes really, I mean I can relate more to someone who likes things like knitting and such but got made fun of so he became a tough guy than I can to some whiny git with a giant sword.

Games like Star Ocean The Last Hope in today's day and age are inexcusable, that game uses every cliche in the book along with character designs that will only appeal to the Otaku freaks, I don't mind anime but I have serious trouble with a 15 year old that acts like a toddler and a cat girl that looks like she just hit puberty.

If square really wants a piece of the western market they need to go beyond their big book of cliches and trying something fresh and unique.
Necro BABS's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 16:02
Necro BABS
Instead of Girly boys how about butch Men? Big hairy dudes with rollie fingers like mustaches?

Yes even the girls will have the handlebars...
jp007's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 16:08
jp007
I think all their new games should star Barret. Or at least talk like him.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 16:20
EternalDeathSlayer
Their games suck now. Every game is the same as the last one. After The Last Remnant and Infinite Undiscovery, I've lost all hope.

Those two games didn't do anything that appealed to western gamers. They are the same as every other JRPG.
kefkaesque's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 16:37
kefkaesque
It's from The Last Remnant?

Damn I thought it looked kinda cool >.>
Black Nexus's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 16:41
Black Nexus
@ koyouske
Okay I looked over the top ten charts again for the last six months and well your right I totally ignored Wii play and Wii fit so your right,however everything else that made those lists ( and I'm assuming that square wants their games in the top ten) were violent in one way or another so I don't think what I said was ignorant, thats just the way it is ( though I hope that changes).

As for the quality of Star Ocean TLH I've only played a little of the game at a friends house ( about an hour) and i'll admit I hit a few hiccups and had the 360 crash on me ( though I don't know if that was the game or the 360). Because I've played so little I won't comment on quality but from where I stand this game was just never given the chance to begin with.Nobody was interested for some reason even though there were ads EVERYWHERE ( I could'nt turn and spit without seeing one ) and it was as if the game never existed.
Woland's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 16:55
Woland
JRPG characters never look anything BUT Western. What, SE thinks they look Japanese? When hair isn't hit-by-a-bucket-of-paint color, it's usually blond or dark brown. Skin color? Caucasian, almost without exception. The problem isn't that the main characters don't look western enough. The problem is that JRPG males look like preteen girls with a severe belt infection.
F Whipple's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 16:59
F Whipple
EHRGEIZ 2!!!!!!
Kyousuke Nanbu's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 17:46
Kyousuke Nanbu
That's the top 10 nexus, look at all of them, there's more stuff there.

And EDS, Infinite was made by tri-ace, Square published it.
The White Light's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/20/2009 19:05
The White Light
This is stupid. They're oversimplifying "western development" when they really should be looking past the surfacey elements that have made western games so much more popular in this generation of consoles.

Here's three pieces of quick advice:
1. Don't make all of your characters shitty anime rip-offs. Most anime characters suck a fuck anyway, and we really don't need to see shitty versions of them.

2. Same as number 1, but replace "characters" with "stories."

3. For the love of god, if you're going to make a traditional JRPG, do something different. I mean REALLY different. Hell, make it in first-person. It doens't need to be an FPS and it doesn't even need first person combat, but do something that will make it actually immersive or unique.
Midgetsnowman's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/21/2009 10:24
Midgetsnowman
@jp007,

Its simple. I thought Oblivion was pretty horrible seeing as levels didnt matter at all without pc mods and I dont exactly find open worlds where next to zero of your decisions actually affect the games outcome all that enthralling.

As for Fallout 3, not only was it the same design as Oblivion, fallout 1/2 are some of my favorite rpgs ever.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar - Comment posted on 03/22/2009 07:30
Jetsetlemming
Lol Dirge of Cerberus.
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