Square Enix Takes $150m Loss

[Excalibur-king]

The only thing Square can do right now is make an HD collection of PS2 games like FFX,FFX-2 and FFX12 with 1080p graphics and Trophies, and since i already know all games by hand that would only mean easy Trophies for me

[tarvis]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

Considering Final Fantasy XIII originally had pictures of an airship, towns, a world map, and by S-E's own words(paraphrased) "Cut out more material than is contained in most games", there is little evidence to support your claim that the game wouldn't have been different had it been exclusive.

The game was in development for four years. Those were general development decisions. Whether or not they were the right ones has nothing to do with the Xbox as a whole.

[MOONPHASE]

Originally Posted by tarvis

That kind of mentality would only serve to hurt Square Enix more. Final Fantasy XIII would not have been a different game had it continued to be exclusive to a platform. If someone did not buy Final Fantasy XIII as it is, I fail to see what exclusivity would have done to change their mind.

Edit - For that matter, Final Fantasy XIV is first released on the PC. The most capable platform of the bunch. Look how that turned out.

FFXIII was a PS3 exclusive in Japan until today. But for almost a year now, it was on Xbox 360 and PS3 for only Americans and Europeans.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Excalibur-king

The only thing Square can do right now is make an HD collection of PS2 games like FFX,FFX-2 and FFX12 with 1080p graphics and Trophies, and since i already know all games by hand that would only mean easy Trophies for me

As Max said, far more likely they will start porting these games to the 3DS than abandon their anti-PS3 stance.

[tarvis]

Originally Posted by MOONPHASE

FFXIII was a PS3 exclusive in Japan until today. But for almost a year now, it was on Xbox 360 and PS3 for only Americans and Europeans.

Sure. If the Xbox had a higher attach rate in Japan I'd imagine they would have done a simultaneous release there, as well. The only issue I have with the Xbox port is that it is a port. It's a sub par product which is not fair to Xbox owners. Not unlike Bayonetta on PS3.

[Excalibur-king]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

As Max said, far more likely they will start porting these games to the 3DS than abandon their anti-PS3 stance.

No way man 3ds can't handle this kind of graphics.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by FinalEvangelion

Same graphics for FF6 and FF7 then?

Final Fantasy IX was the last game from them that I truly enjoyed. After that, it was all about removing features from the games.

3DS is PS2 level graphics, but on a smaller screen so better IQ. Definitely better than PS1 levels.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by Excalibur-king

No way man 3ds can't handle this kind of graphics.

Smaller screen. Doesn't have to have the same level of graphics.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by tarvis

The game was in development for four years. Those were general development decisions. Whether or not they were the right ones has nothing to do with the Xbox as a whole.

Yeah. That's why ALL of that was dropped shortly after the announcement of a 360 port.

I completely and wholly believe S-E when they say the 360 had nothing to do with any of it.

[KamiAmaya]

Originally Posted by saprano

Does anyone even care about square anymore? I don't.

Not me either. It's kinda sad.
Starting with the PS1 I used to buy everything they put out. It all went downhill for me during the PS2 era, around FFX-2. I went to Atlus & Shin Megami Tensei games for my RPG needs until the PS3 (haven't found anything good for the ps3 yet ).

Originally Posted by Excalibur-king

This is what happens when you stay away from your core audience and try to reach a wider audience.
poor square this is pretty bad. I remember back in the PS2 days when everygame from Square was gold, and you knew when you were buying a Square game you were quality, but now look at this. My god how times have changed.

Yeah, I realized how bad it was after playing Front Mission Evolved recently

[tarvis]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

Yeah. That's why ALL of that was dropped shortly after the announcement of a 360 port.

I completely and wholly believe S-E when they say the 360 had nothing to do with any of it.

How do you know specifically what was dropped from the game after the decision was made to release the game on the Xbox? The game, for that matter, was supposed to be a PS2 game. Are you saying that the PS2 was capable of every development decision but the Xbox is not?

[Maximus]

If you're talking about FFXIII, then the game that was conceived is very different to the game that was released 4 years later. Most of the changes happened in the last year after the 360 announcement. An announcement that took most of the development staff by surprise.

[Xerios]

Originally Posted by DonRSD

zelda > final fantasy

Truth.

Ive only completed FF1 and i loved it on PSP lol.. bought VII and XIII

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by tarvis

How do you know specifically what was dropped from the game after the decision was made to release the game on the Xbox? The game, for that matter, was supposed to be a PS2 game. Are you saying that the PS2 was capable of every development decision but the Xbox is not?

Yes, I *do* believe the PS2 would have been capable of the original envisioned game but the 360 was not. The reasons why should be obvious.

Given that ALL of these radical changes were done in the last year...do you REALLY think that they just decided to drop them all just because?

Do you really think it's pure coincidence that the game opens up at precisely 2/3rds of the way through the game, exactly where the 360 no longer has to disc swap?

I can't prove that these changes were because of the 360, but you have no shot to prove they weren't. You don't go make radical changes 3 years into a 4 year development cycle just because you suddenly feel like it.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

Yes, I *do* believe the PS2 would have been capable of the original envisioned game but the 360 was not. The reasons why should be obvious.

Given that ALL of these radical changes were done in the last year...do you REALLY think that they just decided to drop them all just because?

Do you really think it's pure coincidence that the game opens up at precisely 2/3rds of the way through the game, exactly where the 360 no longer has to disc swap?

I can't prove that these changes were because of the 360, but you have no shot to prove they weren't. You don't go make radical changes 3 years into a 4 year development cycle just because you suddenly feel like it.

Thanks for that Terjyn, that pretty much ensures that I will never play Final Fantasy XIII.

[Septimus Prime]

Originally Posted by saprano

Does anyone even care about square anymore? I don't.

I do, but that's because I have friends working there.

I don't care about their games, though, sadly.

[hellmonkey]

I miss the old days of Square. Their last chance of keeping me as a customer is 13vs. If that game blows even half as bad as 13 did, then I am done. ff13 was more of an adventure hack n slash than an RPG.

Im always holding out for a remastered ff7 or maybe a ff10.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by hellmonkey

I miss the old days of Square. Their last chance of keeping me as a customer is 13vs. If that game blows even half as bad as 13 did, then I am done. ff13 was more of an adventure hack n slash than an RPG.

Im always holding out for a remastered ff7 or maybe a ff10.

I always thought FFX looked awesome for a PS2 game, think it's a bit early to consider remastering, would've liked it if they had figured out a way for all the characters lips to match what they were saying better.

[Icemage]

The only Square-Enix properties I honestly care about any more are Kingdom Hearts, and to a lesser extent Dissidia. FFXIII was incredibly disappointing. FFXIV even more so.

They desperately need to re-invent themselves as a company.

[Musashi]

Originally Posted by tarvis

Sure. If the Xbox had a higher attach rate in Japan I'd imagine they would have done a simultaneous release there, as well. The only issue I have with the Xbox port is that it is a port. It's a sub par product which is not fair to Xbox owners. Not unlike Bayonetta on PS3.

With FF13, a sub par port was all that was possible technically. 13 was for 3 years built to be a dual layer blu-ray game. If you suddenly try to strip it down to 3 DVDs, it's going to lose quality.

Regarding original subject: Square Enix needs to get rid of Wada and start focusing on their strengths like they did in the '96-'04 era. I still kind of care about their games, but less today than I did in '01.