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Square To Merge With Enix

SquareAMP writes "The makers of the 'Final Fantasy' video game series will be merging with the makers of the 'Dragon Quest' series to produce an RPG powerhouse to be re-named Enix Square Co. Reuters has all the details of the planned merger, that includes the dismantling of Square's assets and absorption into Enix. For Square fanboys fearing that this may ruin their favorite RPG company, Square's current CEO Yoichi Wada will be running the combined entity."

279 comments

  1. Wow... by motardo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I never saw that one coming. Maybe we'll get some of the great Enix RPG's coming here from Japan.*

    *yeah right.

    1. Re:Wow... by Daetrin · · Score: 2
      We might, actually. It really depends on how Electronic Arts' deal with Square to handle distribution in the US gets handled. I'm suprised EA stock hasn't reacted to this news at all (down 55 cents at $67.75 at the moment) they might have just gained an whole new set of games to sell.

      I'm also interested to know how much stock Sony will end up owning in the new company. I can't find any figures for how much stock Enix and Square have, but if we assume (for no good reason) that it will be equal amounts, and there will be no stock created independantly of the input from Enix and Square, Sony will end up owning about 8.3% of the new company.

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      This Space Intentionally Left Blank
    2. Re:Wow... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Two words. Valkyrie Profile.

    3. Re:Wow... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Valkyrie Profile.

    4. Re:Wow... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I mean, come on! Valkyrie Profile and Ogre Battle people!!! At least play the games before you bash the company.

  2. Re:first... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    We're all impressed at your abilities.
    Really.

  3. WARNING GOATSE LINK! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    dont click that. sick.

    1. Re:WARNING GOATSE LINK! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      REALLY? wow, wouldnt have guessed it was a link to goatse hidden in the phrase "GOATSE!". wow, your so observant. are you a detective?

  4. and the name of the new organization is... by sczimme · · Score: 5, Funny


    Squenix.

    In other news, rumor has it that "Square's current CEO Yoichi Wada" will now be called 'Yoda' for short.

    --
    I want to drag this out as long as possible. Bring me my protractor.
    1. Re:and the name of the new organization is... by theidle · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      aww, and here was me hoping to make teh funny with that one.

    2. Re:and the name of the new organization is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      .. i wonder.. if they'll start doing some mahjong games(japanese bar style x**) and selling them in packages with kleenex.

  5. Good News by Devios · · Score: 1

    It has been a long time since we've seen a phenomenal, ground-breaking RPG. I am anxious to see what these guys can turn out.

    1. Re:Good News by LtOcelot · · Score: 1

      1. It has been a long time since we've seen a phenomenal, ground-breaking RPG.

      2. I am anxious to see what these guys can turn out.

      *cue smart-ass response*

      Agreed, but what do those sentences have to do with one another? ...

      In fairness, I haven't played games by either of them since the SNES days, so maybe they've improved. On the other hand, my tolerance for certain common console RPG stupidities has gone down as I've gotten older....

    2. Re:Good News by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There have been a few, but you probably haven't played them because you were ignorant of their existnce.

      Some of them are: Skies of Arcadia, Shenmue II, Arc the Lad Collection, Star Ocean series.

      Expand your gaming experiences.

  6. So will the next game be called.... by Audity · · Score: 5, Funny

    Final Saga or 7th Fantasy?

    1. Re:So will the next game be called.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Final Fantasy 23: The Dragon Quest

    2. Re:So will the next game be called.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      or maybe "Yoichi Wada's 115th Dream"

    3. Re:So will the next game be called.... by IsoRashi · · Score: 1

      There's not much point in posting this, but I *loved* 7th Saga. I'm surprised other people know the game, it never received the same attention that the FF series got. I may have to look up some roms and see how that translation project for the sequel turned out. God I loved that game!

      --
      This is not the greatest sig in the world, no. This is just a tribute.
  7. What next? by Castolari · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS, FIRE AND BRIMSTONE, CATS AND DOGS, LIVING TOGETHER!!!"

    I mean, wow. That's my response. Just consider that the last time member from both companies really collaborated, it resulted in Chrono Trigger.

    1. Re:What next? by proj_2501 · · Score: 1

      What exactly did Enix have to do with Chrono Trigger?

    2. Re:What next? by Space+Coyote · · Score: 5, Interesting

      What exactly did Enix have to do with Chrono Trigger?

      Quite a bit actually, according to this site.

      It even takes you through some of the names you come across in the developers' ending and lists which people came from Enix and which from Square.

      --
      ___
      Cogito cogito, ergo cogito sum.
    3. Re:What next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Huh? Everyone I know considers Chrono Trigger one of the best RPGs of all time.

    4. Re:What next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      not to mention that Chrono Trigger was one of the best games for the SNES. it's still one of my favorite ROMS to play on my computer.

      No, no, no i DO have the actual cartidge, honest <rolls eyes>. The ROM is just a backup <cough> <cough>.

    5. Re:What next? by Third+Impact · · Score: 1

      Chrono Trigger was the greatest 2D RPG of all time IMO, the second best RPG ever next to Final Fantasy 7. I believe "Chrono Break" or something is going to be the next game in the series, perhaps Enix will work on it too, or, since Squaresoft is on board for making GBA games, they could make a true sequel on Gameboy Advance... Just thinking of the possiblities makes me excited. ^_^

    6. Re:What next? by Alsee · · Score: 0, Troll

      Yes, it's true. This man has no dick.

      -

      --
      - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
    7. Re:What next? by mweber · · Score: 1

      Do moderators watch movies?

    8. Re:What next? by Grahf666 · · Score: 3, Informative

      Given that whoever wrote that website has no idea what he's talking about, I'm a bit skeptical.

      I quote:
      Chrono and Marle are from Secret of Mana

      Moreover he claims that Yasunori Mitsuda did the music for FF7 and FF8, which is entirely false.

      In my eyes, Chrono Trigger was made by Square with help from some good talent from Enix (and elsewhere perhaps? I dunno), but not exactly an even collaboration.

    9. Re:What next? by be-fan · · Score: 2

      Chrono Trigger was the coolest game ever. I hope we see more stuff like that as a result of this merger. I might just have to get into gaming again...

      --
      A deep unwavering belief is a sure sign you're missing something...
    10. Re:What next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They probably meant that the two main charcters were total copies of two of the main characters from Secret of Mana. It's pretty fair to compare them, actually.

    11. Re:What next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, you're an idiot. Japanese-style RPGs suck major cock. They shouldn't even be called role-playing games.

    12. Re:What next? by colmore · · Score: 2

      Chrono Trigger is by far and away the best RPG that square ever put out, and I'll say even further the best RPG in the linear, console style (as opposed to say Ultima, which has far more exploring but a less driven story) Why, you ask? 1- the story made sense. I can't emphasize this enough. The game threw no curve balls. There were no 11th hour magical items, supernatural dieties, or sudden revelations required to make the plot make sense. By about 10 hours into the game, the major story device (time travel), the major enemy (lavos), and most of the main characters had all been revealed. The framework was set, and while the plot was gripping and surprising, the game never "broke character." Compare this to the senseless twists and turns of FF7 and FF8 and the slow descent into incomprehensible philosophizing in FF10. 2- small cast of well-developed characters. Chrono Cross was such a dissapointment. Great battle system, yes. Best Graphics on PSX, yes. Shitty, shitty RPG. What I would really like to see is a game that mixes the event map system of chrono trigger (walk around environments, see enemies walking around, fight them in place, no cut to battle) with the battle system of FF Tactics or Ogre Battle (turn based, tactical combat with a strong emphasis on movement and positioning, rich class system with a LOT of customization potential) with a more exploration based design similar to metriod or castlevania, yet without losing the epic story arc. an easy design to pull off? probably not. but there seems to be some talent behind this new entity. oh and 3 - The Kingdom of Zeal was just plain friggin' cool. best reinterperetation of the Fall of Rome/Dark Ages theme I've ever seen. Schala Lives! opinionated nerdy fanboy signing off.

      --
      In Capitalist America, bank robs you!
    13. Re:What next? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      That guys on crack though, Uematsu made all the music for 7,8 & 9 to. Not Mitsuda as he said.

      -Carlo

  8. And the information for this is where? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    " Reuters has all the details of the planned merger, that includes the dismantling of Square's assets and absorption into Enix."

    no links, no news, nowhere..can someone provide me the details?

    1. Re:And the information for this is where? by generic-man · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I searched Google, and I found a news story about the merger. Please read it.

      --
      For more information, click here.
    2. Re:And the information for this is where? by Mikeytsi · · Score: 1

      Here, I'll take the opportunity to shill for a website my buddy's an editor for, and see if /. can bring the hosting company to it's knees.

      Planet GameCube news

      --
      I've been called a "Fucking Dick" by better people than you.
  9. Hopefully by Rik+Sweeney · · Score: 5, Funny

    Square and Enix will skip the next 18 Final Fantasy games and give us the one we're all waiting for:

    Final Fantasy XXX

    1. Re:Hopefully by jwriney · · Score: 1

      Featuring Vin Diesel as the androgynous, pointy-haired, sword wielding hero.

      (shudder)

    2. Re:Hopefully by killmenow · · Score: 1

      No, no...featuring Jenna Jameson as the bisexual, pointy-nippled, dildo wielding heroine.

    3. Re:Hopefully by seann · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      slightly off topic, but I have Final Fantasy XXX
      Well, they call it "Final Fuck X"
      and its japanese girls dressed up as the characters..etc..
      such a horrible movie.

      --
      I'm a big retard who forgot to log out of Slashdot on Mike's computer! LOOK AT ME.
    4. Re:Hopefully by kacp · · Score: 1

      Great, here come the hot tifa on aeris on yuna on cait sith posts...

      --
      To write a haiku - all you need is the correct - number of syli...
    5. Re:Hopefully by RCVinson · · Score: 1

      You keep your Vin Diesel out of my game series, man.

    6. Re:Hopefully by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      more offtopic but...
      I bought final fuck x for the subtitiles

    7. Re:Hopefully by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Ass to ass! Ass to ass!"

    8. Re:Hopefully by gm-7 · · Score: 1

      Isn't that FF LXIX ?

      --
      Sig (appended to the end of comments you post, 120 chars)
  10. Sony? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Will Sony still own part of the combined company, or will it be independent?

  11. Awesome by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I've always liked the DQ series moreso than the FF series.

  12. w00t! by shoptroll · · Score: 1

    w00t! Of course, the puzzliing thing i saw was that according to RPGamer.com, that this would make them more competitive with 3rd party publishers such as EA... Isn't EA the publisher of Square games in the states 0_o? Anyways, great news for both sides of the fan-boy wars... Yahoo!

    --
    Insert Sig Here
    1. Re:w00t! by Mikeytsi · · Score: 1

      EA was the publisher for the PC ports of the FF games. Not a huge relationship.

      --
      I've been called a "Fucking Dick" by better people than you.
    2. Re:w00t! by jx100 · · Score: 1

      Actually, they did console games too. I remember seenig "Square Electronic Arts" durign the intro screens to a couple games.

    3. Re:w00t! by May+Kasahara · · Score: 1

      Actually, Eidos did the port for Final Fantasy VII. I was also under the impression that Square themselves ported Final Fantasy VIII

    4. Re:w00t! by Mikeytsi · · Score: 1

      No, that meant "Square Electronic Arts". Not "Square" AND "Electronic Arts".

      --
      I've been called a "Fucking Dick" by better people than you.
  13. Did you read the article ? by sweede · · Score: 5, Informative

    Here's the story from Yahoo

    "Under the accord, 0.81 Enix share will be exchanged for one Square share, with Enix emerging as the surviving entity. "

    and

    "The postmerger entity, to be called Square Enix, "

    while you where correct in that Enix is going to absorb square assets,

    "Square, in its current company structure, will be disbanded, and (on paper, anyway) Enix will absorb Square's assets and liabilities. However, Yoichi Wada, current president of Square, will head up the new company, suggesting that Square will have more power than Enix in the merger's final structure. "

    all of this was also repeated here

    --
    I follow the SDK and GDN principles.. Spelling Dont Kount, Grammer Dont Neither
    1. Re:Did you read the article ? by ParnBR · · Score: 1

      According to The Magic Box:

      "The new chairman for Square Enix is Keiji Honda, the president and representative director of Enix; and Square's Wada Youichi will become the vice president of the company."

      I wonder which one is correct, now. Btw, the names are inconsistently written: it should be Keiji Honda and Youichi Wada or Honda Keiji and Wada Youichi (as purists usually prefer).

      --
      My neighbor's .sig is better than mine.
    2. Re:Did you read the article ? by analog_line · · Score: 5, Interesting

      This isn't uncommon. I take for example, my perennial example in such instances, the Digital/Compaq merger and the HP/Compaq merger. When Digital was bought by Compaq, there was some low key but intense infighting in which many of the former Digital management people gained the upper hand, making many at Compaq HQ that I knew when I was working as a consultant there joke that Digital bought Compaq with Compaq's money.

      As well with HP, many of those in HP were none too please about the atmosphere that was coming into HP with all the merger talk and post-merger layoffs. From everything I've seen, it sounds much more like Compaq than HP these days.

      Square took a HUGE blow after the Final Fantasy movie. They sunk millions into Square Studios and the movie just didn't make any real money (though I'm quite fond of it... one of the greatest pieces of computer animation ever in my opinion and it'll change the way that kind of thing is done). Sony had to come in and bail them out, and in doing so gained a hefty share of Square, so in actuality, Sony may have had a larger hand in this merger than anyone may have realized, seeing as they would get a much firmer hand on one of the best game development houses in Japan (even though we don't see much of it over here...Dragon Quest 7, I believe, is still the largest selling game ever in Japan). With Sony's backing of Square, I'm not surprised to see a Square executive at the top.

    3. Re:Did you read the article ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dragon Quest 7, I believe, is still the largest selling game ever in Japan

      And with good reason, it's a majorly kick-ass game with a replayability factor greator than ANY game I've EVER played!! I'm so glad my room mate gave it to me for Christmas, since I hadn't even heard of it ;)

      ~Jon~

    4. Re:Did you read the article ? by Trifthen · · Score: 1

      See, I was wondering how this could happen. Square has been constantly churning out the best RPG's in the industry while Enix was basically silent. The Final Fantasy movie notwithstanding, how in the hell does a company that only has 0.8 share points for every 1 of another, absorb that more valuable company?

      I could at least logically understand Square absorbing the essentially defunct Enix, but this?

      Insanity!

      --
      Read: Rabbit Rue - Free serial nove
    5. Re:Did you read the article ? by joshsisk · · Score: 1

      Enix outsells Square in Japan.

    6. Re:Did you read the article ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "I could at least logically understand Square absorbing the essentially defunct Enix, but this?"

      You haven't been seeing Enix's work lately: most of their stuff never comes stateside.(see also: dragon quest.)

      They are #1 in Japan. Even with their limited market, they are still doing better than Square, who lost tons on the Final Fantasy movie.

    7. Re:Did you read the article ? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If a company exchanges 0.8 shares of stock for 1 share of stock, the 0.8 share is logically worth the same as the 1 share.

      This means that 0.8 of a share of Enix is worth 1 share of Square, which means Enix stock is worth more, not less as you seem to assume.

    8. Re:Did you read the article ? by devnull17 · · Score: 1

      Dragon Quest 7, I believe, is still the largest selling game ever in Japan).

      So sad, but so true... Not to troll or anything, but did anyone actually manage to finish DQ7 without the help of medication? (The effects of stimulants such as Adderall and Ritalin on RPG playing are astonishing.) It's about 100 hours long, and by the 60th hour, I swear that I felt like I was playing the same 20-hour game for a fourth time. There are so many better games out there... it's really a shame to see them overlooked in favor of this.

  14. This sucks. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Hooray for less competition!

    Hooray for the fact that Square's influence is going to ruin Enix games. Great, can we expect 4 hours of FMV in the next Dragon Quest game?

    Man this is dissappointing.

    1. Re:This sucks. by Sylver+Dragon · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Great, can we expect 4 hours of FMV in the next Dragon Quest game?

      Not only will the next Dragon Quest game have 4 hours of FMVs, there'll be no way to skip the $@#%ing things. Am I the only one that hates sitting through a cut-sceen, getting killed shortly afterwards, before you can save, and then being forced to sit through the damn thing again? Its pretty once or twice, but after that its just annoying.
      The other thing that scares the hell out of me with this merger, is that Enix might start to put out that "steam-punk" crap. This is just my opinion, but I'm going to rant about it anyhow, so if you don't want to read it, skip a bit brother.
      (Start rant)
      What ever happened to good old swords and sorcery fantasy? No technology, no god-damn desert submersable castles (ala FF3, stateside). The only Final Fantasy title that even came close to doing this was the first one, at least the tiny bit of tech in it was truly alien to the world. (mind, I haven't seen all of the ones released in Japan) To this day FF1 is still my favorite of the series. FF2 started getting wierd, FF3 was just too much. I've watched people play 7 and 8 enough to know that I don't want to bother. The series stopped being "fantasy" somewhere in the middle of FF3, and turned more into "sci-fi" with one wierdo, usually the hero, still slinging a sword. Would somone please just shoot the idiot with the sword and be done with it? Afterall, which would you rather have, a magic sword that does shitloads of damage, or a magic mini-gat with each bullet doing shitloads of damage, and no kick. One cuts the enemy open if you can get next to them, the other turns the enemy to hamburger at 100 yards.
      (End Rant)
      Anyway, I hope that this will lead to more, high quality RPGs. And God willing, they will be more than just eye-candy. I don't care that a game has 5 million hours of FMV with a quadrillion polygons for a character's butt hair, if the game play sucks then the game sucks. Yes, those Final Fantasy magic animations are nice, but it would be nice if the story wasn't just a re-hash of the last Final Fantasy. (Town/Family killed, start self discovery, find other chacaters, more self discovery, have conflicting love interests, get close to figuring self out, discover some relationship to "Big Enemy", play through self doubt sequence, discover mentor, resolve love interest when somone makes a sacrifice, fight "Big Enemy", win for a bit, "Big Enemy" reveals "True Self", get real close to losing, defeat "Big Enemy", listen to "Big Enemy" make inspiring final speech, game end.) That's the plot of almost every FF game after the first. They go for a deep twisting plot, but its the same deep twisting plot every time, no suprises, nothing innovative, just prettier graphics, more FMV, more zeros in the hit points, and longer spell casting sequences. Could we please get a plot that is fresh? Oh well, I'm ranting again, I'll stop.

      --
      Necessity is the mother of invention.
      Laziness is the father.
    2. Re:This sucks. by JebusIsLord · · Score: 2

      A common misperception is that "fantasy" denotes a classic medieval environment with sorcery, and science fiction is futuristic in nature. This is not true. Fantasy is supposed to describe anything whimsical, while sci-fi is supposed to be based in scientific imagining. So for instance, Star Wars is in fact a fantasy, while Star Trek is sci-fi, because Star Wars makes no attempt to explain how or why certain technologies exist. This is an oversimplification I know, there are some explanations in SW, and ST isn't always terribly scientific.

      --
      Jeremy
    3. Re:This sucks. by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 2
      (Town/Family killed, start self discovery, find other chacaters, more self discovery, have conflicting love interests, get close to figuring self out, discover some relationship to "Big Enemy", play through self doubt sequence, discover mentor, resolve love interest when somone makes a sacrifice, fight "Big Enemy", win for a bit, "Big Enemy" reveals "True Self", get real close to losing, defeat "Big Enemy", listen to "Big Enemy" make inspiring final speech, game end.)


      Dear Mr. S Dragon,

      I represent the lawfirm of Felkirk, Anwyn, Kirk, and Enderson. On behalf of our client, SQUARE ENIX, we demand that you cease and desist your blatant copyright infringement by no longer publishing details of the entire plotline of "DragonFantasy 12 - The Widget of Destruction."

      Failure to do so will result in immediate legal action.

      Sincerely,
      I. M. Knotalawyer

      Felkirk, Anwyn, Kirk, and Enderson
      123 Dick Hertz,
      Anytown, USA
      90210
      --
      Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
    4. Re:This sucks. by Sylver+Dragon · · Score: 2

      Thank you, I needed that laugh.
      By the by, "Dragon Fantasy" is it just me or does that sound like a title to a new themed porn? That was one of the first titles that poped into my head when I saw the info on this merger.

      --
      Necessity is the mother of invention.
      Laziness is the father.
    5. Re:This sucks. by Hentai · · Score: 1


      Town/Family killed, start self discovery, find other chacaters, more self discovery, have conflicting love interests, get close to figuring self out, discover some relationship to "Big Enemy", play through self doubt sequence, discover mentor, resolve love interest when somone makes a sacrifice, fight "Big Enemy", win for a bit, "Big Enemy" reveals "True Self", get real close to losing, defeat "Big Enemy", listen to "Big Enemy" make inspiring final speech, game end.


      Wow. You just PRECISELY summed up the entire plot of the original Star Wars trilogy.

      --
      -Hentai [in vita non pacem est]
    6. Re:This sucks. by Daetrin · · Score: 2
      What ever happened to good old swords and sorcery fantasy? No technology, no god-damn desert submersable castles (ala FF3, stateside). The only Final Fantasy title that even came close to doing this was the first one, at least the tiny bit of tech in it was truly alien to the world. (mind, I haven't seen all of the ones released in Japan) To this day FF1 is still my favorite of the series. FF2 started getting wierd, FF3 was just too much. I've watched people play 7 and 8 enough to know that I don't want to bother. The series stopped being "fantasy" somewhere in the middle of FF3, and turned more into "sci-fi" with one wierdo, usually the hero, still slinging a sword. Would somone please just shoot the idiot with the sword and be done with it? Afterall, which would you rather have, a magic sword that does shitloads of damage, or a magic mini-gat with each bullet doing shitloads of damage, and no kick. One cuts the enemy open if you can get next to them, the other turns the enemy to hamburger at 100 yards.

      I agree, FF2 (FF4J) was the best in the series. FF3 (FF6J) was pretty good too, i was a little bothered by the increasing amount of tech, but the game and story was good enough to let it slide.

      FF7 was a good game, but it wasn't really _Final Fantasy_, FF8 wasn't the best of games, and wasn't really Final Fantasy either.

      Have you tried out FF9 though? It's crack for the old time FF fans. I only got partway through before my company went into crunch time and i ran out of time to play, but what i've got through so far has been excelent.

      Haven't seen enough of FF10 yet to form an opinion of it.

      --
      This Space Intentionally Left Blank
    7. Re:This sucks. by Guppy06 · · Score: 2

      "The only Final Fantasy title that even came close to doing this was the first one, at least the tiny bit of tech in it was truly alien to the world."

      Yeah, that explains that whole space station dungeon, complete with WarMech.

  15. Who knew . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That Enix was the bigger company? I mean, what have they released in the last two years? RPGs that don't begin to match Square's various offerings (not to mention their movie).

    1. Re:Who knew . . . by joshsisk · · Score: 1

      (not to mention their movie)

      Their movie is the reason for this merger, I'm sure - they lost tens of millions, if not more, on that ill-concieved venture.

    2. Re:Who knew . . . by Dreddamo · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Just because they're not as big here as Square doesn't mean they're smaller. Star Ocean series Valkyrie Profile (different) Dragon Warrior Series (up to 7, development of #8 is a mystery?) - this series is rumoured to be so powerful in Japan that when a new one is released, it is required by law to be on the weekend - simply because so many people would skip work if it came out during the week. That influence enough for you? Admittedly their recent lineup has been sagging. Maybe this will be a long-awaited revitalization...I'm hoping it'll inject something new and cool to the Final Fantasies...FF6 was the best, it only went downhill from there :) I mean...it can't be any worse than collaborating with *gasp* Disney!

    3. Re:Who knew . . . by nburtner · · Score: 2, Interesting

      From what I've read and heard, the Dragon Quest games (well, DQ7, at least) were better sellers then the Final Fantasy games. Most of the FF games just got more hype in the US (...Final Fantasy VII, anyone? I'm sure we all remember the commercials).

      Of course, that's not to say that both houses aren't good in their own separate ways. Square is, undeniably, the king of FMV goodness (even if they did overdo it a little in recent games), and Enix is just a danged good RPG maker...and besides, remember the last Square/Enix joint venture? Chrono Trigger? That's been touted as one of the BEST RPGs for the Super Nintendo, and many say that it's one of the best ever.

      Of course, I personally prefer FF6, but that's just me.

  16. Re:REAL DEAL Linux Review by sweede · · Score: 1

    And this has to do with SquareEnix How ?

    --
    I follow the SDK and GDN principles.. Spelling Dont Kount, Grammer Dont Neither
  17. RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by in_ur_face · · Score: 2, Interesting

    What ever happend to Dragon Warrior? I loved that game back in the day of NES!

    It would be nice to see a good revival of that series, I can only hope :)

    1. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dargon Warrior 7 came out for PS1 awhile ago.
      It as fun

    2. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by h0mer · · Score: 0

      Come back? When did it leave? Dragon Warrior 7 was released a little while ago for PSX. Unfortunately, the SNES DW games never made it here. I think there are translated roms floating about though.

      --


      I'm on top of my game like I'm standin' on Xbox.
    3. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by qbproger · · Score: 0

      Not sure if you're aware of this, but there was a Dragon Warrior 7 that was released for the playstation. It's still being sold at the Toys R Us near me.

      --

      - Joe
    4. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dragon Warrior VII was released for the Playstation (in North America) not too long ago.

    5. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by Tom7 · · Score: 1

      They've been making Dragon Warrior games since forever, and still do. Just search some web store for it...

    6. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by jbagley · · Score: 1

      As others have mentioned, Dragoin Warrior (Dragon Quest in Japan) games are still being made. In fact, Dragon Quest VII is the best-selling Playstation game ever in Japan. The game is *huge* - easily taking 100-150 hours to complete.

    7. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by ktulu1115 · · Score: 1

      A slime draws near...

      Yeah... I thought the DW series was the *best* RPG series for the NES. I fondly recall countless hours of playing DW4, among others.

      I wish they had released more of them into the US... although I'm a bit eager to try DW7, a bit difficult without a PSX.

      --
      # fuser -v /dev/attention | grep work
      #
    8. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by in_ur_face · · Score: 1

      wow i was unaware of DW7.. i skipped a ps1 and went directly to ps2.

      maybe we'll get an updated DW on PS2, I would like to see the old concepts and history of DW revamped

    9. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by in_ur_face · · Score: 1

      nice! i just checked this out. site kinda sucks but it brings back the DW memories (blue slime).

      I'll have to get this for my PS2!!!

      thanks

    10. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by Genyin · · Score: 1

      If you have a fairly recent Windows PC, you can play DW7 using epsxe (I did so)... There is also a linux port of said emulator which works fine, but last I checked there weren't any decent sound plugins.

    11. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by matthewr84 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, unfortunately 80-130 of those hours are farming random encounters to learn a few abilities. :P I found DWVII to be a big disappointment, especially after all the fond memories I had of DWIV.

    12. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I hope they make new ones, too, but in the mean time, I'll just play the old four Dragon Warriors at consoleclassix.com :)

    13. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by billx78 · · Score: 1

      Enix released Dragon Quest I-IV for the NES in Japan and the US, but would not release the DQ games for the SNES in North America. I'm assuming there is a reason, but a cursory search of Google has not been able to turn anything up. However, some dedicated individuals have translated DQ V completely and made some progress on DQ VI:
      DeJap Translations

    14. Re:RPGs - Dragon Warrior come back! by Decimal · · Score: 3, Interesting

      What ever happend to Dragon Warrior? I loved that game back in the day of NES!

      The original was re-released for the GBC, with this weird "personality test" at the beginning, and without all the cool medival speak. No more "thou"s and "hath"s, which is a real shame.

      In Japan, the Dragon Warrior (aka Dragon Quest) series kept going while the U.S. (What about Europe? Australia?) audience was cut out of the loop. Japan also got a DW1 & 2 combo cart with improved graphics for the SNES.

      --

      Remember "Bring 'em on"? *sigh
  18. Hey! by krinsh · · Score: 2

    I resemble that. I'm Square, but not a fanboy.

    --
    I think with the interesting people, their lives can't possibly be wrapped up into a nice little package.
  19. Stick to games, gang! by curtisk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    >>Square, which lost 16.6 billion yen after an unsuccessful foray into movie-making last year
    Man, that sucks that that was such a big risk for Square. To this day I'm still surprised at just how crappy the Spirits Withins' script was, I mean it was surprising, I think they simply got caught up in the visuals, and were "oohhhhh" and "ahhhhhhhh"-ing themselves......
    Both companies have made great games in the past so to have them combine could be a very good thing. I just would have never thought "SQUARE" to have to merge with anyone

    --

    Sehr geehrter Toilettenbenutzer!

    1. Re:Stick to games, gang! by MisterFancypants · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Man, that sucks that that was such a big risk for Square. To this day I'm still surprised at just how crappy the Spirits Withins' script was, I mean it was surprising, I think they simply got caught up in the visuals, and were "oohhhhh" and "ahhhhhhhh"-ing themselves......

      If Spirits Within were a GAME, even with the same plot, it would probably be considered the most amazing RPG ever, story-wise (oooh!! sweeping epic!).

      Which is not to say I thought the plot was good for a movie.. it isn't. All I'm saying is games and movies are very different at a core level as far as what story-telling techniques can and should be used, and Square ignored that difference at their own peril.

    2. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My god, that movie sucked. I want two hours of my life back.

      But what a great game it would make! I'd love to spend 40+ hours incrementing numbers to drive the story along!

    3. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Third+Impact · · Score: 1

      I didn't think The Spirits Within was too bad, though it was pretty dissapointing. I'm suprised it lost so much, I went to see it right after release. Regardless of what critics said, it seems like other FF fans would do the same. Watch Resident Evil if you want to see just how bad a game-to-movie translation can be.

    4. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Tom7 · · Score: 1

      Well, the Spirits Within script wasn't any worse than, say, their video games... but they are not used to storytelling in "only" an hour and a half and without someone at the joystick!

    5. Re:Stick to games, gang! by macshit · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Which is not to say I thought the plot was good for a movie.. it isn't. All I'm saying is games and movies are very different at a core level as far as what story-telling techniques can and should be used, and Square ignored that difference at their own peril.

      I think it's also the case that standards are simply lower for game (RPG) plots. You often don't notice as much, because the interactivity sort of grabs you and sweeps you along, but really, if you think about them afterwards, the plots are usually very simplistic and overly melodramatic, and the characters crudely drawn (in the story-telling sense, not the art!).

      [But -- silly me -- I still seem to play them anyway... :-]

      --
      We live, as we dream -- alone....
    6. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Shamashmuddamiq · · Score: 1, Insightful
      Actually, the problem that's haunted the Square movies and games is the stories themselves. Final Fantasy VIII is the only one that has a story that the western hemisphere can easily relate to. The rest have a lot of the "life of the planet" Japanese mysticism that just sounds really stupid to the average American. Of course, to the Japanese, a lot of the more "honorable" American pursuits just seem stupid.

      It's a clash of cultures. The poor success of the movie, I think, was due to the fact that they were trying to entertain two vastly different cultures with one story that ended up being somewhat unrenderable in both cultures. If you know both cultures well you can understand and appreciate what they were trying to do. But it just didn't work.

      The games, on the other hand, have been quite successful simply because they're fun to play. You can hate the story and still enjoy the game.

      --
      ...just my 2 gil.
    7. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Nidoizo · · Score: 1

      "If Spirits Within were a GAME, even with the same plot, it would probably be considered the most amazing RPG ever, story-wise (oooh!! sweeping epic!)."

      The story was still much poorer than usual FF stories. FF plots usually have more depth and left the player with some mysteries (unless you do everything). The movie plot was too clear and too simple. I guess FF creators were not used to make stories that last only 2 hours...

    8. Re:Stick to games, gang! by BeneathTheVeil · · Score: 1

      Of course, there are always exceptions. Witness Square's own Xenogears. That game had such a deep and enthralling plot, that it would certainly make an excellent movie.

      Of course, it would likely be a 20 hour movie, with lots of excess dialog cut out... but a good movie nonetheless. I would certainly watch it!

    9. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Dodger_ · · Score: 1

      Resident Evil the movie rocks, it's the game(Gamecube version included) that sucked.

      *zips up Varia suit*

      --
      Dodger_
    10. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Cryptnotic · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Yes, the plot elements, "collect the seven spirits; foil the evil villain; find love," are all basic components of the Final Fantasy games. The comparison with the later games 7, 8, 9, and 10 is especially true.

      The story of FF:TSW is somewhat important in the Final Fantasy universe since it shows how the FF world was created, why there are strange creatures walking around, and how there is a mix of magic, technology, and traditional weapons.

      It's still not a great movie. They should have made it a game and called it Final Fantasy Zero. Oh well.

      --
      My other first post is car post.
    11. Re:Stick to games, gang! by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 2

      True, but not always.

      Games with good plots:

      Final Fantasy VI
      Baldur's Gate series
      Dragon Warrior IV
      Ultima IV (and the whole series in general is pretty good)
      Final Fantasy Tactics (borderline good)
      Fallout 2 (Never played the first one, heard it was good)

      And, of course, the best plot in any game *ever*...

      Planescape: Torment

      Unfortunately, games are a different storytelling environment and inevitably it degrades into "collect seven stars of wonder and defeat the hooded foozle" - the trick is to have that and a good plot. There are more I haven't mentioned - this is just off the top of my head.

      It's basically just like movies and books - some are awesome (Torment == LOTR), some are good (Fallout 2 == Neuromancer), and some are just bad (Some shitty cookie cutter star wars book == the latest final fantasy cookie cutter game -> fun to play/read but hardly groundbreaking)

      (Note: My comments are my own - opinions about games are simply that - opinions, so don't flame me cuz I dissed Star Wars or Final Fantasy)

      --
      Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
    12. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Glytch · · Score: 2

      I always thought Xenogears would make a rather good book in the hands of the right author.

    13. Re:Stick to games, gang! by CashCarSTAR · · Score: 1

      Reply to most of the various Movie comments:

      FF:TSW IMO is one of the best science-fiction movies to come out over the last few years. The story itself and the characters kinda sucked. However, I for one can see the raw pleasure in a well detailed, plausible idea of some sort of alternative future. I'm the type of person who finds the Star Wars/Star Trek psudo-science intreguing. The movement of the ships, the look of the computer screens, the way the guns worked through wave dispersal (for every sound there's an equal and opposite sound that will null it out), the look of the cities. It was wonderfully imaginative. So what if the story could have been better. It was a romp through a wonderfully interesting sci-fi setting.

      The FF:TSW story was sort of the FFVII story set on our world. FFXI also featured a similar story but slightly different.

      The Final Fantasy games are not a series. It's more like a thematic style that these games have in common. It's about armageddon. The final battle between good and evil for each of the individual worls. FFX2 is going to be the first TRUE sequal in the series. (That's why the 2!)

      Square and Enix are both unfairly maligned IMO. Square in particular does go overboard on the FMV, but there is a ton of gameplay in the games. Tons of secret bosses, hidden powers, character customization. The games are great FRPGs. Same with Enix. Frankly, I'm hoping that Enix gets turned around a bit and does more of their supurb Zelda-esque adventures. (Illusion of Gaia, SoulBlazer, Terrinagma)..or even better...a TRUE ActRaiser sequal..yummm...

    14. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Dave_bsr · · Score: 2

      did you really mean FF VI?

      Fallout 1 and 2 both rock, yes.

      --


      Who is this Anonymous Coward character, how does he post so much, and why is he always such a whore?
    15. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Guppy06 · · Score: 2

      "I think they simply got caught up in the visuals, and were "oohhhhh" and "ahhhhhhhh"-ing themselves......"

      They've been doing that to themselves since FF VII. It looked like they were coming out of it when IX came out, but X demonstrated that IX was one last "hurrah" for FF as a game. Which really makes me wonder what the heck they expect to do with an MMORPG. How do you work hours and hours of FMV into an MMORPG?

      The day I realized that there would never be any more Final Fantasy games like IX again is the day I put my PlayStation 2 up for auction on eBay.

    16. Re:Stick to games, gang! by Genom · · Score: 2

      Actually, Xenogears is (IIRC) part 6 of a much longer storyline. Xenosaga (already out in Japan, coming to the US sometime early next year) is going to be part 1. (but not produced by Square - which makes me wonder if they will "remake" Xenogears in a few years when they get that far...)

      I do agree though - Xenogears in a more cinematic format would definitely be cool - although I almost think there's too much content for one movie...

    17. Re:Stick to games, gang! by devnull17 · · Score: 1

      I'm still surprised at just how crappy the Spirits Withins' script was

      That's what happens when you let a Japanese game developer-turned-suit have complete control over something he has no experience in. Video games != movies. At all. In any way. It's the most saddening waste in sci-fi history since George Lucas decided that he should write his own scripts.

    18. Re:Stick to games, gang! by IIRCAFAIKIANAL · · Score: 2

      Yep, I found it quite interesting - yeah, it has all the staple elements of any Final Fantasy game, but that one also had some interesting twists and turns. I would give the story a 7/10.

      I forgot Chrono Trigger too - i'd give that one about the same.

      These games stories could have been a lot better, but they lost a lot in the translation. FFV on the playstation had that problem too - the free translation on the Internet was actually better.

      --
      Robots are everywhere, and they eat old people's medicine for fuel.
    19. Re:Stick to games, gang! by pympdaddyc · · Score: 1

      Er... "Spirits within" was little more than a watered down final fantasy 7 mythos with a very lame primary antagonist. In short, its story is about as dribbly and unengaging as ff8's. If you think -that's- a good plotline, I might have some EA Sports games to suggest to you (like "Yet more unrealistic hockey '05 EXTREME!!1"

  20. Square by Ryan.Merrill · · Score: 1

    "For Square fanboys fearing that this may ruin their favorite RPG company" I thought all fanboys were square?

    1. Re:Square by SlamMan · · Score: 3, Funny

      naw. Usually they're just really round.

      --
      Mod point free since 2001
  21. Chrono Trigger by tedrlord · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Didn't the two companies work together on Chrono Trigger? Perhaps we'll see more RPGs along those lines now.

    Personally, I just hope the people from the Enix side explain to the people from the Square side that role playing games should actually include some interactive elements rather than being a ten hour cut scene. I miss the days of old school RPGs where you actually had a chance to play.

    Brendan

    --
    [insert witty quote here]
    1. Re:Chrono Trigger by ph0rk · · Score: 1

      suikoden
      suikoden
      suikoden
      suikoden
      suikoden

      (www.konami.com)

      --
      semantics are everything!
  22. wow by tps12 · · Score: 5, Funny

    What'll that be, some sort of dodecahedron? How many sides in an enix again?

    --

    Karma: Good (despite my invention of the Karma: sig)
    1. Re:wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No matter how many sides an Enix used to have it will now have 4 since it will be a "Square Enix"

  23. Square fanboys worried? by molog · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What about us Enix fanboys? I know I'm terrified that now my favorite RPG company will be ruined. I'm not the greatest fan of the FF series. I really did enjoy the Dragon Warrior (Dragon Quest) series though.

    --
    So Linus, what are we going to do tonight?
    The same thing we do every night Tux. Try to take over the world!
    1. Re:Square fanboys worried? by AlexMax2742 · · Score: 1

      "For Square fanboys fearing that this may ruin their favorite RPG company," What about Enix fanboys fearing that this may ruin their favorite RPG company? There is a flip side to this coin, you know. I hope I'm not the only one who enjoyed Illusion of Gaia. (SNES)

      --
      I'm the guy with the unpopular opinion
    2. Re:Square fanboys worried? by Dalroth · · Score: 3, Insightful

      No kidding. Square did Einhander. Now that was a great game, but the Final Fantasy series is like a broken record (and a bad one at that). All pretty graphics, no gameplay.

      Hell, the last Final Fantasy (what was it, 10 or 11? I don't even know anymore) was basically a 12 hour animated movie. In fact, the only gameplay I remember at all was that stupid sports game and one REALLY long path through the mountains where you actually got to FIGHT stuff. Too bad the combat hasn't really changed since Final Fantasy 2 and that only served to bore me further.

      I hate being a PC bigot, but man, if you want a good RPG Squaresoft isn't the company, Bioware is. I'm scared to see what Squaresoft is going to do with the Enix franchises.

    3. Re:Square fanboys worried? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Forget Illusion of Gaia... Terra Nigma! (aka Illusion of Gaia 2, which makes it Soul Blazer 3, I have no idea why they couldn't name the games in that series with the same title, not that they were really connected anyways)

      Pity it was never released in North America though. However, there still are ROMs of it floating around, just make sure you find an English one and not a Portugese one (unless of course you can read Portugese)

    4. Re:Square fanboys worried? by 13Echo · · Score: 4, Informative

      Square didn't really "make" Einhander. It was done by Dream Factory, a smaller studio that had some ties with Square. They also did The Bouncer, Tobal, and "Ehrgeiz". Among other titles, they did the UFC: Tapout games for XBox.

      Same with things like Bushido Blade, a Lightweight game. Another example: Quest Software members were also contracted for other things, like the FF Tactics games.

      Square hasn't really made a whole lot of games in-house, aside from the Final Fantasy Franchise. They mostly do publication or contract other developers to make games for them.

    5. Re:Square fanboys worried? by MoneyT · · Score: 2

      I don't know what FFX you were playing, but I thought is was a great one. There were plenty of battles and I thought the level up system was a very interesting twist to the game. I also liked the new way of handling turns. In general, I thought FFX was a very good FF game (doesn't quite compare with VI or IV (IV was 2 in the US right?) But then again, I'm also one of those people that actualy enjoyed FF VIII

      --
      T Money
      World Domination with a plastic spoon since 1984
    6. Re:Square fanboys worried? by chefren · · Score: 2

      Yeah, I've got a friend with (I know, we should be taking better care of him) well over 150 hours of FFX gameplay (one game).

  24. Paranoia Alert by Saxerman · · Score: 4, Interesting
    My first thought at any news into the video game industry is, "What does this have to do with Microsoft?" I've been attempting to advise my friends against buying DOA3 machines, pointing at recent gaming acquisition by Microsoft. I ask them, "How many game companies will Microsoft have to buy before you realize the problem in supporting them?" They just think I'm a Paranoid Linux Zealot. They're probably right.

    However, I know Microsoft was talking to both Enix and Square about bringing games over to the Xbox. I also know that Sony owns a big chunk of Square. Is Sony circling the wagons to protect their assets from falling into the hands of the enemy? Do the big gaming companies have anything to do with this merger?

    --

    A steaming cup of soykaf would be real wiz right now.

    1. Re:Paranoia Alert by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Enix or Square supporting X-Box? (looks out the window) Nope, no pigs...

    2. Re:Paranoia Alert by May+Kasahara · · Score: 1
      I can see Sony circling the wagons. However, you never know what will happen. Remember when the news broke that Microsoft had bought Rare? Shocking news, that was...

      But then again, that was a different case. Obviously Nintendo and Rare weren't seeing eye to eye on certain issues, which led to the sale. I really don't see that happening with Square/Enix and Sony.

    3. Re:Paranoia Alert by Guppy06 · · Score: 2

      "My first thought at any news into the video game industry is, "What does this have to do with Microsoft?""

      Of course, that's the question most Slashdotters ask themselves whenever they see a new article on here...

  25. woah! why? by smd4985 · · Score: 1

    this news really surprises me. generally, i'd call it a bad thing. enix and square were the two RPG superhouses, and less players means less competition. i'm just confused about why it happened - was enix having monetary issues? their last dragon quest RPG sold like mad in japan, from what i remember.

    --
    smd4985
  26. Enix ruin Square? BAH! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What kind of idiot would think Enix absorbing Square would ruin Square?

    Maybe the next final fantasy game will be interactive, not just 10 hours of cutscene bullshit.

    Go play some dragon quest. These blow away the FF games made in the same time. And the new ones actually have more gameplay than movies.

  27. Elaborate April Fool's joke perhaps? by NefariousOne · · Score: 1

    According to CBS MarketWatch the new company will launch on April 1, 2003...

  28. The state of the game industry. by Bethor · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As a game developer myself, I am quite worried about the state of the industry, and this merger further aggravates the problem.

    During the 80s and early 90s we had a healthy number of development houses, and lots of them took risks in order to differentiate themselves. The result was of course innovation. Plenty of it.

    Nowadays development costs are absolutely HUGE. Only a few hits actually sell enough to cover their costs. Nobody can afford to take risks, and there is very little innovation going on.

    Here in Japan, I know Nintendo has been funding small development teams that come up with interesting ideas, but I havent seen any fruits yet.

    What else can be done? Is there any hope?
    --

    1. Re:The state of the game industry. by Obsequious · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Yeah, I've been pondering this myself. To be considered a "great game" today you have to have dazzling graphics, great video cut-scenes, detailed in-game models and physics, etc. Oh, and of course you have to have great game-play.

      The problem with this is that only the game play can really be done by "one person with a vision." Everything else takes real human blood, sweat, and tears to produce. That is a huge cost, and is a heavy burden to bear.

      The gaming industry as it currently exists has been based on a studio model as you point out. That worked fine when a small team could realistically accomplish all the work to make a game. Unfortunately, that model doesn't work as well when you have huge teams, it seems, because the cost outruns the productivity gains. Or something, anyway; maybe I'm talking out of my arse.

      But the key insight to me is that people have been saying for years that eventually games and movies will "merge" into some kind of interactive entertainment. Well, maybe, maybe not, but I do think that it is obvious that games are becoming more like movies. Consequently they are sooner or later going to develop movie-like budgets.

      Only large organizations can fund that kind of thing (indie film community aside for the moment.) As a result I can't see anything in the future of gaming communities except consolidation to the point where the companies ARE large enough to fund high-end games.

      Maybe it'll turn out something like the (primarily European) auto industry (which to a degree it already is:) a number of studios work on concept and prototype contracts, and large corporations productize the prototypes.

      Today, the game studios make entire games while the publishers (like EA) handle distribution. I suspect that the balance will shift a bit, so that instead of producing entire completed games, the smaller studios will produce an upgrade game engine, or a new set of character models, or whatever. Compare this with car studios that produce new engine upgrades and tweaks, aggressive new body styles, and so on. The studios then sort of sell this technology and art to the large manufacturers/publishers.

      This also sounds somewhat like what Nintendo is trying to do with their small groups: let the groups focus on innovation and new ideas while the large institutional development shops actually make games. I think it's a model that can work, although I don't think it'll be quite the same atmosphere that the industry has enjoyed up until now.

      I'm also not sure how I feel about it. The best games I've seen have been really works of art created by a single group. Grand Theft Auto, StarCraft/WarCraft, Final Fantasy, etc., and of course the classic games from years past. There are some mainstream movies that I've enjoyed as much that clearly have the same kind of hand-crafted feel, but they are few and far between. I am afraid that as the game industry "matures," it will go along a similar route.

      But, maybe not. Who knows, really? I guess we will have to wait to find out.

    2. Re:The state of the game industry. by YAN3D · · Score: 1
      Here in Japan, I know Nintendo has been funding small development teams that come up with interesting ideas, but I havent seen any fruits yet.

      Metroid Prime. Developed by Retro Studioslocated in Houston Texas. One of the most innovative games to come out in a while.

    3. Re:The state of the game industry. by Troed · · Score: 1

      Matroid Prime is the perfect translation of a 2D game (Super Metroid) into 3D. I don't know if it's "innovative" though .. ?

    4. Re:The state of the game industry. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Move to L.A. there are plenty of fruits there...

    5. Re:The state of the game industry. by taxman_10m · · Score: 2
      Yeah, I've been pondering this myself. To be considered a "great game" today you have to have dazzling graphics, great video cut-scenes, detailed in-game models and physics, etc. Oh, and of course you have to have great game-play.

      I'm sure that hold true for the computer and various consoles, but what about the GBA?

    6. Re:The state of the game industry. by YAN3D · · Score: 1
      Matroid Prime is the perfect translation of a 2D game (Super Metroid) into 3D

      How is that not innovative? Metroid Prime pretty much includes all the best of 2D gaming into the realm of 3D, I havent played a FPS (until Metrod prime) that can claim that.

    7. Re:The state of the game industry. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I agree. Game of the year... Period.

    8. Re:The state of the game industry. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      innovative (adj)
      being or producing something like nothing done or
      experienced or created before;

    9. Re:The state of the game industry. by YAN3D · · Score: 1
      I havent played a FPS (until Metrod prime) that can claim that

      innovative (adj) being or producing something like nothing done or experienced or created before;

    10. Re:The state of the game industry. by Obsequious · · Score: 3, Insightful
      Hmm, good point. In my hypothetical future world, the GBA would still be a simple enough device to allow small creative teams to build entire games. So maybe the GBA (and similar devices, like cell phones and whatnot) will remain a sort of playground for "indie" game developers.

      I still think that the big consoles and PC games will continue to migrate in the direction of movies, with the bigger == better mentality. Heh... maybe we'll find that pound for pound, the GBA has better games that may not be as flashy but are more creative and fun.

      For example... Mario Sunshine is quite cool, but I am still hard-pressed to say it's a better game than Super Mario World (aka Super Mario Advance 2 on the GBA.)

    11. Re:The state of the game industry. by Alcimedes · · Score: 2

      to me, it seems that the biggest problem is time.

      there is only so much time you can spend developing a game. eventually you have to publish it. this is dictated mainly by console life and the fact that if you spend years in development, what was groundbreaking in the beginning is blase when it publishes.

      so say you have 2 years to create your game. rule #1 at this point. can't have a great game unless it looks great. so better get working on those graphics. and it better have some nice movies. this that and the other, and eventually gameplay gets tossed in there as well.

      now look back 10 years to the original nintendo. (best gaming platform even IMO)

      your main character is 12 pixels. the enemy is 10 pixels. you have midi sound. no cut scenes.

      the same time frame now has almost no costs associated with graphics and sound, so more time and effort can be pourted into GAMEPLAY. for FUCK'S sake, get me gameplay!

      some of my favorite games look like ass but are tons of fun. and isn't that really the point?

    12. Re:The state of the game industry. by bludstone · · Score: 1

      what about dance dance revolution and other rythm/music games. none of those have spectacular graphics or the scope of which you speak, and many of them are great games.

      --

      no .sig
    13. Re:The state of the game industry. by Obsequious · · Score: 2

      Heh heh...

      Man, the Counterexample Hits just keep on coming!

      Yeah, DDR is also a good point. Now that you mention it, I also remember some Japanese game that involves kicking some kind of prosthetic butt mounted on the cabinet. It was like some kind of twisted "test your strength" game that judged you by how hard you kicked butt vs. how hard you swung a hammer or something.

      So, maybe my whole point is just so much overanalysis. Maybe the industry is stagnating just because of the almighty buck: the truly innovative games aren't surefire hits, and companies are too risk-averse to fund them. They'd rather take the more "straightforward" route and compete on how much money they dump into eye and ear candy.

      Final Fantasy X certainly felt that way, when compared to FF7.

    14. Re:The state of the game industry. by Ryan+Amos · · Score: 3, Interesting

      The state of the industry is such now that only those with the money to promote their games will make any money off them. And that's not even enough. Part of the problem is the price of games; most gamers can't afford to drop $50 on every game that comes out. But it's kind of a cyclical problem, that $50 pays for the development of the game and the development of the other games the company produced that didn't make it big. But now video game development costs are approaching hollywood figures and the margin for error is much less, so fewer of those less successful games get made. Which is a shame, a lot of them are very good but their appeal is too narrow to ever draw a broad audience.

      It's eventually going to get so expensive that only a few companies can afford to do it, which is what is happening right now in the industry. With colossal companies like Nintendo, Electronic Arts, and now Square Enix, there's little room for the smaller developer. I see the video game industry (at least in the console world, but it's happening on the PC side of things too) becoming much like the movie industry. The big companies make most of the games with an occaisional breakout hit by a smaller company (think indie films.)

      Unfortunately, it doesn't look like things are going to get better. Consumer attitudes are also to blame for this, but it's somewhat understandable that if someone is going to drop $50 on a game, they want to KNOW it's good before they buy it. The problem is the standards are set so high that only companies with a mammoth budget can hire good artists and designers while having enough money left over for an army of coders to get the damn thing out on schedule.

      This situation really isn't too big a problem so long as the large companies continue to put out quality product, because if they should stop, the market is not yet prohibitive to smaller developers (hell, 3 years ago, Square looked invincible) They'll continue to milk their flagship series because, well, it sells. That's why we have so many Zeldas, Metroids, Final Fantasys, Dragon Quests, Madden NFL games and the like. Big developers will always be able to count on these to make a profit, but if the margins on each game are decreasing, there will be less room for experimentation. There's really not much that can be done here; consolidation is a reality in pretty much every industry. Let's just hope it doesn't decrease the quality of the games.

    15. Re:The state of the game industry. by jx100 · · Score: 1

      actually, it wasn't you kicking it, it was you ramming a (game-supplied) hand up it.

    16. Re:The state of the game industry. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      cat got your tongue? your message is missing.

    17. Re:The state of the game industry. by IsoRashi · · Score: 1

      As time progresses, I find that the older games are most often the best. I think part of it is that when companies had to deal with very limited hardware, they really had to catch you with gameplay (and possibly storyline). Some things I always look for are: gameplay, re-play value, and continuing gameplay value.

      If a game is fun to play, then awesome. If I can play through the game again in a drastically different fashion and still have fun, even better. If, once I've beaten the game, continue to play and reveal secrets and discover things, then that's a game that I'll almost definitely want.

      Your example of Super Mario World is a very good one. In Super Mario World there were a lot of different things you could do besides head straight for the ending. It made the game a lot more fun, especially for a kid who will hear rumors of how to access some secret and have to try and figure it out for himself.

      Another classic example is Castlevania X. I really despair at the direction the Castlevania games took after this one, becoming "3D" and mostly from the 3rd person view. Castlevania X, in my opinion, was the last truly great side-scroller. You could keep discovering things even after you beat the game. You could try playing with a different style (my roommate liked using rods and shields, for example), or try to level up an unpopular familiar.

      This is also part of why the Pokemon games were such a hit. You just keep playing and playing. Catch more, try to find rare pokemon, level them up, unlock their powers, etc. etc. etc.

      God I'm a geek.

      --
      This is not the greatest sig in the world, no. This is just a tribute.
  29. Hopefully this means.. by Deathlizard · · Score: 2

    ..Square RPG's on other systems besides Sony.

    1. Re:Hopefully this means.. by generic-man · · Score: 1

      OK, done and done. They'll be out next year.

      --
      For more information, click here.
    2. Re:Hopefully this means.. by Deathlizard · · Score: 2

      The GBA doesn't count here. When it comes to Portable gaming, your either on GBA or not at all and besides, the GBA is in basicially a Miniture SNES. Guess where Squaresoft resided during the 16 bit era.

      As for the Cube. as Quoted from the IGN Article

      "It was announced that Nintendo would loan Square money from its Q Fund to start a new development house called Game Designer's Studio. In turn, the new studio would develop a Final Fantasy title for GameCube and Game Boy Advance."

      Basicially, Nintendo is Paying them to make a game for the cube. They most likely wouldn't be making this game if Nintendo didn't walk into Cash Strapped Squaresoft with Bags of money and said "You shall make a game for the Gamecube"

    3. Re:Hopefully this means.. by generic-man · · Score: 1

      So? Microsoft paid Sega to make Shenmue II, Jet Set Radio Future, Toe Jam & Earl III, etc. Xbox-only titles. Sony has an agreement with Take Two Interactive to make sure they don't publish a Grand Theft Auto title for any console besides PlayStation 2 (PCs don't count). These sorts of agreements are common.

      If it keeps game publishing houses in business, more power to them.

      --
      For more information, click here.
    4. Re:Hopefully this means.. by joshsisk · · Score: 1

      Huh? You said "Hopefully this means... ..Square RPG's on other systems besides Sony."

      What does the fact that Nintendo is giving them money have to do with it? There still will be a Square RPG on an other system besides Sony.

  30. Oh dear God! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I haven't played video games in so long. But I used to be a square fanatic. Now they're joining forces with Enix? Surely world domination is next.
    It wouldn't be so bad if I just bought a couple of new games, right?

  31. Square can fuck off for all I care by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ..at least until they learn how to do proper PAL versions of their games. Other companies figured it out years ago, why are Square still stuck in the past?

    1. Re:Square can fuck off for all I care by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And while I'm at it, Enix can fuck off for not releasing their recent games over here at all.

  32. Squarenix by jokercito · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sounds like some sort of distro.

  33. Actraiser! by IndependentVik · · Score: 1

    Who else is hoping that this will mean a new rpg/adventure game set in the world of Actraiser? C'mon, you know you wanna play it . . .

    --
    I'd suggest you don't use Slashdot as your only news source, or you will suffer permanent brain damage.
    1. Re:Actraiser! by InstantCool · · Score: 1

      Ooo... One of my best video game childhood memories was buying and 8-pack (still in glass bottles then) of Moutain Dew and renting Actraiser and playing it all night and well into the next morning. Detrimined to beat the game before I had to return it the next day. Rental periods were smaller back then.

      Something about that game that just made you want to keep going.

      --
      InstantCool
  34. hazaah! by Jacer · · Score: 2

    The question now is who is right, Jeremiah or I? He claimed Enix was the better game developer, I claimed Square was (excluding FFX) Looks like we'll have to battle to the death with knives again!

    --
    --fetch daddy's blue fright wig, i must be handsome when i release my rage
    1. Re:hazaah! by Psmylie · · Score: 2

      If you're going to fight to the death... er... again, you'd best make sure you have some phoenix down.

      --

      psmylie's dictionary: Godzillion (noun) Any number large enough to destroy Tokyo

    2. Re:hazaah! by Kintanon · · Score: 2

      Don't you mean "excluding FFVIII" ?!?! X wasn't that bad. VIII was a steaming pile of monkey shit! The story collapsed halfway through the game, the magic and levelling system SUCKED... Ugh. The only good thing in the game was that card game subgame thing... I just CRINGE thinking about it...

      Kintanon

      --
      Check out JoshJitsu.info for Brazilian Ji
    3. Re:hazaah! by mackstann · · Score: 1

      agreed that the story in 8 did suck ass, but drawing magic and junctioning was addictive as hell!! thats the only reason i played the game so much. also just the environmental *vibe* of the game was kinda neat.

      9 was absolutely horrid. again, the environments were pretty cool, but the characters were idiots (8's were too), and the story was boring.

      7 was the last great FF, in the sense that you actually got to know the characters well, and you LIKED the characters. 4 & 6 are absolute classics and fall under the same category. (i've probably played 6 more than any other game ever)

  35. A Fiscal Joke by ParnBR · · Score: 2, Insightful

    April 1st is when the fiscal year in Japan begins. Really! :)

    --
    My neighbor's .sig is better than mine.
  36. Please God, let there be Chrono Trigger 3 by BillLeeLee · · Score: 1

    With this new RPG making entity, I hope both companies get out of their dry spell and bring us Chrono Trigger 3. Chrono Cross was good and all, but I really want the Akira Toriyama character designs, and since he usually designs for Enix, we might get what we want for once. But it begs the question: Will they be called Square Enix Electronic Arts in the US and bring us football and hockey RPGS?

    --
    www.google.com
    1. Re:Please God, let there be Chrono Trigger 3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Akria Toriyama sucks. But not as bad as whatshisnuts Amano.

    2. Re:Please God, let there be Chrono Trigger 3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just to let you know, Chrono Cross was more or less crono trigger 3. Chrono trigger was followed by a game called "Radical Dreamers" which is supposed to have magus as the main charcter.

    3. Re:Please God, let there be Chrono Trigger 3 by Cyhwuhx · · Score: 1

      Not to dance on your parade, but Akira Toriyama has died a long time ago...

      Chrono Break is going to be part three, but as of yet nothing besides the name is known.

    4. Re:Please God, let there be Chrono Trigger 3 by OneStepFromElysium · · Score: 1

      You've got Akira Toriyama and Akira Kurosawa mixed up, I think. Toriyama (the creator of Dragonball) is alive and well. Kurosawa (famed film director) died several years ago.

  37. Enix is the bigger company? by mao+che+minh · · Score: 2

    This shows you how big Enix must be in Japan. Wasn't Dragon Warrior 7 the highest selling game of all time? Anyways, save for a few picks out of a few titles, Enix never sold well here (not to my knowledge, since I'm not a mega-nerd that knows who the developer or publisher of every game is). Meanwhile, it seemed like Square is all over everything, and sold millions of every title it released. Yet Enix is the bigger company. Weird.

    1. Re:Enix is the bigger company? by GreenHell · · Score: 1

      Wasn't Dragon Warrior 7 the highest selling game of all time?

      If you can believe the stuff written on the back cover of DW7, then it is "The Best Selling Japanese PlayStation game console Title of All Time!"

      Not quite the same thing, but surely nothing to scoff at either.

      --
      "I won't mod you down - I feel the need to call you a twit explicitly, rather than by implication."
    2. Re:Enix is the bigger company? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just to show you how popular Enix and Dragon Warrior are in Japan. I wish I had a link, but I read a story where it is now a law, that Enix cannot release any Dragon Quest(Warrior) games on any day except sunday. Because none of the kids go to school on the day that the games are released...if this doesn't show you how popular DQ is, nothing does...

    3. Re:Enix is the bigger company? by CableModemSniper · · Score: 1

      Or perhaps just how INSANE the Japanese are as a culture. Sheesh. There's gotta be some little Japanese kid out there who doesn't care about a new Dragon Warrior.
      (-1, Flamebait)

      --
      Why not fork?
  38. Re:REAL DEAL Linux Review by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    dont feed the trolls..

  39. So.. by ChronoZ · · Score: 1

    Chrono Trigger, the only game I truly like from Square wasn't even done wholly be them? Figures.

  40. Great news! by generic-man · · Score: 1

    I have been a fan of Square and Enix for many, many years. I still remember playing the very first Dragon Warrior (or, as the Japanese call it, "Dragon Quest") game on my Nintendo Entertainment System, not to mention Final Fantasy I, II, III, IV (which Americans know as "Final Fantasy II"), V, VI (which Americans know as "Final Fantasy III"), VII, VIII, IX, and X! Have you seen Final Fantasy XI yet? It's outstanding.

    Here are a few links to the news.
    --
    For more information, click here.
  41. Re:woah! why? by joshsisk · · Score: 1

    Uh, no. Square was having money issues. Huge ones.

  42. How this affects the industry by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Without knowing all of the details, this looks like a big win for Nintendo. Sony owns a 19% stake in Square, which suddenly isn't so impressive anymore. If that means Square games will appear on other platforms then the PS2 will certaintly lose some of its appeal. Nintendo had already weaseled around the PS2 exclusive agreement by funding a company that is working with Square to produce Gamecube and GBA games, but this deal is much better from the Nintendo perspective. Enix is the real mystery though. They have a history of only supporting one console, but the target platform of the next Dragon Warrior game has not been announced yet. There are also substantial rumors of an enormous Nintendo announcement coming in December, which many have thought to be Enix related. Time will tell. As for Microsoft, don't expect too much from this for the XBox. It's selling less than the PSX in Japan, so there really isn't a market there for Square Enix to care about.

  43. SquEnix and the Land Downunder... by MrSquiddy · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Being from the land down under, (Australia for those of you who don't get out much), I'm sincerely hoping that this will boost the amount of Role Playing Games coming from Japan...

    I mean, the only good Role Players, are Jap ones, and not many are translated and redone for Pal systems... And if they must be imported, you have to have a deft knowledge for the Japanese language... Sure, we do get Squaresoft's products... but not many Enix products... and, correct me if i'm wrong, but i don't actually believe we got Chrono Trigger... Hey, I'm a consumer, i know nothing! But in any case, I'm praying that it brings more RPGs down here.

    1. Re:SquEnix and the Land Downunder... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You may not have got Chrono Trigger, but you guys did get Terra Nigma, which is an underrated action RPG that Enix put out for the SNES.

      Granted, it's not the same as having gotten Chrono Trigger, but still, you do occassionally get things that we never see.

  44. I wonder... by mao+che+minh · · Score: 2

    How will this effect Square's torrent relationship with Nintendo? I want a new FF for my 'Cube dangit.

    1. Re:I wonder... by handsomepete · · Score: 1

      Nintendo and Square's relationship is doing better. A new FF: Tactics is due out for GBA sometime in the near future, and I'm too lazy to find exact info, but Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicle (or something like that) is coming out for Gamecube at the beginning of next year. Google for it or search through Madman's Cafe for it. Looks kinda crummy, but you never know.

  45. hmmm.. by DraconicFae · · Score: 0, Redundant

    an RPG powerhouse to be re-named Enix Square Co. : I prefer the name Squeenix :)

    1. Re:hmmm.. by DraconicFae · · Score: 1

      damn, damn, damn.. someone used the name Squenix already ... mod me down, I deserve it for unintentionally aping a karma-fiver :(

  46. Enix not my first choice, but... by Winterblink · · Score: 2
    Hopefully this will be a beneficial collaboration for both companies. As many have pointed out so far, the last bunch of Square efforts for the Final Fantasy series have been more of an achievement in technical prowess than anything else, the last "great" Final Fantasy game being FF7 in my humble opinion. While I haven't been impressed with many of Enix's games per se, they're pretty imaginative and will hopefully bring a lot to the creative table for Square to work with.

    Right now there isn't much for console markets where RPGs are concerned, at least not in the US market. One game I'm looking foward to seeing brought over the pond is .hack//sign, a game that can only be described as a simulated MMORPG. Sounds intriguing to me, I'd love to try it.

    --
    "I'm a leaf on the wind. Watch how I soar."
    -Hoban Washburn
  47. Could be called the "shaft Sony" merger by alexhmit01 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Sony let Square bet the farm, and when Nintendo's President adviced against the movie (based upon their experience with the Super Mario Bros. movie), it caused a huge fight between Square and Nintendo which led to their falling out.

    When Square collapsed, Sony picked up the pieces for pennies on the dollar, leaving a HUGE stakehold in the company. This likely also led to some ill will between Square and Sony.

    Square likely has some deals in place with Sony that gives Sony some teeth, but selling the assets helps with this. Now Sony gets its share of Square heavily diluted. All of a Sudden, Square Enix has two HUGE RPG assets, a much smaller Sony investor, and free reign to do what they want.

    Expect Square Enix to support Nintendo Gamecube more (RPGs are bigger in Japan, and Nintendo is a player in Japan... with Square Enix games, Nintendo is a real player in Japan). I would also expect an American-targetted Xbox RPG with the Final Fantasy name. That game would likely be glitz targetted (the Japanese perception of the American market, not unfounded).

    If Square was still directly suffering financially from the Final Fantasy movie, the deal would be a bit differently. You see weird stuff like this in mergers all the time. Merging to survive is always interesting. Expect Enix's senior management was well compensated for the bailout, and acquiring Square assets into the Enix corporate shell was a nice way out of some contractual obligations.

    Best example of a similar arrangement, Apple/Next. Apple was a larger, more financially stable company with dead technology. Next was a small, struggling company with good technology. Apple "bought" Next but turned the combined company into Next with the Apple name.

    Alex

    1. Re:Could be called the "shaft Sony" merger by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      Huh? The Square and Nintendo fallout came years before The Spirits Within. It actually goes back to the N64 and Nintendo's decision to use cartridges instead of the CD format. Square, who was already planning to make a FF game for the 64 (there were already screenshots), dumped Nintendo and went over to Sony. The feud was only beginning though. Ads for Final Fantasy 7 made the point that a cartridge-based system had no chance of making such a beautiful game. Worse though, and this only became widely known this year, they convinced Enix to dump Nintendo as well. The bad blood lasted until early this year, when Nintendo struck a deal to bring Square games back to Nintendo consoles. Of course, the millions lost on the movie probably had something to do with that, but not everything.

    2. Re:Could be called the "shaft Sony" merger by GweeDo · · Score: 2

      The falling out between Square and Nintendo was based more on Nintendo's not going with a CD format (they want CG's) and that Nintendo basically said they could have done a better job with Super Mario RPG than Square did. Just thought I would mention those points.

    3. Re:Could be called the "shaft Sony" merger by RickHunter · · Score: 2

      Not only that, but Nintendo (IIRC) refused to let Square release games in North America without running them through Nintendo's translators and censors. Ever wondered why the PSX FF4 and SNES FF2 translations are so different? This is why - Nintendo insisted on censoring the games for the kiddie-dominated NA market, while Sony was willing to let Square do their thing. Nintendo, I believe, has since changed their stance on this.

    4. Re:Could be called the "shaft Sony" merger by Cryptnotic · · Score: 2

      Aparrantly it was also Nintendo who insisted that Final Fantasy 4 be released as Final Fantasy 2 in the U.S. (and 6 as FF3). Presumably this is because they skipped the old NES releases of 2 and 3 in the U.S. But apparrantly Nintendo didn't think that Americans could understand non-sequential game numberings? At least when they went and re-released those games for Playstation, they used the original numbers. It caused more confusion than simply skipping 2 and 3 would have done.

      --
      My other first post is car post.
    5. Re:Could be called the "shaft Sony" merger by Guppy06 · · Score: 2

      Nit-picking.

      "It actually goes back to the N64 and Nintendo's decision to use cartridges instead of the CD format."

      Actually, it goes back just a tad further. There's been bad blood between Nintendo and Square over the way Nintendo showed favoratism towards Enix. For example, when a bigger Super Famicom cartridge came out, they didn't let Square have it until the next Dragon Quest game came out on it.

      Also, Square was unhappy with Nintendo's (ultimately wise) decision not to make a CD add-on for the Super Famicom. They wanted to make Seiken Densetsu 2 (aka "Secret of Mana") much larger than it was.

      "Ads for Final Fantasy 7 made the point that a cartridge-based system had no chance of making such a beautiful game."

      Not that they knew back then that Zelda: OoT would bitch-slap FF VII's sales soon afterward...

      "The bad blood lasted until early this year, when Nintendo struck a deal to bring Square games back to Nintendo consoles."

      To be honest, it was more like Square striking a deal, as they were ultimately the ones that had to change their behavior.

      Square wanted to re-make the first few Final Fantasy games as handhelds, but there was the slight problem of Nintendo 0wnzoring the handheld market for the past decade or so. Square, with their typical prima-donna attitude (yes, I'm biased) told Nintendo that they would develop for the Game Boy Color but not the GameCube. Yamauchi told them to sit on it and rotate.

      Square dropped the idea of using the Game Boy Color and, continuing with their "I'm so pretty" attitude, decided to hitch a ride on Bandai's pending WonderSwan Color. Square ignored the 8 year history of Game Boy putting the smackdown on any and all competitors, seemingly with the attide of "Any system that we publish on will automatically sell well!"

      The WonderSwan Color hit the shelves (packaged with Final Fantasy I, no less) not long before the Game Boy Advance came out. Final Fantasy fans bought the WonderSwan Color and Final Fantasy I (and only Final Fantasy I) and oohed and ahhed about how much better it looked than the original Famicom game. Square, on the other hand, was suspiciously silent about how the WonderSwan Color's performance is somewhere between that of a Sega Master System (8-bit hardware, superior to the NES) and the Sega Genesis (16-bit hardware, inferior to the SNES). On the other hand, the Game Boy Advance's 2-D capabilities have been compared to that of the Sega Saturn. Like it or not, if Square wanted to improve on any Final Fantasy games after III (or perhaps even after II... III is a pretty damned impressive game for the Famicom and has yet to be released for the WSC), it most certainly was not going to be on the WonderSwan Color.

      The WonderSwan Color fades into history just like so many other worthy (and several unworthy) competitors. Square still wants to re-make those old Final Fantasy games. And Nintendo has all the cards.

      So Square capitulated and agreed to publish games for the GameCube (a Final Fantasy spin-off and possibly the pending MMORPG). And Yamauchi laughed all the way to the bank.

  48. Ogre Battle !!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Subject says it all.

  49. They are already working with Nintendo GC and GBA. by Viewsonic · · Score: 2

    Nuff said. They wont go near XBox, though. They know how it's trying to ruin the market.

  50. GBA does count.. by Viewsonic · · Score: 2

    Because the Gamecube adaptor will basically turn the Gameboy Advance into it's own console, which is even larger than the PS2. Just because it's portable doesn't rule it out.. This of it as a full fledged console that can do BOTH .. Work on the TV *and* be portable. Can't do that with a PS2 or an XBox.

    1. Re:GBA does count.. by Babbster · · Score: 2
      "This of it as a full fledged console that can do BOTH"

      Not to be picking the nits, but since you have to buy an additional $40-50 component for the Gamecube (or an additional $60 component - the GBA), neither actually does "both." I would also not call it a "full fledged console" since it's two generations behind the current crop.

      All that aside, I love my GBA and I'll be buying the peripheral for the GC. I'm a gaming whore. :)

  51. Probably end up with a DragonWarrior on the GC now by Viewsonic · · Score: 2

    ... As their dev studio is still in place, and Enix already makes a TON of money off Nintendo systems (Currently GBA, and plans for GC games). This will only bring DW and FF games to GC quicker.

  52. Great Minds by kenp2002 · · Score: 2

    I have to say with this merger they have quite possibly the greatest writers and character creators in video game history. With the two companies no longer competing it may give them more money to work with for development. MMmmm Dragon Warrior (Quest) Online... BUhahaahha! I can see it now they'll release a FF title, then a DW title, and keep rotating.. Edrick lives again! What about the shots Square took at Enix in FF1? Will they re-release it without to pot shots (Look at tombstones and you'll see an RIP Edrick poking fun at Dragon Warrior). I pray we get some excellent titles out of this merger. They have the creative minds to do it. More importantly Enix just Got Nabutso Utsemei (I know I fucked up the spelling!) at a better price I'm sure. My .02

    --
    -=[ Who Is John Galt? ]=-
  53. Sony lossing control slowly??? by GweeDo · · Score: 1, Redundant

    What does this mean for Sony's control over Squaresoft? They had a 20% stack in the company but now their stack should be much smaller (since Enix is worth more as a company they don't even have 10% I would assume). Does this basically nullify the pseudo exclusive rights that Sony has on Square? Does this mean we will finally see more development for other platforms from Square/Enix (for my lovely Gamecube please)? I think the options are very interesting!

  54. My two C(omm)ENTS by killmenow · · Score: 4, Interesting
    1. The name should be Enix Squared and represented as "Enix" followed by a superscripted 2 (which, unfortunately, /. won't let me demonstrate here)
    2. I much prefer the battle engine of Star Ocean 2 (never played the first one) to Final Fantasy (any of them)
  55. Sony never had rights.... by Viewsonic · · Score: 2

    Square was already moving its Final Fantasy francise over to the Nintendo again. Just like Oldschool lovin' again! Sony made a fuss when they did this, but their 16% ownership wasn't enough to sway anyones opinions. They made their gold on PS2, now it's time to move on.

  56. Quite a shock by Stonent1 · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I mean.. I haven't heard much from Enix recently and then this... I still thought that Square had some money to kick around. I guess not. Maybe Square can start focusing on what people want again. FF7 and FF9 were excellent games. 8 and 10 were kinda ho-hum.

  57. PGC Coverage by Omkar · · Score: 4, Informative

    Planet Gamecube's coverage of the story

    Check out their forums for some intelligent discussion. I saw the news there around 11PM Central. Bloomberg's Coverage

    Sony's share has been diluted to 10%, so this looks like a win for Nintendo. Remember, Yamauchi's Fund Q let Square develop for Gamecube and GBA when Sony owned a fifth of the company. I couldn't care less, though. DQ might be good, but all Final Fantasy games after FF3 (6 in Japan) sucked. Note to Square: focus more on gameplay, like Miyamoto (IMO, the Mozart of videogames).

    1. Re:PGC Coverage by Brendan+Byrd · · Score: 2

      What's wrong with Gameplay on FFX? I picked it back up again, and there's a massive amount of stuff to collect and fight. Just look at the FAQs on GameFAQs.

    2. Re:PGC Coverage by Omkar · · Score: 2

      Massive != Fun. Check out Pikmin and Luigi's Mansion for examples of short and sweet games.

    3. Re:PGC Coverage by Brendan+Byrd · · Score: 2

      And why would I buy it, when I could rent it and beat it in a day? What's the point of playing it again, when there's nothing new. A game with no replay value is not a game at all. It's a rental, and that's it.

    4. Re:PGC Coverage by Omkar · · Score: 2

      Why would I play an FF game, when I could experience everything novel in an hour? What's the point of continuing, when there's nothing new? A game with no gameplay is not a game at all. It's shovelware, and that's it. Seriously, gameplay matters more than any other quality of a videogame. What's wrong with being a rental game? Also, many people like to replay fun games.

  58. Enix? by twoslice · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    I never heard of that Linux distro before? Say, Wasn't Enix called "Round Hole" before their name change?

    --

    From excellent karma to terible karma with a single +5 funny post...
  59. Square Enix on new platforms... by Alric · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It is my understanding that Square produced games exclusively for Sony for two reasons.

    1. Sony helped Square pay off some massive debt after the failing of Spirits. This gave Sony a voice in the company, but there was no contract of exclusivity signed.

    2. Square ended the love affair with Nintendo primarily because Nintendo refused to move away from a cartridge based system. Square wanted to move towards games with astounding amounts of high resolution graphics. This began with the N64, but it is still relevant. The GameCube uses optical disks with 1.5GB storage capacity. The PS2 uses DVD's with 4.7GB capacity.

    Square Enix will most likely continue to ignore the GameCube. However, with Sony having a smaller voice in the new company (if Sony can ever have a small voice), we can probably expect a few Square Enix games for the XBox. The XBox uses DVD's with 9GB storage capacity and has more powerful graphics processing. But maybe Square Enix will choose to support its fellow Japanese company (Nintendo) and will choose to ignore the American rival (MS). These are exciting times for RPG fans.

    1. Re:Square Enix on new platforms... by joshsisk · · Score: 1

      Considering the fact that the Xbox isn't selling well in Japan, anything but ports seem unlikely. But who knows.

    2. Re:Square Enix on new platforms... by Cashlock · · Score: 1

      Square already has a Final Fantasy title in development for the GameCube... http://www.gameforms.com/games/gcn/ffcc/

    3. Re:Square Enix on new platforms... by RickHunter · · Score: 1

      Of course they're unlikely. The XBox is doing so horribly in Japan that touching it would be instant death, even for a company the size of Square Enix. But the XBox fanboys have to have their fantasies. "Oh, its a superior console! Really! Better hardware and larger disks! Square will release an RPG for it any day now!"

      The Japanese market's going to be dominated by Sony and Nintendo for the forseeable future, especially after this merger. Since Final Fantasy games have already been announced for the GBA and GC, and more FF games are on the way for the PS2, I think we know where the new company's going to be placing its money.

    4. Re:Square Enix on new platforms... by medeii · · Score: 2

      2. Square ended the love affair with Nintendo primarily because Nintendo refused to move away from a cartridge based system. Square wanted to move towards games with astounding amounts of high resolution graphics. This began with the N64, but it is still relevant. The GameCube uses optical disks with 1.5GB storage capacity. The PS2 uses DVD's with 4.7GB capacity.

      Judging from the graphics in Metroid Prime, Mario Sunshine, or even Starfox versus Final Fantasy X and Kingdom Hearts, I somehow don't think that it's the storage limitation that has anything to do with having 'great graphics.' Moreover, the idea of having Metroid Prime as multiplayer makes anyone forget Halo almost instantaneously -- it's that good. Granted, I love both of them, but the PS2 didn't seem to be all that much of an upgrade versus the PS1 graphically -- whereas the Gamecube is miles above the N64.

      I also think that many people are forgetting that Square has already started development on Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, which is a Nintendo-exclusive title, and they have not released any plans for Xbox development.

      --
      got standards? --- http://www.w3.org/
    5. Re:Square Enix on new platforms... by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 2, Insightful

      The actual capcity of CDs over cartridges wasn't the issue.

      it was the manufacturing costs of CDs over Carts. You needed to make Carts in BULK, plus the cost of actually making them... It adds up. With optical media you just press and go. The actual media costs a fraction of what a similar cart would cost. Like NeoGeo games. a CD version, while having horrible loadtimes, is far cheaper, roughly 30 bucks than a neogeo homecart, roughly 100 bucks.

      As far as Xbox support? Not bloody likely. Square and Enix are both companies that highly pander to the Japanese market. And will pander to that market first, and given the Xbox's sales in japan? See above comment, Not Bloody Likely.

      --
      Non impediti ratione cogitationus.
    6. Re:Square Enix on new platforms... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Also, with the Gamecube incorporating S3 texture compression as well as the newly developed DivX SDK, the Gamecube is looking even more promising over the PS2 (considering the prerendered CG they pack into those FF games)

    7. Re:Square Enix on new platforms... by Guppy06 · · Score: 2

      "Square Enix will most likely continue to ignore the GameCube"

      No, they won't. Square wants to get in on the Game Boy Advance in the worst way and Yamauchi won't let them unless they also do something on the GameCube. Unless Square is interested in flushing more money down the tubes on yet another failed hand-held...

  60. Don't know what to think about by leoboiko · · Score: 2, Insightful

    As a longtime console RPG gamer, I don't know what to expect from this merge. Will they make good, fun games like Chrono Trigger? Will they kill competition with big eye-candy 3D RPGs with no plot at all?

    Well, I don't have money for a modern console anyway.

    --
    Prescriptive grammar:linguistics :: alchemy:chemistry. Stop being a nazi and learn some science.
  61. Valkyrie Profile shall be engraved upon your soul! by Falkkin · · Score: 1

    If you liked Star Ocean 2, try Valkyrie Profile for the PSX. It's also by Enix/Tri-Ace, and a very unique game -- how many RPGs let you start out as a god?? (Aside from maybe Actraiser, another Enix title) The basic plot is: you are Lenneth, recruited by the all-Father Odin as a Valkyrie (battle maiden). Your goal is to recruit fighters (Einherjar) from the troubled souls of the world, to fight in the final battle of Ragnarok which will decide the fate of the world. All the fighters you recruit have some sort of tragic story attached to them that ends up with the character being killed -- and Valkyrie recruiting them into the Einherjar. These characters stay with you until you "send them up" to Asgard to fight against the Vanir. Every so often (the game is divided into chapters) you return to Valhalla and can see the progress of the fighters you sent up, as well as be bitched at or praised by your superiors (primarily Freya and Odin).

    The dungeons are a nice platform game/RPG blend, with puzzles and the battle system, while not Star Ocean's, is very unique. Basically each character is assigned a button on your control pad and gets some number of attacks per round (depending on the weapon they have equipped). You can arrange these attacks in any order (outside battle in the character's status screen); some of them have different characteristics like knocking enemies back, or up into the air, or down onto the ground. Hitting a character's button causes that character to execute the next attack in his/her sequence, and you can hit multiple buttons for multiple characters simultaneously or before the previous character's attack has finished. You then get "combos", like in a fighting game, where the enemy cannot recover or block once they have been hit once and you can continue hitting them until they return to a standing state. However these combos will be limited since each character only has some number of attacks per round. Furthermore, there's a meter that counts up while you're comboing an enemy, and if the meter reaches 100 any of your characters that participated in the attack can unleash a special attack.

    If you really want to be as good as possible during the game, setting up your order of attacks for battles can be incredibly complex, as there are different bonuses for hitting the enemy while in the air vs. on the ground vs. on-the-ground-and-recovering. Also, attacks do more damage when the number of hits in the combo is high, so it pays to put your characters that have strong, low-hit-number attacks near the end of the combo.

    All in all, it's an excellent game, very well-executed and very unique.

  62. Re:Valkyrie Profile shall be engraved upon your so by leoboiko · · Score: 1

    I should add that the character voices are great. The battle cries are heroic and passionated.

    --
    Prescriptive grammar:linguistics :: alchemy:chemistry. Stop being a nazi and learn some science.
  63. Kingdom Hearts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I guess we knew Square was in trouble when they whored themselves out to Disney.

  64. So how long.. by xchino · · Score: 1, Redundant

    is it going to be before I play Final Dragon Fantasy Quest 13?

    --
    Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. It's just that yours is stupid.
  65. Seems we're forgetting someone... by Netbrian · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    What about another very, very popular RPG maker in Japan, [P]http://www.falcom.com[/P] ? Maybe they'll get their stuff released over here someday, adding more competition to the market.

  66. Square+Enix=Gamecube? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I sure hope that this merge results in getting some
    games for the Gamecube, Square has avoided Nintendo
    far too long.
    The great times with the Squaresoft games on my SNES will never be forgotten, FF2,FF3,CT,Secret of Mana,
    ahhh... orgasm and tears...

    1. Re:Square+Enix=Gamecube? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      . . . . why do people not remember that it was as much Nintendo being Comrade Stalin about who got to develop for the N64 as anything that drove all these companies AWAY from Nintendo when someone willing to say "You can make the games yourselves instead of us charging you ridiculous prices to make them for you," came along? At this point, Nintendo really can't blame anyone but themselves if Square doesn't want to do business with them anymore.

      The fact that the Gamecube simply doesn't match the specs Squaresoft prefers to work within certainly doesn't help matters. If the GC were a decent system FOR WHAT SQUARE WANTS TO DO the past might well have been forgotten, but it's just not.

      Those are two BIG hurdles for Nintendo to cross to get Square to notice them. Perhaps the Enix merger will help their position, but I somehow doubt it will be a BIG deal. One title, maybe two, but a return to the SNES days is just out of the question at this point. Maybe with the next generation of consoles Nintendo will finally get it that CAPACITY is a bigger deal than loading times when it comes to attracting developers.

  67. This deserves our Full Support by BoBaBrain · · Score: 2

    We should encourage all transitions to *nix.

    --
    I am a Karma Library.
  68. Those who burn their Karma for the good of others by somethingwicked · · Score: 2

    Wow, I mean really, they're Ghostbusters references, people.

    The "Dogs and Cats" line is one of my favs, however, even if you don't think its funny, its not a TROLL...

    Some of the funniest things I read on /. turn out to be things other people misunderstand things and label as trolls.

    --

    ---"What did I say that sounded like 'Tell me about your day?'"---

  69. Roscoe: Enix, get back here you damn fool! by somethingwicked · · Score: 3, Funny

    Everytime I see/hear the name Enix, I regret that it makes me think of the Dukes of Hazzard...

    I know I will lose karma for this, but thats okay, I had to share and karma is crap anyways

    Enix: You sure do look purdy today, Daisy.

    Cu Cu Cu Cu

    --

    ---"What did I say that sounded like 'Tell me about your day?'"---

  70. Re:It's still not Origin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    which ultima vii? If we're talking 'the black gate' i'm with you all the way!

  71. Here's what happened... by BeneathTheVeil · · Score: 1

    Indeed, Dragon Warrior VII was released here for the PSOne. It's quite a good game, if you can look past the 16bit quality graphics.

    Oddly enough, the main reason why we never got the excellent Dragon Quest V, and VI, was not because Enix deemed them 'too hard' for American players (as often was the case, back then), but because they decided that it would be more costly to translate part V for North America, then it would be to simply ride the wave, and develop part VI. As to why we didn't get part VI? ...well, chalk that up to coming out toward the end of the SNES lifespan in North America.

    It's kind of sad really... we missed out on two great games. Here's hoping we're going to see Gameboy Advance ports of them!

  72. What can come of this? by Maul · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First of all, the "Final Fantasy" movie was a huge mistake. Square should have known that they'd only attract fans of the FF series, who would immediately be disappointed that the movie had nothing to do with any of the games AT ALL, but was just a crappy sci-fi movie titled "Final Fantasy" to get them into the theaters. Besides, the track record for video game based movies should have told Square not to make the film.

    Second of all, Square is getting pretty sloppy, IMO. Instead of creating a new game, they are getting lazy and making "FF10 Part 2." While Square might spout some PR garbage that FF10 is so popular that they wanted to give players another chance to play in the FF10 world, the real reason for this FF10 side-story is so they don't have to put cash into developing an all new game.

    To top it off they are considering "FF7 Part 2." Hopefully plans for at least the second of these will be canned thanks to this merger, but I doubt it.

    I don't have very good impressions of this merger because it seems that the "Square" entity of this merger will have more control. I'd rather see Enix on top, since their most recent games have not been as crappy as FF10 or Kingdom Hearts.

    More than likely things will stay the same for the time being. The new company will continue to develop games from their most popular series for the Playstation 2. The focus will continue to fall away from the story and world and will emphasise more and more on pretty graphics.

    Remember that Square was still working on some games for Game Cube and GBA. This might open Square games up a little more for release on multiple platforms, but there is probably going to still be a huge emphasis on Playstation 2.

    This has nothing to do with the Sony/Nintendo/Square politics, but rather the fact that there are something like 50+ Million PS2s out there and only like 20 Million X-Box and Game Gubes (combined). While it might benefit them to release a version of FF11 for every console, given it has a subscription, it probably wouldn't be worthwhile for them to abandon the PS2.

    --

    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

    1. Re:What can come of this? by greymond · · Score: 1

      "Square should have known that they'd only attract fans of the FF series, who would immediately be disappointed that the movie had nothing to do with any of the games"

      - Why would a Final Fantasy Movie have anything to do with any of the games? NONE of the FF games have anything to do with eachother? I thought the movie was like watching an FF game.

      "they are getting lazy and making FF10 Part 2."

      - FF-X2 isn't there latest game. If you take a look FFXI Online is there latest game which came out in Japan last year and they are starting on an expansion for that world as well. FF X2 is just a filler game (like "the bouncer" or "kingdom hearts") used to hold people interests until they can finish translating there current games. Keep in mind which Square soft games get popular here are last year news on the other side of the ocean.

      "I'd rather see Enix on top, since their most recent games have not been as crappy as FF10 or Kingdom Hearts."

      - Thats just a matter of opinion.

      - On your comments about the PS2's and Nintendo, Xbox - etc... your missing somehting. Enix does most of there games for the Nintendo Platform which is HUGE in Japan where Squr. Sft. is HUGE in America the combined company now has 2 games series (FF + DQ/W) that don't really compete with eachother (different continents) Also this would give free reign for square to release FF games on the Gamecube and X-Box, since Sony's 18% share becomes less (Square shares translate to .81 share of Enix which is the surviving entitiy) And yes it would benifit them to release an american translation of FF Online for ALL CONSOLES.

    2. Re:What can come of this? by matlokheed · · Score: 1

      The Spirits Within wasn't a "huge mistake" because it had nothing to do with Final Fantasy, nor was it a mistake because of the failure of video game movies to date.

      As was mentioned above, none of the Final Fantasies have anything to do with each other with the notable exception of them always having a character named Cid (which they had in the movie).

      Second, video game movies aren't always terrible. Yes, Super Mario Bros, Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat 2 were terrible movies. But Mortal Kombat (which had been released before the Spirits Within), Resident Evil (which had not), and even Tomb Raider (which was released at the same time) are all watchable "popcorn" movies.

      Unfortunately, this is where the flaw came in. I just described these movies as Popcorn movies. As in movies that anyone can go to see, see a favorite property brought to the big screen, and hopefully walk away happy. The Spirits Within was /waaaaaay/ too high brow for the average person to enjoy. You had to 1) appreciate the art and 2) digest the thick and less than sexy/exciting plot. It never had a chance.

      If you asked a comic book nerd 10 years ago what was the best Marvel comic based movie that they'd ever seen, if they were well informed, they'd say "Howard the Duck". More likely, they'd tell you there was no such thing. Even if video game movies are generally poor, it doesn't immediately condemn them to the realm of automatically terrible.

      As for Square getting sloppy, Kingdom Hearts is regarded as one of the best games of the year by many (a poll on Gamefaqs.com just a few days ago put it at third behind Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Metroid Prime). I thought Kingdom Hearts was unpolished on a lot of points, but there was fun in there too. And that's what they were aiming for.

      Lastly, it shouldn't be a suprise that they're doing special editions of their games. Square needs the money. It's one of the reasons they're making games for the GBA and Gamecube. Both sides swallowed their pride and so now Square is allowed to make some games for the Gameboy Advance in exchange for some Gamecube support. Square makes money. Starts to pull themselves out of the hole. If they need to get out faster, they just release some special editions of their better selling games and *BOOM* instant money. They have a large fanbase and they're using that (because they're smart) to their advantage.

      --

      "If the good lord had intended us to walk, he wouldn't have invented roller skates." -Willy Wonka

    3. Re:What can come of this? by IndependentVik · · Score: 1

      Why would a Final Fantasy Movie have anything to do with any of the games? NONE of the FF games have anything to do with eachother? I thought the movie was like watching an FF game.

      Nearly all of the FF games (I can only speak of the ones I've played, which are I, IV, VI, VII, and tactics) were mostly fantasy, with a couple of sci-fi elements thrown into a few of them. The movie, OTOH, was one tediously long, badly executed piece of sci-fi drek.

      --
      I'd suggest you don't use Slashdot as your only news source, or you will suffer permanent brain damage.
    4. Re:What can come of this? by Stormie · · Score: 2

      This has nothing to do with the Sony/Nintendo/Square politics, but rather the fact that there are something like 50+ Million PS2s out there and only like 20 Million X-Box and Game Gubes (combined).

      Actually according to Nintendo's operating results, the numbers are more like 41.6 million PS2s, 6.7 million Gamecubes and 3.9 million Xboxes. So the numbers are even more in favour of the PS2 than you posited.

    5. Re:What can come of this? by Guppy06 · · Score: 2

      "This has nothing to do with the Sony/Nintendo/Square politics, but rather the fact that there are something like 50+ Million PS2s out there and only like 20 Million X-Box and Game Gubes (combined). While it might benefit them to release a version of FF11 for every console, given it has a subscription, it probably wouldn't be worthwhile for them to abandon the PS2."

      Alright, so my posts are beginning to sound like a broken record...

      Sony may have console dominance as of now (I'm tempted to say that all bets are off after this Christmas, though), Nintendo does have a wildcard in the form of the Game Boy Advance.

      As you mentioned before, Square is getting lazy, which is demonstrated by the way they have been releasing old games again (Anthology, Chronicles, etc...). IIRC, they were even talking about re-releasing VII, VIII and IX as DVD games for the PS2.

      However, I through VI are 2-D games, and nobody in their right minds would make 2-D games for a modern console (unless they were Miyamoto or something). Which leaves handhelds.

      They re-released I and II for the WonderSwan Color, but the WSC hardware just isn't up to playing SNES games. It may not even be up to an improved version of III. But even if it were equal to or even superior to the Game Boy Advance, the WSC has the major market disadvantage of not having the words "Game Boy" written on it. I'm thinking it will be at least another half-decade until anybody else is foolish enough to go up against the Game Boy legacy again.

      Square "needs" to get onto the Game Boy Advance if they still want to milk their old licenses for all they're worth (reminds me a bit of George Lucas). And Yamauchi, being the miserable (yet still lovable) curmudgeon that he is, won't let Square publish on the Game Boy Advance unless they also publish on the GameCube.

    6. Re:What can come of this? by devnull17 · · Score: 1

      The reason behind the creation of FFX-2 is not quite what you had in mind. Sales on the original FFX fell slightly short of expectations, and Square needs to make up the defecit somehow. Wonder why the new game will be set in the same locations as the original? HINT: It's not because they're not creative enough to come up with new ones.

      As for recent Enix games, what have you seen? I just finished playing Grandia Xtreme, and after seeing how badly Enix bastardized that series, I hope they NEVER, EVER get their hands on a Final Fantasy title. Or DQ7? Ugh. Valkyrie Profile was decent and Star Ocean has its share of merits, but I maintain that these games cannot touch many of Square's better works. FFX is one of the best RPG's I've seen on any system, ever. And did you actually play Kingdom Hearts? Yes, it's sickeningly Disneyfied. But despite that, it still manages to be a very engrossing and even entertaining game.

      As for shifting away from story and world, I don't quite see what you mean. Stories in RPG's have been getting more complex and developed, not less so. It's very possible for storytelling and stunning visuals to coexist. I hear your argument a lot from a multitude of people, but I still don't see anything to back it. FFX was every bit as deep and rich as FFVI. And speaking of good stories, how about DQ7? (snicker) Is that what you'd call an indicator that the industry is on the right track?

    7. Re:What can come of this? by Aerog · · Score: 2

      they'd only attract fans of the FF series, who would immediately be disappointed that the movie had nothing to do with any of the games AT ALL

      I think any true fan of the FF series would realize that it would have nothing to do with the games, just like the games don't really have anything to do with each other.

      not been as crappy as FF10 or Kingdom Hearts.

      I can't say anything about Kingdom Hearts, but I personally really enjoyed FFX. I don't know how well the sequel will go over, but that remains to be seen. If it turns out to be a fun game, then by all means go for it.

      --

      - Relativistic? That's barely Newtonian!
    8. Re:What can come of this? by samdu · · Score: 2

      Um. As a huge fan of FFX, I, for one, am awaiting X-2 with bated breath. I DO want to play in that universe again. And what of FFXI and XII? They are obviously not ignoring, either financially or developmentally, new games. Hell, I'd assume that they've sunk more money into XI than any other FF ever. It'll be the first online FF (which is one reason I'm not all that interested in it - FF should be a single player experience). Putting everything in place that needs to be there has got to be costing them a fortune in money and programmers. Hell, I even liked Kingdom Hearts, but wish that some aspects of it had been different (I got really tired of turning around and seeing Goofy's mouth-breathing head or Donald Duck's ass - but I figure Disney required they be onscreen all the time).

  73. Um, Kingdom Harts is good by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I don't know how you can say Kingdom Hearts was crappy. Have you played it? It's an amazing game. Not too difficult, and it takes maybe 1/2 to 2/3 the amount of time to beat as a typical Square RPG, but it was still fun.

    And yeah, I was a little disappointed that the Square characters had smaller parts than the Disney characters (aside from the main character), but what do you expect from the big mouse? Of course they were going to try to steal the spotlight.

    And they are just now coming out with Kingdom Hearts International, which is basically the American version but with jap subs. Must not have done too well if they think they can make people buy a second copy .

    1. Re:Um, Kingdom Harts is good by May+Kasahara · · Score: 1

      >And they are just now coming out with Kingdom Hearts International, which is basically the American version but with jap subs. Must not have done too well if they think they can make people buy a second copy . On the contrary, I would think that Kingdom Hearts would've had to do very well to merit an "International" version of the game (some years ago, the American FF7 was rereleased as FF7 International...

    2. Re:Um, Kingdom Harts is good by Guppy06 · · Score: 2

      "And they are just now coming out with Kingdom Hearts International, which is basically the American version but with jap subs. Must not have done too well if they think they can make people buy a second copy ."

      You're assuming that people bought it because it was a good game. People bought Kingdom Hearts for the very same reasons people went to go see Phantom Menace. Heck, they were made for the same reason: to whore a profitable IP line for all it's worth.

  74. Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely? by greymond · · Score: 1

    With this merger you will have 1 game company that caters to at least 90% of all the RPG fans in both America (sqr. Sft.) and Japan (Enix). You also get a company that has great relations with both Sony (PS2 Sqr. Sft.) and Nintendo (GCube Enix). Not to mention this would weeken any hold/influence Sony has with the new company and might allow Enix-Square-Soft to even make games for the X-Box.

    I just hope they don't get to cocky and start fucking people over. As well as I would be at a lost as to what to expect if they ever discontinued either series (FF or DQ/W) and created a new series Final Quest? Dragon Fantasy?

  75. Re:SHUT UP FAG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    From the 'Helpful Information Department'

    Having sex with your sister does not constitute having a girlfriend. Thank you and goodnight.

  76. YES!!! by Kyundrion · · Score: 1

    This is a glorious day indeed! Gamers who love the RPG genre, rejoyce! Finally, the great company that brought us Final Fantasy, and the other great company that brought us Dragon Quest, Star Ocean, etc. will be one! How I thought this day would never come! Just imagine! Perhaps we will have a game with a Final Fantasy-style story, combined with the awesome gameplay and battle system of something like Star Ocean! This is truly a good day for the RPG world!

  77. Oh, Sephie by Ayanami+Rei · · Score: 1

    Sephiroth, goddamn i want you so bad... ::blushes::

    --
    THIS THING CAN TURN ON A DIME, MACROSSZERO STYLE ALSO FUCK BETA, ~NYORON
  78. so by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it'll still suck.
    and so do you

  79. Yay! by Arcaeris · · Score: 1

    For all the Square bashing and virtual disappearance from Enix in the US game market, I'm really excited to see this.

    From Square: Kingdom Hearts was good. Reminded me a lot of the Seiken Densetsu series (number 2 was Secret of Mana) and was leagues better than Legend of Mana. FFX was good, too, though more of a playable movie. I mean, when every scene involves talking to everyone until you talk to the right person and transition to FMV, you feel like you have no part except for slaying monsters. The rest of the Final Fantasies weren't that great. So Enix can put some development effort (which they have a lot of) into Square. There's a reason that their games can only be released on weekends and holidays in Japan. Definitely a good thing.

    For Enix: They have so little penetration here anymore, it's ridiculous. How many people bought/played Dragon Warrior 7? (or even 5 and 6, but in Japanese) I did, and they were marvelous. Dragon Warrior 7 took *easily* 80 hours to complete and was a fantastic game. They just need more of an influence here, and more releases, which Square certainly has in abundance.

    Everyone's waiting for Enix to bring another great game here, and also waiting for Square to release a great game (to rival FFVI). This merger will hopefully bring this all to fruition, and should usher in a golden age of console RPGs unseen since the days of the SNES.

  80. the best by jbmoll · · Score: 1

    Final Fantasy is the best game ever No Donkey Kong is best game ever Donkey Kong sucks No YOU Suck

    --
    J Moll - PC Load Letter - I know what it means!-
    1. Re:the best by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry. Mortal Kombat for Sega Genesis holds that title... Its sad that I recognize that line...

    2. Re:the best by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      -1, Schizophrenic

  81. Errr...that's a load of crap. by Jayde+Stargunner · · Score: 4, Informative

    Enix had little to nothing to do with Chrono Trigger. Square hired a character designer that was currently under contract with Enix (who, by and large is msotly known for his Dragon Ball work), therefore Yuji Horii was involved in the approval process.

    Kazuhiko Aoki is an employee of Squaresoft, and has been involved in many Final Fantasy games--the most recent being Final Fantasy IX, I believe.

    Many people in the "Dream Team" room are nothing more than a marketing ploy, and had little to nothing to do with the actual content of the game.

    Horii and Sakaguchi played little more than "rubber stamp" roles in the production of the game. Nobuo Uematsu, while a talented composer, had almost nothing to do with the soundtrack--only composing 2 songs, if I remember correctly.

    The main roles in the production of an RPG are:
    Director
    Producer
    Scenario Writer

    Executive Producer or Supervisor titles are usually reserved for company executives which played little role in the development of the game itself.

    One of the more integral members of the Chrono Trigger team that was not mention was Masatou Kato, at well... And any site which is doing an analysis of the CT staff and does not mention him at all is questionable at best. ;-)

    -Jayde

    --
    What's a sig?
    1. Re:Errr...that's a load of crap. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      " Enix had little to nothing to do with Chrono Trigger. Square hired a character designer that was currently under contract with Enix (who, by and large is msotly known for his Dragon Ball work), therefore Yuji Horii was involved in the approval process."

      Jeez, is "Akira Toriyama" really that hard to spell?

    2. Re:Errr...that's a load of crap. by PyroMosh · · Score: 1

      At the risk of making myself look foolish, well...

      Yes, it is.

  82. New Name by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the new name will be "eSquared"

  83. square + Enix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Enix**Squared?

  84. Welcome to Slashdot by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Welcome to Slashdot - a fantasy land wherein thoughtful, informed comments such as yours receive no replies because nobody can relate to what you write, even as everyone is busy replying to all the other superficial, idiotic, mundane, childish things that others write.

    That's what happens when Malda quits the race when he's ahead coming out of the first turn. He could have done so much more - we can pretend, anyway.

    And no, I didn't misspell any words so I don't need that useless, goddamned message about how, well, I should have used preview.

  85. tunes by EEgopher · · Score: 1

    I remember when I bought NES Dragon Warrior for $80. And so shortly after, my friend had FFII for the SNES. So here we combine two facets: Enix had the guts to release Dragon Warrior first (I'm talking about U.S. sales), and it was well-loved. Square, on the other hand, incorporated the fantastic multi-player facet, as well as gorgeous sweeping melodies for all the different castles, towns, etc. The music is completely what made me a Square fan. If they do anything with this merger, it would be wise to keep their Square music team on board. Anyone agree?

    --
    hi, I like pancakes -.-- -.-- --..
  86. Above all remember this: by EEgopher · · Score: 1

    Setzer has the world's fastest airship.

    --
    hi, I like pancakes -.-- -.-- --..
  87. Nintendo Power by venadium · · Score: 1

    Anyone else here receive Dragon Warrior with their early subscription to Nintendo Power? (I think around 1990)

    1. Re:Nintendo Power by Babbster · · Score: 1

      No, but Dragon Warrior was the first game I bought for my NES. It was the first console RPG I really loved...we had something special together, Dragon Warrior and I...that doesn't sound weird, does it?

    2. Re:Nintendo Power by oRdchaos · · Score: 1

      yes

  88. 15% of Sqenix Sounds by Nazmun · · Score: 1

    Pretty good i think

    For every one stock of square is worth .81 enix stock so it's over 15%.

    19% of square versus 15% of Square Enix or Enix Square.

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    Hmmm... Pie...
  89. What's so worrying? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ...Square fanboys fearing that this may ruin their favorite RPG company...

    Ruin it? IMO, Square haven't released a decent game since the FF6/Chrono Trigger era.

    Hopefully this merger will force them to review their policy on 'what makes a quality RPG', as sections have been lost (or ignored) for some time.

  90. 3 words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Dragon Warrior Five

    1. Re:3 words by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      ...and Ogre Battle!!!

  91. Dragon Warrior 2 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I remember shelling out like 60 bucks for that one when it came out, and adjusted for inflation, that was alot of cash for a game.

    I wasn't disappointed DW2 rocked! It had the entire map of part one in the game(though slightly scaled down).

    Been a long time since i was that excited about playing a video game. I figured the japanese not giving us the SNES DW games meant they were still pissed about world war II

  92. Re:Those who burn their Karma for the good of othe by Alsee · · Score: 2

    Those who burn their Karma for the good of others

    hehe, thanx :)

    I knew I was gonna get slaughtered on moderation. I thought about including an explanation or disclaimer, but hate spoiling a good joke that way.

    Offtopic=1, Troll=2, Underrated=1

    One out of four got it, better than I expected :D

    -

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    - - You can't take something off the Internet! That's like trying to take pee out of a swimming pool.
  93. Will the website now be maintained? by Mr.+Bubbles712 · · Score: 1

    I swear, I have never seen a website for a company/product that has been so poorly maintained than square's I wonder if the new company will be able to find people that notonly reboot the servers, but also ADD CONTENT THAT IS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS OLD!!!!

    --
    Alas, poor clippy, I loath him so.
  94. In other big console RPG news... by Guppy06 · · Score: 2

    Sega just released Phantasy Star Collection (I through III) for the Game Boy Advance.

  95. Re:Those who burn their Karma for the good of othe by PyroMosh · · Score: 1

    Actually, I got your referance, but I didn't get the parent reference. It wasn't until I went back and looked at it again looking for a ghostbusters reference that I remembered the line.

  96. Final Fantasy 6 by xenofalcon · · Score: 1

    OC ERAUQS XINE SI DLROW EHT

    Doesn't have the same ring to it, sorry.

  97. Last Post! by alpg · · Score: 1

    Well, since MS cant be sure of the username of someone downloading
    things, they are going to play it safe and have everything dowloaded
    and executed by Explorer as suid root. That way, it will run on ANY
    system anywhere. :)
    -- George Bonser

    - this post brought to you by the Automated Last Post Generator...