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Square Enix President Looks To Online Play

Posted by Zonk on from the where-it's-at dept.

Gamespot has a story detailing comments by Square Enix president Youichi Wada. In the article, they touch on the fact that Square is going to be increasingly looking to online play in their future games. From the article: "Wada predicted that online games will be Square Enix's main source of income in the future. 'I think that over half of our income and profit will be based on network content [including games] by 2008 or 2009.'"

3 of 44 comments (clear)

  1. This could be cool by DuckofDeath87 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If they dont make many MMORPGs.
    There simply is not the market for many of them at all. Unless there is one flat fee to play all square-enix mmorpgs.

    Even then, I prepher the D2 and UT style online play. Where players have their own servers and it is free to play online.

    If that is the case. Then this is awsome. I would love it if they made a game like that for the DS. Or just an old school-esque FF game with online play.

    From what I have heard about FFXII an optional online mode like D2 could be great.

    1. Re:This could be cool by Datamonstar · · Score: 2, Interesting

      That's how I read this article. Less console single player games, more online games. Bah! I don't mind this at all, unless the focus on multiplayer degrades the quality, or quantity, of single player console games. Networked gaming is great, but I really hope that it isn't the complete "future" of gaming. Financial issues aside, there is still the possibility of paying for something for which you may or may not be able to consume 100% of the content of.
      As it is right now I can max my characters and find ever item/secret in the game, but I'd have to pay a monthly fee and compete with 1000's of others to do that under an online model.
      Online gaming is not the equivilant replacement for single play.

      --
      The eternal struggle of good vs. evil begins within one's self.
  2. Well... by computertheque · · Score: 2, Interesting

    If this is how they want to change their business structure, that's fine. It does seem strange that a company that has acquired much profit from offline games would make this decision.

    It just comes down to direction. Nintendo is trying something different, so it isn't too shocking that Square-Enix is as well. The most shocking thing that both are doing are turning away from proven forms of capital.