In an interview with CNET Japan, Square Enix president Youichi Wada talked about his company's future strategy and the state of the game industry, saying all segments (software, hardware as well as the arcade business) are performing very well.
Asked about the three new consoles, Wada explained, "The Wii is the antithesis of the Xbox 360. (Xbox 360) is strictly for hardcore gamers. The attachment rate for the Xbox 360 is much higher than for the Wii. People who buy the 360 really like games... I think the current trend is that most people aren't buying the Wii as a game machine, but as a toy... It seems that Sony isn't sure what it wants to do. Is it making high-end electronics or a game console for gamers? I want them to clearly define their console."
Wada disputed his interviewer's suggestion that Square Enix had recently released a lot of sequels and remakes, "It's not that we are not investing in new franchises. It's necessary to do new games, franchises and remakes. With remakes, we're trying to expand the outlook of that world. If you look at our profits, franchises are 60 percent of our business, while new IPs are 40 percent. There's a misconception that we rely only on Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, while these titles only make half of our business. It's just that people keep asking for new installments."
In addition, Wada also talks about downloadable content, the future of the retail business, Square Enix's position in the game center business, Taito (a Japanese arcade developer owned by Square Enix), and the company's future.
[ Notes: The original source is Japanese. See RPGFans.com and alternative sources for different English summaries. Translated quotes are lifted from Kotaku. ]
Plenty of unforgettable games have completely messed up their players throughout the years, all the way back from the PS1 days to the dark recesses of the modern internet.
With so many games fighting for players' attention and interest losing out over time, time sink games are at risk of eventually losing steam.
It was worrisome to begin with.
It's a niche genre with only a handful of hits that can stand the test of time.
I like the sound of that!! I will for sure never support these gaas games.
Sony must be shocked at gamer's reaction, making them cancel a few of these and hopefully go back to the good heavy hitters they had us used to..
now bring on that PSPro reveal and show us some SP 1st party awesomeness.
It's pretty ridiculous.
Imagine having a breadth of data at your disposal to see the statistically low success rate of these games, only to be laser focused on the exceptional case studies.
Only a few will catch on. You need a perfect storm to be successful in GaaS and a bit of luck on top of that. But a potential cash cow will keep them trying and some will go out of business because of it.
Helldivers 2 manages just fine…
Keep production costs low… don’t just make custscenes until the mechanics and enemies are perfected first.
Make so much content that you can drip extra content for years, and the game already feels complete without them.
Most importantly: make weapons, enemies, levels, and mechanics that will stand the test of 1000 hours. This might require more devs embracing procedurally generated leveled, which I think separates Helldivers 2 from Destiny’s repetitiveness.
Nameer from eXputer: "Some exceptions aside, I don't think the battle pass is a net positive for gaming with how they're implemented in most live service titles."
I like the way Helldivers 2 does battle passes. It allows you to make purchases on each level of the battle pass and gives you the option of choosing which item to unlock first. The more purchases you make using medals the further you progress. There is no timer and you can earn medals towards purchasing stuff via personal orders and Major orders.
I haven't played much live service games that have battle passes but I remember some games that have battle passes where you progress through it linearly using an exp system. What makes it really bad is that the battle pass will have like 50 or more levels with the cooler stuff being closer to the end. They also have an in-game shop that sells exp boosters so you can reach the end of the pass before it refreshes. Everyone ilse will have to grind their way through.
battle pass in fortnite is perfect; buy one and it buys the rest for every other season as it gives you more money than the first cost. so 8.50 and season ends with you getting 13.00, it pays for the next and you have some pocket change to save up for cash shop. All of which is optional
He said: "It seems that Sony isn't sure what it wants to do. Is it making high-end electronics or a game console for gamers? I want them to clearly define their console."
I say: It's both!
From the interview, it seems as if he's saying that if the path each system is taking doesn't change...they'll start to develop much more for the 360 and much less for the other systems.
The flaw with that is that I think many of the "hardcore" 360 owners aren't into JRPGs nearly as much as the "hardcore" PS3 owners. (hardcore in quotes, because I think the term is overused and meaningless in most cases)
Also, I'm sure the PS3 will sell many many more units by the time the SE games start coming out on the system. And hopefully Wii owners support SE by buying the new FF:CC game (I really think they made it just to test the Wii waters).
I think this was true before. But now Sony it getting their game on.
I look around and I see Warhawk expansion coming for PS3 in December, I see Unreal Tournamnent III bringing some seriously online play for PS3 in December.
Prices are getting better. I say the PS3 is a gaming machine. The PS3 knows what it wants to be now and 2008 will further prove it.
Are you gonna hold it against PS3 because it allows people to have high defintion playback? It it a high Defintion console, to have the best experience, HDTV is recommended.
I'm sorry but PS3 is headed in the right direction now. In a way they were almost lucky that they fell off their horse so early with horrible sales. Got them grounded back to reality.
this is very old... He said the same thing back in Sep, right before TGS... so, either he's on repeat or this is old. Take your pick.
Social gaming is key" its just not hardcore gamers its the world arcade scene thats very popular with harcore and casual social gamers alike(Lots of hybrid AAA's don't hurt either).
Square Enix needs games that are somewhat grounded(western taste) and they need to show the West they want to please us instead of making half assed attempts for the west. Support Western markets even on western hardware thats the first step I'v read something like this before they wan't to expand.
Their Japanese arrogance is greater than their innovation(no ones going to buy games on pedigree and legacy anymore).