Square Enix on Xbox 360 = Big In Japan

The two companies have been talking for a long time, but Square Enix continually shuns Microsoft. It's no secret that Microsoft has done well in the console gaming sector. The company came out strong with the first Xbox and challenged Nintendo for the number two spot. With the Xbox 360, the company has garnered itself a one year head start against competition from Sony and Nintendo, and is looking to make a strong run at holding the number one spot. However, there is one area where Microsoft has been severely lacking and that hasn't changed at all from the Xbox to the Xbox 360. We're talking about Japan and support from Japanese third party companies.

There are a lot of Japanese companies who are offering solid support for the Xbox 360, but there are still several who seem to be hesitant about support. The primary company of focus here is Square Enix. In all honesty, it doesn't matter if Devil May Cry 4 is exclusive to the Xbox 360, or if Microsoft can secure Metal Gear Solid 4 for the 360. The Japanese gaming audience is shifted by two game series: Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. If Microsoft were able to secure an exclusive on a current Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest title within the main series, the announcement alone would move Xbox 360 consoles in Japan.

[clayton]

Who cares about the Jap's, 99% of their games are lame. Anyone who can watch cartoons have sex for pleasure, has serious issues.

[Anerythristic26]

That's pretty rude. Ha

[OutLaw]

But nothing more than what if. How about this what if. What if MS gets an exclusive right to Kingdom Hearts. Why not, that game has a mix of our cartoon characters with their type of game characters. It probably would sell 360s for MS. Because at the moment there will never be an exclusive Final Fantasy game for the 360. It seems we will only get that game if 1) Square Enix have a falling out with Sony 2) the PS3 is to risky to make for. 3) MS gets the game a year later or more than Sony. But I feel Kingdom Hearts could be the answer.

[Silver360]

The only way MS will get and exclusive RPG of the Dragon Quest or Final Fantasy type is if they buy square enix. Then half the staff might quit anyway. Really this has to come down to market forces. If the 360 outsells the PS3 outside of Japan signifigantly, then they will have to make those games for it. Square is too big of a company to just depend on the japanese market. They are only doing what is in their best interest right now.

[Anerythristic26]

The only way this will happen is if 360 is the Negt Gen console leader. The Japanese really want the 360 to fail , I am not a conspiracy theorist but I don't think it's even about the games anylonger. They don't buy it because it is a western piece of tech. It is really sad that we gobble thier systems and games up , no matter how childish the games may be and they don't return the favor. Really this all has to do with the trade deficet , look at that at least between Japan and the U.S. and U.K. and it will help you understand why they don't want the 360; they don't want ANY of our products. Oh well, I guess you can say we are being the bigger people.

[Daewoodrow]

yeah, I hear you. I'm not accusing the Japanese of being malicious or snobbish, but they have a strong sense of national pride. They feel they lead the market on technology, it's drummed into them, as it is drummed into Americans and consequently the English.

So, they feel they should wait for the Japanese technology before buying.

Whilst the Americans and English lap up their technology because of the partially false impression we have that everything Japansese is amazing. Hey, their technology is amazing, but only because it is their main source of trade in the country. America trades more in other areas, making technological progress somewhat slower.

[OutLaw]

Both of you bring up very good points. Some people would say it's not true but it is. When it comes to technology they don't want to believe that other countries could be good at that. But when it comes to music and fast food places. I feel they don't feel so threaten so they except it. Maybe it's more about pride than being bias towards us.

[REDMOND BOYZZ]

CORRECT! knowing the Japanese culture more than the average American I can say thats pretty dam close to the truth.

[silent ninja]

you guys bring up good points, BUT also i think that MS doesn't understand the japanese market.they have to adapt to japanese culture especially in the gaming business i heard that when mcdoland went over their they had to change their menues so that it can fit to what japanese like and they succeseded. MS had to do the same change their policy towards gaming
i'm talking about bringing other genres and promoting them not only FPS .i mean look at the xbox 360 its shame that their only two RPGs
oblivion and enchanted arms these are were supposed to be luanch titles which makes me wonder if MS had games for early 2006.so ms needs to constatly deliver games not one game in 3 months

peace

[riot9]

Personally, I do feel that Microsoft is adapting. They're doing everything they can to win the support of Japanese developers. They have a lot of good looking games in development right now by Japanese developers.
On a side note, I lived in Japan for two years, and the menu at McDonalds is the same as the US, except for two specialty items that come around once or twice a year (much like the specialty items in the US depending on your location).
I think Outlaw and Daewoodrow hit on some truth in their postings.

[Anerythristic26]

I actually want to comment on the release dates of 360 games. I agree with the 1 game released every 3 months issue. I do want to make a prediction regarding this though. My prediction is games in this generation for both systems will not release at the pace they did during the XBOX / PS2 era. I think it will never be like that again. I think we will see good months here and there where 2 or 3 new games launch , then a month with nothing so on and so forth.

[Sphinx]

I haven't been a huge fan lately, FFVII and FFIX and FFX were good, but I loved I-III (american versions). They've changed from what I liked them for... oh well, I understand the need for Square Enix for Japan, but I could really care less.

[shotty]

Drop Final Fantasy and create a new IP. They are already on the 12th or 13th? Enough is Enough, people need something new.

[EVER OLVERA]

Personally I really don't care about MS efforts in Japan. MS has a clear one year advantage in the USA, Europe, Australia, Canada, and so on. It is obviously apparent that the Japanese gamer has VERY different taste in games. I remember ready an article about American companies and the success they've had in the far east. Starbuck's Coffee in the most widely used coffee house in Japan despite the fact that Japan have their own Japanese coffee house's. The most widely used operating system in Japan is non-other than MS's Windows. If I recall correctly even Wal-Mart is considered to be widely used by the Japanese consumer and even considered a kick-back spot. So I say that Japan isn't all that necessarily closed. But the Videogame industry is another story. Personally, since the birth of the Playstation, I've bared witness to hundreds and hundreds of inspired Japanese games and in my opinion 85% of those games were total GARBAGE. Even to this day when I read game magazine's like GI, EGM, Gamepro, etc, they review Japanese inspired games and the majority of those games are given a less than satisfactory rating. I often wonder if masterpieces like FEAR, Half Life 2, Halo 2, Doom 3, and even Jade Empire, have had any success in Japan? The fact is MS is doing their part, they have acquired exclusive titles from upcoming Japanese developers like MistWalkers and Q Entertainment. Even if MS fails again in Japan, MS should pamper and taylor to the massive force that got them were they are; the North American market and the rest of the world (excluding Japan).

[THELANDSOFSAND]

I think if sony flop from the PS3 then Square Enix will sink with them. Their loyalty to sony is extreme, and there is no way they will be give the xbox any exclusive final fantasy's. And without mario or ff, japan is a near impossible gaming market for a console. its been that way for 20 years in japanese gaming.
if you want the new title in a japanese game series, buy a PS3 or wii. if you want some new original japanese games buy a 360.

[ahmedbagoun]

i agree with you that japenese people like their products and trust them more than other products. But the problem is for them the 360 is not a master piece, they don't like the games that we consider great, and that's why alot of japenese developers don't develop for MS because their games are not going to sell, simply because not alot of japenese people own 360's, and thats why i believe sony will win, they have the support of all the sides (japs,americans) which will result in way more games.

[PS360PCROCKS]

I

[PS360PCROCKS]

I could care less about square enix or final fantasy I hate that game, they need to pull their heads out and make something original rather than make what the 99th final fantasy game? I hope if Microsoft is getting anything it will be something new, refreshing and not so overplayed as FF