Square: Japan's game industry 'almost xenophobic'

Square's Yoichi Wada calls for an end to Japan's 'closed environment', adds that Square Enix may acquire more Western groups.

Excerpt: "As Square Enix expands its presence in the West with the £84.3 million acquisition of Eidos, global president Yoichi Wada has criticised Japan's development culture for being too inwardly-focused."

[JonahFalcon]

ALMOST xenophobic?

[DelbertGrady]

Indeed.

[Marceles]

I'd pay £84.3 million just to hear Wada say the word Xenophobic

[Captain Tuttle]

I laughed because it's true.

[Baka-akaB]

Sounds more like a spoiled brat crying "why dont you buy my games on 360 ? "

Worst thing is it goes beyond platform war , currently besides FFXIII wich looks marvelous AND interesting and good portable stuff , they mostly release crap .

[Bathyj]

I laughed because it's true.

[callahan09]

He's just realizing this now? Psssh. I won't argue it now and I wouldn't have argued it 10 years ago. Of course Japan's game industry is 'almost xenophobic.' If he'd realized this 3 years ago, maybe Square would have actually released a PS3 game by now instead of focusing all their efforts to the 360 and selling mediocre at best.

[FarEastOrient]

Forgive Wada-san, he is slow to change and moving, just look at their commitment to producing Xbox 360 games at a lost especially in their own country and abroad. Capcom has already beaten Square Enix to the punch in getting Western developers to team up or have teams developing games for them.

[Marceles]

lol bathy...I swear he didn't say that word, they HAD to make that up. If he did I gotta hear the audio interview.

[locos85]

Square is slowly drowning themselves.

[rockleex]

Yoichi Wada's conclusion:

We need to make more western games.

-_-"

[ThaGeNeCySt]

Xenerophobery. I'm sure that's how he said it

[rockleex]

“In the last five to 10 years, the Japanese games industry has become a closed environment, with no new people coming in, no new ideas, almost xenophobic. It is now slightly behind western counterparts,” Wada said.

So because Japanese developers haven't been innovating much, you conclude that you need to imitate western games??!?!?

What the hell is wrong with you!!! >_<

A mediocre game is mediocre no matter if its a Japanese type of game or Western type of game. Stop using BS excuses to explain your sad list of games this generation.

If you want to innovate or bring new ideas to your games, you can still do it while maintaining Japanese influence. We don't want to play another run-of-the-mill World War 2 first person shooter game.

What we'd REALLY want to play is a Japanese first person shooter game but with Ninjas, Samurais, and robots with customizable perks and some other crazy stuff!

[n to the b]

rockleex I like you & your comments on n4g but you said you'd like to see customizable perks which I believe are from western games (COD4 and Fallout 3).

of course, those customizable perks are basically rpg elements in our shooters; and rpgs are traditionally Japan's area of expertise. I see what you mean that incorporating western styles shouldn't HAVE to happen to make good games but I still think it's better when we all play together, y'know?

[Naucious]

i didnt read the article so i wont even comment but u guys response to " XENOPHOBIC" is pretty funny lmao

I had to sit back and think about it, and the more i said the word it became funnier by the second.... he must have been playing xenogears or something lmaoo

great game by the way so i dont blame him

[rockleex]

Perks came from RPG elements.

But the point is that Western devs took an old idea and renewed it! There's nothing wrong with them taking ideas from RPG games, because in the end it helped propel their game forward.

The point I was trying to make is that you can take influence from Western games(such as FPS) and implement it into your Japanese games. You don't have to go and make an all out Western game like Call of Duty or something. A Japanese FPS with Samurais and Ninjas, etc would be much more refreshing if done right.

But look at what we get from Square Enix instead. Another mediocre run-of-the-mill World War 2 airplane shooting game or whatever. -_-"

Nothing new or refreshing... AT ALL.

[menoyou]

yea EVERYTHING is a phobia these days. if you dont like something YOURE A PHOBIC. dont like gays? YOU HAVE A PROBLEM CALLED HOMOPHOBIA!! dont like XBOX? OH YOU HAVE XBOXPHOBIA!

you people disgust me

[n to the b]

I agree, true.

[GUNS N SWORDS]

because the Western population is so large they can make a 2nd or 3rd rate game and still sell a few hundred thousand units, whereas if these 2nd or 3rd rate games were made for eastern gamers it would probably just barely make 50 thousand units. (which is bad for the developers cause that could cut into the company's budget, possibly effecting the budget of their good titles)

[Statix]

You know, if the head of Squaresoft knows the words "Xenogears" and "Xenosaga," why WOULDN'T he know the word "xenophobia," or at least the Japanese equivalent of it?

[IcarusOne]

It's not exactly a surprise. But I'm more surprised by the reactions on the forum. And some of the comparisons being made are totally absurd.

Just because Wada calls for a more open atmosphere doesn't mean we're going to get Call Of Duty: Dance Dance Remix. The more you guys sound off against this, the more xenophobic you sound yourselves.

New ideas are always a good thing.

[G4Chicks]

this might be stupid but who was president before this wada guy?
i still remember squaresoft before the acquisition. now they made some memorable rpgs. there are also some gems from square enix but squaresoft gets it from me

[PirateThom]

Wada took over as President during the merger and was President of Squaresoft.

Not sure when he took over at Squaresoft though.

[njr]

It's their fault for shafting their customers.

Releasing crap no one likes exclusively on 360 is killing two birds with one stone. People buying their games won't enjoy it, and PS3 owners will be disappointed for not having it in the first place.

[XxZxX]

WADA, "I failed not because i incompetent but it's the japanese fault. We can made a console but when we failed, it's the customer's fault."

[evrfighter]

lol wow. Sony fans sure can hold a grudge. I wonder how many death threats he received when they announced ff13 multiplat.

there's a whole lotta butthurt goin on in here.

[Megaton]

I call for an end to Yoichi Wada. Come on angry mob, we've got a job to do.

[97gsx]

He will most likely bring an end to square enix. The stupidity of this man who releases game after game for the 360 but ignores the ps3 which will probably sell more demos of ff13 then any square 360 game released in japan. yea microsoft probably covers all development costs but profits are too small to justify alienating the target demographic. Blah Blah I enjoy my 360 but I know a FF7 sequel or remake isnt possible since sony owns the publishing rights.

[Megaton]

I'm not even speaking on the 360/PS3 crap he pulls, it's just the level of quality in that company has been completely flushed down the crapper. Anything Square has made for the 360 is mediocre at best, and all their other resources seem to be clogged up in portable filler or Final Fantasy XIII/vXIII. They're unrecognizable as the same company that made the must-play classics on the SNES/PS1/PS2. It's f*cking pitiful.

[97gsx]

Square always had duds remember tobal no#1 or chocobo racing 1-99. Its just been worse recently because of shoestring budgets.

[SaiyanFury]

Tobal #1 was an awesome game with great fighting mechanics. Square-Enix's focus on the west is clearly alienating them in the east. Simple numbers show that. Sure, them releasing something Final Fantasy guarantees them sales, but beyond FF there's little for the Japanese audience to adopt.

[Bathyj]

Yes Tobal 1 was awesome. Tobal 2 was said to be a masterpiece but we never got it in the west.

[ry-guy]

I thought the Bouncer was a solid game from Square back on the PS1 but people thought that was another dud from them.

[Marceles]

Tobal No. 1 was classic, not to mention the FF7 demo with it.

I liked the Bouncer too (for obvious reasons, check avatar), but I was still disappointed that it didn't turn out the way it was advertised. The first trailer had interactive environments where you can throw enemies through tables and kick them off the railings and the rails would break...and a cinematic camera that even showed bullet time while the girl was jump kicking a guy, but the final game just turned out being a basic beat-em-up. The graphics were still amazing for its time though and to me that made up for what was lacking.

[locos85]

Bouncer was a game on PS2. I think it was a launch game. But that game was mediocre, I couldn't get passed the first couple of hours becuase the games was too bland. Liked the idea though.

[Chris Hansen]

Ironic coming from the same guy that only wants his internal development to make Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest spinoffs. There is no hope for Square as long as this guy remains CEO. Square-Enix just wasted £84.3 million buying a sinking ship.

[JonahFalcon]

You might notice Square-Enix is experimenting with different genres right now.

Even more interesting is the way they keep hyping the Thief franchise lately...

[madkrazygames]

you know I was saying the same thing, why the hell would Square purchase eidos?

[PopEmUp]

I wonder why Squar-enix do exclusive games for the 360, if it is they want to expand their company to the western market. Since PS3 is also very well known both across Europe and America.

This seem to be ridiculous I have to say, if they want more money why the heck don't they make their games multiplatform, not doing exclusively to one platform. If Microsoft actually writing a check for them, but I still wonder why they still losing money, I meant WTF is going on here?

[Lucreto]

Japan will always be xenophobic. Recently they saud they are not going to renew any work visas to foreign workers in Japan. If Ryan Payton was still as Kojima Productions he would have to move to leave the company or set one up in the US.

This is their responce to the recession getting rid of foreign labour skilled and unskilled for Japanese workers. They expect this will help them with there many source of income exports which are down 85%.

edit- After reading the article I have to say he is right about the industry in Japan and explains why he is supporting the 360 this time round. He is trying to open the industry in Japan.

He has gained a few respect points but it still has lost a customer. I bought every SE game lost gen and most the gen before but not this gen.

[SpartanGR]

"After reading the article I have to say he is right about the industry in Japan and explains why he is supporting the 360 this time round. He is trying to open the industry in Japan"

Yeah your're right PS3 is exclusive to japan and only 360 is selling worldwide. Wake up! Square-Enix is in bed with ms because of big fat checks.

[Lucreto]

I used to believe that but no longer. If MS gave them money why did SE have a huge loss last quarter.

I agree he should have gone to a more multiplatform approach and not just try and give the 360 more of a market share in Japan. But if he did that no one will buy the 360 version in Japan.

Here is my blog about it. It is a little out of date but I will do another with updated facts.

http://www.n4g.com/up/16279...

[SpartanGR]

Why Square should care for 360 to spread in japan? They should do fine with ps3 and psp in their homeland and still support 360 in the USA/Europe territories. But the luck of support (of the ps3) in japan is further STRONG evidence of ms's big fat checks.

[Lucreto]

More money SE it moving towards the EA of Japan and like EA they want to publish under every format under the sun. But the 360 is doing poor in Japan and since MS came along they have sold over a million.

SE is trying to get more games profitable in Japan as most never see japan like for example kilzone 2 sold 34,000 day one. Which is good in Japan but more is needed. RPGs are the only things that sell in japan other than casual games nowadays. SE are trying to get new genres out and to get japan more open to them.

[kaveti6616]

I don't like to make generalizations but, well actually I do like to and I gotta say I can't really imagine an unskilled Japanese guy. The education system is very rigorous over there, and from what I hear, a lot of Japanese students commit suicide if they get bad grades in school because it brings dishonor to their families. Also, I don't blame Japan for taking these drastic measures by denying foreign workers because the recession has hit them much harder than I even thought. Japan's main business strategy since the restructuring after World War II has been to import raw materials and export high quality goods, especially technology. Currently, Japan's exports have declined to such low levels the economy is crippled. Japan needs to preserve the money and keep it in the Japanese GDP, so obviously native workers will be given preference.

[jessehaysfl]

well you should start to see japanese devs selling out to EA soon...

[jessehaysfl]

Mr hansen...eidos is a sinking ship? I was still hoping for a hitman sequel...

not disagreeing mr hansen just saying damn i hope i get a hitman sequel. next gen please not wii and ds bs.

[xg-ei8ht]

That sentence doesn't make any sense.

he ain't know that word. wtf.

Hillbilly talk is it.

is that how they talk,rofl.

[frictionini]

it's just an ass of an excuse of their recent failures. I wish that either this Wada guy resigns SE or Kitase and Nomura leaves SE and. That will make my day

[madkrazygames]

Square-enix definitely drop the ball this time around, every game they made up this point was below average. I agree with you Fictionini, he is making excuses, whether the western market is ahead of them or not, there's no reason why his company is making horrible games. I hope they have something to show at E3, if not, they're going to be in the same boat as Eidos.

[kewlkat007]

Just as when Phil Harrison also criticized that community and social gaming.

Japan really have no progressed like the Weest, when you take a look at the games...

Even Kojima hinted at it a while back "

Kojima: "Maybe I Should Quit Being Japanese""

http://www.1up.com/do/newsS...

[lonestarmt]

you missed the context of what kojima meant by that. He was talking about why the west don't open themselves up more to eastern style games. Saying to solve this maybe he should stop being japanese. 1up totally got it backwards.

I'm more sad about where the west is heading in gaming. Look at all the gears of war or call of duty rip offs out there. The best rpg last year from the west was a FPS/RPG hybrid.

Japan has tons of great games out and still coming. Square enix is just the company thats failing. Capcom, Atlus, nippon icchi, namco bandai, banpresto are all doing just fine. SE your games of late have just been bad or mediocre, thats why Japan hasn't been eating up your games like they have in the past.

[maniacmayhem]

"Capcom, Atlus, nippon icchi, namco bandai, banpresto are all doing just fine. SE your games of late have just been bad or mediocre"

I half agree with your statement, but I still think Wada is right on point,with the exception of Capcom, Japanese developers need to open up and start trying new things.

[Enate]

maniacmayhem It may be true they need to open up to new things but the last thing I want is them turning to western influence. If I wanted to play an FPS/RPG hybrid I'd play Fallout 3. We need the Japanese to do what they do an to do it better an not innovate for the sake of innovating but with a purpose. The Japanese J-RPG developers need to step it up no doubt but please to all the high heavens that ever existed don't do FIRST PERSON. I'm so sick of that genre I can't see straight an the last thing I need is it infecting my favorite genre.

I agree with what Kojima said at his GDC presentation about the western style of gaming depending highly on new technology. With that I think Square Enix's recent games have done just that, bringing in things like the UE3 engine. I for one don't think that is the solution, I do however think that J-RPGS need to get out of the water color kiddie look they have been stuck in lately. The main issue though obviously wasn't the graphics because if that was the case infinite undiscovery an The last rememnant would have been all the rage. There is obviously a reason people still play an love J-RPGS like FFVII, FFVIII, Xenogears, Suikoden II an so on.

I believe J-RPGS thrive on something completely different then the typical western RPG. Otherwise we still wouldn't be playing those games I mentioned above to this day. One of the biggest problems with the latest J-RPGS to me. Is that they have some of the weakest most predictable stories, Imitation western bland color pallets and have focused to much on the overall western look of games. Instead of focusing on the epic stories an amazing characters we have come to expect from the best J-RPGS of the of the PS1 era.

[lonestarmt]

your right, Japanese devs need to something new, however something new isn't taking old western ideas and implanting them into their games. They can't beat the west at their own game. They need to do what they do best. Besides I believe Japanese devs do try something new all the time. Shadow of the colossus, katamari damacy, noby noby boy, ace attorney, valkirya chronicles, knights of nightmare, no more heroes, okami, the list goes on and on. Several of them this year. Truth is the west really only came up with three ideas, shooting games (doom, gears of war), RTS (starcraft, civ 2), and MMO (everquest, wow)so I think its laughable when the west thinks the east is unoriginal. I want them to take something then make it Japanese like GTA turn into IMO the way better yakuza. I don't want it to work the other way around, because thats what the west devs are for. You can't change the way you do business and alienate your fan base and then blame THEM for your failure and bad decisions. Then you got the Japanese not buying it because its too western or not what they like, then the westerners like me who like Japanese games won't buy it, because its lost what made it different in the first place.

[kewlkat007]

KOJIMA "Unfortunately, overseas game production companies, which are well-funded and extremely skilled, have surpassed us by a couple of steps...It was once said that Japan molded the world's video game [industry], but that's becoming a thing of the past. Sad as it may be, it's the truth."
http://kotaku.com/390267/ko...

-Same as Squeenix...Another one recently

Kojima Wants To Work With Western Devs
http://www.escapistmagazine...

Another Quote

KOJIMA"There's a new trend in the West, which is a more software-based, technology-driven game design," he said. "In that sense, they overcome hurdles with software technology itself. For example, ideas like being able to run wherever you want with no loading screens, or being able to ride any vehicle in the game, or being able to destroy everything you see."

"In the future of Kojima Productions, I want to mix the Western and Japanese way of designing."

-Everything ties in to what many are saying about Japanese game development. Phil Harrison probably got the boot for speaking up about vision, over there at Sony.

[lonestarmt]

right in that part he wasn't talking about great games coming out of Japan he was talking about how it used to be a monopoly from Japan for games. Not so anymore. He wasn't saying there wasn't a place anymore for Japanese games, he was just saying now the west has gotten it together and is way ahead for graphic engines. Thats why square was buying the rights to use the unreal engine. This gen at first the west pumped out a lot more games and set the bar for visual graphics. It always takes several years for the Japanese to catch up. Instead of doing what they always do and built it from the ground up like they did with FF7, FF10, and FF13. They cut corners and pumped out games too fast and their product suffered. Normally Japan is ahead of the curve that way, this time my guess since 360 came out first, the west had the templates and the game engine. Now fun factor, originality, and game design is a way different story. Read the whole article and not the one cut from the anti-sony/japan website kotaku.

Kojima has always loved the west and how they have done games/movies. He says that the west has influenced alot of his games. Metal gear was inspired by escape from NY/LA movies. He has always wanted to work with the west. Since his snatcher days. There is no reason you can't acknowledge one without saying the other sucks or doesn't have a place anymore. lol Now if miyomoto or nomura says it then its a bigger deal.

Also Phil left because he got a job at atari, he quit actually, but I don't see what that has to do with if the Japanese are xenophobic or not.

[THUNDERMARE]

But it is still illogical to give xbox 360 exclusive treatment, in the end, he is the CEO, he suppose to run SE the best way he can to serve the shareholder, not his own agenda.

[Neo604]

you suck now unless you do a great job on ff13vs with a great battle system.

[lazzymusa]

those for Wada's head before he burns SE to the ground click yes

[G4Chicks]

a little harsh?

[mastiffchild]

Interesting that he can call the rest of Japanese gaming xenophobic when his own company's atitude towards PS3 owners over FF13 is so different worldwide to what it is in his backyard.

How isn't SE being Xenophobic by releasing FF13 exclusively for PS3 in Japan but making the rest of the world on both platforms wait even longer than usual? Allowing access to their biggest franchise early and exclusively there to another Japanese companies console looks odd for a man stating this position about his country's gaming industry.

There's so many contradictions and odd decisions snce his reign got going that little he says makes sense if studied at all. Es 2008 FF13 to go MP, yes? But stay exclusive in Japan, huh, when the supposedly MP TLR and others get released only on 360 out there(and when the games get here too)? I just don't think he's got the courage of his convictions if I'm honest. If he had he'd have had the nuts to take the bashing for allowing FF13 gong MP in Japan as well but no he makes himself seem like that would be a step too far. Encouraging people in the west for three uyears to get a PS3(which many did) and then chnaging his mind must be fine but to do that to his countrymen is somehow different?

Wada, I feel, has a point but is the wrong guy to be saying it when the messages the company he's in charge of are sending out are about as mixed as you can get.

And that's without going into Western media being xenophobic at times or the quality of SE related games so far on HD consoles or the great FF13 demo rip off. SE are rapidly becoming a soap opera far more entertaining than anything they released in the past three years!

[cmrbe]

Thats all i got to say about this man.

[LeShin]

Japanese developers: stick to what you do best! Make brilliant jrpg's and quirky strategy games. Forget the bloody "western approach" and just make good games, and "they will come" lol (okay, it took a little while for people to recognise the greatness of Valkryia Chronicles but it's getting there)

Seriously, I do not want a gaming landscape where all the games are the same, that's not why I got into gaming. I like the style of some jrpg's. I like how they seem to be more character based with interesting stories and cool battle systems rather than, for example, Oblivion which I have. It may be technically very good with the huge open world, but the main story was really boring and didn't really stand out and story to me is the whole point of an rpg. I want brilliant stories, unpredictable stories like Xenogears, Chrono Cross and Parasite Eve which is more than saving princesses or evil coming to kingdoms.

Here's the scoop Mr Wada: if I want to buy western games, I'd buy one from a western developer of which they are many but I want my eastern games to retain their eastern flavour which makes them so unique!

[cmrbe]

Couldnt say it better

[Baka-akaB]

I agree that i dont want cloning of the west . The thing that japan really needs however is to close the technological gap . At least for their biggest jrpg franchise .

USed to be that a star ocean as an example , pushed every hardware it used almost to it's limits , now with SO4 ... it's just .... pretty .. ok .

At at least it was a solid release , most other square ones were with a shoddy and buggy engine , and didnt feature such a great realisation .

So far capcom is one of the few doing good in the realisation department , and even they arent pushing the enveloppement . RE5 their most pretty game , is pretty static and lifeless compared to most current western AAA titles .

Thanks the good Platinum games are there , along with the yakuza and valkyria Chronicles studios .. coincidentally , all at Sega .

[n to the b]

u people make great points but don't go too far the other way! why not have western-style, eastern-style AND mix-em-ups? I LOVE my shooters incorporating rpg elements (Bioshock) and rpgs incorporating shooter elements (Mass Effect, Fallout 3), some of the best stuff this-gen!

[patterson]

Bubble +

Totally agree!

[XLiveGamer]

“the Japanese games industry has become a closed environment, with no new people coming in, no new ideas, almost xenophobic. It is now slightly behind western counterparts,” Wada said.

Its 100% true

[Baka-akaB]

Again that's PR BS . He's just covering for his failures and the fact that his recent games not only didnt sell , but werent up par with the usual standard of quality of square .

I wish some people would stop drinking so much koolaid ...
Trying new stuff and opening the market ?

Please square enix is a company that as square or enix or taito released stuff like Einhander , Tobal , Bushido Blade , the bouncer , Erzeigh , all star pro wrestling , parasite eve , puzzle bobble , Axtraiser , Bust a groove , drakengard etc...

Many type of different games that sometimes pleased the west as well . Not just like this year some cheap xbla shooter , and $ tainted rpg exclusives ...
What part of milking two franchises on portable , and releasing subpar jrpgs is opening any new market ?

Right now besides the portable section , i can say that i only like their Anime/manga department wich rocks (full metal alchemist , Ubel Blatt , Soul eater etc...) .

[Bathyj]

Yeah, everyone do what were doing, cos its working so well for us.

[PumPum]

Heres the thing. I used to buy SE games because they have that certain Japanese style/feel to them. The moment they start being westernised(in a bad way) ill just buy another game instead.

This Wada guy needs to go and take a long vacation.
He reeks of MS money.

[Baka-akaB]

Want a perfect example of a company branching out to the west while retaining their soul ? Simple : it's SEGA .

Granted they sux with a few sore subjects , mainly their oldest franchise they still cant seems to get right in this era , like sonic , shining force , golden axe etc....

But they are doing an awesome job with western and japanese studios with games like Total War , Bayonetta , Mad World , alien vs predator 3 ...
And their internal stuff such as Yakuza kenzan , Yakuza 3 , Valkyria chronicles , Virtua Fighter .

[7thNightvolley]

i understand the fact that he wants to expand the company to other sectors so as to get new skills e.g eidos and more audience mroe sales and all but i dont understand y they would only publish the last few games on the 360 alone, that is where i dont fully agree with the dude. i wish SE gd luck coz wit the decisions and hope it does not bit them bk in the ass.

[ultimolu]

Square is dead.

[ry-guy]

Long live Circle!

(I couldn't resist.)

[wazzim]

what he means is that if we want to get so close as possible for a good, exclusive console (like) RPG experience we have to play the PSP games with tv-out till FFXIII comes out... -_-"

[Marceles]

I really hope Square knows what they're doing because it seems like they're starting to get a little TOO western for my taste

[maxcer]

i agree with that statement, i think they should stick with what they know best, if i wanted western games i would go and pick them up like i have already. I get JP games because i'm a fan of the style.

i think they see the western publishers/devs doing so well they want a piece of the action, no wonder they went out and acquired eidos and publicly stated the desire to develop more western style games...

seems like they're still stuck in the last generation with some of the uninspired 360 games and the flood of games out on DS/PSP

[123360]

interesting sony own 8.26% of square,yasuhiro fukusima is the top owner with 20.52% and massashi miyamoto has 6.84% the rest is made up of trust funds and banks etc.one thing they mentioned was a major software release was held back it was due out in march 2009 what was that?

[TwistedMetal]

being x360 exclusive is not helping anything. the reason americans purchase all different types of games becsuse we all different. in japan your all japanese.

[v1c1ous]

very few japanese companies are not a ONE TRICK PONY.

Capcom is a good example of a japanese company that can embrace both western and japanese demographics, and have a variety of IPs to back that up.

and that's what fanboys here need to understand. they are so quick to call "a hurr durr its cause they develop on for ecksbawks"

no. Outside of Final fantasy and DQ, squeenix has almost no big name franchises that sell well outside of japan. and i think they realized this when FF12 split the fanbase apart cause 1/2 didnt like it, and 1/2 did. they knew that if FF started to lose its luster (and come on now, its near 20 years now), they would be in the crapper.

so ps3 fanboys get over yourselves. Wada isn't betraying anyone. he is thinking about his company's future. Because you guys feel there sort of vendetta agaisnt you in their releases (and remember that 1 yr headstart for 360 meant that a LOT of companies had alrady started working on 360 games, and NOW is when those games are starting to finally come out), when you only go by your whims.

he's trying to make sure that squeenix doesn't put all its eggs in one basket. so you can whine in front of your PC all you like. but at the end of that day, that's all you are doing, while he is running a multimillion dollar company in a highly competitive environment.

and he isn;t the only japanese exec saying western games are surpassing Japanese games in technical aspects. every other week a new japanese dev says the same thing. how long before you guys realize theres a pattern here?

[SpoonyRedMage]

bubbles up, you talk some sense.

I don't get all the hate for Wada though, he must a decent leader as he's the Chairman of CESA as well.

I think you're obviously right though, look at all the different genres they're starting to branch out into...

It does look like they're taking a few hints from Capcom as well.

[bigjclassic]

REBOOT.....

*warning incoming game*

[zinki]

"In the last five to 10 years...with no new people coming in, no new ideas..."

what do you call the 2003 merger with ENIX? an act of nature?

[Etseix]

leave that aside dude,
even if this is true, hes just angry that SEGA's VC and Level-5's WKC (ON PS3) are taking all the sales, beating all S-E's RPGS for the 360. :P

[mirroredderorrim]

I got into RPGS via Squaresoft.

Why do this to people who MADE YOU?
As a 'Western Gamer' I think SquareEnix is atrocious and fantastic liars, to both their own countrymen and the rest of us around the globe who popped dollar after dollar on great game after great game.

WADA NEEDS TO STEP DOWN. I have not bought a SquareEnix game since DQXIII.
WTF is their excuse? Handouts?

I HATE THIS GENERATION.

[iDystopia]

Things have changed this generation, they are trying to stay successful.

You can't do that by making wacky Japanese games....only Japan wants that stuff and they have to support 360 and Wii more for obvious reasons.

[pippoppow]

They would be better off financially. If SE keeps seeing low sales from 360 and Wada keeps trumpeting the 360 then he will be forced down. The fans for Japanese related games are mostly on the PS3 so to not support the system is an idiotic move. 360 fans love for the most part bloody action shooter American style games. Se is banking on getting Halo or Gears type numbers with a Japanese game which is highly unlikely. He's blinded by fools gold and SE is paying for it. Let's hope either he abandons his foolish favoritism with MS or he is forced out before SE finds itself in some serious trouble.

[iDystopia]

"If SE would support the PS3 more, They would be better off financially."

lol right, I guess they are purposely trying to lose money?? No they aren't. They are putting games on the console's that sell them, obviously. But you know more than SE though obviously....and every other developer who are all putting their games on PS3.

Oh, wait. They aren't.

[Flare149]

They say this with Japan having eaten out of the palms of their hands for years and with Killzone 2 being popular in Japan. The point is the screwed up, so they're trying to win the west but it's not working

[iDystopia]

lol Japan just doesn't rule gaming anymore. Their weird style isn't preferred in the Western world and those games are flopping.

[madjedi]

Folklore and disgaea 3, disagree with you, i don't know the sales numbers for each still enjoyed each game.

Just because you aren't fond of eastern japanese style games doesn't mean westerns don't like those types of games. Also i would bet $20 you have never played the gem that was okami last gen.

[lonestarmt]

flopping? really? so MGS4, resident evil 5, street fighter 4, devil may cry 4, ninja gaiden 2, and love them or hate them all of the DW games and spin offs all sold bad? huh? do you even now which games are made by the Japanese?

[Gamer_Politics]

all of those games are made more for the western culture of gaming...its the truth many jpn devs are now starting to make more games that can please the na/euro market

[lonestarmt]

I was just stating that not all Japanese devs make wierd or party games on the wii. The Japanese still make great games and big hits. All because a game doesn't sell well doesn't mean its not great ( see valkirya chronciles and okami) Plus he is dead wrong on his ignorant statement that people in the west want Japanese games.

[Gamer_Politics]

SE- will become more western like many other jpn devs have become sega/capcom because the na/euro market brings in alot more profit

[iDystopia]

"Folklore and disgaea 3, disagree with you"

Huh?? lol You just reaffirmed my point. No one bought those games. People aren't into the anime games anymore(I don't mind Jrpg's and have played plenty this generation...but they obviously haven't sold very much and aren't made as much this gen.....Lost Odyssey sold 1.5 million but most other haven't sold so well)

[Ps_alm3k]

Confirmed!!!!!

[yog-sothot]

come on Eidos, use Squeenix money to bring us new Thief and Soul Reaver Games (and make them great, dammit)

[cricen]

"Yoichi Wada has criticised Japan's development culture for being too inwardly-focused" that is damn funny coming from square, they are SO full of themselves. ridiculous.

[Gamer_Politics]

alot more jap devs are turning to the western market...thats perfect looks like japan isnt important anymore

[lonestarmt]

umm you wouldn't say that if you knew what happens when a new Dragon quest, monster hunter,yakuza, DW game drops. All I have to point to is look what the PS3 did when just a demo of FF13 came out there. lol nuff said.

[redbadger]

Hideo Kojima's next project is going to be western influenced. Supposedly he is going to team up with a sony partner in the u.s.

[Flewid638]

We can talk about all the "Japanese" stuff in MGS games all we want....but anything that heavy in "American war/nuclear arms/soldier/army/guns" gameplay has enough Western appeal for people to want to play it here.

[TapiocaMilkTea]

? Is Japan not loving Xenogears/Xenosaga anymore?

[patterson]

According to Wada, he wants JP devs to make their games more like Western devs.

OK, so basically he's saying make everything a FPS / 3rd person shooter using Unreal Engine 3?

Noooooo, no, no please that would be the end of gaming.

[No Way]

What's up with the site, today? Why is EVERYTHING SO BIG!? o.O

Oh, and yea.. I agree with you Marceles. Lol.

[Flewid638]

Capcom, and to a lesser extent Konami, have done very well in creating japanese influenced games, and broadening their appeal worldwide. Squeenix on the other hand, are very GOOD at making "very Japanese" games.

The problem? The world embraces Japanese games more than we do in the States. The world also plays more PS3 than they do in the states.

So if you keep releasing games exclusively on the 360, then you're continuously giving the LEAST-INTERESTED userbase that kind of game. If they stuck with DS, Wii and PS3....rather than ONLY focusing on the 360 market, they'd do much better. The 360 market is an American shooter-based PC market. It's like releasing MadWorld on the Wii......as if that's what grandmas want to play. Bad move.

[patterson]

You listening Wada?

You're a D-U-M-B-A-S-S!

pshh, dumbass.

[very normal guy]

I find it !That you mister Wada!LOL

[Ashriel]

Lol, wrong comment, sorry XD

[kaveti6616]

He's the president, okay? He doesn't write the story, develop the characters or program the fighting mechanics. That's what the developers do. You guys are just butthurt that SquareEnix is playing nice with the 360. I suppose some of you are PS3 fanchix are upset that SE is not playing ball with Sony as much this gen. Aside from that, I agree the games are not up to par, but that's not something that I am going to attribute to the 360 hardware or Wada. I'm disappointed in the developers who seem to have lost touch with what the gamers want and that's a real shame. I don't think that Square is on its way out; I am sure that they will pick it up again soon and hopefully stop giving PS3 the cold shoulder because it's a great console and one of the reasons why the company is successful.

[Meryl]

your wrong you know wada is allowing m$ to push them around, and often they dont have much time to push out those xbox360 games hence the lack of quality, he is reducing their creative abilities by allowing this to happen.
Squaresoft used to do alot more than just strict RPGs fore example parasite eve was a 3ps-rpg-horror-survival and was so cool, threads of fate was so loveable it reminded me of zelda, come on s-e you can make something good but you have to stop accepting freebies and pressure from m$ go multiplatform yes but do it in the right way so your developers have time to do their best!!

[kaveti6616]

Haha, jk, but if you are, I humbly disagree. You act as if SE is physically being pushed around by Microsoft, so much so that the games are crappy from the physical beating they are taking. Funny to imagine, but wrong. Actually, a lot of developers have nice things to say about MS. Obviously there are others that probably have bad things to say, like Ensemble studios and maybe even Bungie, but these Japanese companies like SE and Capcom say that MS has allowed them an easy access into the Western Market.
I think that the business strategy of MS might be hurting the games, tho. MS looks for immediate success with an IP, so it doesn't think about long term franchises as much as selling millions of copies. Japanese business strategy is the exact opposite. So, maybe that's the reason why games like The Last Remnant won't see much headway into sequels. Nevertheless, if the game is crappy, it's the dev's fault. They probably had enough time to work on it IMO; and since there is not evidence to prove otherwise, I stand by my claim.