RPGs are more labor-intensive than open-world games for the same duration of gameplay, by a fairly significant margin (that's why open-world games are so popular!), but there's a backlog a thousand games long of very good jRPGs.
Also very very hard to get traction. When it comes to small productions, there's a total glut of options. If maybe 20% of the people who hear about a new Final Fantasy actually wind up buying it, it's tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars. Even if 90% of the people who hear about a specific fun indie RPG buy it, it's maybe a hundred grand.
Very true, but good writing and good mechanics are tough to pull off for an engaging JRPG.
Open-world games just need the base Unreal asset store packs and they work most of the time. JRPGs need good character development and a solid combat system that you can grind but isn't frustrating. That requires creative ingenuity and a lot of people simply do not have it or -- in the case of working for a publisher -- are prevented from exploring it.
Spend less time on graphics, more on writing. I seriously don't need extremely detailed maps and textures in my RPGs. I prefer stories that sweep me away and memorable characters. Also, gameplay systems that aren't active combat based.
Also, gameplay systems that aren't active combat based
Or at the very least active turn based like Chrono Trigger or FFX-2 showed was plenty of fun while still keeping most of what people who liked turn based liked intact.
The Group will retire its business unit-based organizational design and strive to establish an operationally integrated organization with the goal of revamping its internal title development footprint and bringing more capabilities in-house.
The Group will pursue integrated sales & marketing operations in Japan and make efficiency of publishing by consolidating the marketing functions that were previously spread across creative business units, expanding shared knowledge, and eliminating duplicate functions.
This is the most important takeaway. Japan is clawing back brand control from NA and EU. Which for our purposes is good. They don't say it's a response to DEI, but effectively that's what it is, pulling the eject handle and dumping the foreign business units because they're contaminated.
I hope your take on this is right. That's the path I'd like to see them go down. Screw making games for "global audiences," when all they wanted in the first place was amazing stuff you made for Japanese audiences.
I found another article that reports NA & EU staff have been told the cuts will mostly eliminate NA/EU publishing & advertising, and cut some from IT. Another way to think of it is that there won't be anyone left to speak for the Square Enix brand who isn't directly under the thumb of JP corporate.
Shift to a multiplatform strategy. Building continuous customer contact points of our titles by stepping up digital sales. Create the interaction with customers by increasing sophistication of publishing function. Generating the opportunity of new revenue by offering IP across a range of entertainment experiences
I’d say this is just as important. Instead of sucking on Sony’s tits for a few dollars, they start throwing their games on PC more.
And actually properly market those games so that people know that they exist.
Strangers of Paradise was probably one of the funnest Final Fantasy games in a decade, and it was already getting marked down from desperation by the time most people heard it had come out.
(I pirated both this and FF7Rm while they were EGS exclusive. This was the only one I bought when it released on Steam, and I didn't even bother finishing FF7Rm)
The angry autism of the MC and his literal lack of fucks to give about anything, even hot chicks wetting themselves at him, was such a refreshing thing amongst the long list of twinky emo boys Square loves so much.
It absolutely was. My only complaint was how absurd the difficulty could get at times and how quick it was to level out of the jobs you were good at, leaving you needing to play ones you suck at.
Both of which might be positives to another person. But regardless, when you were in your zone it just fucking worked.
Fuck off and die Squeenix, please, and take final fantasy and every other IP you have to the grave with you. I'm willing to even sacrifice final fantasy tactics for you to just fucking die.
Palworld ate Pokemon's lunch for a fraction of production costs.
Is there an exceptional talent out there to eat Sqweenix's lunch with an epic, enjoyable fantasy RPG?
RPGs are more labor-intensive than open-world games for the same duration of gameplay, by a fairly significant margin (that's why open-world games are so popular!), but there's a backlog a thousand games long of very good jRPGs.
Plenty of classics that aged well to pick from.
I'm currently playing a translation patch of SNES Tales of Phantasia.
Also very very hard to get traction. When it comes to small productions, there's a total glut of options. If maybe 20% of the people who hear about a new Final Fantasy actually wind up buying it, it's tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars. Even if 90% of the people who hear about a specific fun indie RPG buy it, it's maybe a hundred grand.
Very true, but good writing and good mechanics are tough to pull off for an engaging JRPG.
Open-world games just need the base Unreal asset store packs and they work most of the time. JRPGs need good character development and a solid combat system that you can grind but isn't frustrating. That requires creative ingenuity and a lot of people simply do not have it or -- in the case of working for a publisher -- are prevented from exploring it.
Dragon Quest, but that's also Squeenix. Now that the founding devs are dying off, even that Japanese staple isn't safe.
Spend less time on graphics, more on writing. I seriously don't need extremely detailed maps and textures in my RPGs. I prefer stories that sweep me away and memorable characters. Also, gameplay systems that aren't active combat based.
Or at the very least active turn based like Chrono Trigger or FFX-2 showed was plenty of fun while still keeping most of what people who liked turn based liked intact.
There's Star Ocean: The Second Story R, which I absolutely adore...but while not developed by Square Enix, it was published by them.
This is the most important takeaway. Japan is clawing back brand control from NA and EU. Which for our purposes is good. They don't say it's a response to DEI, but effectively that's what it is, pulling the eject handle and dumping the foreign business units because they're contaminated.
I hope your take on this is right. That's the path I'd like to see them go down. Screw making games for "global audiences," when all they wanted in the first place was amazing stuff you made for Japanese audiences.
I found another article that reports NA & EU staff have been told the cuts will mostly eliminate NA/EU publishing & advertising, and cut some from IT. Another way to think of it is that there won't be anyone left to speak for the Square Enix brand who isn't directly under the thumb of JP corporate.
They're going full "Assimilate this!"
I love that line.
Now if only Nintendo would do this to NOA
I’d say this is just as important. Instead of sucking on Sony’s tits for a few dollars, they start throwing their games on PC more.
Sony seems to feel the same way about themselves.
Thank god!
Maybe Japanese games can be Japanese again.
The secret is to make fun games that people like instead of shitty games that suck ass.
And actually properly market those games so that people know that they exist.
Strangers of Paradise was probably one of the funnest Final Fantasy games in a decade, and it was already getting marked down from desperation by the time most people heard it had come out.
SHUT THE FUCK UP
CHAOS
(I pirated both this and FF7Rm while they were EGS exclusive. This was the only one I bought when it released on Steam, and I didn't even bother finishing FF7Rm)
The angry autism of the MC and his literal lack of fucks to give about anything, even hot chicks wetting themselves at him, was such a refreshing thing amongst the long list of twinky emo boys Square loves so much.
And the gameplay was GOOD.
It absolutely was. My only complaint was how absurd the difficulty could get at times and how quick it was to level out of the jobs you were good at, leaving you needing to play ones you suck at.
Both of which might be positives to another person. But regardless, when you were in your zone it just fucking worked.
They still have the FF golden goose, as long they can keep niggers and wokesters out of their games.
In other words, leave Tifa's tits alone and Remake 3 will still make plenty of $$$.
Fuck off and die Squeenix, please, and take final fantasy and every other IP you have to the grave with you. I'm willing to even sacrifice final fantasy tactics for you to just fucking die.
sign up for squix account guys, even for 30 years old single player games!