Former Squaresoft President to Create Xbox 2 Games - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

omega2K4 · 02-24-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Former Square President to Create Xbox 2 Games
Microsoft formally announces Hironobu Sakaguchi is developing two RPGs for its next-gen console.
by Douglass C. Perry

February 24, 2005 - Microsoft Corp. made public today the first strategic move in its campaign to launch its next-generation console by announcing that former Square President Hironobu Sakaguchi will create two new RPGs for still as-of-yet unnamed next-gen system.

While succeeding in the North American and European markets with a solid second place seating for Xbox, Microsoft has begun the long, hard work of persuading well-loved and respected Japanese game developers to embrace the area where it failed, the Japanese market.

Sakaguchi, who produced and directed the early Final Fantasy games and went on to work on the Final Fantasy movie (his theoretical downfall), has started a new development studio, Mistwalker, and has begun plans on two role-playing games specifically created for Xbox 360/2/Next.

"Sakaguchi-san has taken role-playing games -- traditionally a niche market -- and introduced them to a broad and diverse audience across the globe," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing at Microsoft. "We are ecstatic to work with Sakaguchi-san and celebrate what this news means not only for Xbox, but for gamers worldwide."

"I'm excited about the two epic game titles we will be developing," Sakaguchi said. "A number of talented creators have signed on to help develop these games, and I'm confident we will be able to create games that provide gamers with a new kind of thrill.

"Microsoft's cutting-edge technologies in the next-generation platform will allow me to bring to life an array of ideas that I have had for many years," Sakaguchi added. "I want these games to be alive with a new vision for gaming and vividly depict new characters that will transcend the game, find a place in the hearts of gamers, and make time spent with my games a fond and long-lasting memory."

Finding common ground with Microsoft, Sakaguchi will lead bring his two upcoming Xbox-exclusive RPGs, to be published by Microsoft Game Studios, to the new system, believed to be announced at this year's E3, and potentially slated for a fall launch.

Sakaguchi is a pivotal character in the rise of Square in general, not to mention being a formidable influence on Square's most popular RPG series, Final Fantasy. He began his career at Square Co. Ltd. in 1986 as a programmer, and successfully progressed to producer and director of the Final Fantasy series, but also worked on Chrono Trigger among others. He was responsible for the story and events of the Final Fantasy games from FFI to FFVI, after which he moved solely to direction.

He was promoted to executive vice president in 1991 and eventually ascended to president of Square USA Inc. in 1995. In 2000, Sakaguchi was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts & Science (AIAS) Hall of Fame for his work on the Final Fantasy series. He left Square soon after the disappointing Final Fantasy movie. In 2004, Sakaguchi publicly announced his own development studio, Mistwalker (you can visit the site here).

We'll have more on Microsoft's next-gen console news soon.

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/590/590650p1.html

This is pretty big news for Microsoft, this should help them gain some footing in Asia during the next console war.

CityOfAngels · 02-24-2005, 03:21 PM

So far every game I've played with Sakaguchi's name on it was enjoyable. Hopefully the trend goes on.

ssnake · 02-24-2005, 05:07 PM

too bad i dont have a xbox.... i would definately try it out
<-- big fan of rpg's

omega2K4 · 02-25-2005, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Microsoft's VP speaks softly but carries a big RPG stick. What does he have to say about Sakaguchi's next two Xbox 2 RPGs?
by Douglass C. Perry

In an interview with Microsoft corporate VP of worldwide marketing and publishing, Peter Moore (you know, the guy with the Halo 2 date on his bicep?), the smooth-talking Englishman told IGN the first time he met with former Square President Hironobu Sakaguchi was in Hawaii while on vacation.

"We first met in April in 2004 at Sakaguchi-san's house on Maui," said Moore in a phone interview with IGN Xbox today, after Microsoft announced its plans to publish Sakaguchi's two new next-gen RPGs. "I was on vacation and we met at his house in a very pleasurable manner, and over the course of three hours we discussed where we thought next-generation games might go, what they might be. That meeting led to 10 months of meetings, and we recently cemented the idea over a very expensive bottle of sake, which was so good, it shouldn't have even been drunk."

The creation of Mistwalker Studios and the two RPGs sees the former producer, director, and Square USA president, Sakaguchi, returning to his role as a producer and director, areas he had great success in prior to the poorly received Final Fantasy: Spirits Within while at Square. Moore expanded on what Sakaguchi's role is on the games.

"Right now, Sakaguchi-san is outlining the storyline, building the characters, and spending the time to flesh out the games. With RPGs, the early priorities are to develop the worlds, the storyline, and the characters first. The mechanics will come together soon. I suspect Sakaguchi will talk about this soon. We might be able to talk with him at E3. There's a good possibility of that."

Having said that, Microsoft's announcement wasn't exactly filled with hard details. But the announcement's impact is significant and, more importantly, timely, with Microsoft having acknowledged that GDC won't be the showcase for its next-generation announcement. Still, Moore wouldn't place a time or a date on the release of these games.

"The details regarding when the games come out are yet to be determined," Moore explained. "You and I both know that the developers in the RPG genre, more than any other genre, could be creating games for more than 15 years and still argue that they're not done." (Apparently, Moore and Microsoft are still quietly reeling a tad from their work with Peter Molyneux on the four-year development cycle of Fable).

"I'm not comfortable talking about timelines, names, and details yet, but going forward we'll have more. But I can say that the development teams will continue to expand as the game gets under way. The quality and magnitude of such an RPG requires more than 30 guys working in a basement. Those days are over. I'd say there will be in excess of 100 strong on each team as the games are in concurrent development."

Asked whether this is the first step in Microsoft's push to for a new approach to the worldwide market, specifically the Japanese market for Xbox 2, Moore said, "I think this you could say this is the first step for Microsoft as it begins partnering with important Japanese developers and publishers. Japan is the cradle of the game industry and the home of very creative and innovative minds, and it's vital to see the Xbox as a viable competitor in that area. The Japanese market is a very large priority for us for both first-party development and third-party developers and publishers. It's a main priority for me in the next 12-18 months to ensure Japanese developers are our partners. Microsoft is making very serious moves that will have global repercussions over a long period of time; this is an investment that will pay off in the future, and will be a platform-driving set of games for our next-generation system."

Asked if Microsoft has struck a deal to publish Square games in the future, Moore swerved the hardball. "I think this is the first step in our campaign as we begin to partner with more Japanese teams. Square is a tremendous publisher, and anything they do is sure to have a huge impact on whatever system they create games for. We would be delighted to partner with Square, and we have the utmost regard for them. Hopefully we will have more to say about a relationship with them in the future."

Although it seems unusual, especially now at the beginning of spring 2005, until today Microsoft had yet to formally acknowledge the existence of its next-generation platform, the supposed "Xbox 360." This announcement lends more credence to what is clearly the worst kept secret in the videogame world, even though Moore side-stepped saying anything directly about Xbox 360. "What we're acknowledging today is that there will be games for the next-generation of hardware, whenever it will come," Moore explained.

http://xbox.ign.com/articles/590/590733p1.html

There is Peter Moore's (MS Corporate Worldwide Marketing and Publishing VP) take on Sakaguchi's new Xbox 2 RPGs.

lpj8 · 02-25-2005, 05:06 PM

Sakaguchi has made some dang fine games, I think this will benefit Microsoft in the long run during the next gen of consoles. Too bad nothing is being developed for the present Xbox. Its going to be tough to decide which console to get after they are all out.

default_i · 02-26-2005, 05:45 AM

X Box has had pretty dismal Japanese sales, this is a nice jump to try to get those figures up. I'm sure I'll end up with the X Box 2 (or whatever) at some point, if nothing else just for those. It'll probably wait for a price drop, though.

Scipio · 02-27-2005, 09:15 AM

I'm more of a Fallout 2/Kotor RPG'r than a FFX one. Final Fantasy never did it for me. And I hate anime. (not flamin, just sayin)

Still, it's good to know that the dark side is alive and well. If I were him, I'd want to get on board with the company that's going to launch a new console in 8-10 months too. Why sit around waiting for Sony to launch their next console?

YaWhateva · 02-27-2005, 10:05 PM

rats now i will have to conform and get an X Box 2.....

02-27-2005, 09:15 AM	#7 (permalink)
Scipio Mencken Location: College	I'm more of a Fallout 2/Kotor RPG'r than a FFX one. Final Fantasy never did it for me. And I hate anime. (not flamin, just sayin) Still, it's good to know that the dark side is alive and well. If I were him, I'd want to get on board with the company that's going to launch a new console in 8-10 months too. Why sit around waiting for Sony to launch their next console? __________________ "Erections lasting more than 4 hours, though rare, require immediate medical attention."

02-27-2005, 10:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
YaWhateva Friend Location: New Mexico	rats now i will have to conform and get an X Box 2..... __________________ “If the Americans go in and overthrow Saddam Hussein and it's clean, he has nothing, I will apologize to the nation, and I will not trust the Bush administration again.” - Bill O'Reilly "This is my United States of Whateva!"

02-24-2005, 05:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
ssnake Upright	too bad i dont have a xbox.... i would definately try it out <-- big fan of rpg's

02-25-2005, 05:06 PM	#5 (permalink)
lpj8 Crazy Location: U.S.A	Sakaguchi has made some dang fine games, I think this will benefit Microsoft in the long run during the next gen of consoles. Too bad nothing is being developed for the present Xbox. Its going to be tough to decide which console to get after they are all out.

02-26-2005, 05:45 AM	#6 (permalink)
default_i Upright	X Box has had pretty dismal Japanese sales, this is a nice jump to try to get those figures up. I'm sure I'll end up with the X Box 2 (or whatever) at some point, if nothing else just for those. It'll probably wait for a price drop, though.