Another Final Fantasy XIV Could Destroy Square Enix

[crimson sickle2]

I was really hyped about FF Versus 13, but now, it would be so old it would not play well. If they just released that rather than push FF13 into our faces with a sequel and a third promise; maybe I'd care, but a crappy run company is crap so it's dying. Good bye Square Enix, I hope you regain some sense and pull a rabbit out of your ass, but that is unlikely. I will always remember you as the company that didn't release Pandora's Tower in America, shot down Versus 13, and made great games between the shit.

 

[Space Jawa]

How is a 'solid free to play model' going to be any more successful in ensuring the games long term success? And more importantly, how is a 'solid free to play model' going to make enough money for Square Enix to survive as a company long term?

Well, it's simply a matter of competition. If Square Enix tries to make it a subscription MMO they're directly competing with WoW and that's not a fight they're likely to win. Subscription based MMOs in general are pretty much financial suicide these days, and fantasy subscription MMOs especially.

Free to Play means a different set of competition and also means it'll be much easier to immediately grab people. That's important on a game that previously had a poor launch and is unlikely to have an immediate buyin from a lot of people.

They'll still have competition, and if what I'm aware of about the market is correct at all, the free to play market features even more competitors. And even if the game is free monetary wise, it'll still take up peoples time. They'll still have to convince people to stop using their time to play their other games and spend their time playing this game instead?

And if the launch of the previous game was as bad as everyone says, then what guarantee is there that anyone who decides to give the game a look because it doesn't cost any money play is going to spend any money on whatever system that Square has to actually make some money from the game? Based on what you're saying, how is going free to play going to allow Square to make enough money off of this game to keep the whole company from going under?

They don't have to win against WoW, they just have to lure in and keep enough subscribers to make the game profitable enough to keep the company running, at least until they manage to put together another game that provides them with another source of profit. Why does it have to be about winning or loosing against World of Warcraft? Why can't they just focus on keeping competitive enough to avoid going out of business entirely?

 

[dmase]

Interesting tidbit the original final fantasy was named that way because it was the final chance for the company to save itself with one giant release... I doubt this game will be the one to save the company.

 

[AlwaysPractical]

Let's hope lightning doesn't strike twice!

Thunder and lightning, very very frightening.

OT: yayy for teaching publishers a lesson about that brand names do not guarantee sales.

But but... Just Cause 3

 

[CrazyGirl17]

Meh, it's not like they care... though either the release of Kingdom Hearts 3 or TWEWY 2 might help them...

 

[Hectix777]

Before you drive yourself into the ground SE, finish Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy Versus 13, Lightning Returns and a TWEWY sequel, those alone will get you out of your financial woes...

Better idea, FINAL FANTASY 7 REMAKE! If you are so strapped for cash just give us what we want already, I'm sure you've been sitting on the remake as some sort of red button or a rainy day, well wouldn't the current financial status of you company count today as a flippin' hurricane. I want everything you want, but if Square is that strapped for cash, just do the remake already, we won't care if it sucks we're in it for the nostalgia.

 

[Roofstone]

Really, I just kinda wanna grab Square Enix by the shoulders and shout in their face: "STOP MAKING MMO GAMES! It doesn't work for you!"

: /

I really want them to succeed, but I doubt they will.

 

[Tom Gunz]

What is this, troll week?

FFXI was the most profitable game of the franchise. Since most people "hated" FFXII they really don't know what to do in their SP games anymore, in my opinion that is why FFXIII is the way it is because everyone cried for FFVII and FFX. Sound familiar?

If anything can bring them back to the top it would be FFXIV. Its bad enough that it will be more similar to WoW, they did this because of peoples suggestions as well. The way I see it if you want to play FFVII or FFX go play them. If you want WoW UI and feel, go play it. Please stop making thoughtless suggestions because the direction they were heading in FFXII was the correct one. Unlike other developers, they try to listen to the fans. Bad move in my opinion.

There is a reason 98% of you arent in game development.

 

[Savryc]

Meh, let it burn. They died with XI anyway so something has to put the zombie down.

 

[ShadowKatt]

Aww, SquareEnix could go under. And not two fucks were given. Not from me, anyway.

They deserve it. Squaresoft was the GOD of gaming companies, putting out RPGs that still stand the test of time today. Since the merger with Enix, their quality has gone down further and further, starting with 11, continuing with XIII and culminating with XIV. They've beaten and milked the Kingdom Hearts series with their handheld ports with no promise of ever making a Kingdom Hearts 3, and that hasn't changed nor is it likely to, while also going the EA/Activision route and grabbing up other IPs left and right, most of them destined for the same fate: The trash.

I hope they go under. This horse has needed this bullet for the last decade.

 

[K84]

Okay, bye.

At least let Eidos find a new home.
Their games are awesome at least.

 

[Atmos Duality]

If anything can bring them back to the top it would be FFXIV. Its bad enough that it will be more similar to WoW, they did this because of peoples suggestions as well. *snip* Please stop making thoughtless suggestions because the direction they were heading in FFXII was the correct one. Unlike other developers, they try to listen to the fans. Bad move in my opinion.

So FF14 has been ruined by fan input...therefore FF14 can be Squeenix's savior?
What?

There is a reason 98% of you arent in game development.

I dunno, I think more than 2% of me could hack it in game development, but my heart always argues with my head.

 

[cidbahamut]

Unlike other developers, they try to listen to the fans.

You never played Final Fantasy XI did you?

It took FFXIV crashing and burning in a financially ruinous fashion to get them to begin even considering listening to player input, and that's only really for FFXIV. FFXI is still struggling to get devs to address really basic issues that have been around for almost a decade.

 

[Khaoticsuccubus]

I grew up with final fantasy, it was always there for me when my parents weren't. Seeing the Trailer where bahamut freaking DESTROYED THE ENTIRE WORLD of ff14 was probably one of if not the most beautiful thing's I've seen in gaming and I never even played it. I'll be there when this game launches, with the Super limited collectors edtion. Trash Square enix all you want, I'll be right behind them through the hard times like they were for me. I have faith in you Square enix! good luck!

You and me both. End of An Era really caught my attention. Also, let's face it, the reason they are useing WoW as an example of what they are useing as a lesson, isn't the desire to outdo them. No one can knock Blizzard off their throne except for whatever Blizzard does. Instead they are changing the fundamental dynamics of the game to suit the familiarity of the audience. They tried something new and unusual with FFXIV, and it stunk. Sticking to a formula may seem "lazy" but it will at least turn people away less frequently then a system that isn't only broken but hard to understand for some. Of course, again I never played FFXIV but this is what I've gathered.

Just went n saw the trailer myself. Totally was choked up tears n all. (╥﹏&#9573 I'll definitely be trying it out at least.

On a side note, epic trailer aside... doesn't this seem very reminiscent of Wow Cataclysm... ya know, with a dragon destroying the world as we know it n all that =P

 

[RandV80]

What would actually happen if Squaresoft went under? This would be the first case of a AAA IP property going under wouldn't it?

So going with this "what if?" scenario, personally I don't think it would be the end of Final Fantasy or even other games like Dragon Quest or Kingdom Heart. If there's one thing publishers like it's safe bets, and if there's one good way to make money for liquidation through the bankruptcy process it's selling off IP's. Or maybe they keep some and restructure into smaller companies. Either way the people currently making the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games will still probably end up doing the same thing one way or the other. What will be lost is Square's ability to call the shots on their games as a publisher.

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

Maybe they should stay out of the MMO business and reboot their main titles as so they don't suck....

 

[ZippyDSMlee]

What would actually happen if Squaresoft went under? This would be the first case of a AAA IP property going under wouldn't it?

So going with this "what if?" scenario, personally I don't think it would be the end of Final Fantasy or even other games like Dragon Quest or Kingdom Heart. If there's one thing publishers like it's safe bets, and if there's one good way to make money for liquidation through the bankruptcy process it's selling off IP's. Or maybe they keep some and restructure into smaller companies. Either way the people currently making the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest games will still probably end up doing the same thing one way or the other. What will be lost is Square's ability to call the shots on their games as a publisher.

Not really Interplay and Midway went under, generally stuff gets sold off or people band together and create a new studio to buy up the old IPs

 

[Hectix777]

Before you drive yourself into the ground SE, finish Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy Versus 13, Lightning Returns and a TWEWY sequel, those alone will get you out of your financial woes...

Better idea, FINAL FANTASY 7 REMAKE! If you are so strapped for cash just give us what we want already, I'm sure you've been sitting on the remake as some sort of red button or a rainy day, well wouldn't the current financial status of you company count today as a flippin' hurricane. I want everything you want, but if Square is that strapped for cash, just do the remake already, we won't care if it sucks we're in it for the nostalgia.

I would go for the idea, problem is, no matter how hard they try, no matter how good the game is, no matter how true it stays to the original, there will be annoying pr*cks who will be shouting bloody murder as soon as the first gameplay trailer is released!

The original was perfect, leave it be! We don't need the colossal buttburt that a FF7 remake would bring.

Also, do you relize how much would have to be removed? Because of people being insanely paranoid, the honey bee inn, Don Corneos mansion and the whole hilarious cross dressing thing would have to be scrapped, I don't thing they can show Cloud getting raped in a bathtub in HD.

Waitaminute, Cloud got raped?

And secondly, this isn't for the sake of integrity, this is Square Enix, this is for sheer money and nothing more. By the time the game comes out too many people would have pre purchased or something or ignored all the bad reviews just to relive their childhood. I KNOW that a remake will suck, I just know that it will make a lotta money too.

 

[Gregory McMillan]

Square-Enix if you want to save the company, chop off the 2nd part of your name and remake FFVII. Seriously everyone, whether you love it or hate it, this option would end all financial woes for SE.

Or finish Versus XIII

Or announce the final entry to the Compilation of FFVII

 

[II2]

As others have said,

Maybe this would be a good time to demonstrate your ability to develop amazing cinematic CG with a FF7 remake everyone wants and would love you for, rather than gamble it all on a... MMORPG???

Remodel the price of your iOS entries and add more classics from the back catalog? Or sell the joint property ones on the Wii / Wii U store? Maybe localize the other Earthbound entries?

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I don't claim to know japanese corporate culture very well, but it seems like on an executive level there's some weird pride and arrogance to Square causing a distortion of their own cultural cache and what games THEY value versus what the FANS value... Aesthetically, fine - be proud of your new projects, but if your fans are your customers and your bank is breaking...

Some friends of mine who lived in japan for 5 years or so teaching English and living in Tokyo and Kyoto said that the cultural climate towards Final Fantasy was essentially indifferent, at that time (few years ago)... However, the Advent Children movie came out while they was living there and THAT was a MAJOR cultural event, apparently. Collectible Japanese soda cans with HD and classic character designs on them flying off the shelf into the pockets of a wide demographic...

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I dunno. While I don't really care about the future of Final Fantasy, I really enjoyed Square's games from the NES to PS1. Kinda fallen out of touch, but I don't want to see them fail.