Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
I'm more willing to "play to our audience" on Facebook. After all, it's designed to be interactive, not just a one-way form of communication. I'm committed to neutrality for our actual articles, of course.
Weekly roundups
- Thread starter Flintlock
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Lex
Administrator
I'm a bit concerned by the fact that everything I've seen posted about this is largely spun positively. All the articles I've seen are basically "hooray! This means they're going to show us more things!" when it's a big buggering negative bombshell they all seem to be ignoring.
Strangelove
AI Researcher
- AKA
- hitoshura
I am a bit conflicted on the regionality thing. On the one hand it wouldn't be a problem for me personally if they did start to only release certain titles in Japan and others elsewhere (assuming that 'elsewhere' was English-speaking countries). All the Japanese-developed console games they make I tend to get imported anyway now, so it wouldn't affect my purchasing. Other stuff like Western games, I'd buy in English from somewhere local anyway.
Plus, if it means that some game gets made at all rather than getting cancelled, that's a plus.
But this obviously leaves everyone else at a disadvantage who can't do this. Even if it's not what is deemed 'profitable' for a particular region there will still be people who will want to play them. And if you don't provide it to them, you're going to get more of what happened with the likes of FF Type-0: people will do the work themselves and then pirate it. Which isn't going to make them any money.
I suppose that is where Kickstarter or something similar might come in. Get the people who would be interested in the title to help fund the localisation, even if it only leads to a smaller scale release. I don't know how feasible that is, really.
Plus, if it means that some game gets made at all rather than getting cancelled, that's a plus.
But this obviously leaves everyone else at a disadvantage who can't do this. Even if it's not what is deemed 'profitable' for a particular region there will still be people who will want to play them. And if you don't provide it to them, you're going to get more of what happened with the likes of FF Type-0: people will do the work themselves and then pirate it. Which isn't going to make them any money.
I suppose that is where Kickstarter or something similar might come in. Get the people who would be interested in the title to help fund the localisation, even if it only leads to a smaller scale release. I don't know how feasible that is, really.
Lex
Administrator
I wouldn't have a problem with playing in the original Japanese with English subtitles. If the option is there, that's what I prefer anyway - Valkyria Chronicles and Star Ocean: The Last Hope International being examples. But they refuse to do this with FF, I've never understood why. If it's the cost of localisation, surely they'd make a return if they didn't bother with overseas VA work and lip synching?
Strangelove
AI Researcher
- AKA
- hitoshura
Just doing the text for the game would cut down on the localisation time and cost. If it was something they weren't going to release there anyway, I don't see why it would be much different. They see these as titles that won't appeal to a wide audience in other regions, so they wouldn't have to make the extra effort to appease regular consumers with things like localised voice work. It has been done before on titles that weren't seen as potentially big hits (PS3 Yakuza games, Shenmue 2's Dreamcast release).
Fangu
Great Old One
Yeah, for me, they don't have to adjust the character's body language, the storylines etc for a western audience. They don't have to spend hours and lots of cash researching and player testing for a different audience than the Japanese. To me, the "Japaniness" is part of what makes the games different, and charming. If they'd just bother to translate the menus and sub the dialogue, that'd be perfectly fine by me. The plotlines are usually quite international anyway - stories of love and death, hate, betrayal, family, etc. I don't see the point in fucking localizing everything. It takes away part of the flavour to me. Anyway it's GOOD to learn about cultural differences and not having everything spoon-fed. I know this probably is a bigger problem in the US than where I live though, people are used to heavy Americanized marketing and will be confused about some random Japanese shit. But FF is a well known brand, and with the Internet and the new generation (of people, not talking about the consoles), this might not be such a big problem as the industry assumes.
Strangelove
AI Researcher
- AKA
- hitoshura
I was thinking less of FF and more of other titles or new IPs. The thing about them cancelling a bunch of games was annoying because who knows what they could have been like. I think FF titles have a high chance of getting international releases either way (Type-0's problem was probably that it was released at the wrong time with the PSP's life cycle coming to an end).
I'd like to see them making some new things, but that is probably going to include titles that fall under this 'regionality' thing as well as the general unknown of new IPs.
Also, I wouldn't mind smart device games that much as long as they were 1) actual games and not shameless in-app purchased filled cashgrabs, and 2) priced at a more reasonable level than some of their current releases.
I'd like to see them making some new things, but that is probably going to include titles that fall under this 'regionality' thing as well as the general unknown of new IPs.
Also, I wouldn't mind smart device games that much as long as they were 1) actual games and not shameless in-app purchased filled cashgrabs, and 2) priced at a more reasonable level than some of their current releases.
The Twilight Mexican
Ex-SeeD-ingly good
- AKA
- TresDias
As a guy who loves his smart phone, I love the idea of games worth playing on it. I don't mind a focused effort toward that end any more than I'm opposed to such an effort with consoles. More worthwhile games is more worthwhile games. Square just hasn't made much of an effort in this regard up to now.
Cut out the social media bullshit, actually add enough gameplay that "Farmville" isn't the more cerebral product, and stop trying to charge me money whenever I want to heal or revive a downed party member. A story wouldn't hurt either, but baby steps. Don't want SE to hurt themselves.
The regionality thing could be very good or very bad. On the face of it, it's good thinking. Sadly, they've demonstrated little understanding of what regional tastes gamers actually have. They certainly don't ubderstand the Western market, so I have very little confidence that this experiment will work. They just need to focus on making quality games in the first place -- they have had so many successful games with global appeal when they just tried doing that. That's why Final Fantasy, the Chrono games, etc. did so well to begin with.
For that matter, Chrono Cross sold better outside Japan than within, so they need to get back to basics -- i.e. the late 90s/early 2000s.
Kickstarter campaigns aren't likely to help them unless they can offer some solid incentives for buying into it. It might have a better shot from the start if they could start getting some good games out in a timely manner before they begin panhandling. They need to have players convinced their offering will go to actually producing the IP promised rather than to paying the power bill while the copyright to said IP slowly expires.
Again, not a lot of confidence from my corner.
Cut out the social media bullshit, actually add enough gameplay that "Farmville" isn't the more cerebral product, and stop trying to charge me money whenever I want to heal or revive a downed party member. A story wouldn't hurt either, but baby steps. Don't want SE to hurt themselves.
The regionality thing could be very good or very bad. On the face of it, it's good thinking. Sadly, they've demonstrated little understanding of what regional tastes gamers actually have. They certainly don't ubderstand the Western market, so I have very little confidence that this experiment will work. They just need to focus on making quality games in the first place -- they have had so many successful games with global appeal when they just tried doing that. That's why Final Fantasy, the Chrono games, etc. did so well to begin with.
For that matter, Chrono Cross sold better outside Japan than within, so they need to get back to basics -- i.e. the late 90s/early 2000s.
Kickstarter campaigns aren't likely to help them unless they can offer some solid incentives for buying into it. It might have a better shot from the start if they could start getting some good games out in a timely manner before they begin panhandling. They need to have players convinced their offering will go to actually producing the IP promised rather than to paying the power bill while the copyright to said IP slowly expires.
Again, not a lot of confidence from my corner.
Lex
Administrator
I'm slightly comforted by the fact that they have the biggest developer booth at E3, and they've started an E3 video series to bring us "all the new announcements", which says to me they're at least trying to implement the transparency thing.
Seriously, the only other developer with a booth as big as theirs is EA, and we know how horribly huge they are. In previous years SE's booth was about the same size as Machinima's or IGN's.
Seriously, the only other developer with a booth as big as theirs is EA, and we know how horribly huge they are. In previous years SE's booth was about the same size as Machinima's or IGN's.
Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
In this week’s roundup: Square Enix reveal the games they’ll be showcasing at next week’s E3; Amazon stops listing Versus XIII for direct sale; Final Fantasy VII’s legacy criticised in a retrospective; plus lots from our forum.
The Twilight Mexican
Ex-SeeD-ingly good
- AKA
- TresDias
Glad you're doing that. I was actually about to suggest that very thing.
Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
Pixel
The Pixie King
Oh, i meant to post this earlier
http://www.rpgsite.net/news/2454-sq...e-the-way-for-more-hd-remakes-including-ffxii
http://www.rpgsite.net/news/2454-sq...e-the-way-for-more-hd-remakes-including-ffxii
Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
^ Tetsujin already posted that in the FFX HD thread, but thanks 
Edit: here's the latest roundup, "Square Enix already planning sequels for XV".
Edit: here's the latest roundup, "Square Enix already planning sequels for XV".
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Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
You always find something just when I'm about to post, Shad 
Here is the post: Sector 5 church remade in Unreal Development Kit.
I've got a bit bored of writing these, to be honest. I'd be happy to hand over the responsibility for the next couple of editions to someone else. Interested parties should send me a visitor message or post here
Here is the post: Sector 5 church remade in Unreal Development Kit.
I've got a bit bored of writing these, to be honest. I'd be happy to hand over the responsibility for the next couple of editions to someone else. Interested parties should send me a visitor message or post here
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The Twilight Mexican
Ex-SeeD-ingly good
- AKA
- TresDias
As I'm working on a couple of big things right now, I don't think I can volunteer, but I do want to suggest that we not be afraid to make the Roundup a bi-weekly affair if weekly is too tedious and/or there isn't enough material available at press time.
Lex
Administrator
I can take over the roundups for now if no one else wants to take them on, I don't mind
And larger bi-weekly updates might be a better idea when news is slow, but we might need to change the name to "SE News Roundups" or something to that effect if we change the timeframe. I'll stick with weekly for the time being unless there's a massive reason not to.
When's the next one due, Monday?
And larger bi-weekly updates might be a better idea when news is slow, but we might need to change the name to "SE News Roundups" or something to that effect if we change the timeframe. I'll stick with weekly for the time being unless there's a massive reason not to.
When's the next one due, Monday?
Flintlock
Pro Adventurer
Monday's been my timetable for most of the year, but you can go plus or minus a day if you prefer. I doubt anyone will notice, so do whatever works for you. Feel free to tweak the format if you think it can be improved, too
I think there's enough news to keep publishing weekly roundups at the moment. I'll get back to them in a couple of weeks' time; I just feel like I could do with a break.
