Hironobu Sakaguchi to make 2 rpg's for Xbox 2

**TheSpinningCube** · 02-25-2005

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the news, but it's true. There's a rumour that Nobuo Uematsu will be composing the music as well.

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

I wonder how much they paid him?

P.S. I think this could be a big blow to Sony.

**Chaotic_King** · 02-25-2005

I don't think it will be too much of a big blow to Sony. At first, I felt the same, but after thinking about it, he hasn't done much for Sony to begin with. He was more involved with FF1-6, after that, Kitase began to take over for the most part, and Matsuno is working on Final Fantasy 12.

:P When their games don't sell that well, he'll know where he should have gone

**Gnome** · 02-25-2005

This will only be a blow to Sony if the guy can make some good rpgs, otherwise, who cares? I wasn't surprised at all by this, MS is trying to get better RPGs on thier console and after hearing Siren comment on Square possibly going to MS, I knew something was up.

**The_One** · 02-25-2005

Gnome, Sakaguchi-san was the president of Square-Enix before he left (or did he already leave before they merged? Making him only the president of Square). He didn't get to be president just by making mediocre RPGs, and IMO, the original FF's on the SNES were considerably good too.

This WILL be a big blow to Sony. The only reason why XBox failed was due to the lack of RPGs, with MistWalker on the XBox bandwagon, there's no telling how much of the Japanese Market they'll snatch :P.

**gaming ultima** · 02-26-2005

got a few points to make
he was only heavily involved with the earlier FF's, the later one's before he left he was only partially involved which was partly because he was busy sorting out FF:TSW, and when it floped it was part of the thing that pushed him out the door
also it happens plenty that a guy that lead a team that created a great game forms his own studio which can sometimes generate a fair amount of hype and then they churn out medi-core games
just because of his involvement with the earlier FF games just automatically mean these games are going to be good

**SessDMC** · 02-26-2005

Plus FF is a very reputable franchise, mistwalker need to establish them selvs another good franchise of RPG's again that clould make or break.

**siren** · 02-26-2005

Now lets be careful here guys. Ask yourselves the following. If Mystwalker had announced that their first 2 titles would be exclusive to the PS3 would you be as cautious?

Yes we don't know if their titles will be great, but considering that he was able to draw so many developers to go with him to create Mistwalker speeks a lot about the man himself. His team obviously believes in him.

**Constantine827** · 02-26-2005

in response to siren, personally i would be cautious of sakagucki's new "Mystwalker" development team, and the reason for that is because he has been out of the business for almost two years, not to mention the disaster that was FF: The Spirits Within. we will have to wait and see if these games are good, but considering his reputation, i think its safe to assume that these games wont stink

**siren** · 02-26-2005

He hasn't exactly been out of it for 2 years. Mistwalker was created about a year ago, and part of starting a development studio is building the early parts of a game so you can attract people to come join you.

**DezNutz** · 02-26-2005

Definitley doesn't hurt. You got to start somewhere, and the fact that he is at least known an has had success in the past is a start.

**Chaotic_King** · 02-27-2005

Originally Posted by siren

Now lets be careful here guys. Ask yourselves the following. If Mystwalker had announced that their first 2 titles would be exclusive to the PS3 would you be as cautious?

Yes we don't know if their titles will be great, but considering that he was able to draw so many developers to go with him to create Mistwalker speeks a lot about the man himself. His team obviously believes in him.

I would still be cautious. He already (in a recent interview) descirbed the two games, and none of them interest me in the least. He really hasn't done much for the Final Fantasy series, in fact, the biggest change to the series (FF12) had very little of his involvement. Microsoft can have MistWalker. In fact, I'm happy this is happening. Once the games are released, and it's shown that JRPGs won't do well on the Xenon, it will show all of the other developers of JRPGs, where they should place their titles :P

**The_One** · 02-27-2005

I have high hopes for Sakaguchi-San, and the games he produces. If you've ever played any of the older SNES FF's, you'd be amazed by their quality, especially FFVI (or III in N.A.). What Sakaguchi-san has done for Square is incredible, I dare even say that Square-Enix wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for what Sakaguchi-san's contribution in Square's earlier days.

**siren** · 02-27-2005

Wow chaotic, are you sure your a fan of video games? I do not know anyone who truly loves gaming that would hope for a crappy game to come out on any system.

Also could you post a link to the interview? I would love to check it out.

Also, how do you know FF12 will be good? This is a complete break from the way FF's have been made to date. The entire game world will be rendered in 3d. No more 2d backdrops. What if it takes the FF X2 route to an extreme. You end up with completely realtime combat and platforming all over?

**The_One** · 02-27-2005

Hoy, here it is (Don't ask, "Hoy" just came out for no apparent reason).
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/02...s_6119216.html
Oddly enough, the interview was conducted by Microsoft. Oh well, still an interesting read.

**Chaotic_King** · 02-27-2005

Originally Posted by siren

Wow chaotic, are you sure your a fan of video games? I do not know anyone who truly loves gaming that would hope for a crappy game to come out on any system.

Also could you post a link to the interview? I would love to check it out.

Also, how do you know FF12 will be good? This is a complete break from the way FF's have been made to date. The entire game world will be rendered in 3d. No more 2d backdrops. What if it takes the FF X2 route to an extreme. You end up with completely realtime combat and platforming all over?

Who said that I want a crappy game to come out on any system? I never said that. I said that I would still be cautious of his games, even if they were released for the PS3. From what he stated, I am not going to be interested in either of them.

I'd post a link, but it's in Japanese, so here's a rough translation:

Q: So what drove you to break your long silence and finally start making big RPGs again?

Sakaguchi: The truth is that as of last spring I'd gone two and a half years without any direct, day-to-day involvement with content development. I spent most of my time watching movies and reading books. But after two and a half years of that lifestyle an impulse to make something arose within me.

Q: You've established your own company, Mistwalker...

Sakaguchi: Game development teams and budgets are getting bigger. Relying on game development to raise the money to pay all those people can lock you into a very bad cycle, where you're just making things to somehow pay down those costs. But if you can't break away from that and make something new, I didn't think there was any point in making games at all. I established Mistwalker to try a style of work that wouldn't make us so dependent on development.

Q: Was it the next-generation Xbox console that led you to work with Microsoft Game Studios (MGS)?

Sakaguchi: Broadly speaking that's certainly true, I definitely wanted a limitless world where I could cram in everything I wanted to do. I think next-generation consoles are past the threshold of being able to do that. It's like, everything I wanted to express could fit in this box called the game machine, so I could send it out. While groping for a way to get back into making games I'd sometimes ask outside creators if they'd be interested in working together, and thanks to the good response I came to think we could do two RPGs. Then I got a talk from Mr. Maruyama (Xbox business director Yoshihiro Maruyama) a friend I'd worked with before. Hiroshi Kawai (game development director) who'd worked with me on development (of FF7 and FF9) was also at MGS, and since we understood each other's abilities I felt things would go smoothly this way. So it wasn't so much that I chose the hardware myself, I was led to the next-generation Xbox by personal connections.

Q: What's your role on these two games? Also, what kind of games will they be?

Sakaguchi: Basically, I'm the producer, and I'm also writing a lot of the scenarios, including game system design. One of them goes the realistic route. It will have stylish visuals - this is what I've always been aiming for - it will be a game that gives you the pleasant sensation of walking among amazing visuals. The story won't be the typical coming-of-age RPG story, the main character is, if anything, knowledgeable and experienced. But I'd like to try and show how even that kind of person can be moved to laugh by trivial things, or moved to cry by everyday things. I'm going for a deeper style that shows a bit of psychological depth. For the other game, I want to make an RPG with deformed characters who move with lots of energy. The main character is someone who never gives up, no matter what hardships he (/she?) undergoes, he grits his teeth and keeps on going.

Q: You have a strong image as a storyteller. Are there any particular rules of thumb or reflections on RPGs that you're using to guide you?

Sakaguchi: Right, well, with each new generation of games my thoughts have changed, so... At the moment, I feel that the sensation of walking among amazing visuals - that's already been done. But however pretty a game's graphics may be, if they can't be touched they're just decorations in the end. So I'm thinking I want to aim for a game world with lots of things you can seamlessly interact with in various ways, for the sense of a world where everything can be touched. Also, as I said before I want to get away from coming-of-age stories, and create comical or tragic scenes unlike any seen in games before. I'm trying to make something that will feel fresh, and explores the possibilities of interactivity.

Q: Finally, please say something to the game fans eagerly awaiting your works.

Sakaguchi: The users have appreciated what I myself found fun, they've been tuned in to my wavelength and that's made me very happy and very grateful. So when making games, I never forget the minimal requirement to satisfy the users who spend their money to buy them. I believe in the fun these games will deliver, so please look forward to them.

Where did I say that I knew FF12 would be knew? I said that it's the biggest change to the main series in a long time, in which the man had little involvement in. I personally liked FFX-2. All I'm saying is, I am a big fan of Square Enix, and I won't miss him. We still have Kitase and Matsuno, who I personally believe are much more important to the series lately than Sakaguchi.

(Not to mention, we may even be getting TFLO

)

**siren** · 02-27-2005

You mentioned that once the games are released it will prove that JRPGs can't do well on Xbox2. That is the next best thing to saying the games will be poor. It is common sense to say that a good game will sell well regardless of which system it is on, assuming the system has enough consoles out, or has the marketing needed to use the game to help sell consoles.

What I would like to know is what about the description he gave disinterests you?

This is the guy who basically drove FF7 & FF9. Consider the following

FF7 is the best selling Final Fantasy game ever. http://www.creativeuncut.com/squaregames.html
FF9 comes in 3rd. Just barely off of FF X

I personally cannot see any reason to doubt that his games will be great. On top of that, it is generally excepted that FF7 was the game that made the original Playstation. Prior to it's release the Playstation was actually strugling. Following it's release, the system took off like a bat. We all know that Final Fantasy isn't the only thing that kept it selling, but it sure helped.

Now, I am not saying that Mistwalkers games will do this for Xbox, after all the lack the Final Fantasy name themselves. But, consider the following.

Commercial - You see a beautiful world with rich characters and environment. You hear the 3 letters RPG, RPG, RPG several times. Talk of emotion and passion. Then you hear "From the Creator of Final Fantasy. comes XXXXXX, only on Xbox2"

On a side note, of course those 2 have been more important to Final Fantasy. But I would also argue that they are responsible for FFX-2, which sold the worst of any final fantasy since the SNES came out.

**Chaotic_King** · 02-27-2005

Originally Posted by siren

You mentioned that once the games are released it will prove that JRPGs can't do well on Xbox2. That is the next best thing to saying the games will be poor. It is common sense to say that a good game will sell well regardless of which system it is on, assuming the system has enough consoles out, or has the marketing needed to use the game to help sell consoles.

Tales of Rebirth, is easily one of the best RPGs to come out last year. It was released on the most popular console in Japan, and is a part of one of the most popular RPG series in Japan, yet it didn't sell all that well. That's only one example. Now, everyone and their mother knows that the Xenon will be last place in terms of consoles sold in Japan, now how do you assume that it will sell all that well, even though it's a great game?

Originally Posted by siren

What I would like to know is what about the description he gave disinterests you?

I'm curious as to why it matters? I waited for quite a while for a good JRPG for my Xbox, and I've yet to get one. So, I'm not even going to bother with the Xenon. His description of the two games, don't seem like games that I'd be interested in.

Originally Posted by siren

This is the guy who basically drove FF7 & FF9. Consider the following

Do not give him credit for FFVII. Yoshinori Kitase was both the director, and the writer of that game, Sakaguchi was only the producer.

Originally Posted by siren

FF7 is the best selling Final Fantasy game ever. http://www.creativeuncut.com/squaregames.html
FF9 comes in 3rd. Just barely off of FF X

Final Fantasy VIII sold more than Final Fantasy IX.

Originally Posted by siren

I personally cannot see any reason to doubt that his games will be great. On top of that, it is generally excepted that FF7 was the game that made the original Playstation. Prior to it's release the Playstation was actually strugling. Following it's release, the system took off like a bat. We all know that Final Fantasy isn't the only thing that kept it selling, but it sure helped.

I'm not saying they won't be great, I'm saying that I'm not looking forward to either, and I won't be getting either (and I doubt I'll be supporting Microsoft next generation either) Final Fantasy VII made the PlayStation, that's great, but he was only the producer of the game.

Originally Posted by siren

Now, I am not saying that Mistwalkers games will do this for Xbox, after all the lack the Final Fantasy name themselves. But, consider the following.

Commercial - You see a beautiful world with rich characters and environment. You hear the 3 letters RPG, RPG, RPG several times. Talk of emotion and passion. Then you hear "From the Creator of Final Fantasy. comes XXXXXX, only on Xbox2"

I see that, but it will be a mere hiccup in Japan.

Originally Posted by siren

On a side note, of course those 2 have been more important to Final Fantasy. But I would also argue that they are responsible for FFX-2, which sold the worst of any final fantasy since the SNES came out.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls, Final Fantansy Tactics: Advance, Final Fantasy Tactics...

Yasumi Matsuno had no involvement with X-2.

**SessDMC** · 02-27-2005

FROM BBC.CO.UK

Final Fantasy legends hits Xbox

The creator of the hugely-successful Final Fantasy games Hironobu Sakaguchi has signed up to make two exclusive games for the Xbox sequel.
"I want these games to be alive with a new vision for gaming and vividly depict new characters that will transcend the game," he said,

The follow up to Xbox is expected at the end of 2005 or in 2006, according to latest reports.

The Final Fantasy series has sold more than 60 milion copies worldwide.

LMAO if Final Fantasy happend on XBOX SquareEnix and Sony will pull a massive fit about it and lawsuites will be fired in all directions!

Not to mention that Final Fantasy has never been an Xbox title!

I think this is the time to brand BBC.CO.UK as unreliable.

**PeanutButterMunky** · 02-27-2005

I wouldn't deem them as "unreliable." 2 RPGs are being developed for the Xbox, as stated by numerous webpages and a TV show I watched recently. Mistwalker being one of them, the other unannounced. Whether or not Final Fantasy Legends is that other game, who knows?

**SessDMC** · 02-27-2005

I highy doubt it will be final fantasy legands because SquareEnix have the rights and every thing, they own the franchise right? (i havent really tooken an intrest in S.E. lately so i might need updateing)

**Chaotic_King** · 02-27-2005

Originally Posted by PeanutButterMunky

I wouldn't deem them as "unreliable." 2 RPGs are being developed for the Xbox, as stated by numerous webpages and a TV show I watched recently. Mistwalker being one of them, the other unannounced. Whether or not Final Fantasy Legends is that other game, who knows?

MistWalker is the name of Sakaguchi's company, which will be developing for the Xenon.

When they said "Final Fantasy Legends" hit Xbox, they meant that the a few legends behind the series, are developing for the Xenon, not the game "Final Fantasy Legends".

**PeanutButterMunky** · 02-27-2005

MistWalker is the name of Sakaguchi's company, which will be developing for the Xenon.

Point taken. Ok then. Both games are unannounced so far.

Clarification is a good thing.

**RPGDreamer** · 10-04-2006

UK-based Ninja Theory has announced that Heavenly Sword is still a European launch window title, despite the PlayStation 3 facing a launch delay in the continent. However, the action-adventure game will not be a launch title in North America.

The confirmation comes from Ninja Theory's co-founder, Nina Kristensen, who said "We've [the Heavenely Sword team] always been a launch window title so it hasn't affected us at all," when talking to interviewers at the game Developer's Conference in London.

Lead animator, Guy Midgley also revealed that a launch date has not been set for the game. This comes as no surprise since the European launch date of the PlayStation 3 itself still remains a mystery. Sony announced last month that the launch date has been pushed back from November 17th this year to March next year, and has yet to decide on a set date.

During the presentation, the team also talked about inspirations for the game, naming Virtua Fighter and Soul Calibur as the main ones, and the combat system that it will use. "Our hero has three stances, but we decided to make each enemy a different stance. This makes the player think about the stance they need to be in to survive the encounter," lead programmer SaiTong Man told the audience.

Heavenly Sword has already been nicknamed Goddess of War, and will be starring a beautiful girl who only has a few days left to live. It will be published by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

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