Square Enix - Not Too Interested In The Virtual Console

WiiBlog.net Article

*Sigh*, that's the only sound I could muster after reading Videogameblogger's post about Square Enix (SE), and their interest in the Wii's Virtual Console (VC). The interview was between Jeremy Parish and Brandon Sheffield, of Gamasutra, and lead programmer Fumiaki Shiraishi and producer Toshihiro Tsuchida of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A King. In case you couldn't already guess, it looks like there will be short trimmings of Square Enix games on the VC.

I guess me and my buddy Geno won't be playing together on any console but the SNES.

These two parts of the Q&A were the real "knife in the heart" section of the interview:

Question: You mentioned in your speech that you initially saw the Virtual Console as the main competition for WiiWare. To date, Square Enix hasn't really participated too much in the Virtual Console. I think you have a few games available for the system. Is that something you're looking more into, or something you've tried to do and Nintendo has been hands-off with it?

Toshihiro Tsuchida answers: We don't think the games and the IP that we have have lost value yet, so we haven't decided if releasing them on Virtual Console is the best idea.

Question: So you feel that releasing older games for the Virtual Console suggests that they're not as valuable anymore?

Toshihiro Tsuchida answers: It's a matter of the package — which is downloading. You look at a game, and you have to decide whether it will be better to be sold in a retail store, or if it will be better for download. We're making that decision carefully for each of the games that we have. It comes down to the games that we think we could make a good remake of haven't been on Virtual Console yet.

So it looks like SE is wanting to go the way of the "re-release". I know that some people are a fan of this, but to me it's like spending money on an ex-girlfriend that puts on a little more makeup, but the experience really doesn't change. That's why the Virtual Console is such a great idea, we get to completely relive the experiences of the games we loved, at a price that is much less than what a re-make offers. So, anyone hoping for a Chrono Trigger or Super Mario Bros. Roleplaying Game release, are going to have to wait longer, and possibly never see it at all.

Square stays away from the Virtual Console because they have no control over it.

That's why they made the big splash on WiiWare. That's something they're 100% in charge of and can dictate everything in the manner they see fit.

It's understandable, some may not like it but Square does have a valid point.

Awww....

I guess I'll wait for FFVI DS, then (I skiped on the GBA one, even though I got FFIVA and FFVA).

Square just wants to repackage/remake. these games and sell them at full price on the Nintendo DSTheLordMagnus

Nintendo does the same thing. Remember Super Mario Bros 3 or Super Mario World on GBA or Super Mario 64 on DS. It didn't stop Nintendo to release the original games on the virtual console.

I really don't think they'll remake Chrono Trigger or Secret of Mana. I have a feeling for Chrono Trigger we won't see it at all because of the license from the original developers. The developers of Chrono Trigger are now with Mistwalker. I have a feeling that Super Mario RPG will have a remake on DS very soon.

Oh well, just bring Donkey KOng 64 on the VC and I'm done with the VC.

There's no reason to release games on VC as long as they can remake the old games and get top dollar for them. I just wish they'd release Secret of Mana on VC... but for those who think SquareEnix has completely ignored the VC, remember than ActRaiser was an Enix game.MAILER_DAEMON

I agree, but what are the chances of Nintendo and Squeenix teaming up to remake Mario RPG? I actually own the cart but my SNES is in bad condition. Personally, I would pay up to $10 for a game I already own, just to play it on my Wii.

Square-Enix and the VC need to come through. All Square-Enix thinks about is money, not what the fans really want. Why do you think they're milking FF for all it's worth since it started? It's ridiculous. I want to play Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger legally...livinitup01

what i don't understand is how releasing titles on the Virtual Console hinders a good quality re-make. If you're adding enough features and improving the original game enough to be re-released, then launching the original on a different platform shouldn't matter. That is of course if you're taking the time and energy to actually put forth an effort to make a solid re-release title.

[QUOTE="livinitup01"]Square-Enix and the VC need to come through. All Square-Enix thinks about is money, not what the fans really want. Why do you think they're milking FF for all it's worth since it started? It's ridiculous. I want to play Super Mario RPG and Chrono Trigger legally...johnnyv2003

what i don't understand is how releasing titles on the Virtual Console hinders a good quality re-make. If you're adding enough features and improving the original game enough to be re-released, then launching the original on a different platform shouldn't matter. That is of course if you're taking the time and energy to actually put forth an effort to make a solid re-release title.

Yeah, it shouldn't matter. The only thing is I'm pretty sure they won't re-make Super Mario RPG or Chrono Trigger. Square-Enix doesn't want to work with Nintendo to develop titles, just sell them on their systems. Chrono Trigger was made between Square and another company which has changed its name so that won't happen either. They just want us to play them on the original SNES. It's the year 2008!!! I'm not buying an SNES just to play that. Give us what we want and you won't be disappointed...

but for those who think SquareEnix has completely ignored the VC, remember than ActRaiser was an Enix game.MAILER_DAEMON

This is a case where they ignored their own history by recently announcing they would love to do a sequel for the series...even after they already did.

I really wish more companies would consider the Wii as an RPG console. I know Atlus has given us 1 dungeon crawler and 2 action Sims, but the only competition to SE's entire VC library is Koei's Opoona. and Capcom's Breath of Fire II. I would love to be able to put money to new RPG's, but with Square's own confrimation that only minor FF's and rehashes will appear on the system it has become clear that no other company wants to step forward and capture the RPG market.

We're approaching a new market by watering down the new niche market in hopes of making it mainstream again. Yet everyone clamors for rehashes and remakes of the companies' work while they were a niche market. Then when a game like Baroque (rehash and remastering) gets released, critics pan it and people don't buy it, claiming it is outdated and has no place in their heart. It's time for them to listen to the real story, which is that RPG's were niche because they had fanservice and actually acted on it. Atlus has been close twice to breaking SE's mold, but even they admit that they can't justify fan service without reasonably making a profit (which sadly includes them being unable to translate SMT1 and 2 for VC).

So do we love the bomb? Yes. And we wait every week to see if the bomb is going to explode or bust open with confetti. But we don't have to keep screaming in the ears of someone who won't listen. Maybe we should join up and start asking other companies to support the console instead.

why sell a game for $5 when you can sell it for $407CloudStrife7

Because games cost money to develop.

Square stays away from the Virtual Console because they have no control over it.

Jaysonguy

[QUOTE="Boba_Fett_3710"]

[QUOTE="7CloudStrife7"]why sell a game for $5 when you can sell it for $407CloudStrife7

Because games cost money to develop.

I'm sorry but I think you misunderstood me. I'm saying why would SE sell a game on the VC when they could easily port it onto a handheld or even a console and sell it for $40. If I was SE I would rather make more money than less.

i understand what you mean...and the sad thing is, a direct port to a handheld (where most old school SE games would go) would probably do really well, which says more about the gamers than SE...but just because they would make more money doesn't mean I have to be happy about it..:(

[QUOTE="MAILER_DAEMON"]but for those who think SquareEnix has completely ignored the VC, remember than ActRaiser was an Enix game.SirSpudly

This is a case where they ignored their own history by recently announcing they would love to do a sequel for the series...even after they already did.

I really wish more companies would consider the Wii as an RPG console. I know Atlus has given us 1 dungeon crawler and 2 action Sims, but the only competition to SE's entire VC library is Koei's Opoona. and Capcom's Breath of Fire II. I would love to be able to put money to new RPG's, but with Square's own confrimation that only minor FF's and rehashes will appear on the system it has become clear that no other company wants to step forward and capture the RPG market.

We're approaching a new market by watering down the new niche market in hopes of making it mainstream again. Yet everyone clamors for rehashes and remakes of the companies' work while they were a niche market. Then when a game like Baroque (rehash and remastering) gets released, critics pan it and people don't buy it, claiming it is outdated and has no place in their heart. It's time for them to listen to the real story, which is that RPG's were niche because they had fanservice and actually acted on it. Atlus has been close twice to breaking SE's mold, but even they admit that they can't justify fan service without reasonably making a profit (which sadly includes them being unable to translate SMT1 and 2 for VC).

So do we love the bomb? Yes. And we wait every week to see if the bomb is going to explode or bust open with confetti. But we don't have to keep screaming in the ears of someone who won't listen. Maybe we should join up and start asking other companies to support the console instead.

Very well put. I couldn't have said it better. Other companies will just have to give Square-Enix a punch in the face by making an RPG better than them.

SE is like a bully, in order to raise its standards you gotta put them in their place and make them eat their words. They will put more on the Wii when they see more RPGs that surpass or stand up to some of the ones they are putting out, like FFXII. Only then will they consider the Wii a high-standard RPG platform for them to invest in. Till then we will continue to only see Crystal Chronicles or a watered-down Dragon Quest on a Nintendo system. They are punching Nintendo in the face by doing this. Either that or we can kill the PS3 so they have no choice. No way would they develop for the 360 :P.

No way would they develop for the 360 :P.

livinitup01

Um...Sorry

[QUOTE="livinitup01"]

No way would they develop for the 360 :P.

SirSpudly

Um...Sorry

Oh yeah, forgot about those. But they wouldn't put a FF on the 360 (I may eat my words once again in the near future...)

So Square-Enix doesn't want my money, but that's alright because I don't plan on supporting them anyway. I own all the original gems anyway.

They also stay off the VC because it give them a better chance to milk their franchises to death. Think about it, if you could buy the original Final Fantasy for $5 on the VC then why would you go out and spend $30 on the remake? Square is aware of this so they'll never releases any of their games on the VC.PlasmaBeam44

They've already released games on the Virtual Console.

Problem with Wiiware is, as I said before, size limitations. (Although I think Nintendo could eventually take care of this issue by releasing some hardware update for the Wii.)

You can't get FFX, for example, on a virtual console. SE is going to have to deal with that again for any upcoming releases after My Life as a King.

[QUOTE="PlasmaBeam44"]They also stay off the VC because it give them a better chance to milk their franchises to death. Think about it, if you could buy the original Final Fantasy for $5 on the VC then why would you go out and spend $30 on the remake? Square is aware of this so they'll never releases any of their games on the VC.Jaysonguy

They've already released games on the Virtual Console.

Nothing major though.