Have Square Enix got it wrong?
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“Dear Square Enix; I’m confused. And if I’m confused then maybe others are confused. And confusion – let me remind you – is the enemy of game sales.
You see, you have so many RPG titles coming out in 2009 for the PlayStation 3, I really don’t know which way to turn and what to buy…”
The best way to explain what I mean is to list out all the different products you have on your current release schedule for the PS3 alone.
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Blu-ray – First Edition (includes a second disc with a Final Fantasy XIII demo, Final Fantasy Agito XIII trailer, and Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailer)
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Blu-ray – First Edition Bundle (Japan only – includes all the above and a PS3)
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Blu-ray – Regular Edition (No extra disc – no demo etc. – no point?)
- Final Fantasy XIII (Part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII Collection, but not a prequel or sequel to any other part of the collection)
- Final Fantasy XIII Versus (Part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII Collection, but not a prequel or sequel to any other part of the collection)
- Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
- The Last Remnant
Add to that the third Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII Collection title – Agito – and the English release of Dissidia: Final Fantasy for the PSP and you have a whole bunch of RPG purchasing options to consider.
What else could be coming along this year that they haven’t yet confirmed?
If Square Enix are releasing three distinct packages for their Advent Children movie, just imagine what they’re going to announce when it comes to Bundles, Special Editions, Collector’s Editions and Exclusive Editions of each Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII Collection title.
It’s called ‘product overload’, and I personally don’t like it. Since Square Enix haven’t yet released a PS3 title, you might say they’re playing catch-up. In my book, they’re diluting the effectiveness of their titles and there’s a real chance that sales of their lesser titles will suffer accordingly.
Of course, you may say in reply to my argument that other publishers such as EA and Ubisoft will be releasing many more titles than this in 2009. But the key here is that each one of those titles is going to be a distinctly different game.
My worry for Square Enix is that they only really do one type of game, and even the most stalwart RPG fan must admit that having this amount of similar releases in one 12-month period is not the best tactic.
Add to that the fact that your typical Square Enix title is like getting married – it’s a full commitment and not something you can pick up and put down after a few hours – and that makes it worse. Final Fantasy XIII and Versus will clearly deliver their two flagship experiences, so where does that leave Disgaea and The Last Remnant?
And why bother with the already released Advent Children in high-definition without the special demo disc? You can pick up the DVD for almost nothing, so why spend top dollar on a slightly better quality version without the FF XIII demo?
Hype for the demo is already reaching fever pitch following the suggestion (apparently confirmed) that you will be playing the ‘teaser’ for longer than Advent Children actually lasts (110 minutes). It seems like a waste of time and production money to me, eating into the profits that will be created by the First Edition.
Add to this the news that the demo will only be released in Japan, and my desire to purchase Advent Children on Blu-ray at all is now in question.
So – have Square Enix got it wrong? Have they lined up too many releases at once? Is the amount of choice just a little overboard? Are they getting it wrong with their special editions and geographic release choices? Let us know in the comments…
I think SE have gotten a lot of things wrong over the last year. They’ve literally gone from a studio from which I eagerly await a release to a company that consistently generates a great deal of skepticism on my behalf.
And I’m not just talking about the support for the 360 or the loss of exclusivity of FFXIII. I get the feeling that the company is breaking its back to sell more games in the West as they see it as this untapped cash-cow. What they’ve done is lost their way in the East and a lot of people (myself included) are waiting with bated breath regarding FFXIII and Versus and hoping they haven’t lost the plot completely.
Still Working my way up the ranks in Resistance 2 co-op while I wait for Killzone 2.
You are right about FFXIII. Itsa Craazy set-up. My guess is they are chasing their own tail, which is on fire by the way. What with other games ramping up the quality standards in all sorts of ways, Square getting Greedy in a Micro$oft style, people expecting on-line play with their fish and chips.
In my view square can go to the back of the queue when it comes to getting money out of my pockets.
I’m not that excited for any PS3 RPG save for Valkyria Chronicles.
If Square Enix master plan is to over saturate the RPG market with all these titles, then they must still be drunk from a Microsoft funded mega party.
Well,who needs them? We are getting quality RPG’s from other sources now (White Knight Chronicles,Valkyria Chronicles,Fallout 3 and Oblivion).
I once respected Square Enix much as Brodie stated.But I have lost it for them now.Unlike Brodie however my loss of respect stems directly from their supporting of an american mess.Star Ocean exlcusive on 360,infinte Undiscovery exlcusive on 360,The Last Remnant out on 360 months before the PS3 release,and then Final Fantasy XIII goes multi? That to me was the worst decisiion I have ever heard.
Their so much like microsoft now,money driven.
I am however looking forward to versus XIII,it’s development team was those behind the Kingdom Hearts series,and from what I hear,if it wasn’t for them,Versus would have went multi too.I love those people.
I for one,will be boycotting Square Enix
(not really,I just love Jay and Silent Bob strike back).
as for the blu ray release of advent children,I’m with Dolph,that is clearly money driven piss taking.
sorry for the lengthy comment people.
Is the authur retarted or something?
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Blu-ray – First Edition (includes a second disc with a Final Fantasy XIII demo, Final Fantasy Agito XIII trailer, and Final Fantasy Versus XIII trailer)
IS JAPAN ONLY
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Blu-ray – First Edition Bundle (Japan only – includes all the above and a PS3)
IS A BUNDEL
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete Blu-ray – Regular Edition (No extra disc – no demo etc. – no point?)
IT HAS EXTRA FOOTAGE AND IMPROVED GRAPHICS
Final Fantasy XIII (Part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII Collection, but not a prequel or sequel to any other part of the collection)
IS NOT COMMING TO THE WEST IN 2009
Final Fantasy XIII Versus (Part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy XIII Collection, but not a prequel or sequel to any other part of the collection)
NOT COMMING OUT IN 2009 in the west, it will be released AFTER Final Fantasy 13 is complete
Disgaea 3: Absence of Justice
IS COMINIG OUT IN EUROPE ONLY AS IT HAS ALREADY BEEN RELEASED IN AMERICA and JAPAN, it is only a port.
The Last Remnant was delayed on the PS3 because it was using the Unreal 3 engine, and that didnt work correctly on the PS3 until Unreal 3 was released on PS3 so developemnt was way behind on the PS3 version
Interesting article Dolph. Being an FF Junkie I was clicking on that link quicker than you could say ‘Black Mage’. I agree that this does seem a bit like FF overload, I certainly knew they were releasing 3 FF titles this year but I didn’t know about all the DVD bundley stuff, as well as a belated Last Remnant.
Only thing I’d call you up on is Disgaea 3 , which is by Nippon Ichi not Squenix, but it doesn’t make your point less valid. (Unless Nippon are part of Squenix in which case I’ll go sit in the naughty corner.)
Being a crazed RPG fan that is indeed gonna be a looot of RPGS fighting me for their time this year. Plus, over saturation on a game can be bad. which is why I always have a few types of games in my playlist, but if they’re all Final Fantasy… then that may get old fast.
Redlac’s prediction: Japan will go absolutely mental over all the FF titles and start a civil war over which title is better. Square will make lots of money.
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