Square Enix Open to Western-developed Final Fantasy Games

[moogling]

What happens in Japan evidently doesn’t stay in Japan. It just takes more than two decades to leave. Speaking with Edge (via Play.tm), Square Enix president Yoichi Wada gave a thumbs-up to the idea of a non-Japanese developed installment of his company’s flagship Final Fantasy series.

“That is one of the possible paths, but it’s not something that we would shift completely over to,” he said. “There is always a possibility that Final Fantasy could be produced with the input of our Western developers, overseen by our Japanese developers.”

Wada’s current proof-of-concept? Batman: Arkham Asylum, of all things.

“Something like Batman: Arkham Asylum, for example, is something that is very like the Japanese taste in games, in fact it caters very much to the Japanese taste. Arkham Asylum is like the best aspects of Metal Gear solid, but evolved,” Wada enthused.

Hey Mr. Wada, does your oft-rumored collaboration with GRIN count? Because we hear that didn’t end so well.

Source: VG247

 

[TheRealTrxd]

I think the idea is absolutley fine, but i know a lot of people are going to get retarded about it. Japan and the western worlds arent completely independent from each other game-wise, final fantasy is popular here and call of duty is popular there.

He isnt even saying it will probably happen, he is just saying he wouldn't dismiss it as if it could never work. The final fantasy series has literally 10's of games being developed at a time, one of them may aswell be a western experiment.

 

[Linnaete]

It's a nice idea, and I know SE are currently hiring a western developer to make that mysterious Fortress game in the Ivalice Alliance compilation.

But I can't help but see that SE are just focusing too hard on trying to appeal to western gamers. As a business, it is understandable why, but I'm just worried it can negatively affect the franchise.

I'm not that enthusiastic to the idea of a western developer making a flagship FF game at the moment- but if they can make a spinoff as good as Arkham Asylum, then why not?

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

I'm glad about this actually, western games as of late have been quite brilliant, especially western RPGs. I think SE could potentially make a top quality Western RPG with the help from another good company, I just think they lack the knowledge to do it themselves atm.

 

[Linnaete]

If there is ever a Final Fantasy title that is essentially a shooter/RPG hybrid title such as Borderlands or Fallout 3, I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry.

I'm sure a western developer like Bioware will make it excellent (much to SE's delight), but it will just be weird to see something like that happen to a JRPG franchise. Better a new IP in my opinion.

How about more open world FF titles? Crystal Bearers is the first step- and it worked rather well. Whether or not that seems a good idea is up to their decision.

 

[Shu]

Honestly I think they need it with most of their JRPGS. I mean they have been banging on the same themes for quite some time, and I understand it sells games but I would like to see some more creativity. I honestly think at this point, the best way would be to bring in outside sources to give inspiring new flare to the stories.

I just think a revamp needs to occur, like FFVII did for the series. It was entirely new, and entirely innovative to say the least. People might not say it was the best, although I say it is as of today, but they can all admit it turned their heads when they first played it when it first hit the market.

I like swords, I like guns.. sounds great, but why not take it one step further and more than one planet with the story line. Maybe have post apocalyptic times with FF. I mean who wouldn't want a darker themed FF? That's the soul point of me waiting on Versus as of today.. because I think it will be a great transition from the normal goody goody save the world theme. It might actually be controversial to some of the viewers and move people in a different light.

So hopefully SE uses this as a new starter block to their career. We can only hope!