PSX5Central
Playstation/Gaming Discussions => PS3 Discussion => Topic started by: rastalant on October 11, 2001, 05:09:56 PM
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http://www.coremagazine.com/
"Earlier this week Square agreed to answer questions regarding their recently announced investment deal with Sony. Under the terms of the agreement, Sony will pay 14.9 billion yen ($124.4 million) for an estimated 19% stake in the company. While the deal is expected to be finalized later this month, the sizable investment would make Sony the second largest shareholder in Square.
Question: Was Sony\'s decision to invest mostly due to the poor performance of Final Fantasy: Spirits Within, and the precarious financial position it put Square in?
Square: Although the film grossed much less than we expected, that wasn\'t the main reason behind Sony\'s decision to invest. That being said, the cost of the film and the time we spent in production was twice what we anticipated. We have no plans to continue a film business, but we did acquire valuable skills in the process. For example, superior CG production which can be applied to games such as Final Fantasy X. We plan to work on other CG related projects, and we believe that aspect of our business outside of gaming will continue to grow.
Question: President Hisashi Suzuki recently said that Square is looking to return to a \'glory days\' period. Can you explain this?
Square: I believe he meant our focus is to have several game series selling millions of copies annually, as opposed to banking on one or two.
Question: Does that mean you plan to revive old series?
Square: Not necessarily. I think he meant it\'s important for us to have a variety of popular games. We have a few new games in production, but it\'s too early to discuss them.
Question: Do you plan to reconsider the PlayOnline network?
Square: I think we\'ve continued to reexamine our business ideas, particularly in regard to the PlayOnline network every few months. At the moment, our focus is to develop an online network which will support Final Fantasy XI. We\'re narrowed our focus somewhat, but our goals remain the same.
Question: How will Sony\'s investment change Square\'s relationship with Namco & Enix?
Square: We have a unique mutual-investment relationship with Namco and Enix, but that\'s wholly separate from Sony. I don\'t think it will have any affect whatsoever.
Question: Some people have expressed concern that Square will back away from possible development on Xbox, GameCube or Game Boy Advance as a result of Sony\'s investment. Can you shed some light on that?
Square: We plan to continue pursuing Game Boy Advance development. As for the GameCube or Xbox, we have no plans to support either one at this point. Our business model is to support the best selling platform, so our focus is firmly on the PlayStation 2. "
Well I guess the rumors are finally put to rest. So much for square on gamecube and xbox.;)
:thepimp: :thepimp:
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Square............any square fans!?!??!? anybody!?!?!?!:(
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It\'s cool that all those rumors are false, but that doesn\'t mean anything for the PS2 really. They haven\'t announced anything new for the PS2 yet. :( I hope when I wake up tomorrow there is tons of new footage of a new Square game.
BTW, how are they planning on making games for the GBA and not for the NGC? I thought Nintendo wouldn\'t let them if they didn\'t program for both.
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They been talking about making GBA games since it came out. So I doubt its true, plus didn\'t nintendo say if there not making gamecube games they can\'t make gba games?:thepimp:
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I could go for a new front mission game myself.
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vagrent story 2 would be nice too.:thepimp: :thepimp:
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I can go for Front Mission 4 and Vagrant Story 2
I just hope if Square does make Front Mission they leave out the really sad teenie bopper storyline and the hours of text reading they put into FF3 which I got sick of after 40 hours and bypassed for the last 50 hours of the game thanks to the help of a strat guide
but I would really like to see square develope a new hardcore RPG as well
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you guys all know that I am not the biggerst Square fan, but this is great news for anyone with a PS2, worried about exlcusives moving to other consoles.
It is interesting to see what happens in the next couple days with TGS though. Can\'t wait!
Eric Jacob
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hey sounds like good news to me
but thats because i have a PS2 and like Sqaure
i hope square sticks to RPGs though and doesnt do thte variety bit as we have seen it doesnt work really well
but this is cool with me
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Kingdom Hearts is something new and look very promising! I would like to see Xenosaga published by square by Namco is in charge with monolith i believe...Final Fantasy Tactics 2, Legend of Mania, so many great RPG had been made by square, only final fantasy series sold the most!
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Give me Final Fantasy Tactics 2
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iknew square wasn\'t goign to go anywhere, they make the best RPG\'s period :)
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No one every listens to me when it comes to Square. I wonder why. I\'ve been saying this since FFX was announced.
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Of coarse Caspian, that was before the Sony deal that pretty much sealed the deal with them. Afterall, before then, it was pretty much up in the air for them since, Sony didn\'t own 19% of them at the time. :fro:
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Give me Final Fantasy Tactics 2
To quote the famous man; :)
WORD.
/ dm /