Square Enix staffing new US studio for original action game

by Randy Nelson { Nov 17th 2008 at 7:30PM }

According to Gamasutra, Square Enix is planning to create a new US development studio to produce an original action game. In job postings for programming talent placed on Gamasutra, Square Enix states that it is "building a studio from the ground up" in El Segundo, CA, and "making an action-oriented original IP game," promising "the creative control of a start-up but the backing and funding of a major publisher."

The publisher is after programmers with Xbox 360 experience, although the listings make mention of more than one platform. In fact, tucked away in the position details is the snippet, "Platforms: Xbox 360, Wii." This would be the first stab at a Western development studio for Square Enix, but not for Square. The company released the US-developed Secret of Evermore on SNES in 1995 and took another stab at development outside of Japan with 1998's Parasite Eve, the first and last game to come out of Square's defunct Hawaiian studio.

Tags: square-enix

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

DedBeet @ Nov 17th 2008 8:13PM

Hmmm, no mention of Playstation anything. That's pretty sad.

j.howlett @ Nov 17th 2008 8:32PM

could be they have people with ps3 experience already, or not

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 17th 2008 8:43PM

did u ever think that probably has something to do with sony too?
dont blame square.. lol.

sony has not made the best decisions this round IMO.

DedBeet @ Nov 17th 2008 8:43PM

Ooh, I hadn't thought of that. Hope that's the case.

Ranus Studios @ Nov 17th 2008 7:42PM

MOAR SECRET OF EVERMORE?!

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Nov 19th 2008 9:30AM

not sure, but don't expect to see it for at least 4 years.

John Z @ Nov 17th 2008 7:44PM

I don't really understand the hate for Secret of Evermore... yeah, it might not have been Seiken 3, but it wasn't as bad as some folks like to make it out to be. It was at the very least a valiant first effort-- the only problem being that it was during a time when "first efforts" were actually "costly mistakes" and "sales disasters". With the market the way it is now (and going by the massive amounts of shovelware out on all systems) even a 'disappointing' showing at retail has the potential to maybe break even.

If there's a company that could throw tons of money behind an experiment without staking their lifeblood on a blockbuster showing, though, it's S-E (right behind Nintendo). I'm interested to see what comes of this.

Ranus Studios @ Nov 17th 2008 7:50PM

Evermore is actually one of my favorite games. I just think that the best that could be done with it would be a remake.

McWeen @ Nov 18th 2008 8:13AM

Your logic doesn't exactly work though. Shovelware gets made because it sells very well relative to the invested capital. Those of us "in the know" about games do not make up the majority of the market.

Phantom @ Nov 17th 2008 7:50PM

lol , looks like I'll be getting te game for the Wii then , unless it ends up on either the PC or PS3

creid @ Nov 17th 2008 8:08PM

The game is at least 3 years away but I can tell you right now: This game will not be good.

Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Nov 17th 2008 8:20PM

Does anyone know what's the deal with Squenix and Sony? It seems that they have been hell bent on not releasing any new IPs on the ps3.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 17th 2008 8:30PM

squenix makes and develops games.
sony and microsoft publish games.

microsoft has paid to publish the JRPGs on the 360, including infinite undiscovery and lost odyssey. MS owns the rights to those games.

maybe sony did not call up squenix and make a similar offer?
maybe squenix called up sony and they turned this down?

what i do know is that squenix and earlier squaresoft has always found a way to release games on the most popular platforms of each generation:
1st gen- nintendo, snes
2nd gen- ps1
3rd gen- ps2
4th gen- 360 and wii.

they are doing what they need to do to make the most money and please the largest number of fans.

Bluebrake @ Nov 17th 2008 9:01PM

This is only a job listing seeking 360/Wii programmers, which obviously Square wouldn't have as many of. I seriously doubt they would snub the PS3 in this age of multiplatform games.

el serpiente @ Nov 18th 2008 9:35AM

stop it, you're killing sk8rboi's hard-on!

Xanto @ Nov 17th 2008 9:13PM

Parasite Eve is probably one of my favorite Square games, I hope The Third Birthday is good.

Eh @ Nov 17th 2008 9:32PM

god, when are they going to stop trying to make action games? How many failures can this company handle?

atrimus @ Nov 17th 2008 10:24PM

plenty apparently, since they seemingly have Microsoft to bail them out of financial disarray like Sony did after Spirits Within.

ThornedVenom (Harley Quinn Defense Force) @ Nov 17th 2008 9:59PM

Parasite Eve was amazing.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 17th 2008 10:23PM

they have already snubbed sony.
1) infinite undiscovery- exclusive to 360
2) the last remnant- early launch on 360
3) star ocean- exclusive to the 360
4) ff13 on the 360 was a big blow

what ps3 programmers do square have on staff?
they havent made many ps3 games..
ps1 and ps2 programmers have probably already been laid off years ago.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 17th 2008 10:24PM

reply to blue brakes comment

ruibing @ Nov 17th 2008 10:36PM

It's interesting, you managed to mention the 360 for all four arguments.

I think Square is currently testing the waters for which consoles to align to for the rest of this generation. They've had very good luck with PSP and DS, but the reception of their console titles have not generated exceptional sales in any territory. I think when Last Remnant and FFXIII both comes out on the two platforms, SE will then plan accordingly.

atrimus @ Nov 17th 2008 11:17PM

360 squeaks wins over the PS3 in the US; the PS3 squeaks wins over the 360 in Europe; the PS3 beats 360 in Japan where neiter system sells much. i doubt this will change much for the duration of this generation, if at all. so if anything, this generation has proven that no console is safe to "align" with.

Kspraydad @ Nov 17th 2008 11:48PM

At ruibing...

How about I save SE the trouble...I'll just align with Level-5

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 18th 2008 12:26AM

This silence was recently broken by Sony UK managing director Ray Maguire, who, in an interview with VideoGamer.com, stated, "nothing is ever exclusive." Maguire explained that while the competition had spent "a large amount of money" to purchase exclusive DLC rights for "a period of time", Sony had chosen to funnel their money into research and development, as well as the production of titles such as LittleBigPlanet.

That is relevant because I do not think it's accurate to say Square has snubbed Sony. What is happening is Microsoft is more willing to throw development money to secure exclusivity. This does not just apply to DLC but obviously also applies to games. Everyone knows the Playstation brand is strong and synonmous with gaming. The x-box brand didn't have that same kind of association until the success of the 360. I think the honest thing to say here is that S.E. has a suitable sugar daddy and it's a relationship of convienent bedfellows. Microsoft want's market penetration, exclusive games for it's platform and more RPG's. Who better to align yourself with than S.E.

I don't think they have snubbed Sony but they don't need Sony like this did last generation with the Playstation 2. With the current state of the world economy and Sony having revenue issues (as they are one of if not the worlds largest manufacturers of electronic devices) it's not a wise choice to engage in a bidding war over 3rd party exclusives. Instead, they are choosing to put that money into development of first party exclusives. I'm not saying it's right or wrong but it is what it is.

As for the comment of what PS3 developers they have n staff - well they have been developing FF13 & FF VS since before the PS3 launched. Pretty safe to assume they have in house PS3 developers.

This is how these things work. If/when the PS3 gets more market share they will start making games for the PS3 as well. It will just be business as usual.

As far as I know Square Enix had nothing to do with Lost Odyssey. I could be wrong about that but I thought it was ex-square enix developers that formed a new devlopment house under the Microsoft umbrella. Lost Remnant looks good but Infinite Undiscovery was really nothing to write home about. Namco Bandai is really where it's at right now when it comes to RPG's and they released Tales Of Vesperia (currently console exclusive) & Eternal Sonata as a timed 360 exclusive. I would rather have NB on my side than SE at this point.

sk8monroe81 @ Nov 18th 2008 1:53PM

johnny- mistwalker made lost odyssey, who were some of squares best people, including the main guy behind all ff music in the past.

sony doesnt have the money to throw around at developers like microsoft and nintendo do. sony hasnt made any money this gen from 2006 - 2008. they dont have extra money to throw into other projects from 3rd parties now IMO.
they have spent much of their marketing and money in 2008 on the release of LBP, socom, and R2, which have turned out to be sales dud's for sony.
Infinite undiscovery is a game in enjoyed, yet the first few hours were not fun, and that is why IMO most people either quit the game or gave it a poor review. it is one of the few JRPG style games that actually features non-turned based action orientated battles. it was fresh and new IMO. and square developed the game yes, but actually tri-ace is the company that made the game, known for making good RPGs in the past.

MS has a lot of 1st party games that have sold millions of copies on the 360 and also 3rd party games too. they have a proven record of selling software this round and have extra cash to throw at developers to secure rights to game franchises. something sony did last round.