Square president doesn't expect 'big impact' from PS3 price cut until 2010
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Aug 26th 2009 at 3:46PM } 
If that seems like oddly hesitant approval, it's because Square Enix has been oddly hesitant in producing PlayStation 3 content up until now, instead placing its eggs in other, distinctly portable baskets. The company's first big hit on Sony's console looks to be derived from its purchase of Eidos, which netted the critically acclaimed Batman: Arkham Asylum, and Final Fantasy XIII isn't due to arrive in Japan until the end of the year. While Square Enix has forecast a doubling in operating profit within the current fiscal year -- ending next March -- it seems prudent of Wada to hold off on financial celebration until the effects of a cheaper PlayStation become apparent and Final Fantasy XIII's reach extends beyond Japan.
[Via Edge Online]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
jahd5000 @ Aug 26th 2009 3:50PM
fuck SE, even if that turns out to be true.
Longhorn Slim @ Aug 26th 2009 3:52PM
He is right though, and he is talking about SE $$$, not Sony's $$$
dgknight500 @ Aug 26th 2009 6:25PM
SE has really sucked these last few years... makes me wonder where all the good talent they had went.
Bud where are you? @ Aug 26th 2009 11:28PM
After Hironobu Sakaguchi left Square in 2004 the company has been (in my opinion) in decline. Final Fantasy Tactics creator Yasumi Matsuno left after a nervous breakdown and did not finish FFXII, leaving it to the SaGa Frontier series director to finish it. I don't know what has been done to these people, but Square has suffered as a result.
It could have begun with the EA merger eleven years ago, and now Enix is putting on the finishing blow to remove a major rival. Enix used to be decent, but now they have to rely on Level 5 to program a large number of their games.
The president of Quintet is Tomoyoshi Miyazaki (who worked on Y's and Actraiser) needs to be hired by Enix to make a modern version of the original Actraiser. Heck, I'd be happy with a 2D version for PSP.
That is all.
phinnvr6 @ Aug 26th 2009 3:53PM
Maybe they are right, either way I can't wait to get a PS3 Slim, 120gigs for $299, WiFi, Blu-ray, free online gaming, etc. FF-XIII, Gran Turismo 5, and probably Uncharted 2 will be a day1 purchases for me.
Ballistic H @ Aug 26th 2009 4:16PM
The FF13 demo alone pushed the PS3 to #1 for about 2 weeks or so. I'm not surprised he doesn't know what he's talking about. In an IGN interview, they didn't even knew or were sure that Westerners prefer OVA over subs. They brought The Last Remant on 360 and then on PC. Now they don't want to release it on PS3 because it was a flop. How can he not think that with the PS3 price drop it would even boost the FF13 sales forecast further than if the PS3 didn't had a price drop?
Gamer4Life @ Aug 26th 2009 3:54PM
With a bundle war gearing up I don't expect $ony to gain a boost really, MS has better bundles and will most likely continue to do so for at least the foreseeable future. Also Halo reach is due out in spring and ODST drops in less then a month, I think MS has enough momentum going into the holidays to hold the status quo. The spring battle ground will be a meaner fight though.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:00PM
The fact that you put a "$" into your statement about Sony yet not Microsoft is enough proof to me that your opinion is strictly bias and fueled by the flames of Fanboy Satan, or as some people know him, "El Diablo".
Longhorn Slim @ Aug 26th 2009 4:00PM
I find it ironic that you put the $ on Sony instead of MS when you are saying that you dont expect Sony to gain a boost
David @ Aug 26th 2009 4:04PM
I have yet to see a bundle from MS that competes with what the PS3 has to offer for its price. The only viable bundle so far has been the Halo 3 bundle w/ Wi-Fi, but that's Canadian only so far. I don't think that dropping the Elite to $299 with no additions to the package will cut it.
AmanteDuck @ Aug 26th 2009 4:04PM
Better bundles in terms of what? And for the forseeable future? What are you? A psychic?
I think Sony could potentially release a bundle with an exclusive, maybe a movie, perhaps a PSN voucher. Possibilities are endless.
I'm not saying doing so would create a big impact. But I wouldn't throw your opinion out there as a fact either. What might be a better bundle to YOU could be worthless shit to ME.
Longhorn Slim @ Aug 26th 2009 4:08PM
SpyderTaco, I guess we think alike ;)
Mr Khan @ Aug 26th 2009 4:10PM
ODST is not going to sell 360s, and i somewhat doubt that Reach will, either. Any significant numbers of Halo gamers out there already bought one, and further entries (at least before a proper, numbered Halo) aren't going to be big game-changers.
Neither will Microsoft lowering the Elite's price to $300. The only price-cut they can make to entice new users is by pushing the Arcade further down, something i suspect they are reluctant to do.
Ordeith @ Aug 26th 2009 4:12PM
Sony is a Japanese company.
Aside from the fact that we are all cynically aware that all companies are in it for the money and don't need the $ in place of the 'S' in company names to be reminded of that.
You should at least use the native currency.
ie SON¥.
Ashitaka @ Aug 26th 2009 4:17PM
X-bot4life aka Douche4life strikes yet again.
johnnynumber5 @ Aug 26th 2009 5:06PM
SE are the ones who have screwed themselves this generation by releasing their next gen titles on the 360 instead of the PS3. The same could be said for Namco-Bandai and their stable of JRPGs.
Why Japanese comapnies would sell their highly Japanese centric games ( Infinite Undiscovery, Last remnant, Tales Of Vesperia, Eternal Sonata, Star Ocean etc) exclusively on the least preffered (360) console amongst said Japanese gamers makes no sense what-so-ever. One would think the games would be moved to the Playstation or at the very least sold on the Playstation in addition to the 360. Worst case scenario is they should have been moved to the Wii like Monster Hunter was instead of being offered exclusively on the 360.
It makes me wonder if it was a joint effort spearheaded by MS to gain traction in Japan or if it was a completely seperate issue all together. It just doesn't make much sense.
Ballistic H @ Aug 26th 2009 6:54PM
Seriously, how can he not see:
29,980 Yen PS3 + FF13 = EPIC sales in Japan
How can he be so blind-minded?
Anonymous @ Aug 26th 2009 4:02PM
[Banned!]
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:04PM
No, you're gay.
Finally, after weeks of planning I was able to execute that insult flawlessly.
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:04PM
Trolls are getting so lazy. Why back in my day they would come up with catchy slogans like "Sega does what nintendon't"
David @ Aug 26th 2009 4:05PM
that whole you're/your thing can be pretty tricky.
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:07PM
Oh no! I accidentally put "you're" instead of "your"!
Crap, back to the drawing board. I'll get it one of these days.
AmanteDuck @ Aug 26th 2009 4:10PM
@SpyderTaco and David
Sorry if I'm not getting the sarcasm but..."you're" would the correct thing to use there. As in you are. Not possessive your. Unless "his gay" is something. In which case you would need your gay is. Unless that was sarcasm. Which it could have been...
I'M SO CONFUSED!! *head pops*
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:11PM
Uhh...what? You're is the right "your".
Paul @ Aug 26th 2009 4:13PM
but but you used the correct "you're"
I'm confused.
AustinAM @ Aug 26th 2009 4:14PM
Huh? "You're" is correct. It's a conjunction of 'you' and 'are'...
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:14PM
Oh, I get it. You were making fun of the trolls, excuse my ignorance... Carry on.
(Actually, you should have used "ur")
Anonymous @ Aug 26th 2009 4:19PM
[Banned!]
Ashitaka @ Aug 26th 2009 4:20PM
Come on guys, haven't learned it yet?
Anonymous is not gay, he's 'a jock who can complete a pass but not a sentence'!
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:23PM
Is it possible that such a defective troll could escape the factory standards?
*looks at previous comments*
Oh my god... This is... Can't be...
SpyderTaco (PSN: Ar4chNova89) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:29PM
So I did good?
Yeehoo! Now I can go back to play Arkham Asylum.
David @ Aug 26th 2009 4:54PM
Haha wow, I wasn't saying that SpyderTaco got the "you're" thing wrong (I'm well aware that he got it right)....I was sarcastically praising his sarcastic comment about practicing for so hard It's called playing along with a joke, you all might have heard about it.
Geez people, get a sense of humor. I wrote the damn comment in sarcastic font, DUH.
Nobledevil @ Aug 26th 2009 8:19PM
Ashitaka's comment should be as blue as the day is long... unlike something else that is as something as the day is long.
Also, I have no friends and a wall of games.
korwyn @ Aug 26th 2009 9:07PM
your gaydar told you so?
Traceur_Ryuk (PSN: Ryuk_shinigami) @ Aug 26th 2009 4:02PM
I dunno, on Amazon it has been in first place for the past week. It will probably slow down but I don't think it will substantially.
Mr Khan @ Aug 26th 2009 4:04PM
Really? I think the bulk of the Slim's impact will come now, this holiday season. Not saying it won't have any long-term effects, but the big swing for Sony is this holiday season.
draco @ Aug 26th 2009 4:04PM
He isn't talking about Sony's financials he is talking about Square's, the PS3 could be free, it wont net them any more money until they get a game out.
wicko @ Aug 26th 2009 4:12PM
This.
SE needs to stop being cocks and release a game on the PS3 already. They've already got 2 SE developed games on the 360, don't they?
Shaun @ Aug 26th 2009 4:18PM
I think they have 4 already.
FFXI
Last Remnant
Infinite Undiscovery
Star Ocean 4
AsherR [Planeteer | Power of The Hoff] @ Aug 26th 2009 4:50PM
@Shaun: From what wicko was saying, they do only have 2 big SE developed games on 360. Last Remnant and FFXI. Infinite Undiscovery and Star Ocean 4 are just published by SE. They were developed by tri-Ace.
reversecycology @ Aug 26th 2009 4:15PM
Ouch, sometimes the truth hurts. SE was just being generous with the 2010 date too. Noone really knows if the PS3 price cut will have any lasting impact at all.
Ashitaka @ Aug 26th 2009 4:21PM
Of course it will, it's common sense.
johnnynumber5 @ Aug 26th 2009 5:11PM
He was talking about SE not Sony Computer Entertainment. Duh. How will Square make money off a PS3 price cut when they still haven't released a game on it?
Like Ashitaka said ... It's common sense. Go pick some up in the store.
Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Aug 26th 2009 4:16PM
of course he doesnt....His 2 games don't release Stateside until then.....at the same time I'm sure it will easily break a million in Japan thanks the FF13...
xenogears728 @ Aug 26th 2009 4:19PM
SE has offered us utter shit this console generation. Without mentioning handhelds, what they've offered us simply hasn't cut it. And I think Wada knows this, hence the purchase of Eidos to help balance them out a bit. He expects ff 13 to bring up sales. Which it will likely do. Especially in japan. The question is. Will SE continue to make people wait so long they've lost interest in whatever the company has to offer ( like myself) or will they suddenly be able to offer us something interesting every year
Sean @ Aug 26th 2009 7:36PM
I couldn't agree more with you. SE made tons of great games on ps1 and 2. I used to play them religiously until it started taking 3 or so years per game.
Anonymouse @ Aug 26th 2009 6:47PM
The dude looks stoned
chrisredfield31 @ Aug 26th 2009 7:12PM
I have absolutely no respect for Wada or S-E anymore. Money grubbing bastards. All the things that they do don't make any sense. Infinite Undiscovery and SO4 on 360 but not the capable PS3 for some stupid reason. FFXIII demo in Japan only (due to them turning on Sony) Dragon Quest 9 on the DS instead of the main consoles.
So what..the..fuck has Square Enix done for us on the Playstation? Absolutely nothing! So of course sales are not going to effect them, there's nothing to sell! I'm very tired of the Japanese mindset where they are ignorant (even when they aren't trying to be) of everybody else. They are successful in part due to our market making lots of money for them and that our market is bigger yet they do not pay their dues. They are still keen on pleasing Japanese gamers who have given up on next-gen gaming.
Monchis @ Aug 26th 2009 7:14PM
First, release a game for the console then we can disscus profitability.
tmacairjordan87 @ Aug 26th 2009 7:54PM
Aww I forgot Squeenix bought Eidos, I accidentally supported Squeenix by buying Batman new.
Goddammit :(