Square’s Yoichi Wada calls for an end to Japan’s ‘closed environment’, adds that Square Enix may acquire more western groups
As Square Enix expands its presence in the west with the £84.3 million acquisition of Eidos, global president Yoichi Wada has criticised Japan's development culture for being too inwardly-focused.
“In the last five to 10 years, the Japanese games industry has become a closed environment, with no new people coming in, no new ideas, almost xenophobic. It is now slightly behind western counterparts,” Wada said.
Speaking to The Financial Times, Wada added that the Japanese games sector had started to lag behind the western region, and offered that foreign partnerships – and even influences – will be a forward step in revitalising Japan’s game businesses.
Described by Wada as another step in making Square Enix a global company, the Eidos deal will provide the Japanese giant with a strong foothold in the UK market.
The group had previously signed a landmark deal with Washington-based US developer Gas Powered Games, and has also begun publishing popular Western titles – such as Frontier’s LostWinds – in its native country.
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“The combination of Eidos and Square Enix gives us a good platform from which to expand. In that process, we might decide to acquire another company,” Wada added.
ALMOST xenophobic?
xenogears 2, xenosaga 4, I don't care how it's called, I want a new Xeno game!!
SLIGHTLY behind western counterparts? Oh, Wada, you're such a joker.
Slightly behind is the most LuLZ I've had in a while.
"In the last five to 10 years...with no new people coming in, no new ideas..."
what do you call the 2003 merger with ENIX? an act of nature?
lol. "slightly behind"
I agree with the closed environment thing because they never bring over the really awesome games I want to play. What Japan needs to do is just bring over all of their 'Japan only' games with English subtitles that's all. Just bring over Yakuza 3 and Demon's Souls with English subtitles. You don't even have to hire voice actors because all I want to do is just play your games.
This is endemic of Japanese culture as a whole. Although recent generations have embraced western culture; music, films, etc, their society is still very closed. Hopefully Square's recent acquisition of Eidos will encourage developers in the land of the rising sun that the west is a viable market for their products. Although, they can keep their Monster Hunter style titles.
Regardless of whether or not they are xenophobic Japan have created some of the best games ever to grace our PC's/consoles in the Final Fantasy saga so whatever they do in the future I'll be happy with what they did in the past
http://www.digitaldirect.co.uk/
We all know SE has some of the best games on the market. However, I should point out that World of Warcraft is where its at not so much because of the game but because Blizzard creates a strong sense of community with its subscribers. SE's style of business may work in Japan, but its not very good anywhere else. SE isn't a "fun" company.
