Final Fantasy series creator moves over to Microsoft!

[warcrow]

Hironobu Sakaguchi Joins Microsoft Game Studios as a Developer for Next-Generation Xbox Platform

Video Game Legend Hironobu Sakaguchi Joins Microsoft Game Studios as a Developer for Next-Generation Xbox Platform

Father of 'Final Fantasy' Series and AIAS Hall of Fame Inductee Will Develop Role-Playing Games

REDMOND, Wash., Feb. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced that Hironobu Sakaguchi, video game legend and president of Mistwalker game studio, has joined with Microsoft(R) Game Studios to develop role-playing game (RPG) video games exclusively for the next- generation Xbox(R) video game platform. Sakaguchi is best known as the creator of the "Final Fantasy" franchise, which has sold more than 60 million units worldwide, and was executive vice president in charge of game development at Square Enix Co. Ltd. until February 2001.

Citing a shared vision with Microsoft for the next generation of video games, Sakaguchi will lead the creation of two upcoming Xbox-exclusive RPG titles to be published by Microsoft Game Studios.

"Sakaguchi-san has taken role-playing games -- traditionally a niche market -- and introduced them to a broad and diverse audience across the globe," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing at Microsoft. "We are ecstatic to work with Sakaguchi-san and celebrate what this news means not only for Xbox, but for gamers worldwide."

"I'm excited about the two epic game titles we will be developing," Sakaguchi said. "A number of talented creators have signed on to help develop these games, and I'm confident we will be able to create games that provide gamers with a new kind of thrill.

"Microsoft's cutting-edge technologies in the next-generation platform will allow me to bring to life an array of ideas that I have had for many years," Sakaguchi said. "I want these games to be alive with a new vision for gaming and vividly depict new characters that will transcend the game, find a place in the hearts of gamers, and make time spent with my games a fond and long-lasting memory."

Sakaguchi started his career at Square Co. Ltd. in 1986 as director of planning and development. He was promoted to executive vice president in 1991 and eventually ascended to president of Square LA Inc. (now Square USA Inc.) in 1995. In 2000, Sakaguchi was inducted into the coveted Academy of Interactive Arts & Science (AIAS) Hall of Fame for his groundbreaking work on the "Final Fantasy" series. In 2004, Sakaguchi announced that he had started his own development studio, called Mistwalker.

Xbox is coming off a blockbuster year as the only video game console in the United States to show year-to-year growth in 2004, while competitors declined*. Driven by epic, platform-exclusive content -- including "Halo(R) 2" by Microsoft Game Studios, "Fable" by Microsoft Game Studios, "Ninja Gaiden" by Tecmo Ltd. and Xbox Live(TM), the only unified online video game console service -- gamers worldwide continue to flock to Xbox for an unparalleled digital entertainment experience.

 

[Reddale77]

Now all they need to do is make Castlevania games for Xbox and Ill say goodbye to Sony..

 

[BrokenVisage]

Said it aint so Sakaguchi-san.
FF7 > any Xbawks game

 

[EmperorRob]

I think the Final Fantasy dev team has some talent but they embody the phrase "beating a dead horse" to its very core. The only FF game I own is FF Tactics and it's a masterpiece. I just want to see them move away from the Britney-Spears-FFX2, the androgynous character designs, and the 15-minute-super-graphic attack scenes.

 

[imported_obsidian]

Originally posted by: EmperorRob
I think the Final Fantasy dev team has some talent but they embody the phrase "beating a dead horse" to its very core. The only FF game I own is FF Tactics and it's a masterpiece. I just want to see them move away from the Britney-Spears-FFX2, the androgynous character designs, and the 15-minute-super-graphic attack scenes.

Uh, look one generation back at FFX. Very good game.

 

[igowerf]

Originally posted by: obsidian

Originally posted by: EmperorRob
I think the Final Fantasy dev team has some talent but they embody the phrase "beating a dead horse" to its very core. The only FF game I own is FF Tactics and it's a masterpiece. I just want to see them move away from the Britney-Spears-FFX2, the androgynous character designs, and the 15-minute-super-graphic attack scenes.

Uh, look one generation back at FFX. Very good game.

He's saying that he doesn't like the androgenous characters, of which FFX is definitely guilty. I consider FFX to be part of the current generation of FFX games which includes FFX2 and FFXII.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: obsidian

Originally posted by: EmperorRob
I think the Final Fantasy dev team has some talent but they embody the phrase "beating a dead horse" to its very core. The only FF game I own is FF Tactics and it's a masterpiece. I just want to see them move away from the Britney-Spears-FFX2, the androgynous character designs, and the 15-minute-super-graphic attack scenes.

Uh, look one generation back at FFX. Very good game.

I loved 10 too, that would be my second or thrid favorite (FF3), 7 just blew me away at the time and I loved everything about it.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Guess he can't bring the Final Fantasy brand, but they can do Super Halo RPG or something, lol.

 

[blazer78]

all i ever wanted was a new final fantasy game for PC.

 

[warcrow]

Originally posted by: blazer78
all i ever wanted was a new final fantasy game for PC.

Me too

 

[EmperorRob]

Originally posted by: obsidian
Uh, look one generation back at FFX. Very good game.

FF9 was the last of that series I played. I'm just burned out on that genre or at least the way the FF team has always presented it. I've never understood why we had 12 or 13 games like that and only 2 like FF Tactics.

 

[SagaLore]

I prefer the original Final Fantasy on the classic Nintendo.

 

[SagaLore]

Originally posted by: BrokenVisage
Said it aint so Sakaguchi-san.
FF7 > any Xbawks game

Yes but now they will include the ultimate magic attack. It's called "Blue Screen of Death".

 

[Yossairian]

I loved 7, only got halfway though 8 before burning out. I think I still have 7 around somewhere for PC. I might have to give it another run-thru.

 

[PsharkJF]

Originally posted by: SagaLore
I prefer the original Final Fantasy on the classic Nintendo.

Hell yes!