Kotaku: shinji hashimoto

Square-Enix Isn't Writing Off FF On Xbox

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 16:20:33 MDT

While Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter and the company's own Shinji Hashimoto have said it's unlikely Final Fantasy series will come to the Xbox 360, Square-Enix says it's not an impossibility. A company spokesperson told Games Industry BIZ that "Hashimoto-san was talking about the current situation" potentially meaning the future is uncertain. I assume that when asked about Pachter's take, they trembled in fear, pretending not to have understood the question.

Doesn't that make you feel better, Xbox 360 devotees? If Square-Enix changes its mind, you could easily be immersed in the world of Final Fantasy XIII on your 360 by, say, 2010? Maybe 2009? There's always Mistwalker! It's all the same, anyway. Michael McWhertor

Square Enix clarifies position on Final Fantasy for 360 [Games Industry BIZ]

No Final Fantasy For You, Xbox!

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 14:40:58 MDT

Man, those Square-Enix types just love to piss in the punchbowl. According to IGN, producer Shinji Hashimoto, who's just the king of bad news lately, told the Nikkei BP that the Xbox 360 isn't going to see any Final Fantasy games for a long time. No Final Fantasy XIII. No Final Fantasy XIII Versus. Nothing!

He describes the current development plan for Final Fantasy titles as "a completely blank page" meaning Xbox fans with a hankering for stuff from the school of Square-Enix RPG development will have to settle for The Last Remnant.

Guys? Why does Square-Enix hate freedom? Michael McWhertor

No Final Fantasy For Xbox 360 [IGN]

Square Enix Not Coming to Virtual Console

Kim Phu — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 09:40:00 MDT

A recent article translation from IGN of an interview between a Square-Enix representative and the magazine, Nintendo Dream, has revealed some not-so-great news for Wii owners. This year's release of the Crystal Chronicles will mostly likely come with no downloadable Virtual Console content.

According to Shinji Hashimoto:

We feel that the Japanese game market still requires [physical] media. Also, FF and Dragon Quest are played by a wide range of users, from children to adults, so there are limitations when you consider the problems that we would have with billing systems.

At least in Japan. But let's face it, if Japan doesn't get Final Fantasies 0-1,000 on the VC, neither will we. Kim Phu

Square-Enix Not Ready for Virtual Console [1Up]

A Decade Of Final Fantasy XIII Planned

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 23 Apr 2007 21:40:14 MDT

In the latest issue of Japanese mag Nintendo Dream, Square-Enix producer Shinji Hashimoto talks about the future of all things Final Fantasy, but clues us in specfically on the shelf-life of the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII series. IGN's overseas correspondent translates all the juicy details.

With Final Fantasy VII entering its tenth year of exploitation, appearing on the PlayStation 2, PSP and mobile phones, Square-Enix seems to have learned a great deal from its long-running milking endeavor. According to Hashimoto, we can expect to be "sucked into the [Fabula Nova Crystallis FFXIII] world for 10 years." We know of two PLAYSTATION 3 games and one mobile title in the works, but won't bat an eyelash upon the announcement of cross-platform releases for any number of platforms, including the DS, PSP and, maybe, just maybe, the Wii and Xbox 360.

It only makes sense, as the merchandising, asset reuse, and cross-promotion opportunities are simply to deliciously profitable to pass up. Personally, I can't wait to pass the FFXIII baton down to my kids and pine for a simpler time, when we only got one Final Fantasy game every few years and, damn it, WE LIKED IT. *pounds desktop angrily* Michael McWhertor

Ten Years of FFXIII [IGN]