Mon, Apr 27, 2009 | 19:52 BST
Square: We take too long to make games
Square super-boss Yoichi Wada’s told GI that his company takes too long to make games. With all due respect, Yoichi, a lot of people have been saying the same thing for a very, very long time.
“Yes – that’s what I hope to achieve for the entire group,” he said. “But we at Square Enix also have a problem – it takes too long for us to produce a game…
“In reality I think the issues we have are basically the same. On one side you might say that because of the budgetary constraints they released the games without having the games polished to perfection, but on the other side we take too long to release the game.
“So we have the same issue in the management and control of the process isn’t strict enough. Even though we’re producing entertainment products we need to have the right production process in place – and that is something that I’d like to implement across the entire business in our group.”
There’s an interview here.
16 
Posted in: Development, Hot, RPG, Square Enix
Tags: yoichi wada
16 comments
#1
Blerk
27/04/09, 1:57 pm
You sure do!
#2
Gekidami
27/04/09, 2:00 pm
Yeah but look at the rubbish they’ve made this gen with shorter dev times.
#3
Johnny Cullen
27/04/09, 2:02 pm
Too fucking right, its been 4 years nearly since you announced Final Fantasy XIII, and only now we’re getting to play it?
#4
Blerk
27/04/09, 2:14 pm
Most of the stuff they’ve released this generation that was rubbish hasn’t actually been developed in-house. Except Last Remnant.
#5
anasui
27/04/09, 2:25 pm
which was more rubbish than all the out-house rubbish
except TWEWY
#6
Gekidami
27/04/09, 2:29 pm
The Last Remnant wasnt only rubbish, but broken to boot.
#7
Nosignalinput
27/04/09, 2:34 pm
It doesn’t bother me that the Final Fantasy games take so long to make (at least the main games anyway) as they’re always top notch quality when they’re finally released.
#8
Gekidami
27/04/09, 2:40 pm
Indeed, quality takes a reasonable amount of time, like it or not.
#9
DaMan
27/04/09, 3:25 pm
Nosignalinput, all PS1 Square titles were top notch quality and it didn’t take them forever to make those games.
#10
Nosignalinput
27/04/09, 3:41 pm
Games have far higher production values than they did back then though.
When you factor in how long it takes to make the cut scenes, then all the high def environments – not forgetting the voice work! – then you’ve got a substantially longer development times. Yes, you could hire more people but if you’re worrying about your budget then that’s not possible to do.
#11
DaMan
27/04/09, 4:03 pm
duhh agreed, but is still takes them a ridiculous amount of time with say, FF13.
it’s their own problems. besides, they worry too much about visuals imho, their games aren’t nearly as fun as they’re good graphics wise.
#12
Nosignalinput
27/04/09, 4:08 pm
While I agree about the graphics thing (I love Final Fantasy VII, but even in it’s time it wasn’t the best graphics available) games – especially RPG’s – are only going to get longer development times. It’s just something we’re going to have to get used to.
#13
DaMan
27/04/09, 4:16 pm
it’s something they’ve started to do around 1999 – they didn’t put nearly as much time into Chrono Cross and FF9 gameplay as they put into their visuals and cgs.
I miss the days of Xenogears, FF7 and Chrono Trigger
#14
Retroid
27/04/09, 5:45 pm
… not forgetting taking absolutely ages to release crap PAL conversions. At least in the PS2 era.
#15
Michael O'Connor
27/04/09, 7:44 pm
“Too fucking right, its been 4 years nearly since you announced Final Fantasy XIII, and only now we’re getting to play it?”
You’re a smart guy Johhny, but they most certainly did not announce it four years ago. It was mid 2006.
#16
anasui
27/04/09, 7:52 pm
to be fair Mike, game wont be out til 2010 so he’s right