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I know you're here at the Caves of Narshe because you play RPGs, specifically Square Enix RPGs, specifically Final Fantasy games. Well, if you've not been following E3 this week, I've got news for you: there's precious little of that to be had here today. With E3 wrapped, here's what Square Enix hit heavy.

The biggest coverage to come out of the conference had everything to do with Eidos. The Tomb Raider reboot, which really did look very nice, got a lot of press (including a long-form controlled demo early in Microsoft's keynote). That game is still scheduled to come out next year, but the progress so far looked pretty impressive for a game that far out. Later in E3, the Hitman series took center stage, with a big crowd for the debut trailer. Absolution, the new title, is also due out in 2012. Deus Ex was also everywhere - a third title that a couple years ago would have been part of Eidos' booth, but fortuitously has fallen under Square Enix' umbrella due to smart corporate buyouts.

For the core RPG/Final Fantasy output of E3 2011, you really can't look much further than Final Fantasy XIII-2. We reported earlier in the week that a new, longer trailer debuted during E3, and while I admit that I haven't watched it (as I'm afraid of spoilers, since I still have yet to beat the first one!), it seems to have at least generated buzz, though of course it's not universally positive. One thing that surprised me, though, is that the game was actually playable at E3, as evidenced by these videos posted by Kotaku earlier in the week. RPGSite managed to get an interview with the director and producer of the game, as well, during the tumult of E3.

There was no news about Type-0 or the new Kingdom Hearts that I've seen come from E3, which is very disappointing. I can't speak for whether they simply had no presence at E3, or if the presence they did have was merely news old enough that it wasn't worth reporting, but there was almost certainly nothing new at all to appear. However, the official Type-0 site updated as E3 was closing, with some new screenshots and character reveals, so all is not lost there.

In other happy news emerging from E3, Square Enix announced a big, round number from the Final Fantasy series, and you have to admit it's impressive: the Final Fantasy series as a whole has now shipped over one hundred million copies worldwide. That's more than four million copies of the games every single year - maybe that's not a huge feat given the many remakes over the years, but you have to think back to the eighties and early nineties, when there just weren't that many from which to choose. The company, wisely, didn't talk about whether that includes just the core numbered series or also sideline series like Tactics, the Final Fantasy VII Compilation, or games that were called "Final Fantasy" in some regions but not others.

Even knowing that milestone, you'd be forgiven for being generally disappointed in Square Enix at E3 this year. I would have expected a stronger showing myself, if I'm perfectly honest. But, if you're unhappy with the company's performance, you're not the only one. Even at least one Square Enix executive shares concern over the company's core game franchises, going so far as to call the lack of Japanese output from the company at E3 "humiliating." Is there a way to bounce back from this? Koji Taguchi, the aforementioned executive, is clearly worried about it. Got any advice for him that doesn't start and end with "remake Final Fantasy VII?"

That does it for E3 this year, as far as CoN is concerned. Hope you enjoyed our recaps and editorials, and we'll be back with more of the same when it's time for the Tokyo Game Show in a couple months, where one hopes Squenix will be back with more gusto. If I missed anything good, make sure to respond and set me straight!

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Is there a way to bounce back from this? Koji Taguchi, the aforementioned executive, is clearly worried about it. Got any advice for him that doesn't start and end with "remake Final Fantasy VII?"

Well, as I noted in another thread, Squenix could try reviving odd IPs like Einhänder.

This might be more useful if Squenix is looking to diversify their profile into being less RPG-centric and more of a general third-party game company (like Konami). Their snatching up DeusEx could be said to be a start for this idea.

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

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My advice would follow GMS' in that I think reviving a couple ignored series, ie Chrono and making a second Vagrant Story (they totally could!).

I'm a bit surprised that they weren't a bit more vocal with FFXIII-2. If they actually hope to make their intended release date happen, I would think that they'd try to get a bit more press going for it.

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

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I am actually really pleased with SE's presence at this years E3 even if it was all eidos properties that we saw. I think the Tomb Raider demo got a lot of people talking which is pretty incredible considering how much of a joke that series has been in the past. On top of that Hitman seemed to impress the right people and Deus Ex seems like it'll be ready for at least a solid release in a couple months. I didn't think I would ever say this but SE seems to be handling all of their newly acquired properties really well. Now they just need to figure out all of the... other stuff.

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"We're not tools of the government or anyone else. Fighting... fighting was the only thing I was ever good at, but at least I always fought for what I believed in." - Frank Yeager (a.k.a. Grey Fox)

I know that Squenix has some financial troubles, but how is the Eidos branch itself doing?

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Check the "What games are you playing at the moment?" thread for updates on what I've been playing.

You can find me on the Fediverse! I use Mastodon, where I am @[email protected] ( https://sakurajima.moe/@glennmagusharvey )

What I really want to see from Square-Enix at TGS this year is Dragon Quest X. It will be THE GAME that gets me to buy a Wii, if it's still on the Wii and looks as good as Dragon Quest VIII. There's talk that it's getting development moved to the Wii U. People are comparing it to Dragon Quest VII, and not in a good way (long development time, changing platforms, suspect final product). Also curious about the third Slime MoriMori game.

Other than that, ****, I don't know. I was really disappointed by 4 Heroes of Light and The Third Birthday and didn't find FF XIII terribly impressive. Recently Dragon Quest has been kinder to me than Final Fantasy.

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Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 29th June 2011 20:52)

I know that Squenix has some financial troubles, but how is the Eidos branch itself doing?

Fairly sure that it and FF13's high sales in spite of a divided player-base response is all that was between Square-Enix and an even more disastrous year. Given that FF13-2 and Arkham City is about all they have coming soon, plus Deus Ex, well... Let's put it this way. FF13-2 isn't selling five million copies. Four million tops I'd estimate, but the Eidos side of things has games that are actually anticipated rather than being met with with either mild curiosity, ambivalence, or disinterest.

Face it, no one is shouting from rooftops for 13-2 yet. Eidos right now is the only thing SE has as a heavy hitter in the West at least. Perhaps some sort of no export for you shenanigans mean that the Japanese situation is rosier but unless the Tokyo Game Show has something good that's also coming soon, Eidos is the liferaft.

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"Only the dead have seen the end of their quotes being misattributed to Plato."
-George Santayana

"The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here..."
-Abraham Lincoln, prior to the discovery of Irony.

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Let's put it this way. FF13-2 isn't selling five million copies. Four million tops I'd estimate, but the Eidos side of things has games that are actually anticipated rather than being met with with either mild curiosity, ambivalence, or disinterest.

I don't know if I agree with this, Del. From what I've seen, it looks like FFXIII-2 will be a more likable game, at least in terms of linearity (if not several others). Obviously there's a fair bit of time between now and then, but I think it's reasonable to imagine the sequel being able to match FFXIII's sales mark. I'd agree that there doesn't appear to be a ton of buzz about it yet, but, if I recall correctly, FFXIII didn't have much buzz at this point either. I certainly don't think it's going to outsell the whatever the most recent carbon-copy shooter is, but I still maintain that if they stay on track, they'll be able to put out a successful game in the end.

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!