Square-Enix, Gakken Create "Serious" Game Series
As unappealing a move as this endeavor may sound, some of these so-called serious games will be unintended for regular gamers. According to the presidents of both companies, SG Lab will develop the educational software after receiving and accepting orders from various clients, a task they've only recently begun. Currently there's no telling just what sort of game themes SG Lab is likely to expect in the future, but they're already working on expanding their market to include topics ranging from health care to public relations dealt within private enterprises.
Due to the amount of expert knowledge required to tackle such a business, this is one field Square-Enix would not be able to handle alone being strictly an entertainment developer; therefore entailed the decision to partner-up. As Youichi Wada, president of Square-Enix explained, video games aimed at entertaining players and serious games are of two very different leagues. Gakken, in search of a skillful and influential company within the gaming industry, found the idea of an education-based joint effort by the two rather intriguing.
With an overall lack of competition in the genre as of now, it's extremely likely SG Lab's desire to be the global market leader will be well within reach.
Source: RPGFan
Posted in: Square-Enix News
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Comments
| Barrylocke | Comment 1: 2006-03-24 12:38 |
| I honestly don't know what to say. It certainly sounds interesting. | |
| Kane | Comment 2: 2006-03-25 00:02 |
| I don't really know what to say about that... suppose we'll just have to wait and see what happens | |
| Shotgunnova | Comment 3: 2006-03-25 00:08 |
| In the wake of Phoenix Wright, I would love to see some serious law school games. If they're old Forties-style noir, too, I would flip over it. Kind of intrepid to aim it at that demographic, but I think it could work. Just hope it's not pure PC gaming. | |
| SilverFork | Comment 4: 2006-03-26 12:02 |
| If any government/law game(s) of theirs is anything like Phoenix Wright, I'd totally go for 'em as well, but I highly doubt they'll include even as much insipid recreation as your average edu-tainment title. From the sound of things, there'll be real-life business and educational cultivation enforced throughout the game "plots", thus I'm not even sure whether or not they're planning to sell these games to the mainstream public at all; the entire lineup could turn out to be exclusively purchased or procured via certain organizations. Sorta along the lines of those health/safety games for the SNES that were only obtainable in the same way. Though I may just be viewing the glass as half empty, I guess. | |
| Del S | Comment 5: 2006-03-26 13:36 |
| Anyone made the "joke" about how it would be nice for them to take the other game's they've been making in recent times a little more seriously? [insert obligatory FF12 bashing remark here.] In all honesty, I'm not really sure what to say. Educational games usually don't entertain and don't teach you anything, thus making the very term educational game one hell of a misnomer. All those PC ones aimed at 5-8 year olds? They usually have glaring errors or oversimplification. Ones aimed at 9-15 year olds? Either non-existent or ignored. Ones like Command and Conquer? Make up that two light tanks moving in circles around a mammoth tank can actually win. | |
| karasuman | Comment 6: 2006-03-26 17:59 |
Quote (Del S @ 26th March 2006 08:36) In all honesty, I'm not really sure what to say. Educational games usually don't entertain and don't teach you anything, thus making the very term educational game one hell of a misnomer. All those PC ones aimed at 5-8 year olds? They usually have glaring errors or oversimplification. Ones aimed at 9-15 year olds? Either non-existent or ignored. Ones like Command and Conquer? Make up that two light tanks moving in circles around a mammoth tank can actually win. But these are games that are marketed to unsuspecting parents who think that this will be a good way to get their kid to learn something, not games being purchased by a company or other organization that undoubtably has more control over the specialized content. | |
| Tonepoet | Comment 7: 2006-03-26 19:42 |
Sounds like a good way to destroy certain organizations via making their workers inproductive simulation gamers. It'll obviously be targeted to Square-Enix Competitors  In all seriousness though, it could be a good thing but I'm thinking it's a just a wee bit far fetched for this time period. Teaching a person how to deal with polotics on a video game will only serve to teach them how to deal with preprogramed A.I. and forced scenerios. Not real people and actual events. Scientists would only be able to learn based on current theory, which is something in constant flux. And doctors with shakey hands might do a little too well at Brain Sergon 2: Tumor Removal. Of course, there <I>are</I> workarounds to these problems (I.E online multiplayer gaming, incessant upgrades, nintendo's current oddball tendancy to wierd controllers) and it wouldn't be used as the sole form of educations. However, as of right now, at the least I believe it'd be best for people to concentrate solely on person to person, textbook and examination type studies as they help to form personal opinions and real life experiences. The latter of which, is something that'd be hard to replicate in a game. I mean, I dunno about you, but I feel a bit too godly after beating Kefka in FF VI. Just imagine having a mayor, who has the same feeling about winning the presidential elections in some sorta politics game. Can you say 'neglected roads'? In the near future, who knows? But I'm guessing things won't change too much for at least a few decades. I'd say we're close to the point in which we humans might be able to use this method as an educational supplement but not really close enough to heavily invest on it yet. Here's to wishing Square some luck in their endeavors though. The modern education system really could use some improvement. | |
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All fanfiction and fanart (including original artwork in forum avatars) is property of the original authors. Some graphics property of Square Enix.
©1997–2025 Josh Alvies (Rangers51)
All fanfiction and fanart (including original artwork in forum avatars) is property of the original authors. Some graphics property of Square Enix.