Square Enix Not Ready for Virtual Console

[Tan]

From 1up.com
Japanese game market requires physical media.
By Philip Kollar, 04/24/2007

If there's one thing that Nintendo's Virtual Console (not to mention those other game download services) is missing, it's strong RPGs. No, Sword of Vermillion doesn't count. Where are the Final Fantasys and Dragon Quests? Square Enix says don't hold your breath.

This is according to an interview with Square Enix rep Shinji Hashimoto in the Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream (handily translated and transcribed by IGN). Hashimoto had this to say specifically about bringing Square Enix's revered RPG franchises to the Virtual Console:

    "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."

Real translation: If you really want to play Final Fantasy I and II, might I interest you in a couple of PSP games? As long as consumers are willing to pay much closer to full-price for these older games, Square Enix doesn't have a lot of motivation to follow Nintendo's pricing scheme.

[Tynstar]

With all the games Square releases on the GBA, PSP and others why would they want to do a VC?

[Tan]

I think it's more about bankable franchises. If I'm not mistaken isn't Act Raiser already there on the VC? To them I imagine a DS/PSP release of Chrono Trigger would rake in the funds more than a VC version would.

[Tynstar]

Or imagine if they released Rad Racer 1 and 2 for the DS...... wait never mind.