@SlashZaku: I think Sony would sooner pick up level 5 then Sqaure. And I'd feel much better if they were the ones to do it. I don't know how Square does it but the manage to be among the worst game developers and the best at the same time.

Aflack: Likes slushies

Thanks a lot, Luke. Now that song's stuck in my head.

WittyUserName

That has got to be a Crecente title. Or a shot at him anyway.

The Magnificen7

@SIlentStrife: Arcade and PSN are doing well too...

I'm sure Valve wants to convince EA to release all of it's PC titles through steam... I know that Valve is taking heat from the inevitable GFWL marketplace and EA's own half assed DD service...

Let's hope steam has a future, it's the only decent way to legally acquire games via the internet :)

sixonedoesitall

@Nirolak: please oh please no. I love atlus. i wouldnt want square to buy them.

resetbutton

@sixonedoesitall:

Mobile/Handheld is always a live and well avenue for independent companies.

Wasn't there a story on the actually push away from blockbuster/series games?

SIlentStrife

Great, now someone has to go talk to midway to get it to stop crying in the corner.

Want to go home to the 90's little guy?

e-friend

Hey, Midway. Did you feel that BUUUURN?

BPMΣ

@sixonedoesitall: Valve even more so than you probably think. They essentially went and asked EA to actually buy them: [www.joystiq.com]

Nirolak

@Nirolak: Leave them alone. Square really doesn't need to swallow up any remaining RPG developers (Level-5 included).

And with EA looking to partner for some Eastern appeal and SE looking for Western appeal, you'd think the 2 would be a perfect match. I know they've gone that route before so why not?

SlashZaku

Aww, poor Midway. No one loves Midway.

Shirleycakes

@Tonx: Well, you have to consider that right now EA is buying up and/or partnering with a ton of studios, and Ubisoft has publicly stated that they have a $1.2 billion warchest for acquisitions, so Square needs to act soon or be left out. Same for any other publisher looking for some buys really.

Personally I think investing in some actual western development studios instead of publishers themselves would be a better idea if they wanted to expand beyond their normal self.

Of course, they are making Parasite Eve 3 a 100% third person shooter so that is a departure, but I'm not sure it will be one well received by the series' fans.

@Pyro Jack: @WolfmanWalt: Hmm, I'll add Level 5 to the list just to strike fear into your hearts. :P

Nirolak

@Tonx:

I think Square is simply trying to avoid being consumed by the Activision / Electronic Arts Super Corporations that are swallowing smaller developers atm.

The times they are a changing, and the HD era is taking a big toll on independent game development... it's inevitably that studios are going to need to find big publishers to fund their projects... Even Valve is sucking EA's tits atm.

sixonedoesitall

@Nirolak: Don't go giving them ideas.

WolfmanWalt

@Nirolak: I really hope they don't go after them.

Pyro Jack

Shit, now I' m confused. Is the bossman Wada on the left or the right in that picture?

As for aquisition talks, Squeenix seems to be acting a little... hastilly? Desprate? No matter what they wind up buying, I think they'll wind up being forced to overpay.

Tonx

I'm surprised they're not after Atlas or Nippon Ichi, but then again, that wouldn't exactly go beyond traditional Square Enix.

Nirolak

That picture is tight.

sixonedoesitall

You'd think a company that rich could spring for a camera with red eye reduction.

MikeKelley

@Pyro Jack: @WolfmanWalt: @resetbutton: Better SquareEnix than EA. Though, hopefully, such a choice will never have to be made.

That being said, it looks like Square wants to become the EA of Japan. Good timing too, since EA has just started to show its interest in the land of the rising sun. It may look desperate of Square's part, but if they don't hurry there might not be any studios left for them to buy out.

psycoking

Yeah, leave Atlus and Nippon Ichi alone. That is bad bad bad. As much as i like Square and most of their games, they need not touch Atlus/Nippon Ichi. They both have their own flavor and style to their games which make them awesomely unique.

oneshot_

Tecmo I would be fine with square absorbing, but not companies that make good things. I don't want Belts n zippers in everything.
I mean, they made a guy with belts in his hair for god's sake!

Demonbird

@Alex_Mexico: Hey, Mortal Kombat VS. Final Fantasy could be ten kinds of awesome. Yuna VS. Sonya, Sepiroth VS. Goro... someone better get Ed Boon on the phone...

twinturbo2

lol @ Midway comment.

Well they should get on with it fast 'cause even though I think MK VS DC looks like sh!t, Midway's shares might skyrocket after the release.

Alex_Mexico

@Demonbird:

It all started with Lulu from FFX. But it makes sense they're still looking for companies to snap up since a company needs and pushes their suits for constant annual growth.

bird1988

That judge is there to ensure that Square Enix's payroll division doesn't go the way of Tecmo.

Vault69

I was big into Squaresoft in the late 90's and early 2000's, but now I just don't seem that interested in them anymore. They have focused too much on remakes of the 8-bit and 16-bit games and spinoffs of the rest.

I used to be able to count on a new Final Fantasy game every year or two that would sport some of the best graphics available on consoles and with massive amounts of content. These constant top-shelf releases kept the series and Square at the front of my gaming habits.

But in the last 7 years they have only released one main-series Final Fantasy game (FFXII) and while it had great graphics for a PS2 game, it was graphically inferior to almost every game on the Xbox 360, which was a shame for a series known for leading the pack in the console graphics arena.

If Square-Enix wants to return to their former glory they need to return to form of churning out quality main-series titles like clockwork. They should be working on FFXIV right now, and be planning to release it only a year or two after the release of FFXIII. But, I'm absolutely certain they are not.

I remember when FFVII came out in 1997, then FFVIII in 1999, then FFIX in 2000, and FFX in 2001. Square needs to return to this kind of timetable. I want quality AND frequency.

Lixie

Well if they want any old company how about Conspiracy Entertainment?

hagridore

They'll surprise us all by buying Nintendo and killing the Mario franchise off... Oh no!

Metal_Slug_Solid

I want him to stay the hell away from acquiring companies.

Im saying this because Im still slightly bitter about the whole FFXIII deal, which seems to be so insecure and money hungering.

If that means it could happen to potentially other companies then I want him to not even put his finger on one of them.

luxusa

I love Square-Enix games, if they can somehow squeeze out more RPG's for me by buying a bunch of companies, more power to em.

Dalren

It's all about diversification really. They've seen their declining sales in the west and realised they need to do something quickly. I guess during the FFVII years on the PS1, they were golden. They also release decent titles in other genres Einhander anyone?

I also hope they've seen the light regarding game engines, and will start to use middleware more.

As said above they're stuck in an RPG remake rut. They've looked at Tecmo and the appeal of their titles in the west and they want a quick win.

However, I think Capcom have recovered from their doldrums in a different way, by releasing games people want to buy, in my eyes Capcom have returned to greatness. Sega are trying, but the quality just isn't there at the moment, games like Viking were fun, but unfinished and flawed, but I did finish it, so that must say something for the game.

Think about the companies that have lost their way from the PS1 days, where I would buy a game just because of the company.

Mr_Fujisawa

What ever the company they buy, they will only make remakes of old games! :p

GodKiller0

Thanks. Now I'm scouring the Kotaku archives trying to fish out as many Duran Duran references as I can find.

(Who knows, it might come in handy during the next Gauntlet of Pain contest.)

Johnny_Under

Doesn't really shock me though. Don't really remember Square being hard up for a publisher back in the day. I remember working a little with Square Japan people when I was working for one of EAs acquisitions.

kermit007

@luxusa: Wait what deal? The whole FF13 is going to another platform deal?

How can a game that's about to be played and appreciated by more people a bad thing?

Oh and money-hungering is different from doing business. In case you didn't notice, SE is a company out to make a PROFIT. Not to pander to fanboys and their system of preference.

If you meant another FF13 deal or whatnot that's not fanboy-driven drivel then I apologize.

@Nirolak: I think they want a company known other than for its RPGs. As RPGs are still their forte. =D

If I were them I'd buy a Western company. Preferably one that's used to developing games with a Western-tinged taste.

excaliburps

@Nirolak: Well when enix merged with squaresoft, the style of gameplay of enix is known for did not change. The only thing that changed after the merger was the immprovments of the graphics in enix's games. Apply those same factors to nippion ichi and you have something incredible to behold.

Mr_Raccoon

What? Square gonna try to eat up EA? lolz

Arihara

@Alex_Mexico: agreed that game is an absolute travesty I think midway were on acid or something

ps the guy looks so pissed its creepy

@twinturbo2: lol a final fantasy style gta

holybarbie

@Arihara: I wouldn't be opposed to Square buying out Take Two. At least Square won't try to mess with Midnight Club... then again, Capcom has the Japanese rights to Grand Theft Auto, so that may be a problem...

twinturbo2

@holybarbie:

I think all jap boomers have that look lol

GodKiller0

They should buy out EA

oh the irony

Altima NEO

Wow, tecmo is run by idiots. They drive out the one person behind the few games that made a profit that they have released recently, and now they turn down a buyout which would stabilize the company during a rough transition time? It'll be fun watching them die out.

raiseplease