XBOX 2 ANNONCEMENT: Hironobu Sakaguchi on 2 games for Xbox 2

http://www.jeux-france.com/news8690_...sakaguchi.html

[ok here are some posts about this announcement BEFORE it happened. we're
going back in time some hours here]


Xbox 2 Announcement Looms - Sakaguchi-san in the Mix
Final Fantasy creator's MistWalker Studio offered.
24th Feb 2005


Related Links People Hironobu Sakaguchi


Link to This Article http://news.spong.com/x?art=8374



According to snowballing levels of speculation today, Microsoft Game Studios
is today poised to make a significant announcement at 16:00 Eastern Time in
the US.

The announcement is said to be Xbox 2-focused and important enough to have
national press embargoed and ready to run with the news later on today.

Although nothing of substance has leaked thus far, further speculation
points towards a possible move towards Hironobu Sakaguchi's MistWalker
Studio. The team, largely comprised of former Square and Enix staff, is
currently working on two unnamed projects for unspecified next-generation
platforms. To date, only one piece of art, included in this news story, has
been offered.

However, some of the more optimistic speculation knocking about talks of a
serious showing of hardware and software, though sources have hinted to
SPOnG that this won't be the case.

Which again highlights the inherent strangeness of the gradual emergence of
the Xbox 2. In a little over half a year, the Xbox 2 will - if all goes to
plan at MS towers - be available to buy in your local Tesco. Yet we have no
idea what it is, what it looks like, what it will do, what games - aside
from Burnout 4 - will be available at launch. This lack of information so
close to a major launch in two territories (the US and Europe seeing Xbox 2
well before Japan) is astonishing to most industry watchers.

So, for what looks set to be little more than a crushing disappointment
(though in all honesty, we actually believe something of substance is likely
to be shown that will genuinely surprise) check back on SPOnG tomorrow.

okay, unless this is a hoax, now we have official confirmation!
( but no link / url. but I'll post one when i get ahold of it)


Video Game Legend Hironobu Sakaguchi Joins Microsoft Game Studios as a
Developer for Next-Generation Xbox Platform
Father of "Final Fantasy" Series and AIAS Hall of Fame Inductee Will Develop
Role-Playing Games

REDMOND, Wash. - Feb. 24, 2005 - Microsoft Corp. today announced that
Hironobu Sakaguchi, video game legend and president of Mistwalker game
studio, has joined with Microsoft® Game Studios to develop role-playing game
(RPG) video games exclusively for the next-generation Xbox® video game
platform. Sakaguchi is best known as the creator of the "Final Fantasy"
franchise, which has sold more than 60 million units worldwide, and was
executive vice president in charge of game development at Square Enix Co.,
Ltd. until February 2001.
Citing a shared vision with Microsoft for the next generation of video
games, Sakaguchi will lead the creation of two upcoming Xbox-exclusive RPG
titles to be published by Microsoft Game Studios.
"Sakaguchi-san has taken role-playing games - traditionally a niche market -
and introduced them to a broad and diverse audience across the globe," said
Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Worldwide Marketing and Publishing
at Microsoft. "We are ecstatic to work with Sakaguchi-san and celebrate what
this news means not only for Xbox, but for gamers worldwide."
"I'm excited about the two epic game titles we will be developing,"
Sakaguchi said. "A number of talented creators have signed on to help
develop these games, and I'm confident we will be able to create games that
provide gamers with a new kind of thrill.
"Microsoft's cutting-edge technologies in the next-generation platform will
allow me to bring to life an array of ideas that I have had for many years,"
Sakaguchi said. "I want these games to be alive with a new vision for gaming
and vividly depict new characters that will transcend the game, find a place
in the hearts of gamers, and make time spent with my games a fond and
long-lasting memory."

Sakaguchi started his career at Square Co. Ltd. in 1986 as director of
planning and development. He was promoted to executive vice president in
1991 and eventually ascended to president of Square LA Inc. (now Square USA
Inc.) in 1995. In 2000, Sakaguchi was inducted into the coveted Academy of
Interactive Arts & Science (AIAS) Hall of Fame for his groundbreaking work
on the "Final Fantasy" series. In 2004, Sakaguchi announced that he had
started his own development studio, called Mistwalker.
Xbox is coming off a blockbuster year as the only video game console to show
year-to-year growth in 2004, while competitors declined*. Driven by epic,
platform-exclusive content - including "Halo® 2" by Microsoft Game Studios,
"Fable" by Microsoft Game Studios., "Ninja Gaiden" by Tecmo Ltd., and Xbox
LiveT, the only unified online video game console service - gamers worldwide
continue to flock to Xbox for an unparalleled digital entertainment
experience.

There's no telling what your doing with NEXT BOX


OMG X( SPURT

In article <1109286899.abb25048afde7127c416fd157e1b5b06@teran ews>,
pahsons@juno.com says...
Tell me ya were'nt lying down when you did that...
--



G(ranny's) T(its): atavaX

There's no telling what your doing with I Won't, But Me Mate Will


Only afterwards

http://xbox.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3138614

Peter Moore Speaks of Sakaguchi
Xbox marketing VP digs deep on RPG deal



By Christian Nutt


In a follow-up to the announcement of Mist Walker's involvement in two RPGs
for the next-generation Xbox, Peter Moore, Microsoft's Worldwide Vice
President of Marketing and Publishing for Xbox, shared some insights into
the deal.
Of the deal itself, he offers: "This is the result of 10 months of
negotiations back and forth between myself and Sakaguchi. We met in Japan,
we met here, and we even met up in Maui while I was there on vacation last
year. We've spent a lot of time discussing exactly what we feel next
generation gaming should be."

He goes further to explain the nature of the companies' affiliation.
"Sakaguchi's relationship with us is for the duration of these two titles,
and while he isn't an employee of Microsoft Game Studios Japan, our
arrangement with him is exclusive for the next generation platforms..." This
seems to confirm that the exclusive deal does not extend to handhelds,
giving the all-clear for development to continue on Mist Walker's previously
announced Nintendo DS title.

As for Sakaguchi's part to play in the Xbox 2 saga, Moore explains, "His
role extends beyond working on the games -- he's also helping us with the
positioning of the new platform in the Japanese market, and making sure that
we're adequately resourced to deliver on everything we need in that market.
Sakaguchi is helping guide us to build content that's relevant to the
cultural lifestyle of Japanese gamers. None of our previous games in the
territory have had impact, and we've not enjoyed as much success as we would
like in bringing Western games into Japan. Although the games have been
good, they've not had the impact we need."

Of course, we're sure you're wondering about more specific details on the
games. Moore doesn't have much here. "It's not determined yet when exactly
the games will be released. We're just getting into the early stages of the
code and getting the gameplay mechanics pinned down, but we have worked on
these titles for a number of months already. It's premature to really start
talking about dates." The next Xbox system is currently expected to be
revealed at May's E3 2005 and released for this year's holiday season, so
presumably we'll know more about these games in the coming months.

What we do now know is whether they'll continue to hone the story-driven,
offline legacy of the Final Fantasy series that Sakaguchi helped create or
prove to be online projects. "The games will have a Live element, but that's
not to say they'll have any multiplayer features. They'll be Live Aware, as
will all next generation Xbox games, but the decisions about multiplayer
gameplay just don't need to be made yet. What's most important is that we
won't force any gameplay ideas. The games will be what they need to be."

"NEXT BOX" <nextbox@xbox2.net> wrote in message
news:jo2dnc53PahYHoPfRVn-uw@comcast.com...

Thanks, it didn't really sink in the first 4 times it was posted.

- Steve

NEXT BOX wrote:

That's a FANTASTIC name. I wish it were mine.

--
Jonathan McArthur
Infrequently updated: http://sleepydemons.blogspot.com/
Almost never updated: http://www.satoriday.tk/