Publishers and developers can no longer focus on a single format, according to Yoichi Wada, chief executive of Square Enix. He goes on to say that the technicalities of the new consoles hugely limit their appeal.
"In the old days, we could just focus on the PlayStation or the GameBoy, but the environment has changed completely," says Wada, who believes that developers need to focus on making games that also cater to "a new breed of gamers.”
Discussing Square's shock decision to shift the previously PS2-focused Dragon Quest series over to the DS with the latest installment, Dragon Quest IX, Wada told Financial Times: "We chose the Nintendo DS because the widest array of people use it, including people who previously did not play games before."
The current-gen consoles are too complicated to reach this wider audience, Wada points out. "There are too many specs - and you also need a high-definition TV, a broadband connection and a deep knowledge of gaming - these consoles are mismatched to today's environment.
"In a year or two years they will fare better," he adds.
June 12, 2007
