Q: Championship Manager was recently released under an experimental 'pay-what-you-like' pricing structure - how did that go, and will it be repeated for other Square Enix games in the future?
Yoichi Wada: For Championship Manager we will continue to try out new things, because it's important to for us to acknowledge what kind of business model is appropriate for it - including the pricing.
It's not really about trying to change the fundamental aspects of the game, but trying to come up with the best service, the best strategy. In that sense we will be trying out many different things going forward.
It's going to be like a trial-and-error approach, so at this point it's too early to say if it's going to be a success or not.
Q: One of Japan's biggest software exports is the Final Fantasy franchise - next year will be a big year in that respect, so how are preparations going for the launch of Final Fantasy XIII?
Yoichi Wada: They're going very steadily.
Q: What's left to do? With a project that size, QA must be a big part of it.
Yoichi Wada: We've completed the master of the Japanese version, and for the US and European versions we're just adding the final touches. The last stage of development has gone very smoothly this time.
Q: How much impact do you feel being on next-gen platforms will have for the franchise? Some games series' have transferred well, others have struggled... are you confident that the game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 will be a step forward?
Yoichi Wada: It took us a tremendous amount of time to develop the software for this generation, so that's a lesson for the creators.
Q: Is it the biggest development for the company to date?
Yoichi Wada: Yes - it's gradually becoming bigger compared to the past, which isn't necessarily a good thing.
Q: And are you happy with the platform mix, now that the PS3 Slim is out on the market?
Yoichi Wada: The ideal situation for developers would be to have a single platform worldwide - but that's impossible, so with multi-platform, if you can expand your user base, I think we have to accept that reality.
For the current generation, the ideal for us would be a long platform cycle and the prices to come down gradually, so that we can expand that user base.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/yoichi-wada-part-two-interview?page=2
"Naturally the common people don't want war: Neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, IT IS THE LEADERS of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is TELL THEM THEY ARE BEING ATTACKED, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. IT WORKS THE SAME IN ANY COUNTRY." --Hermann Goering, leading Nazi party member, at the Nuremberg War Crime Trials
Conservatives: Pushing for a small enough government to be a guest in your living room, or even better - your uterus.
