Square Enix
K. K. Square Enix (Japanese株式会社 スクウェア·エニックス, Kabushiki - gaisha Sukuwea Enikkusu, Eng. , Square Enix Company, Limited ) is a Japanese manufacturer of video games and manga. Square Enix is known for its console role-playing games, including the Final Fantasy series, Dragon Quest and Kingdom Hearts.
The holding company of Square Enix Holdings (株式会社 スクウェア·エニックス·ホールディングス, Kabushiki - gaisha Sukuwea Enikkusu Hōrudingusu ) belong to Square Enix, Taito and other companies has consolidated over 3,000 people and recorded sales in the fiscal year to March 2010, 192 billion yen (1, 53 billion euros).
History
On 1 April 2003, the old Square Enix was born from the merger of Square Enix and. Although Square Enix officially merged into, some high-ranking Square staff took over leadership position in the new company, including the president Square Yōichi Wada, who was appointed president of Square Enix.
Square Enix has some regional companies, including Square Enix, Inc. (responsible for North America) and Square Enix Ltd.. (responsible for Europe and other PAL territories). In July 2003, Square Enix moved headquarters in Yoyogi, Shibuya -ku, Tokyo. In March 2004, Square Enix acquired UIEvolution, Inc. to further establish itself in the market of wireless communication. In January 2005, Square Enix founded in Beijing, China, Square Enix (China ) Co., Ltd.. as a subsidiary. On August 22, 2005, Square Enix stated that Taito to want known for arcade games like Space Invaders and Bubble Bobble, to buy up. On 28 September 2005 Taito has been completely absorbed by Square Enix.
On October 1, 2008, the company introduced the holding company system. Therefore, the K. K. was Square Enix in the K. K. Square Enix Holdings renamed and then the games, content and publishing division as a new company KK Square Enix hived off again, which it shares with the holding of the Company's management and offices.
In early 2009, Square Enix announced a takeover bid for Eidos Interactive. Square Enix offered accordingly 93.2 million euro for the western Publisher. The Eidos shareholders accepted the offer on 25 March 2009 and sealed the takeover. Already in September 2008, Square Enix planned the takeover of the Japanese game developer Tecmo, which failed, however.
In April 2010, Square Enix introduced in the Japanese Famitsu first time a new game label called Square Enix Extreme Edge. This label should henceforth games from Square Enix to appear, who have an increased potential for violence and only get in Japan release from 17 years upwards. This is especially true for games of the former publisher Eidos, which sells Square Enix since the takeover even in Japan.
In March 2013, Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada resigned in the face of new business figures. Wada justified his resignation to be able to allow the company so badly needed restructuring. He is succeeded by Yosuke Matsuda.
Intellectual capital
Computer and Video Games
Square Enix biggest assets are their video games. Square Enix's Dragon Quest franchise is considered widely as the most popular game series in Japan, and is regularly the top of the Japanese sales charts. Of the total 43 million units sold worldwide of the franchise, 40 million were sold in Japan. In contrast, the Final Fantasy franchise is considered to be Square Enix's most important investment is the world with over 80 million units sold most Square Enix franchise. Another relatively recent franchise is the Kingdom Hearts series, developed in conjunction with Disney's Buena Vista Interactive.
Square Enix has games for the Sony PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and GameCube, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, PlayStation Portable and Microsoft Xbox 360 released. In addition to games for Microsoft Windows, Square Enix has also released games for various mobile phone models.
25 games from Square Enix were elected by the Famitsu readers under the 100 best games, seven of which are in the top ten.
Video game franchises
- Dragon Quest - Enix - established on the Famicom in 1986
- Final Fantasy - Square - established on the Famicom in 1987
- Itadaki Street ( Japan only) - Enix - established on the Famicom in 1988
- Seiken Densetsu ( " Mana " series outside Japan) - Square - established on the Game Boy in 1991
- Chrono Trigger - Square - established on the Super Famicom in 1995
- Front Mission - Square - established on the Super Famicom in 1995
- Star Ocean - Enix - established on the Super Famicom in 1995
- Drakengard - developed for Enix, but already published under Square Enix - established on the PlayStation 2 in 2003.
- Kingdom Hearts
- Parasite Eve
- The Last Remnant
- The World Ends with You
- Just Cause 2
- Kane & Lynch 2: Dogdays
- Batman: Arkham Asylum
- Sleeping Dogs
- Hitman: Absolution
- Deus Ex
- Tomb Raider (2013 )
Film
Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children is a computer-animated film, which is based on the successful PlayStation game Final Fantasy VII.
Manga
Square Enix Enix took over from the manga Gangan Comics imprint. This published only for the Japanese market, including the Monthly Shōnen Gangan manga anthology. Among the published by Gangan Comics titles include Detective Loki, Fullmetal Alchemist, Kingdom Hearts, Nagasarete Airantō, Shao, the moon fairy, Soul Eater and Spiral - Hazardous truth.
For fall 2010 the opening of a digital distribution of manga in North America and France is planned with variety of offers. The North American distribution produced thereby in association with Viz Media and Yen Press.