Microsoft sign more Eastern talent

Following hot on the heels of last weeks announcement that the creator of the Final Fantasy franchise is to create a couple of Xbox 2-exclusive RPGs, Microsoft has today confirmed that another couple of noted Japanese developers have signed-up to the ever growing Xbox 2 bandwagon.

Former Capcom executive Yoshiki Okamoto, now of Game Republic, can include work on the Street Fighter and Resident Evil franchises on his CV, whilst former Sega-boy Tetsuya Mizuguchi (now of Q Entertainment) has worked on distinctive titles such as Rez, Sega Rally and Space Channel 5.

Microsoft Vice-President Peter Moore argued that the signing of such talent reflected a “growing preference…for the next generation Xbox platform”, aimed at the growing roster of developers that are signing to produce exclusive titles for the console. A bold statement, maybe, be we expect nothing less from the Microsoft head-honchos. Speaking of Okamoto and Mizuguchi, Moore said: “Gamers will be riveted by the experience enabled by such creators when given the proper canvas and tools.”

Speaking of their aims, Okamoto said his goal, which he felt the Xbox 2 would be able to help him deliver, “is to make completely fresh and riveting experiences that gamers have never had before,”, whilst Mizuguchi wants to “give gamers the most emotional and thrilling gaming experience possible – joy, thrills, sympathy and speed”. Both men were keen to talk about emotion, something that games have tried – generally unsuccessfully – to incorporate into games for some time. Maybe Xbox 2 will break the mould?

With Microsoft seemingly having learned something from the disastrous launch of the original Xbox in the East (whose gamers were not generally interested in the Xbox’s catalogue of games), could the signing of acclaimed Japanese talent herald a concerted attack on the region? We don’t know; as is the standard fare for these announcements, no actual game details were released, nor any hint of release schedules, so it is hard to predict what they will be aiming for, given that the Eastern and Western markets are very different. Still, we at Pro-G like to keep an open mind, and look forward to reporting hard facts soon enough, so keep ’em pointed here.