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[sublimit]

Athough this was expected for studio Istolia due to the cancellation of their project i was very sad to hear these news about Tokyo RPG Factory. I really loved Oninaki. And i really hope SE continues to have faith in the studio.

Square Enix Reports Big Losses From Subsidiaries Tokyo RPG Factory and Studio Istolia

Square Enix reported big losses from subsidiary companies, Tokyo RPG Factory and Studio Istolia, in its latest financial results.

www.siliconera.com

Tokyo RPG Factory
Tokyo RPG Factory was founded in 2014 with the goal of satisfying gamers who grew up playing RPGs in the ’90s. The studio’s first game was announced as Project Setsuna, which would end up being the 2016 title I Am Setsuna. The company’s second title Lost Sphear released in Japan in October 2017 as a spiritual successor to I Am Setsuna. The studio’s third and latest title is the action RPG Oninaki, which released for the PS4, Switch, and PC in August 2019.

The financial results show that Tokyo RPG Factory had a net loss of 154.33 million yen. During the same term from the previous fiscal year, Tokyo RPG Factory saw a net income of 88.39 million yen.

Studio Istolia
Square Enix first announced the establishment of Studio Istolia in February 2017. Helmed by longtime Tales of series producer Hideo Baba, the studio announced its first project, Project Prelude Rune. However, after Baba left Square Enix and Studio Istolia in April 2019, the subsidiary company and project were officially canceled in the following month.

While Studio Istolia was shut down last May, Square Enix continues to feel the slow burn from its losses. In the latest quarter, Studio Istolia reported a net loss of 26.88 million yen. During the same term of the previous fiscal year, the subsidiary company reported a net loss of 592.02 million yen.

 

[CAB_Life]

Next Game: I Am Seppuku?

 

[Mister Wolf]

Tokyo RPG Factory wont be missed. Every single game they produced was middling and overpriced.

 

[John Day]

Tokyo games just seem to be lacking something, wish I could pinpoint.

 

[The Cartographer]

Tokyo RPG Factory wont be missed. Every single game they produced was middling and overpriced.

I can't talk about the games' quality but all three games were certainly overpriced at launch.

 

[Rikoi]

Very low budget games coming from this studio, labeling them as "old style JRPGs", which have nothing to do with old square enix quality JRPGs.
If they avoided releasing 3 subpar games and instead focused on 1 good one, they would have had more success.

 

[Vawn]

I was super pumped when I first heard of Tokoyo RPG Factory. But, their games have just been 'meh' and overpriced.

 

[Fuz]

Setsuna was bad. Good riddance.

 

[sublimit]

Tokyo RPG Factory wont be missed. Every single game they produced was middling and overpriced.

On that i agree but that is SE to blame not Tokyo RPG Factory. And personally i loved their games. Oninaki was their best effort IMO. I really enjoyed it even if it had some flaws.

 

[mejin]

Tokyo RPG Factory should've be the one to output games like Octopath.

Well, incoming shut down.

 

[Mister Wolf]

On that i agree but that is SE to blame not Tokyo RPG Factory. And personally i loved their games. Oninaki was their best effort IMO. I really enjoyed it even if it had some flaws.

I make it a point to not buy games that wont include an english dub. Really wanted to play that too. Sadly it gets passed on like Fairy Tail, Tokyo Mirage, Atelier Ryza, and most of all Sakura Wars.

 

[jshackles]

Oninaki was great, but agree with everyone else that their pricing structure is just wacky. Oninaki wasn't a good value at $50, even though I really enjoyed it. They need to target a $30 launch price point, and plan on giving their games fairly good discounts around the major sales so they can compete with other similar games on the marketplace.

I also enjoyed Setsuna quite a bit, but didn't care for Lost Sphear. All of their games have incredible music, but it's still not enough to elevate them to $50 status.

 

[sublimit]

I make it a point to not buy games that wont include an english dub. Really wanted to play that too. Sadly it gets passed on like Fairy Tail, Tokyo Mirage, Ateliar Ryza, and most of all Sakura Wars.

You are really missing some of the best games out there. Especially the Yakuza series.

 

[Mister Wolf]

You are really missing some of the best games out there. Especially the Yakuza series.

That's fine. I'm not paying for subs. That goes for anime and videogames. Will stick to the Xenoblades, Dragon Quests, Trails Series, and Tales Games that actually give a shit about marketing and selling to us English speakers. If the Trails Series and Ys series can cough up the money for an English dub then there is no excuse from any of the games I mentioned that wont.

 

[MagnesG]

I find all 3 of their games lack unique art directions, which obviously would've help to cover up average gameplay and mostly to create buzz and interest. Their pricing is meh too, maybe research the JRPG market first before anything else.

Also you can't go wrong with waifus and boobs, that helps in pretty much everything.

That's fine. I'm not paying for subs. That goes for anime and videogames. Will stick to the Xenoblades, Dragon Quests, Trails Series, and Tales Games that actually give a shit about marketing and selling to us English speakers.

Play the spinoff Judgement.

 

[Mister Wolf]

I find all 3 of their games lack unique art directions, which obviously would've help to cover up average gameplay and mostly to create buzz and interest. Their pricing is meh too, maybe research the JRPG market first before anything else.

Also you can't go wrong with waifus and boobs, that helps in pretty much everything.


Play the spinoff Judgement.

I was considering Judgement.

 

[sublimit]

I find all 3 of their games lack unique art directions, which obviously would've help to cover up average gameplay and mostly to create buzz and interest. Their pricing is meh too, maybe research the JRPG market first before anything else.

Also you can't go wrong with waifus and boobs, that helps in pretty much everything.

I actually thought their art direction (and music) were some of their strongest points. Especially in Oninaki. I just loved the art. From the menus to the characters everything looked beautiful and unique IMO.

 

[JonnyMP3]

Well if Square Enix needs the money to help cover losses... I know an exclusive IP on their books that they could probably use as trade to gain a cheque from a fellow countryman...

 

[MagnesG]

I actually thought their art direction (and music) were some of their strongest points. Especially in Oninaki. I just loved the art. From the menus to the characters everything looked beautiful and unique IMO.

Hmm I would say that nothing sticks to me that I can confidently refer to or recommend for to somebody, especially a less known studio with a $60 price tag game.

I agree though that Oninaki is their best bet, and I hope they wouldn't stop releasing more, of course with improvements.

 

[jshackles]

Well if Square Enix needs the money to help cover losses... I know an exclusive IP on their books that they could probably use as trade to gain a cheque from a fellow countryman...

This is what never made sense to me about Tokyo RPG Factory. Why make a "spiritual successor" to Chrono Trigger, when you could have made an actual sequel? I mean, the way things turned out it's probably best they didn't - but it's still kinda baffling.

 

[Komatsu]

Setsuna was an atmospheric, well-crafted RPG clearly inspired by the Chrono series. It was fantastic on the Vita (JP only) and pretty good on the Switch. Oninaki was also a very interesting game.

In spite of the losses Squeenix hasn't closed them yet so we'll see.

 

[Metnut]

This seemed like a really good idea and a cant miss. Sadly, good concepts/ideas aren’t enough. Need to be able execute and deliver on good games. These guys never got any positive buzz going.

 

[zeorhymer]

I was considering Judgement.

Judgement blew me away in the dub department. I was expecting typical anime/cringe voice overs, but hot damn the voices were very good. One of the few games that I can play either sub or dub.

 

[JonnyMP3]

This is what never made sense to me about Tokyo RPG Factory. Why make a "spiritual successor" to Chrono Trigger, when you could have made an actual sequel? I mean, the way things turned out it's probably best they didn't - but it's still kinda baffling.

Tbh there's just a 'charm' that modern JRPGs don't have compared to their 90's pixel made forbears.
The old days it was like... Here's a game that's a little Japanesey.
These days it's like here's a Japanese style thing with some game play.
Just make a fantastic game first... Then go weeb.

 

[Mister Wolf]

Judgement blew me away in the dub department. I was expecting typical anime/cringe voice overs, but hot damn the voices were very good. One of the few games that I can play either sub or dub.

Just checked and found out Judgement not on PC. Hopefully it comes one day. Even the worse dub I will pick over not understanding what I'm hearing.

 

[Zambatoh]

I tried to get into Tokyo RPG's games a couple times, but I always end up quitting after a few hours. They're just not that compelling.

 

[JonnyMP3]

They should just remake the first 6 Final Fantasy games in a brand new art style.
Completely re-imagined and redrawn like Street Fighter 2 HD Remix.

Yeah ok, I want my fave FFVI again...

 

[sublimit]

This seemed like a really good idea and a cant miss. Sadly, good concepts/ideas aren’t enough. Need to be able execute and deliver on good games. These guys never got any positive buzz going.

I think Oninaki really had something unique going for it. The dark story was very interesting and the battle system was fun. But unfortunately it felt as if the team run out of budget. A lot of plot holes in the story seem to suggest that that was very likely the case.
Add to that SE's idiotic pricing,it felt as if SE really wanted the game to fail.

I really hope they give Tokyo RPG another chance but this time give them adequate budget and the time they need in order to give it their best. I really think TRPGF have it in them but they need a fair chance from SE.

 

[Cert.in.Death]

Appears not even Tokyo RPG could escape their failed destiny.

Isn't that a line out of *insert any JPRG title here*?

 

[MagnesG]

I think Oninaki really had something unique going for it. The dark story was very interesting and the battle system was fun. But unfortunately it felt as if the team run out of budget. A lot of plot holes in the story seem to suggest that that was very likely the case.
Add to that SE's idiotic pricing,it felt as if SE really wanted the game to fail.

I really hope they give Tokyo RPG another chance but this time give them adequate budget and the time they need in order to give it their best. I really think TRPGF have it in them but they need a fair chance from SE.

Maybe being an exclusive with full marketing support from platform holders would help, and a demo period like Octopath and Bravely?

Weeb games really need something something waifu though to thrive.

 

[JonnyMP3]

Maybe being an exclusive with full marketing support from platform holders would help, and a demo period like Octopath and Bravely?

Weeb games really need something something waifu though to thrive.

You're right with the waifu thing...
Just about every 90s JRPG had a waifu figure after the middle of the decade. Terra, Tifa, Aeris, Rinoa, Nina etc

 

[Enjay]

Now they have inspiration for another jaded bleak depressing boring and overpriced rpg.

 

[Javthusiast]

Tokyo RPG factory was an uninspired name, implying they would do generic jrpgs from a conveyer belt, shitted out in a couple months.

Games were bland jrpgs in the end, who would have thought. xD

 

[Graciaus]

I only played Oninaki and I basically got it for free in a DQ12/FF12 bundle. There was potential but it is way to grindy and repetitive. I played on PC which had a mod to cut down the grind but even then it was annoying. A bunch of characters to use each fairly unique but they all start off boring as hell. Do you want to grind or just keep using what you have? Not to mention the first dungeon is essentially the entire games structure. I enjoyed my time but didn't bother to beat it.

There games are way to expensive and none have reviewed well to justify it. Should be aiming for either higher quality games or sub $30 launch price.

 

[Haint]

Is $1.5 million USD and really a 'big loss' for SE? The issue with TRPGF is their game's visual identity (or lack there of). They look bland as hell and sell accordingly. Every other category has to be exceptional to sell bland, and they don't have that either.

 

[Scotty W]

Chrono Break, 16 bit graphics. That is all I want. How much could it cost to develop?