Why is Tokyo RPG Factory a separate standalone corporation?

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Joshua

Sphere Hunter
Oct 7, 2013
231
47
43
California
#1
On stage at SE E3 pressed they announced a new dev team in Tokyo as "Tokyo RPG Factory".

But if you look at their website: http://www.tokyorpgfactory.com/aboutus.php

You'll see that they aren't just a new dev team but a completely separate corporation from SE, of which SE is the primary shareholder.

- the footer of the page shows separate copyright holder, no mention of square Enix

- the concept art shows copyright Tokyo RPG Factory, no mention of Square Enix.

- the about page of their website (which I linked).

This is weird. Why do this?
 

Joshua

Sphere Hunter
Oct 7, 2013
231
47
43
California
#4
No, I believe Joshua is saying why is it a standalone company. Perhaps like how Eidos is owned by Square Enix, but are separate developers. Eidos makes their games and Square does there. FF
Thanks Crystal, yes that is what I was going for. If someone were to be directly linked to that concept art they would see nothing there tying it to Square Enix (It only says copyright of Tokyo RPG Factory).

I'm just wondering why do it this way? Square is already in Tokyo, they already make RPGs, why not expand the base company? Why no additional product division? Does it have its own President and company structure? Is it fully autonomous? Are they going to be targeting a different range of console RPG production (such as small to medium budget) while SE sticks with high production values? Lots of questions buzzing in my mind as a long time SE observer.

To Sora96's point on this not being weird - yes, I suppose, but I can't see any other example of SE doing this in the past. Sure Eidos and Taito exist as their own thing, but that was due to acquisition and brand awareness.
 
Likes: Crystal Power
#5
Square Enix, or rather Squaresoft did create an external (shell) company - called The Game Designers' Studio - back in the early 2000s, when they made Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Alas, this was for evading the exclusivity contract with Sony back then to bring Final Fantasy to the GameCube - which was Nintendo's condition for them to allow FF IV-VI being ported onto the GBA - but this will hardly be the case here.

Instead, I believe it may have to do with minimizing financial risks for SE themselves and - though it may sound idealistic - creative control of SE's own staff over whatever TRPGF is making.
 

Yause

Balamb Garden Freshman
Aug 30, 2014
31
13
47
#6
TRF isn't recruiting from within Square Enix. And yeah, it's an independent entity with a manager hired from outside the company. It's Atsushi Hashimoto, who worked on SaGa 2 DS and Final Fantasy Explorers while under the employment of Racjin.

As for the rationale, I'd imagine that it has something to do with politics and pay scale. Under Square Enix, they'd have to conform with the rest of the company. A separate firm does not.
 

Joshua

Sphere Hunter
Oct 7, 2013
231
47
43
California
#7
TRF isn't recruiting from within Square Enix. And yeah, it's an independent entity with a manager hired from outside the company. It's Atsushi Hashimoto, who worked on SaGa 2 DS and Final Fantasy Explorers while under the employment of Racjin.

As for the rationale, I'd imagine that it has something to do with politics and pay scale. Under Square Enix, they'd have to conform with the rest of the company. A separate firm does not.

Square Enix, or rather Squaresoft did create an external (shell) company - called The Game Designers' Studio - back in the early 2000s, when they made Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Alas, this was for evading the exclusivity contract with Sony back then to bring Final Fantasy to the GameCube - which was Nintendo's condition for them to allow FF IV-VI being ported onto the GBA - but this will hardly be the case here.

Instead, I believe it may have to do with minimizing financial risks for SE themselves and - though it may sound idealistic - creative control of SE's own staff over whatever TRPGF is making.
Thank you both. Very insightful posts. Interesting to know about Atsushi Hashimoto and I forgot about Game Designers' Studio.