Square Enix Gets "Serious"

[Fuzz]

Square Enix has joined hands with educational book publisher to establish subsidiary for development and sales of "serious games."


News fromt GameSpot
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Square Enix is taking a step out of the entertainment business. Today, the company held a press conference with textbook publisher Gakken to announce the establishment of a joint subsidiary on May 1. Dubbed SG Lab, the company will specialize in the development and distribution of what's generally known as "serious games," interactive programs designed to train or educate users. Aside from creating serious games for educational facilities, SG Lab will also make them for public facilities, industries, and professional training purposes.

Square Enix is the first major Japanese publisher to announce its entrance into the serious games market. While still growing, the market has traditionally been much stronger in North America, where there's already a Serious Games Summit established as an annual event.

SG Lab will start off with a capital fund of 10 million yen (approximately $100,000), of which 60 percent is from Square Enix and 40 percent is from Gakken. SG Lab doesn't have any projects underway yet, and it will start off its business by accepting orders for custom-designed software.
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[hellbred]

So, this is like video games directed to stimulate your intellect, and educate you?

In a way, video games and their developers have been doing this for years. I think my 8 year cousin has better hand and eye cordination than I do, however I think most would agree gamers have peaked reflexes, and their hand and eye cordinations are possibly quicker to respond than your average 35+ year old due to video games.

However, educating someone via 'serious' video games either sounds boring, or hard to accompliosh. Maybe it will be popular in the school system.

[Sean]

No, it's educational software.

I remember as a kid I used to play a game called Reader Rabbit. It was an old mac op designed to teach kids to read and use proper word usage, and it made it fairly fun.

Typing tests on Mavis Beacon are designed as games a lot of the times, stuff like that.

[Omega]

I wonder if it's just another way for Square to milk the cash cow, by now designing little toy educational games for kids with Final Fantasy characters, that they're parents will have to buy of course.

I suppose next it will be coloring books, and flash cards for school.

I'm not totally opposed to it, because I don't care, but it sounds lame to me.

[Deicide]

Hmm.. I'm weary of it for two reasons. One, 'Edutainment' sucks. Badly. That dosent sound like what they're going for, they seem to be trying to dress it up more as 'Games with a Serious Message' than 'Have Fun Learning (TM)', however that could just be, well, dressing up the facts.
My second reason is simple distaste for the idea, even as it is presented, of being subliminaly educated. That includes issues I care about being shown from those who share my general opinions. It all just seems like a risky buisness to me since such things could easily be used as propganda, passing off mere political or personal stances as 'tried and true fact'. Anything like this bothers me because of that potential, especially given how much it is already being forfilled by the current media..

:..2-2-7..:

[Plastik Assassin]

Why not?

If you can excel in making entertaining, well put-together, mature RPGs - then why not do the edutainment? Hell, its good PR. Not only that, but maybe the reason people view edutainment as bad, is simply, because it IS bad. If they can throw a twist into an educational platform, and make it fun and enjoyable for the kids, who doesn't win? Our kids get smarter, a great gaming company makes more money, and we get bigger and better games for teens and young adults to enjoy. Its a no brainer.

[hellbred]

Who knows, maybe Square has a genuine interest in putting technology and computers in their [the kids] hands even more so than it is today. Thus continuly growing the industry in which Square exists due to college graduates pursuing degrees and jobs in the gaming and 3d work force.

[Shiendar]

Good grief. While I won't pass judgement before one of these products come out, I seriously hope that they put in a lot of effort into them. Any game deserves a good try, whatever it is or for. There are so many games that are spewed out just for cash flow but hopefully, they'll give it their best shot and take these 'serious games' a serious try.

If they suceed, more power to them.

Hmm this is interesting. I never have really thought about it but if its helping people out(learn) then why not? I think its a good idea but then again I dont think I would go and really buy anything like that. I hope they put alot of effort into it too it will be fun to see the outcome tho hehe.

[TomStrife]

Holy crap...I just pictured it...

"Hi there. Welcome to Sephy`s Fun-Filled FunHouse. HA`yuck!

"Let`s play some fun games with my pals Cloudy and Squally. By the Way, did you know that Squalls are horrible thunderstorms taking place when two air masses connect. Do you know where precipitation occurs? That`s right, kids, CLOUDS! Get if, NARF NARF NARF!"

We get to see Chibi FF characters help kid learn math and then use it to count how much their attack does. If you didn`t know math, then you wouldn`t know how much HP Bosses had.

Cloud: I just did 5 damage with my Buster Sword while Zell did 3 damage with his Gauntlets. 5+3 equals...

A)1
B)23
C) C
D) 8

*selects D*

Cloud: "Very good.
Sephy just did 14,000,000,000,000,256...HEY! YOU @#$%!"

Originally Posted by TomStrife

Cloud: I just did 5 damage with my Buster Sword while Zell did 3 damage with his Gauntlets. 5+3 equals...

A)1
B)23
C) C
D) 8

*selects D*

Cloud: "Very good.
Sephy just did 14,000,000,000,000,256...HEY! YOU @#$%!"

Lol! hehe I hope its not too extreme like that...that would just take the fun out of the game!

[postalblowfish7]

for the edutainment record - 'mario teaches typing' kicked ass

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by postalblowfish7

for the edutainment record - 'mario teaches typing' kicked ass

hah! yeah, I remember that game... It really was an effective tool to build typing skills... my god, I remember playing back in like 6th grade, good stuff.

We'll see where SE takes this new education route... hopefully they will put good use to it, much like that mario typing game.