Square Enix shuts down music division

[Auspice]

Sauce:
http://www.squareenixmusic.com/music..._from=&ucat=2&

At SEMO, we can exclusively reveal that Square Enix has voted to disband their music team. The company made the decision at the end of 2009 for budget reasons. Their decision lies behind a number of well-publicised departures from the company in recent months. Among those that are affected are the six composers at the team, namely:

Masashi Hamauzu (Final Fantasy XIII, Dirge of Cerberus, SaGa Frontier II)
Junya Nakano (Final Fantasy X, Threads of Fate, Musashi: Samurai Legend)
Tsuyoshi Sekito (The Last Remnant, Dawn of Mana, Founder of The Black Mages)
Naoshi Mizuta (Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy Gaiden, Founder of The Star Onions)
Kumi Tanioka (Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Chocobo Series, Code Age Commanders)
Takeharu Ishimoto (The World Ends With You, Dissidia, Compilation of Final Fantasy VII)

These six known casualties were each employed by Square Enix for between 12 to 15 years and have accumulated dozens of scores between them. Their future destinations are unknown. Square Enix Music Online's sources report most axed employees will retire, but some hope to continue a career in the games industry. Masashi Hamauzu is currently considering forming his own studio, while Junya Nakano and Kumi Tanioka have recently become part of the sound alliance GE-ON-DAN.

In future, Square Enix will principally rely on independent composers and music production studios to handle their scores. They will continue to rely extensively on the studios of their former sound team members Nobuo Uematsu, Hitoshi Sakimoto, Yoko Shimomura, and Kenji Ito, as well as various others. It is also possible that some of the recent departees from the sound team will be contracted to produce further compositions.

Square Enix's new approach is in accord with the model demonstrated by most Western game studios, which outsource to various external composers under the supervision of an internal sound director. This approach is generally cheaper than employing internal staff and results in the selection of composers specifically suited to a project. However, numerous Japanese developers, such as Nintendo, Sega, and Konami, still produce accomplished scores while relying principally on internal talent.

At present, the extent of Square Enix's cuts are unclear. It may only affect the six composers of the Square Enix sound team. However, it's been rumoured that the cuts may also extend to synthesizer operators, sound programmers, their music publishing division, and various other sound staff. At present, it appears the Zuntata sound team at their subsidiary Taito are unaffected by the cuts. The disbandment of the Square Enix music team represents the start of a new era for the company's music. However, it will surely provoke outrage among those who have followed the Square composer team for the last 25 years.

I doubt this will affect things in the future too much since Uematsu has been independent for years and still does stuff for SE but it's still kinda sad news to hear.

[Deejay]

Idk if it's due to my nostalgia, but I still think XI's music was the best of any FF. I hope that dude comes back to do XIV.

I had my Ipod on random the other day and the Rabao theme came on. It made me miss the good old days.

[Kurokikaze]

Idk if it's due to my nostalgia, but I still think XI's music was the best of any FF. I hope that dude comes back to do XIV.

I know what you mean, but it won't happen. Uematsu has already completed the FFXIV OST and will probably be asked to work on all future expansions. Waiting on Alpha to start so someone can rip it.

This is sad news.

[kuronosan]

Nyooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[Katlan]

So it now means they will be independently contracted vs full time employees? Not that big of a deal

[Pikarya]

So it now means they will be independently contracted vs full time employees? Not that big of a deal

This is correct to my understanding. Nobody is really getting the chopping block for good.

[Katlan]

It's a move for the better imo, they still work in SE products and they get to work for other companies now. I'm sure they have some sort of contract stipulated them to work for SE regardless of their current employer, as long as they arent currently engaged in something during said period

[Yuri-G]

At first this seemed like bad news, but after reading the article it sounds like they're firing all their mediocre in-house composers and relying on the independent studios of legends like Nobuo Uematsu. Who might even end up hiring some of the people they let go.

Yeah, I think that'll work out just fine actually.

[Lucavi]

Naoshi Mizuta: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!

I know it won't be that bad, but I don't want to think of -ANY- of them flat-out retiring, especially Mizuta. I still listen to many of FFXI's songs while doing other things, including playing other games.

[Charismatic]

I know it won't be that bad, but I don't want to think of -ANY- of them flat-out retiring, especially Mizuta. I still listen to many of FFXI's songs while doing other things, including playing other games.

This.

'cept I don't care what happens to Hamauzu

[BRP]

At first this seemed like bad news, but after reading the article it sounds like they're firing all their mediocre in-house composers and relying on the independent studios of legends like Nobuo Uematsu. Who might even end up hiring some of the people they let go.

Yeah, I think that'll work out just fine actually.

....LOL

Shut up

[tyven]

charismatic how will this affect yoko chingo chango?

[Omniyoji]

Idk if it's due to my nostalgia, but I still think XI's music was the best of any FF. I hope that dude comes back to do XIV.

I had my Ipod on random the other day and the Rabao theme came on. It made me miss the good old days.

YES! Mizuta has come a long way and he's very good at his job. FFXI has the best OST of all time, not b/c of volume but b/c of quality! I hope he keeps providing like Uematsu & Amano have.

Also

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s...nnyz/fired.png

[Therin]

Yeah, this doesn't really change anything.

[Mayareira]

XI soundrack was average. Sure, there were better tracks like Rabao, Selbina, Mhaura, Ronfaure(Uematsu) and a couple of battle musics but...yeah.

Sakimoto is the best one out there hands down.

[tyven]

never played sakimoto, i liked chrono cross music though

[Kurokikaze]

never played sakimoto, i liked chrono cross music though

Thats Yasunori Mitsuda. Unfortunately he hasnt worked on a Square game in forever.

[EdgeMoragan]

Edit: Post moved cause I was dumb and started a thread like this in general.

I'm particularly disappointed in them letting Hamazu go. In my eyes he was the only guy who could ever be on par with Noduo.

[Araelus]

[IMG]looks like Araelus-shop http://twitpic.com/157mh1 with a caption[IMG]

While I'm disappointed to hear Square let these folks out the door, I expect them to continue making music for some other studio or on their own time. Kumi Tanioka is great at adapting her compositions for the piano - or maybe it is the other way around, dunno how she designs the songs from page one.

It is also possible that some of the recent departees from the sound team will be contracted to produce further compositions.

This would also let them retain more rights to their music, wouldn't it? I thought that was one of the reasons Uematsu became an independent contractor.

[Auspice]

It shouldn't change things much except that some of the composers have announced they are going to retire because of this. :/