Square Enix is planning to expand its reach, but will its current setback - a slumping fiscal year 2007 - get in the way of everybody's favorite RPG factory? We'll know in the near future, or at least when we see the results of fiscal year 2008. More details in the full article.

Square Enix is spreading its reach farther as they unveil their plans of acquiring some more local and foreign companies. It's a tried and tested formula to cash in more of that valuable green paper, and there isn't a reason why they shouldn't do it.

Check out what their gameplan is over at the full article.

Nowadays, we just can't help but think only about Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest whenever we hear the name Square Enix. But Square Enix's president Yoichi Wada wants gamers to know that they do not depend on those two chart-topping franchises alone. More details in the full article.

After news about Square Enix looking for western business partners came out earlier this week, the company has released a statement to clarify its position on overseas business development.

While previous reports quoted Square Enix senior VP Michihiko Sasaki as saying that the company is currently making only 10 to 20 percent of its total annual sales, president and representative director Yoichi Wada states that the company's games revenue in overseas markets actually accounts for 50 percent of the total revenue in this segment.

Wada went on to say that the company's initial goal within a time frame of three to five years is to "raise [its] foreign sales ratio for console and handheld games from its current 50% level to approximately 75%". To achieve this, Wada outlined Square Enix's two-fold strategy:

Our strategy to seize such opportunities is two-fold; (i) strengthen our own distribution channels developed by our local subsidiaries in these geographic areas, and (ii) diversify our content in accordance with user preferences in each area.

Wada further stated that they shall continue their efforts to better serve overseas markets.

 

We've previously reported that contrary to rumor, this year's TGS is not canceled, and in fact, will receive an extra day. Well folks, here is an update regarding that issue.

The Computer Entertainment Supplier's Association of Japan has recently given the details regarding the expansion to their Tokyo Game Show in a press event held in Central Tokyo. Japanese videogame news site Game Watch informs that, Square Enix president and acting CESA chairman, Yoichi Wada, was there to announce that in addition to the extra day, up to 160 companies will be in attendance, up from the recorded 143 last year. Other expectations about the even include a total attendance of 180,000 people and 1,550 booth units.

With the recent "changes" to E3, Wada emphasized that it is very important for this years TGS to cater to foreign press, whose numbers reached 1,380 in 2006, up from 1,050 the previous year. There will be an effort to translate press materials available found on CESA's Japanese website, and more importantly directional signs in the convention center will now be multi-lingual.

There will be a Kid's Corner and a Retro Corner set up to cater to their respective audiences. There will also be a Video Game Museum that will give older attendees a chance to appreciate video game history.

This year's TGS is scheduled for September 20th through the 23rd. The 20th and the 21st will be dedicated to press, while the 22nd and the 23rd will be general admission days. As always, the event will be held at the now legendary Chiba Makuhari Messe at the convention center in Chiba.