Squaresoft = Fascist Organization

[Captin Planit]

I can only account the lack of visuals to the result of a fascist regime enslaving talented game designers and composers for their inherent gifts.

I cannot be the only underwhelmed attendant who expected all of those Disney clips to eventually morph into some Kingdom Hearts cut-scenes.

DISNEY let this damn event show some classic cartoon footage, and Squaresoft has the audacity to deny us the privilege we RIGHTFULLY DESERVE. Thankfully, you good folk were wise enough to give us video footage of the Piano man performing his Final Fantasy montage as a compromise. And a hell of a compromise it was...

All of that being said I have one major suggestion: CHRONO TRIGGER.

The lack of CT music is absolutely criminal. At the Yale show, my friend shouted, "Chrono Trigger!" from the rafters during a moment of silence, and about half of the people in the second balcony seconded the motion.

In fact, more 16-bit homages would be well-received. But most importantly, for the next tour...

CHRONO TRIGGER.

[Rallion]

I gotta agree with the Chrono Trigger part of this (or New Zealand atleast, please).

[Fizzle]

SquareEnix doesn't allow it probably because their concert is touring with Final Fantasy music. I respect SquareEnix protecting their property.

If you have a chance, see the SquareEnix concert, you'll be amazed at it. I went in LA, and I was blown away. VGL is entertaining and all.. but it seemed like ametuer hour compared to that show.

[Brainiac]

SquareEnix doesn't allow it probably because their concert is touring with Final Fantasy music. I respect SquareEnix protecting their property.

Fizzle, if you're referring to the Dear Friends tour, that has ended. PLAY! is being done by the same people in the US, but Square Enix is not directly sponsoring it - it suffers from the same visual issues as VGL.

At the moment, Square has no tours running through the US, though it's been said that they are planning on starting one up again (and hence holding on to their visuals). And they are still letting their music be used to a degree (though from what I understand, the only reason KH made it out at first was because Disney intervened...which is rather amusing when you think about it).

[Fizzle]

I went to the More Friends concert in LA during E3 2005, I hear they're starting that one up nationwide soon, which is why they want to hold on to their IP.

[Captin Planit]

Wait, so, this Square Enix tour is gonna happen again? If not, why do you torture me?

Still a bunch of fascists.

[CH1CK3N CH4S3R]

I agree, I was extremely dissapointed that Square would not give the rights to VGL to show their games. I think Tommy and Jack have proved themselves time after time that they do more than justice to each and every single piece of music in the show, and for square to not allow them to use ANY video footage, even after almost 2 years on the road, is complete nonsense.

At the Edmonton Video Games Live, four pieces were for square games, and only one was justified in the fact that it was played on the piano, so the camera was focused on Lee Ann Leung's hands and keyboard for the entirety of the song. However, the show is just ruined when you go from an great playing of Myst or God of War, to a black screen with a few lights and a final fantasy song.

Even Disney allows their footage to be shown on the screen, which at least helps to liven up the Kingdom hearts performance, but I recall waiting to see when it would transition into in game footage, which it never did. I can see this being acceptable if other games such as Halo or Metal Gear Solid did not disclose any of their footage, but after the kind heartedness of Hideo Kojima, Koji Kondo and others who actually make appearances on the screen to introduce their respective clips, I find it insulting that Square cant even let footage of a game thats recieving nothing but praise at the event be shown during their music.

[Captin Planit]

Even Disney allows their footage to be shown on the screen, which at least helps to liven up the Kingdom hearts performance, but I recall waiting to see when it would transition into in game footage, which it never did. I can see this being acceptable if other games such as Halo or Metal Gear Solid did not disclose any of their footage, but after the kind heartedness of Hideo Kojima, Koji Kondo and others who actually make appearances on the screen to introduce their respective clips, I find it insulting that Square cant even let footage of a game thats recieving nothing but praise at the event be shown during their music.
I agree with everything mentioned in this paragraph. Had the same anticipation during the KH bit, followed by the same disappointment. Insulting captures the problem perfectly.

[Fizzle]

I do believe the More Friends tour is going to start up soon. According to what I've heard from Square. Which is why they wanted to hold on to their IP.

[Swish]

Then why licence out the music?

It's just a tangled mess of weird bureaucracy, where the people who allow music are different to the people who allow pictures, and they're not on the same page.

It's as good an explanation as I can offer anyhow.

[Fizzle]

I agree it's a mess, and I don't think Square really should have held the images back. It was probably red tape alone that did it. It was still enjoyable without the images, so don't be turned off about the concert from this particular drawback.

[khfan]

It really ticks me off that they don't allow video clips because I can just Imagine one Winged Angel with clips from all those games based off ff7 and ff7 ac....
Also Kh deserves so much more than clips of bambi and dumbo who barely even had a part in the game.
:( PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE let them use video clips Square!!

[kleaf]

The fact is: the image of the brand (square-enix) is getting affected by that situation. And in a badly way. I allways thought about S-E as a worldwide brand, with such talented professionals of art, design, gaming itself, a respected studio. When they didn't allow VGL to show some footage of their (S-E) games, I was really disappointed. I AM disappointed. It shows me they only do things for themselves, to earn extra-money as they could.

VGL is kind of a place for a mutual advertising - both game studios and the VGL itself, not to talk about the great favor they do for the composers and the VGmusic. When Hideo Kojima and Koji Kondo appears on the screen, introducing "their" games and "their" music, at the same time that S-E don't, I really give lots of "points of respect and admiration" for the firsts, despite of giving any to S-E.

It sounds kinda stupid, but It's a point of marketing strategy. In my opinion, S-E is betting hardly on the wrong one. They are thinking as a 20th century company located in Japan, not as a 21th century company located in the world.

S-E just want to protect their "possibility of making money in the near future", and I respect that. But their "clients" don't have that vision of marketing... and If they don't, they will translate that position (of not allowing the video footage) in some way they could understand. And I personally think that is something like "S-E is selfish", not like "S-E wants to protect what belongs to them". They must think in their public, not in their image. Their image is allways a result of what they do.

[davicious x]

They way I see it Square have become more up themselves since becoming Square Enix. You just wouldnt expect it from Square Soft.
Also there are no England dates for the Square Enix tour so keeping the vids and pics out of the England show is even more stupid.
Its not like the games have improved since they became SquareEnix
Who do they think they are!

[Arturos]

Just for those of you asking for Crono Trigger, they played the music from Crono Cross last night at the London Show :)

[Brainiac]

They way I see it Square have become more up themselves since becoming Square Enix. You just wouldnt expect it from Square Soft.

Heh-heh-heh. I always love this arguement, mostly because both sides (Square fans and Enix fans) always blame the other for the decline in quality.

If FF visuals are really that important for you, book a December flight to Sweden for the Distant Worlds premiere.

[Swish]

Yeah I love that argument too. They were both a bunch of ****s before they merged.

In fact, if anything, they're better now since they spend the moneys on (albeit poor) community support and concerts like Dear Friends.

But, as has been said a thousand times before, there really isn't any good reason for them to refuse VGL the rights to footage.