Enix: Difference between revisions

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| native_name = {{lang|ja|株式会社エニックス}}
| native_name = {{lang|ja|株式会社エニックス}}
| romanized_name = Kabushiki gaisha Enikkusu
| romanized_name = Kabushiki gaisha Enikkusu
| former_name = Eidansha Boshu Service Center
| former_name = Eidansha Boshu Service Center Co., Ltd. (1975–1989)
| logo = Enix.svg
| logo = Enix.svg
| logo_size = 100px
| logo_size = 100px
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| founder = [[Yasuhiro Fukushima]]
| founder = [[Yasuhiro Fukushima]]
| hq_location_city = [[Shibuya]], [[Tokyo]]
| hq_location_city = [[Shibuya]], [[Tokyo]]
| hq_location_country = [[Japan]]
| hq_location_country = Japan
| industry = {{plainlist|
| industry = {{plainlist|
*[[Video game industry|Video games]]
*[[Video game industry|Video games]]
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| key_people = {{plainlist|
| key_people = {{plainlist|
*[[Yasuhiro Fukushima]] (CEO)
*[[Yasuhiro Fukushima]] (CEO)
*[[Keiji Honda]] (President)
*[[Keiji Honda]] (president)
}}
}}
| num_employees = 134
| num_employees = 134
| num_employees_year = March 2002
| num_employees_year = March 2002
| subsid = See [[#Company structure and affiliates|Company structure and affiliates]]
| subsid = See [[#Company structure and affiliates|Company structure and affiliates]]
| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.enix.co.jp/ www.enix.co.jp]
| website = {{url|https://web.archive.org/web/*/http://www.enix.co.jp/|www.enix.co.jp}}
| footnotes = <ref name="profile"/><ref name="financial data"/>
| footnotes = <ref name="profile"/><ref name="financial data"/>
}}
}}
{{Nihongo foot|'''Enix Corporation'''|株式会社エニックス|Kabushiki gaisha Enikkusu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} was a Japanese multimedia publisher who handled and oversaw [[video game]]s, [[manga]], guidebooks, and merchandise. It was founded in 1975 by Yasuhiro Fukushima as Eidansha Boshu Service Center, initially as a tabloid publisher and later attempting to branch into real estate management. Beginning in 1982, Enix began publishing video games. Notable early collaborators were designers [[Yuji Horii]] and [[Koichi Nakamura]], artist [[Akira Toriyama]], and composer [[Koichi Sugiyama]]. Horii, Nakamura, Toriyama, and Sugiyama would all work on the 1986 [[role playing video game]] ''[[Dragon Quest (video game)|Dragon Quest]]'' for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]]; one of the earliest successful RPGs for consoles, it spawned a [[Dragon Quest|franchise of the same name]] which remained Enix's best-known product.
{{Nihongo foot|'''Enix Corporation'''|株式会社エニックス|Kabushiki gaisha Enikkusu|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} was a Japanese multimedia publisher which handled and oversaw [[video game]]s, [[manga]], guidebooks, and merchandise. It was founded in 1975 by Yasuhiro Fukushima as Eidansha Boshu Service Center, initially as a tabloid publisher and later attempting to branch into real estate management.  


They would gain notoriety as a publisher for several studios and their properties including [[tri-Ace]], [[Tose (company)|Tose]], [[Chunsoft]] and [[Quintet (company)|Quintet]]. It also founded the ''[[Gangan Comics]]'' imprint family, and created international subsidiaries or partnerships related to technology development, publishing, and education. In the early 2000s, due to rising game development costs, Enix entered discussions about merging with [[Square (video game company)|Square]], a rival company known for the legendary ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' franchise. The merger eventually went ahead in 2003 forming [[Square Enix]], with Enix as the surviving corporate entity.
In 1982, a subsidiary of Eidansha Boshu named Enix began publishing video games for [[home computers]]. Notable early collaborators were designers [[Yuji Horii]] and [[Koichi Nakamura]], and composer [[Koichi Sugiyama]]. All three worked on the 1986 [[role playing video game]] (RPG) ''[[Dragon Quest (video game)|Dragon Quest]]'' for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Family Computer]]. ''Dragon Quest'' was one of the earliest successful RPGs for consoles, spawning a [[Dragon Quest|franchise of the same name]] which remains Enix's best-known product. In 1989, the parent company was itself renamed Enix and absorbed the subsidiary.
 
Enix would gain notoriety as a [[Video game publisher|publisher]] for several studios including [[tri-Ace]], [[Tose (company)|Tose]], [[Chunsoft]] and [[Quintet (company)|Quintet]]. It also founded the ''[[Gangan Comics]]'' imprint family, and created international subsidiaries or partnerships related to technology development, publishing, and education.  
 
In the early 2000s, due to rising game development costs, Enix entered discussions about merging with [[Square (video game company)|Square]], a rival company known for the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' franchise. The merger eventually went ahead in 2003 forming [[Square Enix]], with Enix as the surviving corporate entity.


==History==
==History==
===1975-1989: Origins, ''Dragon Quest''===
===1975–1989: Origins, ''Dragon Quest''===
Enix was founded under the name Eidansha Boshu Service Center on September 22, 1975 by Yasuhiro Fukushima.<ref name="profile"/> An architect-turned-business entrepreneur, Fukushima initially founded Eidansha as a publishing company focused on advertising [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloids]] for real estate.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}} On February 5, 1980, Eidansha Boshu created a wholly owned subsidiary Eidansya Fudousan for the purpose of specializing in real estate trading and brokerage, being renamed Eidansha Systems the following year.<ref name="SQEX2019"/> It was based in [[Shinjuku]], [[Tokyo]].<ref name="profile"/> During 1982 Eidansha Boshu made an unsuccessful attempt to become a nationwide chain. Fukushima decided to invest his capital into the emerging video game market; during this period on August 30, Eidansya Fudousan was renamed Enix Corporation.<ref name="paper"/><ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}} The name Enix was a play on both the mythological [[Phoenix (mythology)|Phoenix]], and the early computer [[ENIAC]].<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}}<ref name="Name"/>
Enix was founded under the name Eidansha Boshu Service Center on September 22, 1975 by Yasuhiro Fukushima.<ref name="profile"/> An architect-turned-business entrepreneur, Fukushima initially founded Eidansha as a publishing company focused on advertising [[Tabloid (newspaper format)|tabloids]] for real estate.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}}  
 
On February 5, 1980, Eidansha Boshu created a wholly owned subsidiary Eidansya Fudousan for the purpose of specializing in real estate trading and brokerage.<ref name="SQEX2019"/> Eidansya Fudousan was renamed Eidansha Systems in 1981.<ref name="profile"/> After Eidansha Boshu made an unsuccessful attempt to become a nationwide chain the following year, Fukushima decided to invest his capital into the emerging video game market.<ref name="powerup"/> During this period, Eidansha Systems was renamed Enix Corporation on August 30, 1982.<ref name="paper"/>{{Rp|77–81}} The name Enix was a play on both the mythological [[Phoenix (mythology)|Phoenix]], and the early computer [[ENIAC]].<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}}<ref name="Name"/>


Seeking game proposals, Fukushima organized a competition dubbed the "Enix Game Hobby Program Contest" in both computer and manga magazines, offering a prize of [[Japanese yen|¥]]1 million (US$10,000) for a game prototype which could be published by Enix.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}}<ref name="Chun30th"/> Among the winners were [[Yuji Horii]], then a writer for ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'', with the sports game ''Love Match Tennis'';<ref name="HoriiAutomaton"/> designer [[Koichi Nakamura]] with the puzzle game ''[[Door Door]]'';<ref name="Chun30th"/> and self-trained programmer [[Kazuro Morita]] with the [[simulation video game]] ''Morita's Battlefield''.<ref name="MoritaBook"/> During the next few years, Enix would publish titles for both the PC market and the fledgling Japanese console market.<ref name="HighScore"/><ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}} Using his royalties, Morita established the developer Random House and developed several PC and console titles including the ''Morita's Shogi'' series.<ref name="MoritaBook"/><ref name="ASCIIbook"/> In collaboration with Nakamura's new company [[Chunsoft]], Horii notably created the [[adventure game]] ''[[The Portopia Serial Murder Case]]'' (1983), then during discussions around a port of the game to the Famicom ([[Nintendo Entertainment System]]) Horii and Nakamura decided to develop a [[role-playing video game]] (RPG) for the platform.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|84–89}}
Seeking game proposals, Fukushima organized a competition dubbed the "Enix Game Hobby Program Contest" in both computer and manga magazines, offering a prize of [[Japanese yen|¥]]1 million (US$10,000) for a game prototype which could be published by Enix.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}}<ref name="Chun30th"/> Among the winners were [[Yuji Horii]], then a writer for ''[[Weekly Shōnen Jump]]'', with the sports game ''Love Match Tennis'';<ref name="HoriiAutomaton"/> designer [[Koichi Nakamura]] with the puzzle game ''[[Door Door]]'';<ref name="Chun30th"/> and self-trained programmer [[Kazuro Morita]] with the [[simulation video game]] ''Morita's Battlefield''.<ref name="MoritaBook"/> During the next few years, Enix would publish titles for both the PC market and the fledgling Japanese console market.<ref name="HighScore"/><ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}} Using his royalties, Morita established the developer Random House and developed several PC and console titles including the ''Morita's Shogi'' series.<ref name="MoritaBook"/><ref name="ASCIIbook"/> In collaboration with Nakamura's new company [[Chunsoft]], Horii notably created the [[adventure game]] ''[[The Portopia Serial Murder Case]]'' (1983), then during discussions around a port of the game to the Famicom ([[Nintendo Entertainment System]]) Horii and Nakamura decided to develop a [[role-playing video game]] (RPG) for the platform.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|84–89}}
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The RPG, titled ''[[Dragon Quest (video game)|Dragon Quest]]'', began development in 1985.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|84–89}}<ref name=Essential50/> Horii and Nakamura acted as designers, composer [[Koichi Sugiyama]] created the score for the game, and ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' artist [[Akira Toriyama]] was brought on board for art design.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|84–89}}<ref name="ToriyamaArtwork"/> While meeting with initially slow sales, ''Dragon Quest'' became a critical and commercial success, selling over one million copies in Japan.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|84–89}}<ref name=Essential50/> The success of ''Dragon Quest'' spawned a [[Dragon Quest|franchise of the same name]], which would become Enix's highest-grossing property.<ref name="HighScore"/><ref name="profile"/> Horii, Sugiyama and Toriyama remained mainstays with the series.<ref name="DQIXcomments"/> Chunsoft developed the next five ''Dragon Quest'' titles.<ref name="Chun30th"/> While the ''Dragon Quest'' series proved successful, Enix continued publishing PC titles to maintain financial stability.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}} The company also began selling merchandise themed after ''Dragon Quest'' in 1988 with character statues and toys, expanding to board and card games the following year.<ref name="EnixMerch"/>
The RPG, titled ''[[Dragon Quest (video game)|Dragon Quest]]'', began development in 1985.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|84–89}}<ref name=Essential50/> Horii and Nakamura acted as designers, composer [[Koichi Sugiyama]] created the score for the game, and ''[[Dragon Ball]]'' artist [[Akira Toriyama]] was brought on board for art design.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|84–89}}<ref name="ToriyamaArtwork"/> While meeting with initially slow sales, ''Dragon Quest'' became a critical and commercial success, selling over one million copies in Japan.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|84–89}}<ref name=Essential50/> The success of ''Dragon Quest'' spawned a [[Dragon Quest|franchise of the same name]], which would become Enix's highest-grossing property.<ref name="HighScore"/><ref name="profile"/> Horii, Sugiyama and Toriyama remained mainstays with the series.<ref name="DQIXcomments"/> Chunsoft developed the next five ''Dragon Quest'' titles.<ref name="Chun30th"/> While the ''Dragon Quest'' series proved successful, Enix continued publishing PC titles to maintain financial stability.<ref name="powerup"/>{{Rp|77–81}} The company also began selling merchandise themed after ''Dragon Quest'' in 1988 with character statues and toys, expanding to board and card games the following year.<ref name="EnixMerch"/>


In October 1983, Enix co-founded Konishiroku Enix with [[Konica|Konishiroku Photo Company]], later purchasing all shares in January 1989. A second subsidiary, Enix Products, was established in March 1988 for the sale of publications and character merchandise. Both subsidiaries along with the original Enix were merged into their parent company Eidansha Boshu in April 1989, which renamed itself Enix Corporation.<ref name="SQEX2019"/><ref name="Timeline"/>
In October 1983, Enix co-founded Konishiroku Enix with [[Konica|Konishiroku Photo Company]], later purchasing all shares in January 1989. A second subsidiary, Enix Products, was established in March 1988 for the sale of publications and character merchandise. Both subsidiaries along with the original Enix were merged in April 1989 into their parent company Eidansha Boshu which renamed itself Enix Corporation.<ref name="SQEX2019"/><ref name="Timeline"/>


===1990-1999: Publishing and collaborations===
===1990–1999: Publishing and collaborations===
In 1990, Enix published their first third-party console title ''[[ActRaiser]]'' for the Super Famicom. The game was developed by [[Quintet (company)|Quintet]], a Japanese independent developer made up of former [[Nihon Falcom]] staff.<ref name="Untold"/> Enix acted as publisher for all of Quintet's subsequent Super Famicom games in Japan.<ref name="gamefan97"/> Enix had begun publishing guidebooks for the ''Dragon Quest'' series,<ref name="EnixMangaC"/> between 1988 and 1991 the company decided to make print publication their second major business section alongside video game publishing. This was to ensure their income did not entirely depend on ''Dragon Quest''.<ref name="EnixMangaA"/><ref name="EnixMangaB"/> This eventually led to Enix launching the ''[[Gangan Comics]]'' imprint family, beginning with ''Monthly Shonen Gangan'' March 1991.<ref name="EnixMangaC"/><ref name="EnixPubEng"/>  Following its first publication with ''Monthly Shonen Gangan'' in March 1991, several other manga imprints with magazine and ''[[tankōbon]]'' editions were created for different genres including ''Monthly G-Fantasy'' and ''Monthly Shonen Gag-OU''.<ref name="EnixPubEng"/> The company also expanded their merchandise range to include other notable series including ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' and ''[[Pokémon]]''.<ref name="EnixMerch"/> In February 1991, Enix registered with the Japan Securities Dealers Association to offer shares for public purchase.<ref name="SQEX2019"/>
In 1990, Enix published its first third-party console title ''[[ActRaiser]]'' for the [[Super Famicom]]. The game was developed by [[Quintet (company)|Quintet]], a Japanese independent developer made up of former [[Nihon Falcom]] staff.<ref name="Untold"/> Enix acted as publisher for all of Quintet's subsequent Super Famicom games in Japan.<ref name="gamefan97"/> Enix had begun publishing guidebooks for the ''Dragon Quest'' series,<ref name="EnixMangaC"/> between 1988 and 1991 the company decided to make print publication of its second major business section alongside video game publishing. This was to ensure income did not entirely depend on ''Dragon Quest''.<ref name="EnixMangaA"/><ref name="EnixMangaB"/> This eventually led to Enix launching the ''[[Gangan Comics]]'' imprint family, beginning with ''Monthly Shonen Gangan'' March 1991.<ref name="EnixMangaC"/><ref name="EnixPubEng"/>  Following its first publication with ''Monthly Shonen Gangan'' in March 1991, several other manga imprints with magazine and ''[[tankōbon]]'' editions were created for different genres including ''Monthly G-Fantasy'' and ''Monthly Shonen Gag-OU''.<ref name="EnixPubEng"/> The company also expanded merchandise range to include other notable series including ''[[Mario (franchise)|Mario]]'' and ''[[Pokémon]]''.<ref name="EnixMerch"/> In February 1991, Enix registered with the Japan Securities Dealers Association to offer shares for public purchase.<ref name="SQEX2019"/>


Following ''[[Dragon Quest V]]'' (1992), Chunsoft left as main series developer, wanting to create their own titles.<ref name="Chun30th"/> In the years following, Chunsoft continued collaborating with Enix on spin-off ''Dragon Quest'' titles including early entries in their ''[[Mystery Dungeon]]'' franchise.<ref name="Chun30th"/><ref name="Maestro"/> The next two entries were developed by [[Heartbeat (company)|Heartbeat]], a company founded by former Chunsoft staff dedicated to developing ''Dragon Quest'' titles.<ref name="HBpage"/><ref name="HeartEnd"/> Heartbeat would handle main series production until going on sabbatical in 2002.<ref name="HeartEnd"/><ref name="Remake"/> From 1994, Enix acted as publisher for Horii's ''[[Itadaki Street]]'' series, taking over the series from ASCII.<ref name="Street"/> They also frequently acted as publisher for titles from Tamtam,<ref name="Tamtam"/> and created the ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters]]'' spin-off series with developer [[Tose (company)|Tose]].<ref name="ToseFamitsu"/>
Following ''[[Dragon Quest V]]'' (1992), Chunsoft left as main series developer, wanting to create its own titles.<ref name="Chun30th"/> In the years following, Chunsoft continued collaborating with Enix on spin-off ''Dragon Quest'' titles including early entries in the ''[[Mystery Dungeon]]'' franchise.<ref name="Chun30th"/><ref name="Maestro"/> The next two entries were developed by [[Heartbeat (company)|Heartbeat]], a company founded by former Chunsoft staff dedicated to developing ''Dragon Quest'' titles.<ref name="HBpage"/><ref name="HeartEnd"/> Heartbeat would handle main series production until going on sabbatical in 2002.<ref name="HeartEnd"/><ref name="Remake"/> From 1994, Enix acted as publisher for Horii's ''[[Itadaki Street]]'' series, taking over the series from [[ASCII Corporation|ASCII]].<ref name="Street"/> It also frequently acted as publisher for titles from Tamtam,<ref name="Tamtam"/> and created the ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters]]'' spin-off series with developer [[Tose (company)|Tose]].<ref name="ToseFamitsu"/>


Enix were initially pitched unsuccessfully by [[Namco Tales Studio|Wolf Team]] with ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]'', which was ultimately published by [[Namco]] in 1995.<ref name="LevelInterview"/> Enix later acted as publisher for ''[[Star Ocean (video game)|Star Ocean]]'' (1996), developed by former ''Tales of Phantasia'' staff members who split from Wolf Team to form [[tri-Ace]].<ref name="SO5interview"/><ref name="SOinterviews"/> In partnership with Enix, tri-Ace developed three further ''Star Ocean'' titles,<ref name="TriSO2"/><ref name="BlueSphere"/><ref name="SO3interview"/> and the [[Norse mythology]]-inspired RPG ''[[Valkyrie Profile (video game)|Valkyrie Profile]]'' (1999).<ref name="TriVP"/> Enix also notably helped publish two Western console titles; ''[[Riven]]'' (1998) and ''[[Tomb Raider III]]'' (1999).<ref name="EnixRiven"/><ref name="EnixTR3"/> In August 1996, Enix moved from Shinjuku to offices in [[Shibuya]].<ref name="SQEX2019"/> In contrast to other companies at the time, which were leaving behind cartridge-based [[Nintendo 64]] for the disc-based [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], Enix announced in 1997 that they would publish titles for both platforms.<ref name="EnixNintendo"/> They later stated their intention to develop for the [[GameCube]].<ref name="EnixGC"/> In August 1999, Enix was listed on [[Tokyo Stock Exchange]]'s first section, which includes the largest companies on the exchange.<ref name="SQEX2019"/>
Enix were initially pitched unsuccessfully by [[Namco Tales Studio|Wolf Team]] with ''[[Tales of Phantasia]]'', which was ultimately published by [[Namco]] in 1995.<ref name="LevelInterview"/> Enix later acted as publisher for ''[[Star Ocean (video game)|Star Ocean]]'' (1996), developed by former ''Tales of Phantasia'' staff members who split from Wolf Team to form [[tri-Ace]].<ref name="SO5interview"/><ref name="SOinterviews"/> In partnership with Enix, tri-Ace developed three further ''Star Ocean'' titles,<ref name="TriSO2"/><ref name="BlueSphere"/><ref name="SO3interview"/> and the [[Norse mythology]]-inspired RPG ''[[Valkyrie Profile (video game)|Valkyrie Profile]]'' (1999).<ref name="TriVP"/> Enix also notably helped publish two Western console titles; ''[[Riven]]'' (1998) and ''[[Tomb Raider III]]'' (1999).<ref name="EnixRiven"/><ref name="EnixTR3"/> In August 1996, Enix moved from Shinjuku to offices in [[Shibuya]].<ref name="SQEX2019"/> In contrast to other companies at the time, which were leaving behind cartridge-based [[Nintendo 64]] for the disc-based [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]], Enix announced in 1997 it would publish titles for both platforms.<ref name="EnixNintendo"/> It later stated its intention to develop for the [[GameCube]].<ref name="EnixGC"/> In August 1999, Enix was listed on [[Tokyo Stock Exchange]]'s first section, which includes the largest companies on the exchange.<ref name="SQEX2019"/>


===2000-2003: Internal troubles, merger===
===2000–2003: Internal troubles, merger===
Beginning in the early 2000s, Enix's manga publishing division went through a period of turbulence as several editors expressed dissatisfaction with Enix's focus on ''Dragon Quest'' media and the ''[[Shōnen manga|shōnen]]'' demographic, a growing lack of creative freedom, and rising tensions between authors and editors.<ref name="MatsuzakiA"/><ref name="MatsuzakiB"/> Editor Yoshihiro Hosaka and a number of other ''Gangan'' associates founded [[Mag Garden]] in 2001, which became a market rival through the ''[[Monthly Comic Blade]]'' magazine.<ref name="GardenHistoryA"/> Mag Garden's foundation triggered a mass departure of creatives and legal battles with Enix over manga copyright ownership. The issues were resolved in 2003 when Enix agreed to partially invest in Mag Garden.<ref name="GardenHistoryA"/><ref name="GardenHistoryB"/> The manga division's troubles were lessened with the beginning of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', which proved highly popular.<ref name="MatsuzakiB"/> Enix also suffered from financial losses due to the delayed releases of ''[[Dragon Quest VII]]'' (2000) and ''[[Dragon Warrior Monsters 2|Dragon Quest Monsters 2]]'' (2001).<ref name="paper"/><ref name="Losses1"/><ref name="Losses2"/> Some notable titles begun or announced during the 2000s were [[PlayStation 2]] titles in the ''[[Grandia]]'' series,<ref name="Remake"/><ref name="G2enix"/> the [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG]] ''[[Fantasy Earth Zero|Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion]]'' from [[Vanillaware|Puraguru]],<ref name="4GvanillaInterview2"/> and the [[action role-playing game]] ''[[Drakengard (video game)|Drakengard]]'' from [[Cavia (company)|Cavia]].<ref name="DrakengardEnix"/>
Beginning in the early 2000s, Enix's manga publishing division went through a period of turbulence as several editors expressed dissatisfaction with Enix's focus on ''Dragon Quest'' media and the ''[[Shōnen manga|shōnen]]'' demographic, a growing lack of creative freedom, and rising tensions between authors and editors.<ref name="MatsuzakiA"/><ref name="MatsuzakiB"/> Editor Yoshihiro Hosaka and a number of other ''Gangan'' associates founded [[Mag Garden]] in 2001, which became a market rival through the ''[[Monthly Comic Blade]]'' magazine.<ref name="GardenHistoryA"/> Mag Garden's foundation triggered a mass departure of creatives and legal battles with Enix over manga copyright ownership. The issues were resolved in 2003 when Enix agreed to partially invest in Mag Garden.<ref name="GardenHistoryA"/><ref name="GardenHistoryB"/> The manga division's troubles were lessened with the beginning of ''[[Fullmetal Alchemist]]'', which proved highly popular.<ref name="MatsuzakiB"/> Enix also suffered from financial losses due to the delayed releases of ''[[Dragon Quest VII]]'' (2000) and ''[[Dragon Warrior Monsters 2|Dragon Quest Monsters 2]]'' (2001).<ref name="paper"/><ref name="Losses1"/><ref name="Losses2"/> Some notable titles begun or announced during the 2000s were [[PlayStation 2]] titles in the ''[[Grandia]]'' series,<ref name="Remake"/><ref name="G2enix"/> the [[massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG]] ''[[Fantasy Earth Zero|Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion]]'' from [[Vanillaware|Puraguru]],<ref name="4GvanillaInterview2"/> and the [[action role-playing game]] ''[[Drakengard (video game)|Drakengard]]'' from [[Cavia (company)|Cavia]].<ref name="DrakengardEnix"/>


In 2001, citing the rising cost of game development, Enix expressed interest in merging with either [[Square (video game company)|Square]] or [[Namco]].<ref name="EnixMerger"/> They ultimately began talks with Square, a market rival and developer of the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' franchise. Talks were temporarily halted when Square suffered financially due to the failure of the 2001 feature film ''[[Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within]]''.<ref name="hesitant"/> Following the commercial success of ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' (2001) and ''[[Kingdom Hearts (video game)|Kingdom Hearts]]'' (2002), talks went ahead on the merger with Enix as Square's finances stabilized; Square's then-CEO [[Yoichi Wada]] described it as a merger of two companies "at their height".<ref name="ua89H" /> Despite this, some shareholders had doubts about the merger, notably Square's founder [[Masafumi Miyamoto]], who would find himself holding significantly less shares and having a smaller controlling stake if the deal went ahead as initially planned.<ref name="RPGFmiyamoto"/> Miyamoto's issue was resolved by altering the exchange ratio to one Square share for 0.85 Enix shares, and the merger was greenlit.<ref name="3i4VG" /> The merger resulted in [[Square Enix]] being formed on April 1, 2003, with Enix as the surviving corporate entity and Square dissolving its departments and subsidiaries into the new company.<ref name="3i4VG" /><ref name="EnixSurvive"/> Enix's last two published titles were ''[[Star Ocean: Till the End of Time]]'' and ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart]]'', both in 2003.<ref name="EnixSO3"/><ref name="EnixLast"/> ''Fantasy Earth'' and ''Drakengard'' were published after the merger.<ref name="4GvanillaInterview2"/><ref name="DrakengardSQEX"/>
In 2001, citing the rising cost of game development, Enix expressed interest in merging with either [[Square (video game company)|Square]] or [[Namco]].<ref name="EnixMerger"/> Ultimately, talks  began with Square, a market rival and developer of the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' franchise. Talks were temporarily halted when Square suffered financially due to the failure of the 2001 feature film ''[[Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within]]''.<ref name="hesitant"/> Following the commercial success of ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'' (2001) and ''[[Kingdom Hearts (video game)|Kingdom Hearts]]'' (2002), talks went ahead on the merger with Enix as Square's finances stabilized; Square's then-CEO [[Yoichi Wada]] described it as a merger of two companies "at their height".<ref name="ua89H" /> Despite this, some shareholders had doubts about the merger, notably Square's founder [[Masafumi Miyamoto]], who would find himself holding significantly less shares and having a smaller controlling stake if the deal went ahead as initially planned.<ref name="RPGFmiyamoto"/> Miyamoto's issue was resolved by altering the exchange ratio to one Square share for 0.85 Enix shares, and the merger was greenlit.<ref name="3i4VG" /> The merger resulted in [[Square Enix]] being formed on April 1, 2003, with Enix as the surviving corporate entity and Square dissolving its departments and subsidiaries into the new company.<ref name="3i4VG" /><ref name="EnixSurvive"/> Enix's last two published titles were ''[[Star Ocean: Till the End of Time]]'' and ''[[Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart]]'', both in 2003.<ref name="EnixSO3"/><ref name="EnixLast"/> ''Fantasy Earth'' and ''Drakengard'' were published after the merger.<ref name="4GvanillaInterview2"/><ref name="DrakengardSQEX"/>


==Company structure and affiliates==
==Company structure and affiliates==
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Enix Webstar Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. was a company formed between Enix and Mauritius Webstar Inc. in 2001 to develop online and mobile phone games in China and, later, other parts of Asia. The subsidiary was carried over after the merger between Square and Enix, but was dissolved in 2005 after the establishment of Square Enix China.<ref name="HistoryDetail"/><ref name="China">{{Cite web|title=Square Enix enhanced a presence in the Chinese online and mobile game market with a 100% Square Enix subsidiary based in Beijing. |publisher=Square Enix staff |date=February 28, 2005 |url=http://www.square-enix.com/jp/company/e/news/2005/download/0302-200502281500-01.pdf |access-date=July 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506032627/http://www.square-enix.com/jp/company/e/news/2005/download/0302-200502281500-01.pdf |archive-date=May 6, 2006 }}</ref> Digital Entertainment Academy Co., Ltd. was established as a partially owned subsidiary in 1991.<ref name="Timeline"/> Originally called Toshima Ku Hokkaido University, the school was founded to teach [[game development]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Digital Entertainment Academy history | url=http://www.d-e-a.co.jp/school/history.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219111346/http://www.d-e-a.co.jp/school/history.html | archive-date=December 19, 2007 | publisher=Digital Entertainment Academy | language=ja | access-date=July 21, 2008}}</ref>
Enix Webstar Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. was a company formed between Enix and Mauritius Webstar Inc. in 2001 to develop online and mobile phone games in China and, later, other parts of Asia. The subsidiary was carried over after the merger between Square and Enix, but was dissolved in 2005 after the establishment of Square Enix China.<ref name="HistoryDetail"/><ref name="China">{{Cite web|title=Square Enix enhanced a presence in the Chinese online and mobile game market with a 100% Square Enix subsidiary based in Beijing. |publisher=Square Enix staff |date=February 28, 2005 |url=http://www.square-enix.com/jp/company/e/news/2005/download/0302-200502281500-01.pdf |access-date=July 27, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060506032627/http://www.square-enix.com/jp/company/e/news/2005/download/0302-200502281500-01.pdf |archive-date=May 6, 2006 }}</ref> Digital Entertainment Academy Co., Ltd. was established as a partially owned subsidiary in 1991.<ref name="Timeline"/> Originally called Toshima Ku Hokkaido University, the school was founded to teach [[game development]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Digital Entertainment Academy history | url=http://www.d-e-a.co.jp/school/history.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219111346/http://www.d-e-a.co.jp/school/history.html | archive-date=December 19, 2007 | publisher=Digital Entertainment Academy | language=ja | access-date=July 21, 2008}}</ref>


Enix America Corporation was the corporation's first [[United States|American]] localization subsidiary based in [[Redmond, Washington]].<ref name=GamaSutra>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/135112/selecting_save_on_the_games_we_.php?print=1|title=Gamasutra - Selecting Save on the Games We Make, Part 1|website=www.gamasutra.com|date=February 23, 2012|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923095515/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/135112/selecting_save_on_the_games_we_.php?print=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was organized after the release of ''Dragon Warrior'' by [[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]] in 1989. The subsidiary came into existence in 1990, but closed in November 1995 when the parent company decided to no longer release products in North America<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Enix on a Quest |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] | publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]]| series=Epic Center |issue=80 | page=58 |date = January 1996}}</ref> due to poor sales.<ref>{{cite news | title=Enix Corp. | date=November 1, 1999 | newspaper=Japan-U.S. Business Report}}</ref> One of the games they published, ''[[King Arthur & the Knights of Justice (video game)|King Arthur & the Knights of Justice]]'', was Enix's first and only North America exclusive game.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Averill | first=Alan |date = March 1995| title=King Arthur & the Knights of Justice |magazine=Nintendo Power | series=Epic Center | publisher=Nintendo of America | issue=70 | page=36}}. "Our first Epic Center developer focus zooms in on ''King Arthur & the Knights of Justice'' from Enix. Manley & Associates is breaking ground with this game as the first American developer of a major adventure for Enix."</ref> Enix America, Inc., Enix's last American localization subsidiary, was organized in 1999,<ref>{{cite web|last=Tidwell|first=Mike|date=August 3, 1999|title=News from Enix|url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-1999/080399a.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310202538/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-1999/080399a.html|archive-date=March 10, 2005|access-date=July 29, 2008|website=RPGamer}}</ref> and was based in [[Seattle]], [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enix.com/About.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991129011053/http://www.enix.com/About.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 1999|title=About Enix|date=November 29, 1999}}</ref> Paul Handelman, who was part of Enix America Corporation's staff, returned to lead Enix America, Inc. as president. The corporation was in existence until 2003, ceasing to exist after the merger with Square Co., Ltd.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stone|first=Cortney|year=2003|title=Enix America Shuts Down|url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2003/020203a.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106180303/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2003/020203a.html|archive-date=November 6, 2006|access-date=September 11, 2007|website=RPGamer}}</ref> Several of Enix's localized games were published by other companies including [[Nintendo]] and [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony Computer Entertainment]];<ref name="PSMocean"/> the last was ''[[Dragon Warrior Monsters (video game)|Dragon Warrior Monsters]]'', which was through a publishing deal with [[Eidos Interactive|Eidos]].
Enix America Corporation was the corporation's first [[United States|American]] localization subsidiary based in [[Redmond, Washington]].<ref name=GamaSutra>{{cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/135112/selecting_save_on_the_games_we_.php?print=1|title=Gamasutra - Selecting Save on the Games We Make, Part 1|website=www.gamasutra.com|date=February 23, 2012|access-date=September 23, 2017|archive-date=September 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923095515/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/135112/selecting_save_on_the_games_we_.php?print=1|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was organized after the release of ''Dragon Warrior'' by [[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]] in 1989. The subsidiary came into existence in 1990, but closed in November 1995 when the parent company decided to no longer release products in North America<ref>{{cite magazine | title=Enix on a Quest |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] | publisher=[[Nintendo|Nintendo of America]]| series=Epic Center |issue=80 | page=58 |date = January 1996}}</ref> due to poor sales.<ref>{{cite news | title=Enix Corp. | date=November 1, 1999 | newspaper=Japan-U.S. Business Report}}</ref> One of the games published, ''[[King Arthur & the Knights of Justice (video game)|King Arthur & the Knights of Justice]]'', was Enix's first and only North America exclusive game.<ref>{{cite magazine | last=Averill | first=Alan |date = March 1995| title=King Arthur & the Knights of Justice |magazine=Nintendo Power | series=Epic Center | publisher=Nintendo of America | issue=70 | page=36}}. "Our first Epic Center developer focus zooms in on ''King Arthur & the Knights of Justice'' from Enix. Manley & Associates is breaking ground with this game as the first American developer of a major adventure for Enix."</ref> Enix America, Inc., Enix's last American localization subsidiary, was organized in 1999,<ref>{{cite web|last=Tidwell|first=Mike|date=August 3, 1999|title=News from Enix|url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-1999/080399a.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050310202538/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q3-1999/080399a.html|archive-date=March 10, 2005|access-date=July 29, 2008|website=RPGamer}}</ref> and was based in [[Seattle]], [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enix.com/About.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991129011053/http://www.enix.com/About.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 29, 1999|title=About Enix|date=November 29, 1999}}</ref> Paul Handelman, who was part of Enix America Corporation's staff, returned to lead Enix America, Inc. as president. The corporation was in existence until 2003, ceasing to exist after the merger with Square Co., Ltd.<ref>{{cite web|last=Stone|first=Cortney|year=2003|title=Enix America Shuts Down|url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2003/020203a.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106180303/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2003/020203a.html|archive-date=November 6, 2006|access-date=September 11, 2007|website=RPGamer}}</ref> Several of Enix's localized games were published by other companies including [[Nintendo]] and [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony Computer Entertainment]];<ref name="PSMocean"/> the last was ''[[Dragon Warrior Monsters (video game)|Dragon Warrior Monsters]]'', which was through a publishing deal with [[Eidos Interactive|Eidos]].


==Legacy==
==Legacy==
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<ref name="DQlegacyB">{{cite web | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/the-gamasutra-quantum-leap-awards-role-playing-games | title=The Gamasutra Quantum Leap Awards: Role-Playing Games | access-date=2011-03-28 | publisher=[[Gamasutra]] | date=2006-10-06 | work=Honorable Mention: Dragon Warrior | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313052025/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1809/the_gamasutra_quantum_leap_awards_.php | archive-date=March 13, 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref>
<ref name="DQlegacyB">{{cite web | url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/the-gamasutra-quantum-leap-awards-role-playing-games | title=The Gamasutra Quantum Leap Awards: Role-Playing Games | access-date=2011-03-28 | publisher=[[Gamasutra]] | date=2006-10-06 | work=Honorable Mention: Dragon Warrior | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110313052025/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/1809/the_gamasutra_quantum_leap_awards_.php | archive-date=March 13, 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref>


<ref name="DQlegacyC">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/features/rpgs-inspired-by-dragon-quest|title=Clone Warriors: RPGs Inspired by Dragon Quest|work=The 25th Anniversary of Dragon Quest|publisher=[[1up.com|1up]]|access-date=2011-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027193242/http://www.1up.com/features/rpgs-inspired-by-dragon-quest|archive-date=October 27, 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
<ref name="DQlegacyC">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/features/rpgs-inspired-by-dragon-quest|title=Clone Warriors: RPGs Inspired by Dragon Quest|work=The 25th Anniversary of Dragon Quest|publisher=[[1up.com|1up]]|access-date=2011-09-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027193242/http://www.1up.com/features/rpgs-inspired-by-dragon-quest|archive-date=October 27, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>


}}
}}
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[[Category:Japanese companies disestablished in 2003]]
[[Category:Japanese companies disestablished in 2003]]
[[Category:2003 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:2003 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:1999 initial public offerings]]
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange]]

Latest revision as of 01:21, 18 December 2025

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "For". Template:Use mdy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Nihongo foot was a Japanese multimedia publisher which handled and oversaw video games, manga, guidebooks, and merchandise. It was founded in 1975 by Yasuhiro Fukushima as Eidansha Boshu Service Center, initially as a tabloid publisher and later attempting to branch into real estate management.

In 1982, a subsidiary of Eidansha Boshu named Enix began publishing video games for home computers. Notable early collaborators were designers Yuji Horii and Koichi Nakamura, and composer Koichi Sugiyama. All three worked on the 1986 role playing video game (RPG) Dragon Quest for the Family Computer. Dragon Quest was one of the earliest successful RPGs for consoles, spawning a franchise of the same name which remains Enix's best-known product. In 1989, the parent company was itself renamed Enix and absorbed the subsidiary.

Enix would gain notoriety as a publisher for several studios including tri-Ace, Tose, Chunsoft and Quintet. It also founded the Gangan Comics imprint family, and created international subsidiaries or partnerships related to technology development, publishing, and education.

In the early 2000s, due to rising game development costs, Enix entered discussions about merging with Square, a rival company known for the Final Fantasy franchise. The merger eventually went ahead in 2003 forming Square Enix, with Enix as the surviving corporate entity.

History

1975–1989: Origins, Dragon Quest

Enix was founded under the name Eidansha Boshu Service Center on September 22, 1975 by Yasuhiro Fukushima.[1] An architect-turned-business entrepreneur, Fukushima initially founded Eidansha as a publishing company focused on advertising tabloids for real estate.[2]Template:Rp

On February 5, 1980, Eidansha Boshu created a wholly owned subsidiary Eidansya Fudousan for the purpose of specializing in real estate trading and brokerage.[3] Eidansya Fudousan was renamed Eidansha Systems in 1981.[1] After Eidansha Boshu made an unsuccessful attempt to become a nationwide chain the following year, Fukushima decided to invest his capital into the emerging video game market.[2] During this period, Eidansha Systems was renamed Enix Corporation on August 30, 1982.[4]Template:Rp The name Enix was a play on both the mythological Phoenix, and the early computer ENIAC.[2]Template:Rp[5]

Seeking game proposals, Fukushima organized a competition dubbed the "Enix Game Hobby Program Contest" in both computer and manga magazines, offering a prize of ¥1 million (US$10,000) for a game prototype which could be published by Enix.[2]Template:Rp[6] Among the winners were Yuji Horii, then a writer for Weekly Shōnen Jump, with the sports game Love Match Tennis;[7] designer Koichi Nakamura with the puzzle game Door Door;[6] and self-trained programmer Kazuro Morita with the simulation video game Morita's Battlefield.[8] During the next few years, Enix would publish titles for both the PC market and the fledgling Japanese console market.[9][2]Template:Rp Using his royalties, Morita established the developer Random House and developed several PC and console titles including the Morita's Shogi series.[8][10] In collaboration with Nakamura's new company Chunsoft, Horii notably created the adventure game The Portopia Serial Murder Case (1983), then during discussions around a port of the game to the Famicom (Nintendo Entertainment System) Horii and Nakamura decided to develop a role-playing video game (RPG) for the platform.[2]Template:Rp

The RPG, titled Dragon Quest, began development in 1985.[2]Template:Rp[11] Horii and Nakamura acted as designers, composer Koichi Sugiyama created the score for the game, and Dragon Ball artist Akira Toriyama was brought on board for art design.[2]Template:Rp[12] While meeting with initially slow sales, Dragon Quest became a critical and commercial success, selling over one million copies in Japan.[2]Template:Rp[11] The success of Dragon Quest spawned a franchise of the same name, which would become Enix's highest-grossing property.[9][1] Horii, Sugiyama and Toriyama remained mainstays with the series.[13] Chunsoft developed the next five Dragon Quest titles.[6] While the Dragon Quest series proved successful, Enix continued publishing PC titles to maintain financial stability.[2]Template:Rp The company also began selling merchandise themed after Dragon Quest in 1988 with character statues and toys, expanding to board and card games the following year.[14]

In October 1983, Enix co-founded Konishiroku Enix with Konishiroku Photo Company, later purchasing all shares in January 1989. A second subsidiary, Enix Products, was established in March 1988 for the sale of publications and character merchandise. Both subsidiaries along with the original Enix were merged in April 1989 into their parent company Eidansha Boshu which renamed itself Enix Corporation.[3][15]

1990–1999: Publishing and collaborations

In 1990, Enix published its first third-party console title ActRaiser for the Super Famicom. The game was developed by Quintet, a Japanese independent developer made up of former Nihon Falcom staff.[16] Enix acted as publisher for all of Quintet's subsequent Super Famicom games in Japan.[17] Enix had begun publishing guidebooks for the Dragon Quest series,[18] between 1988 and 1991 the company decided to make print publication of its second major business section alongside video game publishing. This was to ensure income did not entirely depend on Dragon Quest.[19][20] This eventually led to Enix launching the Gangan Comics imprint family, beginning with Monthly Shonen Gangan March 1991.[18][21] Following its first publication with Monthly Shonen Gangan in March 1991, several other manga imprints with magazine and tankōbon editions were created for different genres including Monthly G-Fantasy and Monthly Shonen Gag-OU.[21] The company also expanded merchandise range to include other notable series including Mario and Pokémon.[14] In February 1991, Enix registered with the Japan Securities Dealers Association to offer shares for public purchase.[3]

Following Dragon Quest V (1992), Chunsoft left as main series developer, wanting to create its own titles.[6] In the years following, Chunsoft continued collaborating with Enix on spin-off Dragon Quest titles including early entries in the Mystery Dungeon franchise.[6][22] The next two entries were developed by Heartbeat, a company founded by former Chunsoft staff dedicated to developing Dragon Quest titles.[23][24] Heartbeat would handle main series production until going on sabbatical in 2002.[24][25] From 1994, Enix acted as publisher for Horii's Itadaki Street series, taking over the series from ASCII.[26] It also frequently acted as publisher for titles from Tamtam,[27] and created the Dragon Quest Monsters spin-off series with developer Tose.[28]

Enix were initially pitched unsuccessfully by Wolf Team with Tales of Phantasia, which was ultimately published by Namco in 1995.[29] Enix later acted as publisher for Star Ocean (1996), developed by former Tales of Phantasia staff members who split from Wolf Team to form tri-Ace.[30][31] In partnership with Enix, tri-Ace developed three further Star Ocean titles,[32][33][34] and the Norse mythology-inspired RPG Valkyrie Profile (1999).[35] Enix also notably helped publish two Western console titles; Riven (1998) and Tomb Raider III (1999).[36][37] In August 1996, Enix moved from Shinjuku to offices in Shibuya.[3] In contrast to other companies at the time, which were leaving behind cartridge-based Nintendo 64 for the disc-based PlayStation, Enix announced in 1997 it would publish titles for both platforms.[38] It later stated its intention to develop for the GameCube.[39] In August 1999, Enix was listed on Tokyo Stock Exchange's first section, which includes the largest companies on the exchange.[3]

2000–2003: Internal troubles, merger

Beginning in the early 2000s, Enix's manga publishing division went through a period of turbulence as several editors expressed dissatisfaction with Enix's focus on Dragon Quest media and the shōnen demographic, a growing lack of creative freedom, and rising tensions between authors and editors.[40][41] Editor Yoshihiro Hosaka and a number of other Gangan associates founded Mag Garden in 2001, which became a market rival through the Monthly Comic Blade magazine.[42] Mag Garden's foundation triggered a mass departure of creatives and legal battles with Enix over manga copyright ownership. The issues were resolved in 2003 when Enix agreed to partially invest in Mag Garden.[42][43] The manga division's troubles were lessened with the beginning of Fullmetal Alchemist, which proved highly popular.[41] Enix also suffered from financial losses due to the delayed releases of Dragon Quest VII (2000) and Dragon Quest Monsters 2 (2001).[4][44][45] Some notable titles begun or announced during the 2000s were PlayStation 2 titles in the Grandia series,[25][46] the MMORPG Fantasy Earth: The Ring of Dominion from Puraguru,[47] and the action role-playing game Drakengard from Cavia.[48]

In 2001, citing the rising cost of game development, Enix expressed interest in merging with either Square or Namco.[49] Ultimately, talks began with Square, a market rival and developer of the Final Fantasy franchise. Talks were temporarily halted when Square suffered financially due to the failure of the 2001 feature film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within.[50] Following the commercial success of Final Fantasy X (2001) and Kingdom Hearts (2002), talks went ahead on the merger with Enix as Square's finances stabilized; Square's then-CEO Yoichi Wada described it as a merger of two companies "at their height".[51] Despite this, some shareholders had doubts about the merger, notably Square's founder Masafumi Miyamoto, who would find himself holding significantly less shares and having a smaller controlling stake if the deal went ahead as initially planned.[52] Miyamoto's issue was resolved by altering the exchange ratio to one Square share for 0.85 Enix shares, and the merger was greenlit.[53] The merger resulted in Square Enix being formed on April 1, 2003, with Enix as the surviving corporate entity and Square dissolving its departments and subsidiaries into the new company.[53][54] Enix's last two published titles were Star Ocean: Till the End of Time and Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart, both in 2003.[55][56] Fantasy Earth and Drakengard were published after the merger.[47][57]

Company structure and affiliates

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". During reports on the merger with Square, Takashi Oya of Deutsche Securities described Enix as "[outsourcing] game development and [having] few in-house creators" compared to Square's focus on internal development.[58] At the time of the merger, Enix had two development divisions; one managing the Dragon Quest series led by Yuu Miyake, and a supervisory division made up of producers.[59] Speaking in 1997, Quintet staff described their company as a "subcontractor" for Enix, being involved in its projects even when not acting as a publisher.[17] Horii notably created Armor Project as a company to oversee Dragon Quest for Enix, with him comparing the relationship to that between an editor and an artist. Armor Project survived as an associate of Square Enix, growing into a larger entity over the years.[60]

Enix Webstar Network Technology (Beijing) Co., Ltd. was a company formed between Enix and Mauritius Webstar Inc. in 2001 to develop online and mobile phone games in China and, later, other parts of Asia. The subsidiary was carried over after the merger between Square and Enix, but was dissolved in 2005 after the establishment of Square Enix China.[61][62] Digital Entertainment Academy Co., Ltd. was established as a partially owned subsidiary in 1991.[15] Originally called Toshima Ku Hokkaido University, the school was founded to teach game development.[63]

Enix America Corporation was the corporation's first American localization subsidiary based in Redmond, Washington.[64] It was organized after the release of Dragon Warrior by Nintendo of America in 1989. The subsidiary came into existence in 1990, but closed in November 1995 when the parent company decided to no longer release products in North America[65] due to poor sales.[66] One of the games published, King Arthur & the Knights of Justice, was Enix's first and only North America exclusive game.[67] Enix America, Inc., Enix's last American localization subsidiary, was organized in 1999,[68] and was based in Seattle, Washington.[69] Paul Handelman, who was part of Enix America Corporation's staff, returned to lead Enix America, Inc. as president. The corporation was in existence until 2003, ceasing to exist after the merger with Square Co., Ltd.[70] Several of Enix's localized games were published by other companies including Nintendo and Sony Computer Entertainment;[71] the last was Dragon Warrior Monsters, which was through a publishing deal with Eidos.

Legacy

The Dragon Quest series became one of the most popular video game series in Japan, spinning off into a multimedia franchise, and entering mainstream popular culture in the country.[72][73] Several publications have cited the original game as a pioneer for the genre on home consoles, influencing the development of other popular series.[74][75][76] Enix's Gangan Comics imprint, in addition to publishing a number of successful series, was credited by critic Tsuyoshi Ito with helping manga appeal to a wider cross-demographic audience that blending the shōnen and shōjo manga styles.[77] Hosaka also credited Enix with introducing fantasy into the wider mainstream market, and as a pioneer of publishers directly investing in and having creative input into anime adaptations of their work.[78]

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Game Maestro, Vol. 2: Producer/Director Edition (2) by Hidekuni Shida, 2000, p.24
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1". Translation
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  58. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  59. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  60. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".. "Our first Epic Center developer focus zooms in on King Arthur & the Knights of Justice from Enix. Manley & Associates is breaking ground with this game as the first American developer of a major adventure for Enix."
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
Cite error: <ref> tag with name "financial data" defined in <references> is not used in prior text.

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Notes

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External links

Script error: No such module "Navbox". Template:Authority control

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