Takashi Tokita

Takashi Tokita (時田 貴司 Tokita Takashi) (born 24 January 1965) is a Japanese video game developer working for Square Enix. He has worked there since 1985, and has worked as the lead designer for Final Fantasy IV as well as the director of Parasite Eve and Chrono Trigger. He is the Head of Square Enix's Business Division 9.

Career

Beginning at Square

Tokita joined Square in 1985 as a part-time employee, not becoming full-time until the development of Final Fantasy IV.[1] For the first three Final Fantasy games, he worked on graphic design, testing, and sound effects, respectively, before becoming lead designer of Final Fantasy IV in 1991.[2]

Tokita wanted to make a career as a theater actor, but working on Final Fantasy IV made him decide to become a "great creator" of video games.[3] He was one of only 14 people working on the game.[4] Tokita feels that Final Fantasy IV is the first game in the series to really pick up on drama,[4] and the first Japanese RPG to feature "such deep characters and plot".[5] He also felt that Final Fantasy IV was so good because it was the culmination of the best parts of the first three games.[1]

Following that title, he was also involved in the production of Final Fantasy VII.[2]

Chrono Trigger

Chrono Trigger is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square (now Square Enix) for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Director credits were attributed to Akihiko Matsui, Yoshinori Kitase and Takashi Tokita. Tetsuya Takahashi had the role of graphic director.[6] Additionally, Takashi Tokita, along with Yoshinori Kitase wrote the various subplots to the game.[7]

Director Takashi Tokita mentioned "Chrono Trigger 2" in a 2003 interview which has not been translated to English.[8]

Parasite Eve

He is well known for having directed Parasite Eve and written the game's story. He considers the later games in the series as having been "handed off" to others.[9]

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light

After the successful remakes of Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV, there was a desire by the team to make a new game in the same style.[10]

Other games

He was the lead developer on Final Fantasy IV: The After Years.[1]

Industry perspective

When Tokita began making games, he felt that game design was about "what can you create?[1] What kind of software can you provide for a specific platform?" Now, however, he feels that game development is about "infrastructure and content".[1] His greatest inspiration was Dragon Quest 2, since it emotionally engaged him like no game he had played before.[11]

Between 2003 and 2007, Tokita was the head of Square's Product Development Division 7.[12]

Gameography

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Nutt, Christian (2011-04-19). "Years After: The Final Fantasy IV Interview". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
  2. 1 2 jeriaska (2011-03-29). "Sound Current: 'Serializing RPG Storylines on Final Fantasy Legends'". Game Set Watch. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
  3. ↑ Hayashi, Koichiro (2004-10-17). "Square Enix Discusses DS". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  4. 1 2 Xcomp (2007-05-31). "Final Fantasy IV DS Interview". GameBrink. Archived from the original on 2008-04-15. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  5. ↑ "Final Fantasy IV Fan-Powered Q&A Part 3". Square Enix. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  6. ↑ Square Co (1995-08-22). Chrono Trigger. Super Nintendo Entertainment System. Square Soft. Level/area: Credits.
  7. ↑ "Procyon Studio: Interview with Masato Kato". Cocoebiz.com. November 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-08-10. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
  8. ↑ 【ゲームな人々】第11回 長きに渡って活躍する凄腕プロデューサー　時田貴司氏(後編) (in Japanese). game.goo.ne.jp. 2003-07-16. Archived from the original on 2006-03-07. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
  9. ↑ Spencer (2011-04-01). "Takashi Tokita Interview On Creating New IP & Focusing Less On Focus Groups". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  10. ↑ Torres, Tim (2010-09-14). "Interview: Takashi Tokita on 4 Heroes of Light". 2d-x.com. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
  11. ↑ Cameron Teague (2011-03-08). "PSLS Presents – Takashi Tokita, Lead Designer for Final Fantasy IV: Complete Collection". PlayStation Lifestyle. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  12. ↑ Winkler, Chris (2003-09-20). "Square Enix Talks Current Status". RPGFan. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
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