This issue our board members tackled a particularly interesting topic, two extremely important companies merging together: Square and Enix. What does this mean for GameCube owners? This is what Qbas, Solar, Metroid_Prime, GC_God, Young_Link, well_chuffed, Sephiroth, mattcube, Drago, Mantis_Genesis, SSJ2_Young_Gohan, Lord_Kristof, Krijy, misterd, Defender, and Hesus- Saves had to say.

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Qbas: Well I don't personally know what this means to us Cubists. Dragon Quest 8 is announced for PS2 so I think Enix- Square will focus more for PS2 than other consoles which is pretty sad for us. But hopefully Enix-Square would start making games for our beloved Cube too.

Solar: Ah, maybe there is something to it. The GameCube sales are strong in Japan, so won't there be a game or two for our console? Besides, they have to begin creating a Gameboy Advance game.

Qbas: Well it seems that Square-Enix are starting to develop for GameCube after all, the new Parasite Eve game for GameCube and PlayStation2.

Metroid_prime: In my opinion Enix/Square will produce a lot of games on the Playstation 2. Only when Nintendo GameCube sells a lot better, then Enix will do more GameCube projects.

By the way. Parasite Eve: Rebirth is on my "most wanted list".

GC God: I believe that this is very good news, however I don't believe that any exclusives for the GameCube will appear, it doesn't seem beneficial for them to pin themselves down. I expect that they will be doing games for the PS2 and the GameCube, it will certainly make for good games!

The companies may even be torn over who to create particular games for, as making one for GameCube would upset PS2 fans, and visa versa. I think it's kind of complicated!

Qbas: Well I think in the near future there will not be any GameCube exclusive games from Square-Enix but there will be GameCube/PlayStation 2 games.

Young_Link: I think with the 2 companies merging it will give them more financial stability and therefore more likely to take risks in developing titles for consoles other than PS2, and from the looks of the sales figures in Japan, the cube is next up!

Well_chuffed: I'm sure the Enix-Square merger will mean a lot more for the Japanese fans rather than us Europeans, or even the Americans!

One thing that interests me about this is the fact that Sony will now only own an 8% share of the new company, which means they will have less influence on which games get released where. Hopefully the best Sony will be able to achieve will be a 6 month exclusivity.

I think a lot more games will be developed for the GameCube, as well as the Playstation 2, though the impact will most likely only be more noticeable for GameCube users in Japan.

Sephiroth: I'm not too bothered about games coming out exclusively for GameCube, I'd just like to see ports of everything Final Fantasy making their way to this country in a Nintendo box.

Mattcube: Bit of a mixed bag I think. At first glance the stats show that this can only be good for the GameCube as Sony will own a smaller percentage of Square which means that they will have a smaller hold over what and for which format they will develop for (the ps2 of course would take preference). But remember this means that Sony will have control, albeit on small scale, of what Enix produce and which console.

However so far so good though - the separate team set up by Nintendo which is developing FFCC will not be affected and Square - Enix as it is now called, are making a Parasite Eve game for the GameCube.

However the games industry is fragile and I think that this deal could pose problems in the future for Nintendo. The Nintendo - square deal took a long time coming and any little problem could cause damage. Also I feel that the new input for Enix will direct development to the seemingly rock solid PS2 further.

Only time will tell.

Drago: I don't think Square/Enix will Have any effect on GameCube until Final Fantasy:CC is released, depending how many copies it sells and how much market share Nintendo has by then. But then again Sonic Adventure 2 sold very well in the United States and Sega is still treating GameCube like an afterthought. The merger could have a negative effect for GameCube if Square/Enix shares the same motivation as Sega.

Mantis_Genesis: At first glance this deal seems very good for Nintendo, for, as previously said, Sony now only have 8% of Square, therefore they are on a loosened leash to do other things. However Square-Enix will no doubt be sceptical and cautious about developing on the GameCube unless their situation improves, and they hold more of the market and/or the games industry becomes more solid.

Up till then, Square-Enix will probably still focus on the PS2 for the most part, with some exceptions (Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Parasite Eve Rebirth), I'm afraid...

SSJ2_Young_Gohan: Please name some "popular" games that was made by them . I don't know any...

Mantis_Genesis: Dragon Quest, Star Ocean and Bust a Move?

Lord_Kristof: Square and Enix were both losing money so they decided to go for more formats ie. the GameCube. However now they have merged their money worries will reduce. This could mean less games for GameCube. But if Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles does well then they may reconsider.

Krijy: I think that the Square Enix merger will have a positive effect on GameCube. The fact that Square Enix intend to release Parasite Eve: Rebirth on both Playstation 2 and GameCube shows that they're not afraid of releasing games for the GameCube. Square Enix will probably release most of their new games on both Playstation 2 and GameCube; they may even port some existing PS2 games to the GameCube. I say most because we have to remember that Sony still have an 8% share, which although it doesn't seem like much, is more than enough to keep the main Final Fantasy games exclusive. GameCube is getting Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles because GDS is funded by the Q-fund.

Misterd: While I admit I don't completely understand all of the Byzantine economic politics involved here, I can't see how this is anything but good for Nintendo. We know that the new company is going to make GCN games (and just one would be more than Nintendo has seen from either company for years), and it also reduced Sony's influence over the company that arguably has been most responsible for its success the past two generations.

SSJ2_Young_Gohan: Ah. Dragon Quest was nice. But I don't think any of those games really "caught" my heart and attention.

Defender: I think that if the new Zelda game sells well (which is almost guaranteed to) then square and Enix will make quite a few games and a couple of exclusives because a lot of people own a GameCube in Japan and their games will sell like hotcakes.

Drago: Enix has made other Great games other than the Dragon Quest series. Actraiser 1&2 , Soul Blazer, Soul Blazer 2 Illusion of Gaia, and Soul Blazer 3 Terranigma. There are a few others but these are the ones I have played on the Super NES.

Hesus Saves: Both companies need quick money so I see PS2 getting showered with exclusive games for a bit longer, and more GBA games fill their piggy banks. Square is only making FFCC on GameCube because Nintendo is paying them to, it's costing them nothing, and they get to make quick buck on the popular GBA wow! I think Nintendo is getting screwed again! Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me. Shame on you Nintendo!

Drago: Actraiser 1&2 were side scrollers where you played as an angel that fought demons. The second one IMO is the best of the two and most difficult.

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Thanks to the 16 members who participated. If you want to join in the fun also, all you have to do is visit our forums by following the link at the top of this page. Happy Holidays!