Hiromichi Tanaka
Japanese video game producer
Hiromichi Tanaka
Tanaka in London, England, January 2007
Born (1962-01-07 ) January 7, 1962 (age 62) Occupation(s) Video game producer and director Years active 1983–present Known for Producing Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy XI
Hiromichi Tanaka (田中 弘道 , Tanaka Hiromichi , born January 7, 1962) is a Japanese video game developer, game producer , game director and game designer . He was Senior Vice President of Software Development at Square Enix (formerly Square ) and the head of the company's Product Development Division-3.[ 1]
Biography
In 1983, Tanaka dropped out of Yokohama National University along with Hironobu Sakaguchi to join Square, a newly formed software branch of the Denyuusha Electric Company. Along with Sakaguchi and Kazuhiko Aoki , Tanaka was part of Square's original Planning and Development department.
He is best known as the former lead developer of Final Fantasy XI , Square's first massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). He oversaw development of Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV until late 2010. He also worked in a prominent role for earlier single-player games including Secret of Mana , Seiken Densetsu 3 , Xenogears , Threads of Fate , Chrono Cross , and the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy III . Tanaka also worked on the original Famicom version of Final Fantasy III in 1990.
Final Fantasy XIV received negative reception from critics and players, and was considered a financial loss for Square Enix. Three months after its release in 2010, Tanaka was removed from the Final Fantasy XIV team and replaced by Naoki Yoshida .[ 2] At the Vana'diel Fan Festival 2012, an event celebrating Final Fantasy XI' s 10th anniversary, Tanaka announced his departure from Square Enix for health reasons.[ 3] In 2012, Tanaka joined GungHo Online Entertainment as a freelance advisor to the company.[ 4]
Game Credits
Year
Title
Platform
Credit(s)
Ref.
1984
The Death Trap
Home computer
[ 5]
1986
Alpha
Home computer
Suishō no Dragon
Family Computer Disk System
1987
Genesis
Home computer
[ 6]
Aliens: Alien 2
Home computer
Producer
Cleopatra no Mahō
Family Computer Disk System
Director
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School
Family Computer Disk System
Staff
Final Fantasy
Nintendo Entertainment System
Game design
[ 7]
1988
Final Fantasy II
Nintendo Entertainment System
Game design
[ 7]
1989
Square's Tom Sawyer
Nintendo Entertainment System
Cooperation
[ 6]
1990
Final Fantasy III
Nintendo Entertainment System
Game design
[ 7]
Final Fantasy Legend II
Game Boy
Main data
[ 7]
1993
Secret of Mana
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Producer, concept / System design, scenario message data
[ 7]
1995
Seiken Densetsu 3
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Director
[ 7]
1998
Xenogears
PlayStation
Producer, battle planner
[ 5]
1999
Threads of Fate
PlayStation
Producer
[ 8]
Chrono Cross
PlayStation
Producer, battle system design
[ 5]
2002
Final Fantasy XI
Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 2 , Xbox 360
Producer (until 2012)
[ 9]
2003
Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart
Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 2 , Xbox 360
Producer
[ 8]
Sword of Mana
Game Boy Advance
Executive producer
2004
Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia
Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 2 , Xbox 360
Producer
2006
Final Fantasy III
Nintendo DS
Director, executive producer
[ 10]
Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan
Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 2 , Xbox 360
Producer
2007
Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess
Microsoft Windows , PlayStation 2 , Xbox 360
Producer
2009
SaGa 2: Goddess of Destiny
Nintendo DS
Co-executive producer
2010
Final Fantasy XIV
Microsoft Windows
Producer (until December 2010)
[ 2]
2011
Final Fantasy III
iOS
Supervisor
2015
MOJI-POP'N
iOS, Android
Producer
2016
Seventh Rebirth
iOS, Android
Producer
[ 11]
2023
JET DRAGON
iOS
Special Thanks
References
^ Winkler, Chris (September 20, 2003). "Square Enix Talks Current Status" . RPGFan. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2013 .
^ a b " 'FINAL FANTASY XIV' GETS STAFF CHANGES AND PS3 DELAY" . MTV. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017 .
^ "FFXI Producer Hiromichi Tanaka Discusses Square Enix Departure" . Andriasang.com. June 24, 2012. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012 .
^ "Former 'Final Fantasy XIV' boss Hiromichi Tanaka joins GungHo" . Polygon.com. September 19, 2012. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012 .
^ a b c Mallory, Jordan (June 24, 2012). "Hiromichi Tanaka leaves Square Enix" . Engadget. Retrieved May 15, 2020 .
^ a b "FINAL FANTASY III 30th Anniversary Special Interview Vol.1" . Square Enix. April 27, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020 .
^ a b c d e f IGN Staff (April 4, 1997). "Interview With Square's Hiromichi Tanaka" . IGN. Retrieved May 13, 2020 .
^ a b Reynolds, Shawn (November 19, 2016). "Why the Industry Needs a Threads of Fate Sequel" . Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved May 18, 2020 .
^ Fahey, Rob (September 17, 2004). "Focus On: Square Enix' Hiromichi Tanaka" . gameindustry.biz. Retrieved May 13, 2020 .
^ Jordan, Jon (February 2, 2007). "Talking Final Fantasy III with Hiromichi Tanaka" . Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 18, 2020 .
^ Sato (October 18, 2016). "Seventh Rebirth Is A Mobile RPG By Final Fantasy XI Producer And Other Big Names" . Siliconera. Retrieved May 16, 2020 .
External links
Video game development Other industries Lists of video games Key people Former Frequent contractors
Former assets
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