Nobuo Uematsu Leaves Square Enix

[Rydia]

That's right, Nobuo Uematsu, has left Square Enix to form his own company. I was totally shocked to find this out just a few minutes ago. Even though several other composers (namely Yasunori Mitsuda and Yoko Shimomura) have done this in the past. However in the article, Uematsu says that even though he is leaving, there is still a possibility that his relationship with S-E will continue. The article also touches on some of the other notable former S-E employees that have left the company in the past few years.

While this is very shocking to me, I felt that this was invetiable. After seeing his role in the Final Fantasy series start to decrease and lessen, I figured he was going to move on to new things. I'm sure this is a sad day for Square and most Final Fantasy fans, but hopefully this relationship can stay strong in at least some capacity.

For anyone that is interested and wants to check out the article, you can do so by going here: http://www.rpgfan.com/news/2004/1959.html

[Mikeido]

Well there you have it, he doesn't live in Square's back pocket anymore. Also moving to VGM & Anime Composer Forum, swish.

<font size=1>He's not Yuki Kajiura either...*grins*</font>

[Squallmuzza]

NYOOOOO..... but if he keeps writing his stuff for S-E... I'm relatively happy... Nobuo rocks.... His stuff is possibly to only non main stream music I like.... Hm.... I'm happy as long as he keeps producing... and ff keeps its quality up..

[Chinobi]

NYOOOOO..... but if he keeps writing his stuff for S-E... I'm relatively happy... Nobuo rocks.... His stuff is possibly to only non main stream music I like.... Hm.... I'm happy as long as he keeps producing... and ff keeps its quality up..

The FF series better watch its game quality first otherwise they won't be able to keep the music up.

[Lockedge]

Good. I'm tired of him taking a back seat.
He could do some amazing music for other games, ones which seem to be zounds better than Final Fantasy. No offense to the series, it has just been lacking with it's past few installments, and with the semi-recent news of milking...it isn't looking good.

S-E had better shape up and fix their series. They left the Mana series with a bad note(legend of mana) The Final Fantasy series with a bad note (FFX-2), I'm fairly iffy with the new DW game, and I haven't even seen a new Ogre Battle game for the systems(considering Atlus is always making the same moves S-E does, I decied to throw that in as well).
Front Mission was messed up from what I've read, .....everything seems to be in shambles. And really, who wants to be with a company with that big of a mess in their hands? I sure as heck wouldn't.

[starry nightz]

Lots of people like FF...however i do have to admit the newest installments X and X-2 even a 6 year old could do...well talking on that I did FF7 and 8 when i was like 8 :s Beside the fact i didn't know left from right then(laugh and die) and a couple of words its all the same really...

The music just isn't special anymore...it needs major REVAMPING yaya...

[Dagger88]

I am saddened, but also a little glad. At least Nobuo Uematsu won't have to work under extreme stress anymore! Of course, although Nobuo Uematsu is wonderful in his own right, there are still some composers at SE who are better than him in other aspects (ex. Masashi Hamauzu). Not to say that Nobuo Uematsu is bad, because he'll always be one of my favorites.

It really seems that Nobuo is kind of drying out in terms of creativity (his latest works aren't the greatest, with the exception of the FFXI Opening, which is AMAZING). Maybe he needs to step away for a bit to rejuvenate. And it seems like SE hasn't been giving him any solo jobs either (team effort on FFX, etc.), and eliminated him altogether in FFX-2, and now in FFXII, he doesn't get much composing room.

Maybe his decision to leave is a good thing. :(

[omnibreak]

As long as he is still composing, I see nothing wrong with it. He will continue to work and regardless of the game, his work will good. I'm sort of glad because other game series will have his work and not just Final Fantasy. FFX-2 lowered my opinion of Square greatly, I'm not interested in FFXI that much right now, and there's so many FFVII rehashes that it has become painful. I've only played a little of Crystal Chronicles and that game seems pretty flawed in many aspects. FFXII is the only one of those recent games that I would even want to see him compose for(yes, I'm aware he composed some songs for XI).

[Escushion]

The Final Fantasy series with a bad note (FFX-2)

They aren't finished with the Final Fantasy series yet. Nor will they be anytime soon.

[Dagger88]

They aren't finished with the Final Fantasy series yet. Nor will they be anytime soon.

That's a good point. Although sometimes I wonder: when will we get our Final Fantasy? Not that I want it to end. :p

[Lockedge]

They aren't finished with the Final Fantasy series yet. Nor will they be anytime soon.

I never said they were finished, I just said they left off with a bad note, in the form of the ultra-easy and short FFX-2. I disliked all 3 characters as both Yuna and Rikku were incredibly annoying in both the original FFX and FFX-2.

As long as Final Fantasy brings in truckloads of cash, the series will continue.

[terrramax]

His absence doesn't really leave me that sad. Mainly seeing that Hitoshi Sakimoto, composer of the 'Vagrant Story' and 'Final Fantasy Tactics Advance' OSTs, is composing the Final Fantasy 12 soundtrack.

Terramax

[Vicious Akuma]

As long as Final Fantasy brings in truckloads of cash, the series will continue.

I wish people would just stop buying Final Fantasies. :) No, but seriously, the FF series is kinda dead to me...I don't think I'm even going to bother with XII. It doesn't really interest or excite me anymore.

I just hope Nobuo goes to a good gaming company...Konami is good, Namco is good, Capcom is good. I wonder what his plans are...Well, in my opinion, good for Uematsu.