Square Enix launches new label for nontraditional gamers

by JC Fletcher { Aug 1st 2008 at 12:00PM }

Some of you may be saying "Good grief!" or "Aaaaaugh!" right now, but young children and women are the audiences holding the football in the Japanese DS market now, and Square Enix recognizes this. They've launched a new brand called "Pure Dreams" which focuses on casual games for the family audiences. The first two games both carry popular licenses.

Snoopy DS: Let's Go Meet Snoopy and His Friends! is a communication game in which you create a custom Peanuts character and interact with the gang, chatting with them and playing minigames. Pingu's Wonderful Carnival is a minigame collection based on the Swiss stop-motion series about a penguin.

Square Enix is pretty serious about casual gaming in Japan -- this line joins their large DS Style selection in Japan. But outside of Japan, it's still RPG after RPG.

[Via Famitsu; thanks, maduma!]

Tags: casual, pingu, pure-dreams, snoopy, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kogita @ Aug 1st 2008 12:26PM

Disgusting way to defile Schultz's memory. Make a game where you get to Marysue around the place and play minigames.

Kogita @ Aug 1st 2008 12:56PM

Disgusting way to defile Schultz's memory. Make a game where you get to Marysue around the place and play minigames.

Reeve @ Aug 1st 2008 3:15PM

Don't know if you're aware of this, but Snoopy is a VERY popular character in Japan who appears on lots of products (a la Hello Kitty). Square Enix already has a Peanuts Formation Arts figure set coming out in the fall; this sounds like an extension of their involvement in the franchise into video games.

It's also worth noting that this would hardly be the first game to feature Peanuts characters.

Kogita @ Aug 1st 2008 4:06PM

I know it's not the first Peanuts game, it's the 'create your own character' part that makes me feel disgusted for the most part. It reeks of bad fan fiction.

Jamar @ Aug 1st 2008 11:07PM

It's Square-Enix- how bad can the game be? (And at least you'll get some more gamers into the DS)

Kimiko @ Aug 1st 2008 1:31PM

Nothing wrong with RPGs. Stick with what you know best, Squeenix. With TWEWY they showed they are still able to make amazing new games. Now they're going into licensed minigames? That's not the Squeenix we know and love (or love to hate in some cases).

chibi_wings @ Aug 1st 2008 1:36PM

good grief!haha
I'm fine with them making mini games as long as they continue with the FF & DQ DS remakes and making new RPGs (hopefully one for the DS too)

Mr.ESC @ Aug 1st 2008 1:55PM

A Peanuts game? well Square you have my attention now.

Andy @ Aug 1st 2008 2:05PM

"But outside of Japan, it's still RPG after RPG."

Not true. What about Dissindia? That fighting game they're making for the PSP?

Zealot @ Aug 1st 2008 3:26PM

I'm not outraged in the least over S-E making a Peanuts game or any other casual licensed game, for that matter. Some of the proceeds from these games likely help fund their riskier, more inventive ventures such as TWEWY and Sigma Harmonics. Due to its subdued and gentle nature, there's not a lot that most companies--not just Square-Enix--could really do to the Peanuts license to make it catastrophically horrible.

Zealot @ Aug 1st 2008 4:42PM

Argh, that wasn't supposed to be a reply. I accidentally tapped the reply button while scrolling down the page and then refreshed the page to remove the "replying to ___" section in the commenting area. Apparently it didn't work.

yeeh @ Aug 1st 2008 2:48PM

Square Enix?... Snoopy?.... Huh?!.

Why not make educational rpg games. Its worth a try. Its wholesome, fun and you learn in the process... and casual.

Elmoogle @ Aug 1st 2008 3:58PM

I'm assuming this game involves and epic quest for Charlie Brown to kick the football before Lucy pulls it away. When you finally connect with it, Lucy suddenly reveals that she was under a spell the entire time and true enemy has been lurking in the shadows. A latin chorus swells as an angellic, dirt encrusted character emerges from the shadows.

"Hello Charles, it's been a long time."

One-winged Pigpen.