VGMdb
Go Back   VGMdb Forums > Discussion > Video Game Music Discussion
Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
  #1  
Old Jan 20, 2010, 03:54 AM
Genjuro Genjuro is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Southampton, England
Posts: 6
Default Masashi Hamauzu leaves Square Enix

I just saw this link and thought it might be of interest here:

http://kotaku.com/5452476/report-fin...es-square-enix

I guess he may be going freelance, which could be a good thing, what do people think?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old Jan 20, 2010, 04:48 AM
lgb lgb is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 54
Default

hopefully it's like some of the other freelancers where they still hang out at Square a lot anyway
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old Jan 20, 2010, 03:23 PM
Kaleb.G's Avatar
Kaleb.G Kaleb.G is offline
VGMdb Advisor
VGM Artist
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 1,038
Default

I don't give a damn about whether he ever goes back to Square or not. Half the games he worked on while he was there were nothing special anyway. I'd rather see him go freelance and compose for some good stuff. Same for Junya Nakano, who got even more of the shaft while he worked for Square in the last several years. I wish 'em the best with whatever comes next.
__________________
hi~
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old Jan 20, 2010, 03:33 PM
Jormungand's Avatar
Jormungand Jormungand is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 1,062
Default

copypasting from another forum...

I knew it would happen some time, but not this soon. But this is perfect timing. And let's face it--the man can do whatever he wants. By now, everyone in the industry knows how much ass Hamauzu kicks.

Also, I'm sure he left the company on good terms. And he'll get picked up for future Square projects, if for no other reason than that they'd be stupid not to. The fact is, they know how much of an asset he was--not just as a composer, but as a highly disciplined musician who could arrange and orchestrate circles around his peers.

But, indeed, SE is now without any notable composers to their name. On the bright side, those who remain will have a greater opportunity shine and perhaps reach the pedigree their predecessors now carry with them as freelancers. Hopefully they're up for the challenge. But as it stands now, I can pretty much guarantee FFXV will be scored by someone outside the company.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old Jan 21, 2010, 01:22 AM
Blitz Lunar's Avatar
Blitz Lunar Blitz Lunar is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 778
Default

it's good that he's leaving on a high note. i have heard little FFXIII music at this time, but I'm sure it'll be up to his usual high standards. now he's leaving square i think it'd be nice to hear him work in a non-RPG capacity. his ear for rich harmonies really could lend itself to all sorts of exciting music for a variety of games. guess we'll see.

who does that make the seniormost composer at squareenix now? I thought it was still Junya Nakano but I just found out that he left last year as well :I
__________________
iridescentaudio.co.uk
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old Jan 21, 2010, 02:30 AM
Zanasea's Avatar
Zanasea Zanasea is offline
VGMdb Advisor
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: France
Posts: 697
Default

With so many high profile composers leaving their companies in the past few months (Hamauzu, Nakano, Yamane, Yamaoka...) and years (and most notably Nobuo Uematsu) and the foundation of Ge-On-Dan, the VGM field in Japan is probably moving from employees to freelance composers! It is for the best, I guess.

What saddens me is that many people--even game "journalists"--tend to think they are leaving because they are angry at their companies, not because they want to work as freelance composers.

Last edited by Zanasea; Jan 21, 2010 at 05:34 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old Jan 21, 2010, 03:46 AM
Mika's Avatar
Mika Mika is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: FI
Posts: 124
Default

More power to him.
__________________
Collection
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old Jan 21, 2010, 04:52 AM
lgb lgb is offline
Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 54
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanasea View Post
What saddens me is that many people--even game "journalists"--tend to think they are leaving because they are angry at their companies, not because they want to work as freelance composers.
this is why you ignore "many people", and "game 'journalists'" especially
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old Jan 21, 2010, 06:10 PM
Jormungand's Avatar
Jormungand Jormungand is offline
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Wisconsin, USA
Posts: 1,062
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Blitz Lunar View Post
who does that make the seniormost composer at squareenix now? I thought it was still Junya Nakano but I just found out that he left last year as well :I
Tsuyoshi Sekito.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old Jan 23, 2010, 01:05 PM
jdkluv jdkluv is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 186
Default

With the advent of Crystal Bearers, I kinda hope Yamazaki will take a step up. He's certainly been there for many a year. And it turns out he's an awesome composer!
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old Jan 23, 2010, 02:04 PM
Ramza Ramza is offline
VGMdb Advisor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,463
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by lgb View Post
this is why you ignore "many people", and "game 'journalists'" especially
The game journalist in me just shed a tear.

It could very well be "both." Many people that have left S-E over the year have done so with a very clear sense of frustration. Just have a chat with Sakaguchi or Matsuno.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old Jan 24, 2010, 03:14 AM
Zanasea's Avatar
Zanasea Zanasea is offline
VGMdb Advisor
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: France
Posts: 697
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ramza View Post
Just have a chat with Sakaguchi or Matsuno.
"Many" indeed.

There could be plenty of reasons, I remember Uematsu saying he was tired of going to Shinjuku every day after Square Enix moved their office there.
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old Jan 24, 2010, 08:25 AM
Ramza Ramza is offline
VGMdb Advisor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 1,463
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zanasea View Post
"Many" indeed.
Look, I just quoted two rock stars of RPG-dom. Have you considered the number of "grunt" staff that followed them out the door?

I didn't mention Tetsuya Takahashi and the rest of the Xenogears crew either.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old Jan 24, 2010, 08:29 AM
Zanasea's Avatar
Zanasea Zanasea is offline
VGMdb Advisor
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: France
Posts: 697
Default

As far as composers are concerned, I think only Hiroki Kikuta left Square because he was dissatisfied with their "new" direction (I mean, "new" ten years ago).
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old Jan 31, 2010, 09:32 AM
Cedille Cedille is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Tokyo
Posts: 2,026
Default

While many people take this rather a positive news, I've thought it would also lead him to more obscure works (like this!) as well as occasional game projects, which I think is a dilemma for his über fans or collectors. As he was involved in at least one Ainu show or concert before even when he still belonged to Square Enix (he also seems to have distributed self-pressed CDs through his very private website, if he was ever Hamauzu), I guess his post-Square Enix career will be, well, more varied yet so personal.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Masashi Hamauzu (#145) Xenofan 29A Artist Discussions 1 Jun 7, 2023 03:42 PM
Alpha Clock - Masashi Hamauzu Dag Miscellaneous Discussion 8 Jul 6, 2021 05:57 AM
The Legend of Legacy Masashi Hamauzu Original Soundtrack CD LiquidAcid Album Discussions 0 Sep 26, 2014 04:43 PM
Masashi Hamauzu is arranging 60 tracks for the FFX/X-2 HD remaster Jormungand Video Game Music Discussion 34 Sep 21, 2013 02:53 PM
Examples of Masashi Hamauzu saltlick Video Game Music Discussion 6 Mar 9, 2013 07:24 PM