Split-Screen :: The Game-Geek’s Daily Read

by Ravi Sinha

Square-Enix is one of the most successful RPG developers in the entire world, but then, so is BioWare Studios. Square represents the pinnacle of defining fantasy JRPG design, even before it merged with Enix. BioWare has always stood for the up-most in quality English RPGs, culled from Dungeons & Dragons, Sci-Fi and ancient history sources. Square was once a part of EA; BioWare is currently a company under EA. With so many similarities, it’s no coincidence that both have tasted immense financial and critical success in the gaming industry. So, which of these two titans is the RPG king?

Since the taste and market expectations vary with JRPGs and Western RPGs, we’ve avoided flat-out saying which RPG could beat up the other. Instead, this comparison has been made on the basis of three parameters: Critical reception, user reception and sales. We’ve scoured all relevant publications and sites on the net to deliver the aggregate professional reviewer’s opinions as well as assessing what the gamers felt. Consolidated financial income, namely net income, and share prices form the financial aspect of this comparison. Facts and figures are the deciding factor in this debate.

#1 Highest Critical Reception:

We decided to do a comparison of the highest rated titles from both companies in the past 8 years, since this was around the time Square and Enix merged and BioWare had released the demi-god of all D&D games at the time, Baldur’s Gate 2: Shadows of Amn. Since then, the latter has released five more titles (namely, Jade Empire, Neverwinter Nights, Knights of the Old Republic, Mass Effect and Sonic Chronicles) all with combined critical ratings of 74-95 (according to Metacritic).

Squaresoft released the understated yet amazingly crafted Vagrant Story around this time. Along with Square-Enix’s five highest rated games (namely, Kingdom Hearts 2, The World Ends with You, Final Fantasy X and XII and Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions), these six had combined critical ratings of 88-92. On averaging the overall scores for each company’s games, we get the overall critical rating:

BioWare Studios: 89/100
Squaresoft/Square-Enix: 90/100

One point difference but the first round goes to RPG lords of the east.

#2 Highest User Ratings:

BioWare’s titles notched up an impressive average of 8.7, with user ratings for it’s six highest rated titles ranging from 7.9 to 9.3;

Square averages an 8.6 with user ratings ranging from 7.9 to 9.1.

Here, the difference is even more pronounced, with a 0.1 difference in user satisfaction. Nonetheless, a win is a win, be it by an inch or a mile (God bless Vin Diesel). And this win goes to the Canadian madmen.

#3 Revenue and Share Value:

Since it broke away from EA, Square has accumulated an amazing amount of capital. Besides Enix, the company has associations with Tri-Ace and Taito Corporation (the guys who made Space Invaders), besides a controlling interest in the Community Network Software Engine of Beijing, China. The company has also started several other divisions dedicated to non-game related media like Gangan Comics for manga (and anyone who knows Full Metal Alchemist and Soul Eater can tell you what a big deal this is) and Square Pictures Ltd. (Advent Children, Spirits Within). However, the 2008 fiscal year hasn’t been so great. SE earned 147,516,000,000 Yen (about $1.644 billion USD), a 9.8% drop from the previous fiscal year. Their share prices stand at 47.21 Yen per share ($0.50 USD per share).

Before its association with EA, BioWare earned about $17.482 million CAD in revenue. Now, however, the publishing juggernaut and the RPG goliath are one and EA has recently posted a GAAP net revenue of $3.67 billion USD. This is keeping in mind the losses the publisher incurred last year. Currently, EA shares are priced at $16.37 USD per share.

The winner? BioWare (and EA).

Conclusion:

Different audiences have different tastes. That one developer is more successful than the other should not influence whether or not you’ll enjoy Dragon Age or Final Fantasy XIII. The goal of this comparison was simply to see which company stands at the top. We’d go as far to say that both stand shoulder-to-shoulder on that hard to reach zenith of gaming, one that eludes fabled companies like Bethesda (Fallout 3) and Atlus (Persona 4). But if one could lay claim to that one extra percent of superiority, it’s clearly BioWare Studios with its more favourable user ratings and financial standing.