Code Age

Code Age is a multimedia franchise developed and published by Japanese company Square Enix. The franchise, created by artist Yusuke Naora, is divided between three projects; Code Age Archives, Code Age Brawls, and Code Age Commanders.[1] While the three Code Age projects are different genres and media, all share the same science fiction-themed universe, taking place over a prolonged span of time.[1][2] Each project was abbreviated using a lettering formula; "CAA" stood for Archives, "CAB" for Brawls, and "CAC" for Commanders.[2]

The series takes place inside an "intraglobular world" (球内世界, kyuunai sekai), a fictional hollow world similar to a Dyson sphere, with people living on its internal surface; at the sphere's center is the Central Code, a structure which resets the world every ten thousand years by wiping out the current civilization in an event called the Reborn. In an attempt to survive the next Reborn, its residents construct Arks around the Central Code. The plan fails as the Arks are struck out of orbit, and the population is attacked by Otellos, a species that mutates people into mindless Coded. Ark survivors can absorb Coded, transforming into powerful warriors dubbed Warheads. Survivors splinter into factions, some fighting each other and others hiding underground.[1][3][4] The narrative of each property is standalone, but also ties into the storylines of the other Code Age projects.[5] Recurring characters across the different media include Gene, a protagonist from Commanders; and R, who appears in Brawls and acts as a central antagonist in Archives.[5][6][7]

Naora created the concept for Code Age in 2002 as a contrast to his work on Final Fantasy and SaGa; a world which could play host to multiple stories. He created the concept prior to the 2003 merger of Square with Enix to become Square Enix.[2][5] Following the merger, Code Age was adopted into Square Enix's plan for "polymorphic content", a marketing and sales strategy to "[provide] well-known properties on several platforms, allowing exposure of the products to as wide an audience as possible"; this approach included Compilation of Final Fantasy VII and the World of Mana.[2][22] Naora's original concept was for the two video games Commanders and Brawls due to Square's focus on gaming, creating the manga Archives following the merger as Enix had a manga publishing division.[2] While an anime would have been a more traditional media expansion, Naora wanted to avoid assumptions that the games were an anime spin-off.[5] While he felt pressure from Square Enix's management due to the project's ambition, he felt greater pressure finding the right staff for each project.[2]

Each of the Code Age titles was developed or overseen by "Warhead", a development body created by Naora to manage the franchise.[5][23] The "Warhead" team was notable as it was led by artists rather than traditional game developers.[24] Naora acted as producer and supervisor for the Code Age projects, in addition to creating concept artwork.[2][25] The development team for Commanders featured many of the same staff as Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.[26] Toshiyuki Itahana created the lead character designs for Commanders and Brawls; he also directed Commanders, with the game being his debut as a director.[25][27] The music for the two game properties was composed by Kumi Tanioka.[28] The manga was illustrated by Aya Kyu, a then-new artist who would later create the manga adaptation of Persona 4 Arena.[23][29]

The narrative theme of Code Age how people react and behave when terrible events happen around them; he was inspired by a phenomenon he saw of people having detached attitudes to car accidents and natural disasters not experienced in person. The design of the lead characters focused on their hair first, and incorporated contemporary references into their clothing design.[2] The gameplay design of Commanders, particularly its customization system, was intended to appeal to a Western audience.[5] For Brawls, the development team wanted to expand upon the multiplayer communication system used for Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII.[25] Naora created the character designs for Archives, with CGI artwork from the other Code Age projects being incorporated into the manga.[5] The comic was created on a PC computer, turning CGI illustrations of the characters into the manga art, then adding in backgrounds and speech bubbles. Naora commented that particular attention was paid to the art as many of the series leads were artists themselves.[30]

Trademarks for the Code Age properties were registered in March 2004.[31] Commanders and Archives were announced first,[23] with the announcement of Brawls coinciding with Square Enix showing the franchise off with a trailer at a press conference prior to E3 2005.[15][32] Naora and the team were concerned about releasing Commanders outside Japan as it would coincide with the release window of the PlayStation 3.[33] He also said that further Code Age projects would depend on public reception of Commanders and Brawls.[2] Both Commanders and Brawls were scheduled for a 2006 release in North America,[34] but ultimately none of the Code Age franchise was released outside Japan.[35] Brawls was shut down on September 30, 2006.[36] Square Enix confirmed the following year that the Code Age titles would not be published by them overseas.[37] Localization staff member Christopher "Koji" Fox, who later notably worked on Final Fantasy XIV, had completed the translation of Commanders before Square Enix cancelled its localization.[38]

Code Age Commanders sold 37,000 units in its first week of release in Japan, a strong start for a new franchise; debuting at number two in the game sales charts.[39] It sold over 61,000 copies in Japan by the end of 2005.[40] Ultimately RPGFan attributed the localization's cancellation on both low sales and poor reception in Japan.[37]

Julian Aiden of Hardcore Gamer noted Square Enix's ambition in attempting to launch multiple linked projects in this way despite its ultimate failure.[35] Play Magazine's Nick DesBarres noted that the involved nature of the Code Age project and complexities of releasing all three properties at once impeded any chances of localization.[19] Similarly, Siliconera's Spencer Yip negatively felt that the series's multimedia status made importing Commanders less appealing due to the missing story context.[20]