Hiromichi Tanaka

Hiromichi Tanaka (田中 弘道, Tanaka Hiromichi, born January 7, 1962) is a Japanese video game developer, game producer, game director and game designer. He was Senior Vice President of Software Development at Square Enix (formerly Square) and the head of the company's Product Development Division-3.[1]

Hiromichi Tanaka
Tanaka in London, England, January 2007
Born (1962-01-07) January 7, 1962
NationalityJapanese
Occupation(s)Video game producer and director
Known forProducing Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy XI

Biography

In 1983, Tanaka dropped out of Yokohama National University along with Hironobu Sakaguchi to join Square, a newly formed software branch of the Denyuusha Electric Company. Along with Sakaguchi and Kazuhiko Aoki, Tanaka was part of Square's original Planning and Development department.

He is best known as the former lead developer of Final Fantasy XI, Square's first massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). He oversaw development of Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV until late 2010. He also worked in a prominent role for earlier single-player games including Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3, Xenogears, Threads of Fate, Chrono Cross, and the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy III. Tanaka also worked on the original Famicom version of Final Fantasy III in 1990.

Final Fantasy XIV received negative reception from critics and players, and was considered a financial loss for Square Enix. Three months after its release in 2010, Tanaka was removed from the Final Fantasy XIV team and replaced by Naoki Yoshida.[2] At the Vana'diel Fan Festival 2012, an event celebrating Final Fantasy XI's 10th anniversary, Tanaka announced his departure from Square Enix due to health reasons.[3] In 2012, Tanaka joined GungHo Online Entertainment as a freelance advisor to the company.[4]

Game Credits
Year Title Platform Credit(s) Ref.
1984The Death TrapHome computer[5]
1986AlphaHome computer
Suishō no DragonFamily Computer Disk System
1987GenesisHome computer[6]
Aliens: Alien 2Home computerProducer
Cleopatra no MahōFamily Computer Disk SystemDirector
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High SchoolFamily Computer Disk SystemStaff
Final FantasyNintendo Entertainment SystemGame design[7]
1988Final Fantasy IINintendo Entertainment SystemGame design[7]
1989Square's Tom SawyerNintendo Entertainment SystemCooperation[6]
1990Final Fantasy IIINintendo Entertainment SystemGame design[7]
Final Fantasy Legend IIGame BoyMain data[7]
1993Secret of ManaSuper Nintendo Entertainment SystemProducer, concept / System design, scenario message data[7]
1995Seiken Densetsu 3Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemDirector[7]
1998XenogearsPlayStationProducer, battle planner[5]
1999Threads of FatePlayStationProducer[8]
Chrono CrossPlayStationProducer, battle system design[5]
2002Final Fantasy XIMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360Producer (until 2012)[9]
2003Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the ZilartMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360Producer[8]
Sword of ManaGame Boy AdvanceExecutive producer
2004Final Fantasy XI: Chains of PromathiaMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360Producer
2006Final Fantasy IIINintendo DSDirector, executive producer[10]
Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht UrhganMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360Producer
2007Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the GoddessMicrosoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360Producer
2009SaGa 2: Goddess of DestinyNintendo DSCo-executive producer
2010Final Fantasy XIVMicrosoft WindowsProducer (until December 2010)[2]
2011Final Fantasy IIIiOSSupervisor
2015MOJI-POP'NiOS, AndroidProducer
2016Seventh RebirthiOS, AndroidProducer[11]

References
  1. Winkler, Chris (September 20, 2003). "Square Enix Talks Current Status". RPGFan. Archived from the original on March 22, 2012. Retrieved December 7, 2013.
  2. "'FINAL FANTASY XIV' GETS STAFF CHANGES AND PS3 DELAY". MTV. Archived from the original on October 23, 2017. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  3. "FFXI Producer Hiromichi Tanaka Discusses Square Enix Departure". Andriasang.com. June 24, 2012. Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  4. "Former 'Final Fantasy XIV' boss Hiromichi Tanaka joins GungHo". Polygon.com. September 19, 2012. Archived from the original on May 1, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  5. Mallory, Jordan (June 24, 2012). "Hiromichi Tanaka leaves Square Enix". Engadget. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  6. "FINAL FANTASY III 30th Anniversary Special Interview Vol.1". Square Enix. April 27, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  7. IGN Staff (April 4, 1997). "Interview With Square's Hiromichi Tanaka". IGN. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  8. Reynolds, Shawn (November 19, 2016). "Why the Industry Needs a Threads of Fate Sequel". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  9. Fahey, Rob (September 17, 2004). "Focus On: Square Enix' Hiromichi Tanaka". gameindustry.biz. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  10. Jordan, Jon (February 2, 2007). "Talking Final Fantasy III with Hiromichi Tanaka". Pocket Gamer. Retrieved May 18, 2020.
  11. Sato (October 18, 2016). "Seventh Rebirth Is A Mobile RPG By Final Fantasy XI Producer And Other Big Names". Siliconera. Retrieved May 16, 2020.
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