Handhelds will drive the industry forward, says Square Enix chief

It goes without saying we're portable gaming fanatics here at Pocket Gamer. We wouldn't deny the under-the-TV consoles all their blockbusters, but still, we do get a little excited when one of the biggest developers in the industry shows some serious handheld love.

And the boss of Square Enix, Yoichi Wada, has done just that. Speaking to the Financial Times, he has reiterated his vote of confidence for portable gaming and the importance he believes the more diminutive consoles will have in driving the industry forward, saying:

"There is a new breed of gamers in the market – we have to make games for all kinds of people. In the old days, we could just focus on the PlayStation or the GameBoy, but the environment has changed completely."

Speaking specifically about Dragon Quest IX, he commented:

"We chose the Nintendo DS because the widest array of people use it, including people who previously did not play games before."

Square's sharp U-turn on its chosen format for Dragon Quest IX (hopping from the PlayStation 2 to an exclusive DS release) is indication enough that the company is not shy of handing a high profile sequel for one of its best-loved franchises over to a handheld console.

And why should it? With 35 million users already swiping their stylus across the DS's touchscreen and new converts literally lining up (in Japan anyway) to join the party, Wada's comments may be refreshingly open, but they are hardly surprising.

When quizzed on the merits of next generation consoles, Wada was less complimentary:

"There are too many specs – and you also need a high-definition TV, a broadband connection and a deep knowledge of gaming – these consoles are mismatched to today's environment."

So there you have it. If Square says that handheld gaming is where it's at right now, then that is good enough for us. Whether other such mega developers see it that way is another matter.

If you could take over your favourite developer for a day, which blockbuster sequel would you place with a handheld in favour of a living room console? Remember, our new forum with its friendly bunch of regulars is exactly the right place to have your handheld and mobile views heard!