This episode of The Downpour Podcast features something a little different. It’s a little longer, a little more focused, and a lot more…off the record, so to speak. Episode 6 begins the first of (hopefully many) roundtable discussions; where Jonathan and a group of Oprainfall Staff sit down to discuss a particular company, game, brand, or idea for the greater part of an episode.

A Xenoblade Roundtable is practically inevitable at this point, and we want community involvement when the time comes, so we’ll be sure to keep you posted when a recording date is solidified.

For now though, enjoy a discussion on a publisher/developer that’s sure to cause plenty of polarization among staff members and our audience alike: Square-Enix. For almost a full hour, the staff discusses everything about the company they’ve been dying to get off their chest since a few of our more popular news articles.

Prior to that, though—there’s still plenty of show to enjoy! To make listening easier, Jonathan has broken down this episode into segments below so you can tune into the various pieces that interest you, and tune out of the discussion where you know you’ll feel alienated (fans of Tetsuya Nomura and Final Fantasy XIII in particular should probably avoid the bits where they’re mentioned…).

All in all, we hope you enjoy this episode of The Downpour Podcast (and keep an open mind!), as it’s sure to be our most…interesting yet.

This episode was recorded on January 2nd, 2013.

[powerpress]

00:01 – 14:33 Introductions

14:34 – 19:30 Random talk of New Years
(Can’t get more off the record than this segment…!)

 19:31 – 29:00 Soma Bringer, Import Experiences

 29:01 – 50:08 Original content ideas, Game of the Year talk, and more.

SQUARE-ENIX ROUNDTABLE:

50:09 – 59:49 Responding to Fans (Wrong vs. Right)

59:50 – 1:05:48 Final Fantasy Online

1:05:49 – 1:15:58 – Square Enix’s iOS Debacle

1:15:59 – 1:26:00 – Tetsuya Nomura, Kingdom Hearts, “the mainstream audience”
** 1:20:15 – 1:22:30 KINGDOM HEARTS 3D SPOILERS

1:26:01 – 1:41:46 Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns
(and Final Fantasy XIII in general)

1:41:47 – 1:49:08 How can Square Enix win us back?
(The answer is Bravely Default: Flying Fairy)

1:49:09 – 1:53:59 Conclusion