Takashi Tokita
Takashi Tokita (時田 貴司, Tokita Takashi) (born 24 January 1965) is a Japanese video game developer working for Square Enix. He has worked there since 1985, and has worked as the lead designer for Final Fantasy IV as well as the director of Parasite Eve and Chrono Trigger.
Career
Tokita joined Square in 1985 as a part-time employee, not becoming full-time until the development of Final Fantasy IV.[1] For the first three Final Fantasy games, he worked on graphic design, testing, and sound effects, respectively, before becoming lead designer of Final Fantasy IV in 1991.[2]
Tokita wanted to make a career as a theater actor, but working on Final Fantasy IV made him decide to become a "great creator" of video games.[3] He was one of only 14 people working on the game.[4] Tokita feels that Final Fantasy IV is the first game in the series to really pick up on drama,[4] and the first Japanese RPG to feature "such deep characters and plot".[5] He also felt that Final Fantasy IV was so good because it was the culmination of the best parts of the first three games.[1]
Following that title, he was also involved in the production of Final Fantasy VII.[2][6]
Chrono Trigger is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Director credits were attributed to Akihiko Matsui, Yoshinori Kitase and Takashi Tokita. Tetsuya Takahashi had the role of graphic director.[7] Additionally, Takashi Tokita, along with Yoshinori Kitase wrote the various subplots to the game.[8]
He handled the game design for Parasite Eve and wrote the game's story.[6] He considers the later games in the series as having been "handed off" to others.[9]
After the successful remakes of Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV, there was a desire by the team to make a new game in the same style.[10]
He was the lead developer on Final Fantasy IV: The After Years.[1]
His greatest inspiration was Dragon Quest 2, since it emotionally engaged him like no game he had played before.[11]
Between 2003 and 2007, Tokita was the head of Square's Product Development Division 7.[12]
Currently, Tokita is a senior manager and producer in Square Enix's Business Division 8.
Gameography
- Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School (1987) — Graphic design
- Square's Tom Sawyer (1989) — Graphic design
- Final Fantasy Legend (1989) — Sprite graphics, Character design
- Rad Racer II (1990) — Sound effects
- Final Fantasy III (1990) — Sound effects
- Final Fantasy IV (1991) — Lead game designer, scenario writer
- Final Fantasy V (1992) — Special thanks
- Live A Live (1994) — Director, scenario writer, event designer
- Chrono Trigger (1995) — Director, scenario writer
- DynamiTracer (1996) — Producer
- Final Fantasy VII (1997) — Event planner
- Parasite Eve (1998) — Director, scenario writer
- Parasite Eve II (1999) — Special advisor
- Chocobo Racing (1999) — Director, scenario writer, lyrics
- The Bouncer (2000) — Director, dramatisation, lyrics
- Hanjuku Eiyuu Tai 3D (2003) Director, producer
- Egg Monster Hero (2004) — Director, producer
- Hanjuku Eiyuu 4 (2005) — Director, producer
- Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (2005) — Game designer, producer
- Final Fantasy IV Advance (2005) — Supervisor
- Musashi: Samurai Legend (2005) — Producer
- Final Fantasy IV DS (2007) — Director, executive producer
- Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (2008) — Producer, scenario writer, game design
- Nanashi no Game (2008) — Executive producer
- Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (2009) — Director, scenario writer
- Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy (2011) — Special thanks
- Ikenie no Yoru (2011) — Co-director
- Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection (2011) — Supervisor
- Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (2012) — Special thanks
- Final Fantasy Dimensions (2012) — Producer, scenario writer, game design
- Demons' Score (2012) — Producer
- Final Fantasy IV for smartphones (2012) — Supervisor
- Final Fantasy V for smartphones (2013) — Special thanks
- Final Fantasy IV: The After Years 3D remake (2013) — Producer
- Final Fantasy VI for smartphones (2014) — Special thanks
- Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call (2014) — Special thanks
- Dissidia Final Fantasy (2015) — Special thanks
- Final Fantasy Legends: Toki no Suishō (2015-2017) — General director, scenario & game designer, illustrator, lyrics
- Holy Dungeon (2015) — Writer
- Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius (2015) — Special thanks
- I Am Setsuna (2016) — Special thanks
- Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV (2016) — Special thanks
- Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary (2017) — Final Fantasy character supervisor
- Oninaki (2019) — Creative producer
References
- Nutt, Christian (2011-04-19). "Years After: The Final Fantasy IV Interview". Gamasutra. Retrieved 2011-04-19.
- jeriaska (2011-03-29). "Sound Current: 'Serializing RPG Storylines on Final Fantasy Legends'". Game Set Watch. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
- Hayashi, Koichiro (2004-10-17). "Square Enix Discusses DS". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
- Xcomp (2007-05-31). "Final Fantasy IV DS Interview". GameBrink. Archived from the original on 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
- "Final Fantasy IV Fan-Powered Q&A Part 3". Square Enix. 2008-09-19. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
- Major Mike; Ken Ogasawara (September 1997). "Parasite Eve and Cyberbots". GamePro. No. 108. IDG. p. 74.
- Square Co (1995-08-22). Chrono Trigger (Super Nintendo Entertainment System). Square Soft. Level/area: Credits.
- "Procyon Studio: Interview with Masato Kato". Cocoebiz.com. November 1999. Archived from the original on 2011-07-24. Retrieved June 3, 2007.
- Spencer (2011-04-01). "Takashi Tokita Interview On Creating New IP & Focusing Less On Focus Groups". Siliconera. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- Torres, Tim (2010-09-14). "Interview: Takashi Tokita on 4 Heroes of Light". 2d-x.com. Archived from the original on 2010-09-18. Retrieved 2009-12-11.
- Cameron Teague (2011-03-08). "PSLS Presents – Takashi Tokita, Lead Designer for Final Fantasy IV: Complete Collection". PlayStation Lifestyle. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
- Winkler, Chris (2003-09-20). "Square Enix Talks Current Status". RPGFan. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
External links
- Takashi Tokita at IMDb
- Takashi Tokita profile, interviews, and photo gallery at the Square Haven People Database