Takashi Tokita
Encyclopedia
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
.
in 1985 at the same time as Akitoshi Kawazu
and Nasir Gebelli
. He was initially a part-time employee doing graphic design work and sound effects, but switched to full-time when he became the lead designer of 1991's Final Fantasy IV
. Before working on the game, Tokita wanted to make a career as a theater actor, but working on the game made him decide to become a "great creator" of video games. He was one of only 14 people working on the game. Tokita feels that Final Fantasy IV is the first game in the series to really pick up on drama, and the first Japanese RPG to feature "such deep characters and plot".
He is well known for having directed Parasite Eve
and written the game's story. He is also known for his role as a director for Chrono Trigger
. Tokita is the head of Square Enix's Product Development Division-7. When he started working in the video game industry, Tokita feels that game design was about "what can you create? What kind of software can you provide for a specific platform?" Now, however, he feels that game development is about "infrastructure and content".
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
video game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
working for Square Enix
Square Enix
is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series...
. He has worked there since 1985, and has worked as the lead designer for Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1991 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan and has since then been rereleased for many other platforms with varying modifications. An enhanced remake with 3D graphics...
as well as the director of Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve is a Japanese science fiction novel by Hideaki Sena, first published in Kadokawa Horror Bunko in 1996. The book was published in North America by Vertical, Inc. in 2005....
and Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
.
Biography
Tokita joined SquareSquare Co.
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
in 1985 at the same time as Akitoshi Kawazu
Akitoshi Kawazu
is a Japanese game producer who was born in Kumamoto Prefecture. He studied ceramics at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. Kawazu joined Square in 1985...
and Nasir Gebelli
Nasir Gebelli
Nasir Gebelli is an Iranian-American programmer and video game developer. Gebelli co-founded Sirius Software, created his own company Gebelli Software, and worked for Square .-Sirius Software:...
. He was initially a part-time employee doing graphic design work and sound effects, but switched to full-time when he became the lead designer of 1991's Final Fantasy IV
Final Fantasy IV
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1991 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan and has since then been rereleased for many other platforms with varying modifications. An enhanced remake with 3D graphics...
. Before working on the game, Tokita wanted to make a career as a theater actor, but working on the game made him decide to become a "great creator" of video games. He was one of only 14 people working on the game. Tokita feels that Final Fantasy IV is the first game in the series to really pick up on drama, and the first Japanese RPG to feature "such deep characters and plot".
He is well known for having directed Parasite Eve
Parasite Eve (video game)
is a horror action role-playing game developed by SquareSoft . The game is a sequel to the novel Parasite Eve, written by Hideaki Sena. It is the first game in the Parasite Eve series.-Gameplay:...
and written the game's story. He is also known for his role as a director for Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger
is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
. Tokita is the head of Square Enix's Product Development Division-7. When he started working in the video game industry, Tokita feels that game design was about "what can you create? What kind of software can you provide for a specific platform?" Now, however, he feels that game development is about "infrastructure and content".
Published works
- Rad Racer II (1990) - Sound effects
- Final Fantasy IIIFinal Fantasy IIIis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in for the Family Computer as the third installment in the Final Fantasy series. It is the first numbered Final Fantasy game to feature the job-change system....
(1990) - Sound effects - Final Fantasy IVFinal Fantasy IVis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1991 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan and has since then been rereleased for many other platforms with varying modifications. An enhanced remake with 3D graphics...
(1991) - Lead designer - Live A LiveLive A Liveis a console role-playing game developed by Square for the Super Famicom released in Japan on September 2, 1994. It was never released outside Japan, but it has been unofficially translated into English....
(1994) - Director, scenario writer, event design - Chrono TriggerChrono Triggeris a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1995. Chrono Triggers development team included three designers that Square dubbed the "Dream Team": Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Square's Final Fantasy series; Yuji Horii, a...
(1995) - Director - DynamiTracer (1996) - Producer
- Final Fantasy VIIFinal Fantasy VIIis a role-playing video game developed by Square and published by Sony Computer Entertainment as the seventh installment in the Final Fantasy series. It was originally released in 1997 for the Sony PlayStation and was re-released in 1998 for Microsoft Windows-based personal computers and in 2009...
(1997) - Event planning - Parasite EveParasite Eve (video game)is a horror action role-playing game developed by SquareSoft . The game is a sequel to the novel Parasite Eve, written by Hideaki Sena. It is the first game in the Parasite Eve series.-Gameplay:...
(1998) - Director, story. - Parasite Eve IIParasite Eve IIis a horror action role-playing game for the PlayStation. The game was developed by SquareSoft and published in Japan in 1999 and in both North America and, unlike the previous game, in PAL regions in 2000...
(1999) - Special adviser - Chocobo RacingChocobo RacingChocobo Racing, known in Japan as is a racing game for the PlayStation game console. The game was developed by Square Co., creators of the Final Fantasy series of video games. The game was first released in Japan in March 1999...
(1999) - Director - The BouncerThe Bounceris a beat 'em up for the Sony PlayStation 2 video game console. It was co-developed by Square and DreamFactory. The game features character designs by Tetsuya Nomura and music by Noriko Matsueda and Takahito Eguchi....
(2000) - Director, dramatisation - Hanjuku Eiyuu Tai 3D (2003) - Producer, director
- Egg Monster Hero (2004) - Producer, director
- Hanjuku Eiyuu 4 (2005) - Producer, director
- Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls (2005) - Producer, design
- Final Fantasy IV AdvanceFinal Fantasy IVis a role-playing video game developed and published by Square in 1991 as a part of the Final Fantasy series. The game was originally released for the Super Famicom in Japan and has since then been rereleased for many other platforms with varying modifications. An enhanced remake with 3D graphics...
(2005) - Supervisor - Musashi: Samurai LegendMusashi: Samurai LegendMusashi: Samurai Legend, known in Japan as , is a third-person action game developed and published by Square Enix in 2005 for Sony's PlayStation 2. Much like its predecessor, Brave Fencer Musashi, the game involves real-time combat in a 3D environment, and character designs by Tetsuya Nomura.The...
(2005) - Producer - Final Fantasy IVFinal Fantasy IV (Nintendo DS)is a role-playing video game for the Nintendo DS. It is an enhanced remake of the original Final Fantasy IV, which was released in 1991. It was released as part of the campaign for Final Fantasy series 20th anniversary on December 20, 2007 in Japan and in North America on July 22, 2008...
(Nintendo DSNintendo DSThe is a portable game console produced by Nintendo, first released on November 21, 2004. A distinctive feature of the system is the presence of two separate LCD screens, the lower of which is a touchscreen, encompassed within a clamshell design, similar to the Game Boy Advance SP...
remake, 2007) - Executive producer, director - Final Fantasy IV: The After Years (2008) - Producer
- Nanashi no GameNanashi no Game-Reception:As of September 30, 2008, Nanashi no Game has sold 60,000 copies in Japan. It was scored 30 out of 40 by Famitsu magazine.- Sequels :...
(2008) - Producer - Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (2009) - Director
- Dissidia 012: Final Fantasy (2011) - Special thanks
External links
- Interview with Takashi Tokita at 1up.com
- Takashi Tokita profile, interviews, and photo gallery at the Square Haven People Database