Chrono Break
Chrono Break | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Square |
Publisher(s) | Square |
Series | Chrono |
Release | Cancelled |
Genre(s) | Role-playing video game |
Chrono Break is a cancelled third mainline entry in the Chrono series of video games by Square.[1] While never officially announced by the company, commentary from Chrono series developers Masato Kato, Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Takashi Tokita have confirmed early plans for the game, alongside a number of trademarks filed in the game's name. However, the game would ultimately go unproduced, with many members of the internal development team either moving on to Final Fantasy XI or leaving the company in favor of freelance work. The game elicited much commentary from the company and the video game press in the following years, though as of 2021, all trademarks had expired, with no announced plans to work on the game.
History
Registration
The initial Chrono Break trademark for a video game was registered by Square (now Square Enix) in the United States on December 5, 2001.[2] A similar trademark was registered by the company in the European Union a week later.[3]
The registration followed a press report of talks about a new
Official response
Inquiry over a new title was subsequently large enough to warrant an entry in
Final Fantasy XI is pretty much it for a while. We still have a lot of possible expansion packs we could do, and plenty of support to give. As far as Chrono is concerned, that's huge; but we can't do two or three things at the same time, and it's tough to do FFXI and another Chrono game at the same time or too close together. We'd love to do one though, but yeah, not yet.[12]
Takashi Tokita, who directed Chrono Trigger, mentioned a "Chrono Trigger 2" in a 2003 interview which has not been translated to English.[13] Trigger developer Yuji Horii expressed no interest in returning to the Chrono franchise in 2005.[14] In February 2007, Square Enix producer Hiromichi Tanaka took part in several interviews while promoting games in Europe. Tanaka reiterated that no new game was in development, but that a return was certainly not out of the question.[15][16]
... it's very difficult to be able to reunite the original team, to be able to make a sequel to the Chrono series ... because if we don't try to reunite these people but take other people instead, we will find ourselves at that point with a game which will feel different, since there would be different persons in charge, and we would possibly lose the Chrono spirit.[17]
— Hiromichi Tanaka
In January 2008, composer Yasunori Mitsuda remarked that "there are a lot of politics involved" in creating a new game, and stressed that Masato Kato should participate in development should a new entry in the series materialize.[18] He did say that he was open to working with the company on the series again "if they had a good concept for the game", and he speculated that Kato "probably would" as well.[18]
In August 2014, at a
I think the statute of limitations has passed and expired so I think I'm okay saying this – but we just didn't see eye-to-eye with management, and so I went and fought for it, and I officially lost the battle ... Nothing's confirmed. But again, it would be nice to be able to work on a continuation of my old creations.[19]
— Hironobu Sakaguchi
In December 2015, Kato confirmed that Square Enix had indeed discussed a project called Chrono Break, but that he was personally not involved with it.[20]
In December 2017, Tokita stated that some smaller elements of Chrono Break eventually made it into his Final Fantasy Dimensions II game.[1] He explained: "There was actually a time when I planned a new title called Chrono Break. Though it was canceled before accomplishing anything, the overall idea for the title was carried over to my latest game, Final Fantasy Dimensions II. Aemo's character setting and the balance between the three characters at the beginning ... these were based on the original concept [for Chrono Break] but were reworked for this title."[1] Tokita confirmed the following year that he had begun preproduction on the game in 2000, and ultimately recycled his story ideas for Final Fantasy Dimensions II.[21]
Aftermath
The February 2008 issue of
A Chrono Break trademark was registered by Seruao Co. Ltd. on February 12, 2024. [33]
References
- ^ a b c Sullivan, Meghan (2017-12-21). "Cancelled Chrono Trigger Game Lives on in Final Fantasy Mobile Title". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on 2018-02-25. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
- ^ "Latest Status Info". Trademark Applications and Registration Retrieval. 2003-11-13. Archived from the original on 2005-11-23. Retrieved 2006-06-01.
- ^ "002512853 - CHRONO BREAK". EUIPO. 2002-12-02.
- ^ Shahed Ahmed (2001-07-03). "New Chrono game in planning stages". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 18 January 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2006.
- ISBN 4-925075-73-X. Archivedfrom the original on 2009-04-18. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- ^ a b "The Big Games of 2003, Pt. 1". IGN. Archived from the original on 2013-09-26. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
- ^ "> Square-Enix Gives Chrono Break Trademark Some Playmates". RPGamer. Archived from the original on 2014-11-13. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
- ^ a b "Square Enix Abandons Chrono Break Trademark: News from". 1UP.com. Retrieved 2013-09-18.
- ^ 第4590164号 (in Japanese). Industrial Property Digital Library. 2002-07-26. Archived from the original on 2013-12-30.
- ^ Does SQUARE ENIX have any plans to develop a sequel to Chrono Cross?
A sequel to Chrono Cross is not in development. This doesn't mean we will never make a sequel. However, resources are being focused on other titles at this moment. Keep an eye on our Press Release page to keep up with current information on upcoming titles from SQUARE ENIX."Support FAQ". Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2005-04-18. Retrieved 2006-08-01. - Curse, Inc. Archivedfrom the original on September 26, 2013. Retrieved 2013-09-13.
- ^ a b Jeremy Dunham (2003-05-14). "E3 2003: Final Fantasy XI Developer Interview". IGN. Archived from the original on 1 January 2007. Retrieved 23 December 2006.
- ^ "【ゲームな人々】第11回 長きに渡って活躍する凄腕プロデューサー 時田貴司氏(後編)". 2003-07-16. Archived from the original on 2006-03-07. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
- ^ "Interview vidéo Final Fantasy III". Jeux-France. 2002-01-31. Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
- ^ Adam Riley (2002-02-01). "Hiromichi Tanaka, Square Enix". Cubed3. Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
- ^ Hiromichi Tanaka (2002-02-01). "Tanaka: No Chrono in Development". Chrono Compendium. Archived from the original on 2015-12-23. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
- ^ 1UP.com. Archivedfrom the original on 2012-12-05. Retrieved 2008-02-08.
- ^ a b "Hironobu Sakaguchi wanted Chrono Trigger to evolve in a series "like a Final Fantasy" | Polygon". Polygon. Archived from the original on 2014-09-01. Retrieved 2014-08-30.
- ^ Mariela Gonzalez (December 2015). Más allá del Tiempo. Héroes de Papel. pp. 253–254.
- ^ "Another Eden Festival 2018". YouTube. Square Enix. 2018-04-19. Retrieved 2023-12-09.
- ^ Game Informer staff (February 2008). Game Informer. GameStop Corporation. pp. 24–25.
- ^ Jeremy Parish (June 2008). Electronic Gaming Monthly Retro Issue: Missing in Action. Ziff Davis Inc. p. 95.
- ^ "Famitsu Readers Vote Their Most Wanted Sequels". Famitsu. May 2009. Archived from the original on 2009-08-04. Retrieved 2009-10-02.
- ^ Donaldson, Alex (2009-06-05). "Square: Want more Chrono Trigger? Buy More!". Archived from the original on 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ^ Spencer (2012-02-27). "Chrono Bind Domain Registered By Square, Will This Be A Chrono Trigger Sequel?". Siliconera. Archived from the original on 2013-10-06. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
- ^ "Chrono Bind Domains Registered By Square Enix". G4tv.com. 2012-02-27. Archived from the original on 2014-01-20. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
- ^ "Square Enix Registers Domain for Chrono Bind, Which Has Nothing To Do With Chrono Trigger". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group. 2012-02-27. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
- ^ "Chrono Bind is Not Chrono Trigger 3 or Chrono Break". Playstationlifestyle.net. Archived from the original on 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
- ^ "Five Other Games From 2000 That Need Sequels In 2012". Kotaku. Gizmodo Media Group. 2012-05-15. Archived from the original on 2013-09-17. Retrieved 2013-10-06.
- Curse, Inc. Archivedfrom the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2018-03-03.
- ^ ISBN 978-8494288166. Translation
- US Patent and Trademark Office. 2024-02-12.
External links
- US Patent and Trademark Office entry for Chrono Break
- US Patent and Trademark Office entry for Chrono Break (Latest)