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As much as I was enjoying working on the new Shrine, it got put on hold for longer than I wanted! Had to pick up the slack for most of the members of my Art Direction group. Got a ton of e-mails about it too! My favorite said, "Get off your butt and get to work!!" Stress upon stress, but if they didn't enjoy the site, they wouldn't take the time to send the e-mails. And why not? 2001 was a great year for Dragon Warrior. The year before Dragon Warrior I+II was released to great reviews, which paved the way for Dragon Warrior III. One aspect about Enix I admired was how quick they were to confirm a title. Not long after DW III was announced in Japan they said, "Yep, we're getting it." The new design was up just in time for Dragon Warrior III Week! After that came Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 and then Dragon Warrior VII. The audience was growing every day
(Click to Enlarge)
In early 2002, the Dragon Warrior IV bomb dropped and the community was in an uproar. It's understandable. Most fans had only played DW IV through emulation and were excited to be getting their first, full blown console remake. Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, but Enix did something special for us that I'll never forget. They invited the Shrine and the DQNN to attend the 2002 Electronic Entertainment Expo. Before making the trip, I got a rare treat and spoke to Enix America president Paul Handelman. During the conversation, he said that the Shrine was one of the main factors that kept the fan base alive and allowed them to return to the US. Can't tell you how much that meant to me. I knew the fans enjoyed the site, but had no idea the company appreciated it too! Definitely an honor and validated all our hard work.
Enix left a deep impression on me. At E3 most of the people you see on the floor are PR reps. They push the product and regurgitate its press release. When not in meetings, the executives hide behind velvet ropes, deep in the depths of the booth. They refuse to speak to anyone and are quick to blow off an honest compliment. Enix was nothing like that. When not in meetings, the president was on the show floor talking to people and watching reactions to the games. The same goes for the product managers and localization directors. Their PR staff didn't yell in your face and cram a demo in your hand. They presented solid material and carried themselves with dignity and humility. Can't say that about many game publishers.
It was also great to meet Dustin, Pendy, and Endwin. Finally got to see the people I'd e-mailed and worked with in person. Had a wonderful time with them. Even though I made the convention hall rounds with Dustin a couple times, I regret not spending more time with them. I was in major Must Give Portfolio to Everyone Mode. Also, while they may be sitting still, there are people in those Kirby and Pikachu suits. Nintendo should make that clear before you start french kissing and grinding on them.
A few months after that, the merger occurred and Enix closed up shop. There was talk of a greater US presence for DQ, but the Enix forums had been shut down and the company went out of their way to ignore every DQ/DW related inquiry. This did a fantastic job killing off most of the community that had been built over the past three years. Once again the fan base went back to living off nostalgia and the occasional import. With each year that passed, the fans grew angrier. So in '03 and '04, I made the solo trek to E3 to try and get some answers. "What's that?" and "I don't know." were the common answers the SquareEnix staff.
For the people who still say Enix "screwed us" with DW IV, I can say they were the real deal. They were fans that visited the sites and read the message boards. They listened to what you had to say and even had someone who would honestly answer your questions on a daily basis. It hasn't been the same since the merger. Since the Shrine had a good relationship with Enix, I very much wanted that to continue post-merger. With so many frustrated and upset posts and e-mails, I wanted to help bridge the gap and give fans a better understanding of the company. Unfortunately, they didn't share that goal and really drove that point home in '04.
Currently DQ's place in the North American market is uncertain. While the localization quality is top notch, SquareEnix's true support of the series is questionable. The ups and downs the DQ/DW fans have experienced over the past ten years is a true testament to their dedication. Can't think of any other fan base that would stick with a series after all DQ/DW has gone through. That kind of support is truly unique and I hope they get all their favorite titles in their native language.
Over the past decade, I never thought messing around on the weekend would lead me to meeting the president of Enix, seeing what SquareEnix really thinks about DQ, and getting my hands on Yuji Horii's autograph. As long as they continue releasing DQ titles, I'll continue working with the Shrine. I'm always working to improve the site to give the visitor anything they could be looking for. The support the fans have given over the past ten years has been wonderful. The Shrine's been Slashdotted, Wikipediaed, and linked on countless sites. From it's beginning, to what it's seen, to where it's going, I'm very proud to be a part of the DQ Shrine and hope to keep you entertained with your favorite series for decades to come.
-The Dwaine
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