square-enix-tax
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Taito's RayForce hits iOS for ... more than you'd expect
The term "Square Enix Tax" refers to the publisher's frequent tendency to price its games more than others on the same platform. Most of Square Enix's DS games retailed for $39.99, for example, and even the simplistic Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy carries a price of ¥6,090 ($79!) in Japan. Even with that background, however, we were a bit surprised when the publisher released an iOS port of Taito's 1993 arcade shmup RayForce yesterday, with a price point of $11.99. It's not that the game doesn't appear to be worth it (the port looks great!) -- that's just more than we'd expect any publisher to attempt on the iOS market. Especially for a vintage game. We're trying to be excited about this, Square! That price point is not helping.%Gallery-144591%
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy dated, overpriced in Japan
Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy, Square Enix's cutesy Final Fantasy omnibus music game, will arrive in Japan on February 16, the company announced today. There has yet to be an announcement of a release for the 3DS game outside of Japan. Considering the criticism Theatrhythm has received for looking too simplistic to be a full-price retail game, you might be surprised to hear that Square Enix has priced it at ¥6,090 ($79). Games are more expensive in Japan than in America, but that's ¥1,290 more than Super Mario 3D Land costs in Japan. The Square Enix Tax is in full effect.
