Hiromichi Tanaka: A Legacy in Final Fantasy

Hiromichi Tanaka is a renowned Japanese video game developer best known for his work on the Final Fantasy series, particularly Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV. Tanaka has also contributed to other popular titles like Secret of Mana, Xenogears, and Chrono Cross, leaving a lasting impact on the industry.
Japanese video game producer

Hiromichi Tanaka
Tanaka in London, England, January 2007
Born (1962-01-07) January 7, 1962 (age 62)
Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
Occupation(s)Video game producer and director
Years active1983–present
Known forProducing Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy XI

Hiromichi Tanaka (田中 弘道, Tanaka Hiromichi, born January 7, 1962) is a Japanese video game developer, game producer, game director and game designer. He was Senior Vice President of Software Development at Square Enix (formerly Square) and the head of the company's Product Development Division-3.

Biography

In 1983, Tanaka dropped out of Yokohama National University along with Hironobu Sakaguchi to join Square, a newly formed software branch of the Denyuusha Electric Company. Along with Sakaguchi and Kazuhiko Aoki, Tanaka was part of Square's original Planning and Development department.

He is best known as the former lead developer of Final Fantasy XI, Square's first massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). He oversaw development of Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV until late 2010. He also worked in a prominent role for earlier single-player games including Secret of Mana, Seiken Densetsu 3, Xenogears, Threads of Fate, Chrono Cross, and the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy III. Tanaka also worked on the original Famicom version of Final Fantasy III in 1990.

Final Fantasy XIV received negative reception from critics and players, and was considered a financial loss for Square Enix. Three months after its release in 2010, Tanaka was removed from the Final Fantasy XIV team and replaced by Naoki Yoshida. At the Vana'diel Fan Festival 2012, an event celebrating Final Fantasy XI's 10th anniversary, Tanaka announced his departure from Square Enix for health reasons. In 2012, Tanaka joined GungHo Online Entertainment as a freelance advisor to the company.

Game Credits

Year Title Platform Credit(s) Ref.
1984 The Death Trap Home computer
1986 Alpha Home computer
Suishō no Dragon Family Computer Disk System
1987 Genesis Home computer
Aliens: Alien 2 Home computer Producer
Cleopatra no Mahō Family Computer Disk System Director
Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School Family Computer Disk System Staff
Final Fantasy Nintendo Entertainment System Game design
1988 Final Fantasy II Nintendo Entertainment System Game design
1989 Square's Tom Sawyer Nintendo Entertainment System Cooperation
1990 Final Fantasy III Nintendo Entertainment System Game design
Final Fantasy Legend II Game Boy Main data
1993 Secret of Mana Super Nintendo Entertainment System Producer, concept / System design, scenario message data
1995 Seiken Densetsu 3 Super Nintendo Entertainment System Director
1998 Xenogears PlayStation Producer, battle planner
1999 Threads of Fate PlayStation Producer
Chrono Cross PlayStation Producer, battle system design
2002 Final Fantasy XI Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 Producer (until 2012)
2003 Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 Producer
Sword of Mana Game Boy Advance Executive producer
2004 Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 Producer
2006 Final Fantasy III Nintendo DS Director, executive producer
Final Fantasy XI: Treasures of Aht Urhgan Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 Producer
2007 Final Fantasy XI: Wings of the Goddess Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox 360 Producer
2009 SaGa 2: Goddess of Destiny Nintendo DS Co-executive producer
2010 Final Fantasy XIV Microsoft Windows Producer (until December 2010)
2011 Final Fantasy III iOS Supervisor
2015 MOJI-POP'N iOS, Android Producer
2016 Seventh Rebirth iOS, Android Producer
2023 JET DRAGON iOS Special Thanks