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Masashi Hamauzu has left the (Square Enix HQ) building!

Written by Random J •
Masashi Hamauzu has left the (Square Enix HQ) building... [image knocked up by Random J]
In a move that's both shocking, yet not all that shocking: Final Fantasy XIII original soundtrack composer Masashi Hamauzu has slung down his resignation at Square Enix. I don't know what is going on at their HQ, but Square just can't seem to keep a composer these days!

Going freelance seems to be a favourable option for many video game composers. Nobuo Uematsu's highly publicized resigning from Square Enix was because he wanted to go free lance (and rather sweetly spend more time with his wife, and just kick it at home). Yoko Shimoura, who was once on Square's pay roll, also decided to go free lance. Going free lance has its obvious perks. You can be scouted to work on a soundtrack that you wouldn't have been able to had you been working exclusively for one video games company or the other. Had Nobuo still been at Square 4 years ago, he wouldn't have had the honour of working once again with Final Fantasy creator Hironbu Sakaguchi and composing the soundtracks to Blue dragon and Lost odyssey. Had Yoko still been at Square, Nintendo would not have been able to have asked her to compose the awesome soundtracks for the Mario & Luigi games.

I love everything I've heard from the Final Fantasy XIII soundtrack so far, so I wish Masashi all the best; and that he continues to produce great music. His swan song at Square was definitely a big one. Only handful of composers can say they've worked a Final Fantasy soundtrack - let alone work on one alongside Nobuo Uemtasu! With that on his resume, I don't think he'll have trouble finding work.
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Comments

  1. lilithdarkstorm1 February 2010 at 17:32

    Ha ha! Love the image!
    Just because they've gone freelance, doesn't mean they can't come back and do work for their previosu employeers. I haven't heard anything music wise from FFXIII apart from what you've posted here, but I'm looking forward to hearing it.

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