Quick Facts
Biography
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. 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 ongoing development of that title and Final Fantasy XIV until late 2010. He also recently led the development of the Nintendo DS version of Final Fantasy III, having worked in a senior role on the original version of the game in 1990.
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.
At the Vana'diel Fan Festival 2012, a festival celebrating Final Fantasy XI's 10th anniversary, Tanaka announced his departure from Square-Enix due to health reasons. In 2012, Tanaka joined GungHo Online Entertainment as a freelance adviser to the company.
Game credits
| Year | Title | Platform | Credit(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | The Death Trap | Home computer | |
| 1986 | Alpha | Home computer | |
| Suishō no Dragon | Family Computer Disk System | ||
| 1987 | Genesis | Home computer | |
| Nakayama Miho no Tokimeki High School | Family Computer Disk System | ||
| Final Fantasy | Nintendo Entertainment System | ||
| 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 program | |
| 1991 | Final Fantasy IV | Super Nintendo Entertainment System | Special thanks |
| 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 | PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows | Producer |
| 2006 | Final Fantasy III DS | Nintendo DS | Director, executive producer |
| 2007 | Heroes of Mana | Nintendo DS | Special thanks |
| 2008 | Dissidia Final Fantasy | PlayStation Portable | Special thanks |
| 2009 | SaGa 2: Goddess of Destiny | Nintendo DS | Co-executive producer |
| 2010 | Final Fantasy XIV | Microsoft Windows | Producer (until December 2010) |
| 2011 | Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy | PlayStation Portable | Special thanks |
| 2012 | Theatrhythm Final Fantasy | Nintendo 3DS | Special thanks |