otro ex-square fichado por microsoft

Microsoft Hires Square Executive to Run Japanese Game Business
September 25, 2003 00:09 EDT -- Microsoft Corp., the world's biggest maker of computer software, hired Yoshihiro Maruyama, a former official of Square Enix Co., to run the U.S. company's Xbox video- game business in Japan

Microsoft Appoints Yoshihiro Maruyama as General Manager of Xbox Division At Microsoft Japan

Key Management Addition Reinforces Xbox Commitment in Japan

TOKYO, Sept. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a move that will significantly bolster its global leadership in the games industry, Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) today announced that Yoshihiro Maruyama has been named the new general manager of the Xbox Division at Microsoft Japan, where he will focus on the Xbox(R) video game console and game titles as well as the Xbox Live(TM) service.

Maruyama, a respected video game industry veteran, most recently served as senior vice president and chief operating officer of Squaresoft Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Square Co. Ltd., and board member of DWonderland Inc. (formerly known as T&E Soft Inc.). At Squaresoft, one of the largest Japanese family game software developers that publishes in the world market, Maruyama developed a strategy that increased Square's U.S. market development efforts, helping the company become one of the most popular game developers in the United States within only two years. He also was involved in negotiating licensing and business alliances with game and media companies in the United States. As a board member of T&E Soft, Maruyama was responsible for negotiating a licensing agreement with the Walt Disney Co. to develop an online entertainment service featuring popular Disney properties for the Japanese and Asian markets.

Maruyama officially begins as general manager on Wednesday, Oct. 1, and will report to Peter Moore, who joined Microsoft in January 2003 as corporate vice president for Worldwide Retail Sales and Marketing in Japan and Europe for the Home and Entertainment Division.

"Yoshihiro is going to be a tremendous asset to Microsoft and our Japanese initiatives," Moore said. "He has proven to be a stellar trans-Pacific talent over the years, and he has a great depth of understanding of Japanese and U.S. market issues as well as solid relationships with many industry leaders."

Par Singh, formerly the interim general manager for Xbox in Japan, will take a new position as director of advanced planning for Japan and Europe for the Home and Entertainment Division. Based in Redmond, Wash., Singh will drive future strategy and business planning for Xbox in these regions and will continue to report to Moore.

In addition, Mike Fischer was named director of marketing for Xbox in Japan last month. In this role, Fischer leads all marketing activities surrounding the Xbox platform and will be reporting to Maruyama. Fischer was most recently vice president of marketing for Sega of America and is fluent in Japanese.

Maruyama began his career at Mitsubishi Corp. and later joined McKinsey & Company as a strategy consultant with a strong focus on financial institutions. From there, he went on to become director of the Heisei Research Institute, founded by Kenichi Ohmae; there, he was actively involved in fund-raising and organizing resources to enhance the research and policy-making capability of the institute. Maruyama joined Square in 1995.

Maruyama holds a bachelor's degree in economics from Waseda University and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business Administration, Dartmouth College.

Yoshihiro Maruyama was credited on a game as early as 1997 and as recently as 2001. His/Her career probably spans more years than those displayed since these dates are based on the credits documented in MobyGames (which are incomplete). Yoshihiro Maruyama has been credited with the roles Production and Other. Yoshihiro Maruyama has been credited on games developed by the following companies: Squaresoft, LightWeight, Dream Factory, Square Electronic Arts L.L.C. and Escape. This does not imply employment by these companies.
Games Credited
Driving Emotion Type-S (2001), Square Electronic Arts L.L.C.
The Bouncer (2000), Square Electronic Arts L.L.C.
Chocobo's Dungeon 2 (2000), Square EA
Final Fantasy IX (2000), Square EA
Parasite Eve II (2000), Squaresoft
Vagrant Story (2000), Square Electronic Arts L.L.C.
Chrono Cross (1999), Squaresoft
Final Fantasy Anthology (1999), Square Electronic Arts L.L.C.
Final Fantasy VIII (1999), Square Electronic Arts L.L.C.
Front Mission 3 (1999), Squaresoft
Legend Of Mana (1999), Squaresoft
Saga Frontier 2 (1999), Squaresoft
Threads Of Fate (1999),
Brave Fencer Musashi (1998), Squaresoft
Bushido Blade 2 (1998), Square EA
Ehrgeiz: God Bless The Ring (1998), Squaresoft
Parasite Eve (1998), Squaresoft
Xenogears (1998), Square EA
Bushido Blade (1997), Squaresoft
Final Fantasy: Tactics (1997), Squaresoft
Final Fantasy VII (1997), Squaresoft
Saga Frontier (1997), Squaresoft

1 Nintendo Game Boy Advance SP 31,200 1,678,200 (32,600)
2 S C E PlayStation 2 28,100 2,040,700 (29,900)
3 Nintendo Game Cube 12,200 529,000 (13,300)
4 Nintendo Game Boy Advance 7,600 1,055,100 ( 7,400)
5 S C E Playstation 680 56,100 ( 650)
6 Wonderswan Crystal 380 30,400 ( 220)
7 Microsoft Xbox 310 73,900 ( 573)
8 Wonderswan Color 150 15,500 ( 150)