Hiromichi Tanaka

Hiromichi Tanaka

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. Tanaka was the producer and battle system designer for Chrono Cross.

In 1983, Tanaka dropped out of Yokohama National University along with Hironobu Sakaguchi to join Square. Along with Sakaguchi and Kazuhiko Aoki, Tanaka was part of Square's original Planning and Development department. He contributed to Square's first completed, The Death Trap (1984) as well as more well known titles such as Final Fantasy I, II, and III. He also led the development of the Nintendo DS's 2006 version of Final Fantasy III, having worked in a senior role on the original version of the game in 1990.

Once Square became Square Enix, Tanaka worked as Senior Vice President of Software Development at Square Enix and head of Square Enix's Production Team 3. He is best known as the lead developer of Final Fantasy XI, Square's first massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG). He oversaw development of Final Fantasy XI and XIV until late 2010. Final Fantasy XIV received negative reception and was considered a financial loss for Square Enix.

Tanaka left Square Enix in 2012, citing chronic illness. He has since served as freelance producer for GungHo Online Entertainment, which produces phone games.