Square Enix CEO: Final Fantasy Is Not Tired
"We create different, highly immersive stories with each game."
Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada has shot back at concerns that the Final Fantasy series is going stale, in an interview with MCV published a day before its thirteenth iteration hits Japanese shelves.
In an extended interview expanding on his comments from late last month, Wada explains the difficulty in trying to broaden the company’s horizons whilst staying true to some of its most treasured franchises. Among these, he reckons Final Fantasy hasn’t run out of steam yet.
“Final Fantasy is our flagship title – so there is no way we will relax our attitude to it... I have thought about this for a while and a when a game has a good backstory and game world it’s something we cannot exhaust,” Wada asserts.
“On the surface it might seem exhausted, but it’s what behind it that counts – we create different, highly immersive stories with each game. Take Mickey Mouse, he doesn’t seem exhausted. There are a lot of stories associated with him.”
Square Enix has been keen to change certain aspects of its games in order to make its games seem fresh and appeal more to Western audiences. Final Fantasy XIII will arrive with a Leona Lewis credits theme when it hits European and North American shores next March, and the company is taking notes from games such as World of Warcraft to avoid the same mistakes it made with MMO Final Fantasy XI.
Speaking of Final Fantasy XIV, a PS3-exclusive MMORPG, Wada says, “In our first MMO we didn’t set up the transaction model that well. We thought that it would be a benefit for users, but that we wouldn’t have to charge. We soon learnt that there are a lot of people who want that kind of model, so we would like to introduce more pay-as-you-use items into the game.”
In an extended interview expanding on his comments from late last month, Wada explains the difficulty in trying to broaden the company’s horizons whilst staying true to some of its most treasured franchises. Among these, he reckons Final Fantasy hasn’t run out of steam yet.
“Final Fantasy is our flagship title – so there is no way we will relax our attitude to it... I have thought about this for a while and a when a game has a good backstory and game world it’s something we cannot exhaust,” Wada asserts.
“On the surface it might seem exhausted, but it’s what behind it that counts – we create different, highly immersive stories with each game. Take Mickey Mouse, he doesn’t seem exhausted. There are a lot of stories associated with him.”
Square Enix has been keen to change certain aspects of its games in order to make its games seem fresh and appeal more to Western audiences. Final Fantasy XIII will arrive with a Leona Lewis credits theme when it hits European and North American shores next March, and the company is taking notes from games such as World of Warcraft to avoid the same mistakes it made with MMO Final Fantasy XI.
Speaking of Final Fantasy XIV, a PS3-exclusive MMORPG, Wada says, “In our first MMO we didn’t set up the transaction model that well. We thought that it would be a benefit for users, but that we wouldn’t have to charge. We soon learnt that there are a lot of people who want that kind of model, so we would like to introduce more pay-as-you-use items into the game.”
Companies:
Square Enix
People: Yoichi Wada
Games: Final Fantasy XIII Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
People: Yoichi Wada
Games: Final Fantasy XIII Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
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Comments
realvictory 16 Dec 2009 11:03
1/7
I'm tired. I've played 4 or 5 Final Fantasies, and I don't care about the story. For telling a story in a game, I personally want it to become much more cinematic, like movies, as well as much more interactive throughout.
I was a fan at the beginning, but now I'm not. However, I know a lot of people have a longer attention span than me, and can still find novelty value in each new iteration. But I do think I am the sort of person whose opinion here should count, because I am someone who has consciously got bored of the series. But, yeah - less minigames and diversions, focus on changing the way the story is told instead, e.g. the pace.
I was a fan at the beginning, but now I'm not. However, I know a lot of people have a longer attention span than me, and can still find novelty value in each new iteration. But I do think I am the sort of person whose opinion here should count, because I am someone who has consciously got bored of the series. But, yeah - less minigames and diversions, focus on changing the way the story is told instead, e.g. the pace.
Limitz 16 Dec 2009 11:49
2/7
@realvictory
you are trying to tell square enix to change the whole style of game that they create with final fantasy. Final fantasy is about the story, if you really "want" to you can just do they story (the story defines the game), but what makes these games good is all the extras you can do. If your looking for a game thats all cinematic story and very face paced and short, your not going to find it in a final fantasy title, thats not what they are going to make, its that simple. There are MILLIONS (most of the final fantasys sell between 7-10million) of people who play this game for the exact reasons that you are saying you dislike it. It is a great series and always will be, but it is not for everyone.
you are trying to tell square enix to change the whole style of game that they create with final fantasy. Final fantasy is about the story, if you really "want" to you can just do they story (the story defines the game), but what makes these games good is all the extras you can do. If your looking for a game thats all cinematic story and very face paced and short, your not going to find it in a final fantasy title, thats not what they are going to make, its that simple. There are MILLIONS (most of the final fantasys sell between 7-10million) of people who play this game for the exact reasons that you are saying you dislike it. It is a great series and always will be, but it is not for everyone.
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Daz 16 Dec 2009 11:58
3/7
tired? I can't see how since every game is practically a game of it's own, kind of how if you took Leon and Ada out of RE4 you could have called it something else
kuromatsuri 16 Dec 2009 14:16
4/7
Please, please, PLEASE don't do micro-transactions with Final Fantasy XIV! I've always hated the idea of paying real money for in-game items. I want to pay for the experience of the game, not for individual items to "enhance" the experience!
realvictory 16 Dec 2009 21:54
5/7
Okay, it's my opinion, and it's only in the context of this article; currently, there is no problem, since FF sells millions. But sales are declining overall, since people are getting bored faster than it's changing/improving.
http://www.finalfantasyunion.com/news/final-fantasy-sales-expected-to-decline-further--616.html
What is the trend among the peaks? A new hardware platform. People were expecting/hoping for/actually given something new. Between FF6 and FF7: massive change. Until FF9, the main change is the story. FF9 - FF10: Not just the story, but facial animation, full 3d world, etc... FF10 - FF12? Main change is the story again. FF12 - FF13? I haven't played 13, but, still... platform change, albeit less dramatic change, less dramatic change in sales, from my point of view...
http://www.finalfantasyunion.com/news/final-fantasy-sales-expected-to-decline-further--616.html
What is the trend among the peaks? A new hardware platform. People were expecting/hoping for/actually given something new. Between FF6 and FF7: massive change. Until FF9, the main change is the story. FF9 - FF10: Not just the story, but facial animation, full 3d world, etc... FF10 - FF12? Main change is the story again. FF12 - FF13? I haven't played 13, but, still... platform change, albeit less dramatic change, less dramatic change in sales, from my point of view...
Joji 16 Dec 2009 22:42
6/7
Don't think its tired? I disgree.
I too was a lover of Square games, from back in the SNES day. Things have changed, and not all for the better.
Square could be using those resources for other IP, and I honestly feel they are wasting a lot of their talent. On top of that, the competition, from Bioware to Altus, From and Sega, is proving the Square way, isn't the only way.
I too was a lover of Square games, from back in the SNES day. Things have changed, and not all for the better.
Square could be using those resources for other IP, and I honestly feel they are wasting a lot of their talent. On top of that, the competition, from Bioware to Altus, From and Sega, is proving the Square way, isn't the only way.
TJ 21 Dec 2009 04:31
7/7
I'll tell you what Square Enix. Putting "My Hands" by Leona Lewis as an ending theme is a bad idea . Period.