Hope not lost for towns in next Final Fantasy [3/11]

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

Those of you currently playing and enjoying Final Fantasy XIII may have realized the game’s lack of towns in comparison to previous games in the franchise. This is because Square Enix has just begun developing for current generation systems and creating towns using the visuals seen in Final Fantasy XIII would take a long time, stalling development further.

“In the Final Fantasys on previous non-high definition consoles,” Final Fantasy XIII director Motomu Toriyama told GamaSutra, “we were able to kind of take everyone’s ideas and include them in the games — I call it a bento box system, where you have all of the different little things in there. So we had minigames or towns were you were able to talk to all of the townspeople. But with the HD console you’re not really able to do that because it takes so long to develop.”

However, hope doesn’t seem lost for the next Final Fantasy to include towns.

“Now that we have that base technology… The next time you see a Final Fantasy, we might be able to pack in more of those elements that existed in the past. And I also think that a game doesn’t need to have all of those items in the future. We can create additional downloadable content for people to add, too. It doesn’t have to come with that game itself.”
Can we expect towns in Final Fantasy Versus XIII? Let’s hope so.

Source: ScrawlFX
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[Martel]

"we were able to kind of take everyone’s ideas and include them in the games" <- I believe they call that plagiarism, Toriyama...

I don't like the sound of downloadable content like that...I don't want to pay anything other than gil to rest my characters in an inn, thank you very much. I don't want Final Fantasy becoming the next Disgaea in terms of being a DLC whore.

So, essentially, what Toriyama is trying to say is "We couldn't be arsed to put towns in FFXIII, but considering all the criticism it got *pause for a brief sniffle* we'll put them in next time...in some form *evil cackle*"

 

[Twisted]

seriously how can they even think of downloadable content...it will ruin the final fantasy series, because who wants to download some extra stuff. it's like in dragon age it's the same thing u gotta buy downloadable content if your gonna be able to do some special quests..i really don't think they should add that stuff too this series, because everyone will just download it for free or something like that.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

And I also think that a game doesn’t need to have all of those items in the future. We can create additional downloadable content for people to add, too. It doesn’t have to come with that game itself.”


Source: ScrawlFX
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Wow I disagree , towns = a must have !

 

[Tmoo]

"we were able to kind of take everyone’s ideas and include them in the games" <- I believe they call that plagiarism, Toriyama...

I believe Toriyama meant ideas from the development staff, not other companies. Also, every JRPG takes elements from other JRPG's, so it isn't a very solid argument to make.

so long as they work more efficiently for the next game all is well. pleasing the fans is like trying to make love to a narcissist, at the end of the day they don't give a damn about anything except their own gratification.

 

[Linnaete]

They say that having towns would mean a long development cycle - but there is the part where they had to make the gameplay revolve around the story in FFXIII. It's possible that if the story was already drafted really early, having towns was never going to be on their agenda. But that was just for FFXIII - Versus and FFXV can still have towns.

We can create additional downloadable content for people to add, too. It doesn’t have to come with that game itself.

No, no, no, no, no. I would much rather have it all there when I buy the game - like the previous installments. I don't want to anticipate buying a game that may only have half the content of the whole thing. If DLC is relied on like this, you will get half-arsed releases come out left, right and centre.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

I'm not bothered about there being no towns, from what I've played there's no need for them to be included, there's only a handful of items you can get for a long time anyway and I'm somewhat doubting that NPCs would add much to the game since it's all very personal to the characters themselves. Maybe there will be a need for towns in future instalments, but in Final Fantasy XIII, I think not.

 

[Nocturne]

Im cool with no towns as long as the game is good. There doesnt HAVE to be towns in the games.

Now I am against the whole downloadable content thing though. Hey guys, lets charge you 10$ more for something that should have already been there =o

 

[SapphireStar]

Le sigh. I never thought Id miss visiting towns, but I do. RPGs aare brilliant for this element of encountering random people in amazing looking locations. Plus going into peoples homes and taking the spoils was always fun.

DLC? No thanks, would rather have a full damn game.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

Le sigh. I never thought Id miss visiting towns, but I do. RPGs aare brilliant for this element of encountering random people in amazing looking locations. Plus going into peoples homes and taking the spoils was always fun.

DLC? No thanks, would rather have a full damn game.

Indeed , its like taking a part of FF's soul...

I used to talk to every NPC and visit every town several times (dialogues would change over time) IMO that was a beautiful aspect of the game, without it its just not the same ....

But I see some people dont even care and dont think its necessary, maybe so.
Hope to play the game soon and see for myself if it doesnt matter at all, time changes after all.

 

[Busta]

Just mentioned this in a FFXIII topic about towns, and the developer and producer said that an additional reason towns are scarce in FFXIII is due to the fact that the main party becomes branded l'Cie almost immediately, and any appearance of them in a town or vilage would be an instant red flag since they are physically branded. This lack of towns helps conceal them from being focused on by the oppressing groups trying to exterminate them. Sorta goes hand-in-hand with the plot I guess.

 

[Ohri-Jin]

Im confused btw, are there no towns at all ?(besides story involved towns) or just a lack of them?

They could have implented Resistance hideout/Refugee camps/hidden vilages/towns/hidden caves - bla bla bla etc. (but yeah they would die anyway when not completing their focus so doubting my suggestions could ever have been implented)

 

[moogling]

While I did enjoy taking a break in a town in the older Final Fantasy games, I don't seem to miss it as much as I thought that I would.

It'd be nice to see the "return" of towns, although I'd like them to keep the way of speaking to NPC's as it is. You don't have to sit through pages and pages of dialogue when accidently hitting X next to a NPC. You can just run past them and move on. Plus, they are actually speaking.

I'm not too bothered by Final Fantasy's inevitable changes.

Im confused btw, are there no towns at all ?(besides story involved towns) or just a lack of them?

There is just a lack of them. There are still towns like Palomporum and Bodhum, but they aren't very similar to the older Final Fantasy towns.

 

[Rey]

I like towns but XIII has 1 or 2 I think. But Busta is right. If they are seen in town they would be killed. Im sure DLC is out of the question here but you never know it might happen in due time. Im not really bothered by just walking on different fields. I quite actually like it