East/West Development of Final Fantasy

Guernsey

Guernsey

Final Fantasy Nut
Joined
Apr 3, 2008
Messages
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Gil
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I am sure you all read the articles or at least heard it from someone else about Square Enix thinking about using American teams to aid in the development of their games and I know what are you are probably thinking, "oh noes Final Fantasy is going to be developed by an American team, it will have too much LOTR shit lol." I myself am neutral on this stance but I want to see if it will acutlaly make the games better in that the graphics only compliment the most important aspect of any game: gameplay. It doesn't whether the game is Pong or Halo, the Final Fantasy series is first and foremost a game series and it should focus on making the games fun.

Now, I am not in any camp of the recent FFXIII game being bad or good as haven't played it yet but it seems like the fanbase could at least be open minded. The series hasn't really been going "downhill" as of yet but it seems like large majority of fanbase is disgrunted due to nostaliga. I like the classics, FFX and even XII has some merit but Final Fantasy has always been about exploring new territory meanwhile keeping in what worked. I am not sure how this will benefit the series in the long but I believe that it is too late cry foul at this. What do guys think of this?
 
I think East/West collaborations are the only things that can save the FF franchise now. Gameplay-wise, the FF series has been abyssmal since FF X. Mind, the cutscenes are pretty, but that's pretty much the only things Square-Enix can do right besides maybe ports of their older games and publishing manga.

Traditional, linear JRPGs are now stale, because pretty much every JRPG follows the same gameplay formulas outside of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise, which has always found ways to stay true to both JRPG and Western RPG roots while also successfully re-inventing themselves.

Even though some things in modern Western RPGs have become formulaic in their own right (like morality systems and freedom) that can still be kept fresh by using these gameplay mechanics as a window to other cultures or through another culture's eyes to your own, or to present fresh, ethical quandries to think about. Also, these mechanics generally allow for better story, IMO, than a linear JRPG because you can change things with your actions, and thus feel more of an attachment to the world than just going from point a to point b to watch a cutscene for 45 minutes.

That said, I think spicing up the FF franchise with more Western RPG elements from collaboration with an experienced WRPG company (like say, BioWare/Bethesda Softworks/CD Projeckt) can only help to refresh the franchise and open it up to more than just diehard JRPG fanboys/fangirls.
 
I personall hope that they focus on building the game and the sidequests and and let the Japanese writers do the stories.
 
Guernsey said:
I personall hope that they focus on building the game and the sidequests and and let the Japanese writers do the stories.
Click to expand...
I'm not sure Squeenix can even do that right. Design the characters and the worlds? Sure, maybe. But, if the companies I suggested ever got involved in the FF franchise, not using their writing prowess (especially BioWare) should be a criminal offense damnable by public ridicule and spaying/neutering of all those involved so that they can never have children as moronic as they are.

Let's face it, most Final Fantasy plots, especially recent ones, are at best, vague, at worst, totally nonsensical. On the other hand, BioWare, which are basically the WRPG gods at this point, are always expected to have a great plot, writing, and characterization. ...Save the Neverwinter Nights Singleplayer campaign...

*shudders*
 
Here's a good summation from a friend about what would happen with a good W-JRPG. Granted that it's with Mistwalker and not SE, but really... who's the better team here?

Mistwalker

3mistwalker2JEstyle.jpg
Hironobu Sakaguchi is the father of Final Fantasy, and it is what is today – without him. Now he’s at Mistwalker sneakily continuing his series in the form of games like Lost Odyssey and Last Story.

If Bioware were to take one of the best creative minds in JRPG history, and use all the good ideas, steering clear of clichés…Think of the perfect East meets West game that could be created. The JRPG story (and perhaps battle system) with Western RPG sensibilities. It could be the next revolution in the genre.

Plus, music maestro Nobuo Uematsu might come along for the ride!​
Click to expand...

http://grimlyenthusiastic.wordpress.com/2010/06/18/7-dream-bioware-team-ups/
 
To be fair, although the DIALOG of Fallout 3 sucked, I liked the story writing. Especially in the side quests. Those were actually a lot more interesting than the main story. For a linear or branching paths kind of FF style game, I think BioWare would be a dream choice to collaborate with Squeenix. For an exploration/open-ended kind of FF game? Bethesda, definitely. The sidequests and exploration in BioWare games tend to be dull and unrewarding, making you rather just want to beat the story. Bethesda actually encourages you searching every nook and cranny of their games, though.
 
...Whoa, triple post.

Anyway I think Bioware would be a fairly apt choice and a good opportunity to introduce first person gaming to an FF RPG. Controlling a main character throughout the game (possibly different leads like XIII) but allowing them free choices which would alter the game as well as it's progression and endings, I think would really bring a turn around for the FF franchise. It may not save it, but it would certainly be a step in the first direction.
 
I'm all for bringing in western writers and developers to assist with FF.
I feel people like Toriyama and Kitase would be adamantly against it and if they were overruled by higher ups on this they would feel they had failed and suffer a loss of face.
Which as you know for the Japanese would be a supreme embarassment.
 
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