Here is how I see it....

[haruki_emishi]

Final Fantasy is a gaming franchise that won't die and we know it won't go anywhere anytime soon. What I find most disconcerting is the sudden drop in enthusiasm over the mainstream games, and even some of the spin offs that have come out. After some thinking I believe  I found what has been keeping most people away.

Comments

[paperclipchains]

It's not the propaganda that's the issue so much as the complete and utter vapidity of all of the spinoffs, and SE has very much decided to push the childish, vapid angle when it comes to big FF-related titles: Crisis Core, Advent Children, Dissidia, RW, FFT2:A, even the trailers for XIII and Vs, and of course the catalyst of the whole thing, Kingdom Hearts. There's been a very distinct change in tone since KH2. While simplistic concepts such as "light" and "darkness" worked in those games, they've kind of bled into the watering hole and contaminated everything.

That isn't the only reason. Gamer hierarchy is more important than ever these days. Since the Wii came out, gamers have been re-enforcing barriers and redrawing lines of what's good and what isn't, at least socially speaking. See the refrain: "fucking casuals!" There's a disdain for anything that's too mainstream right now, and among male gamers, a very particular disdain for mainstream games that are highly popular with women (often seen now as being "contaminated with slash" or something silly). The corallory to that is that more female gamers want to set themselves apart - "Well I don't just like FF and KH, you know."

Realistically, though? I think FF is more popular than ever. Vapidity appears to be selling quite well.

[haruki_emishi]

I think perhaps you are right. Kingdom Hearts (personally I hate the game) seemed to have done a lot to change FF. At least as far as how the plots are perceived and the like. Dissidia doesn't bother me so much given I like the PR all characters are getting across the board, and a lot of the guys I spoke to felt the same way. Their biggest iffy bout was over FFVII related titles and yes KH.

They more or less believed Square was stupid for even wanting to make KH. Though it is popular they felt it hooked in these annoying fangirls, and even fanboys to a small extent. I do not know how much of that is true, perhaps the fangirl part but fanboys....I dunno.

As far as slash complaints are concerned I always say, "If you don't like it ...then don't go where there is slash!". A lot of comms accept it but if the pairing says for example; Sephiroth x Zack...just don't go there lol. I don't know some gamers these days are a little uppity when it comes to this stuff.

Lastly, yes you are correct the vapidity is doing well which both surprises and irks me I guess. I am happy FF is thriving as it is a good series but, at the same time if a game sells well because of THAT....oi.