Rufus Shinra is an Al-Bhed Alien!
This may sound far fetched but its true! I couldn’t believe this when I read it - from the translation of both FFVII and X’s Ultimania Omega books. (full credit to Ryu Kaze/Ryu Sinclair for making such a great translation). Its based on the fact that FFVII and FFX’s worlds are connected - they are in the same universe but are on different planets - and the stories occur at different times.
As some fans of Final Fantasy VII, X and X-2 may or may not know, the worlds of the two games share a plot-related connection. The connection's existance was established during an interview with Yoshinori Kitase (lead developer of the Final Fantasy series) and Kazushige Nojima (the scenario writer of Final Fantasy VII, Before Crisis, Advent Children, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2 and the Kingdom Hearts series) in 2002, as featured in the Final Fantasy X Ultimania Omega guidebook, an official Square-Enix publication.
This interview established that there would be a connection between the two worlds, though it didn't detail it. However, based on what was later revealed to be the connection, it's clear that it had already been conceived, as Kitase hints at it with his final word on the subject. In 2003, the exact nature of the concept was finally revealed in the Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania, having been hinted toward by a few elements of the game.
Nojima revealed that Shinra of the Gullwings, an Al Bhed child prodigy and inventor of various machinery, would attempt using the remains of Vegnagun -- the behemoth machina Shuyin tried to destroy Spira with -- to extract life energy from the Farplane and use it to power machines. Shinra would attempt doing this as a result of his analysis of the Farplane late in the game. During this diagnostic, Shinra concluded that there was a great deal of energy floating around inside the Farplane, and that it was most likely the life force of Spira, which could be extracted and used as a power source; however, he concluded that it would take generations to properly implement the idea.
Further of note is that Nojima explained that the Al Bhed entrepeneur Rin also was interested in extracting mako from the Farplane, and that he provided Shinra with the funding to make the attempt. For his part, Rin's desire to do this is revealed during the game should he be uncovered as the culprit behind covering up the malfunctioning machina disaster on the Mi'hen Highroad.
Nojima went on to say that Shinra's attempts to use Vegnagun's remains failed and that he was unable to complete the concept of mako-extraction, just as Shinra had predicted. However, some 1000 years later, once space travel became possible, Shinra's descendants would go on a voyage to the world of Final Fantasy VII. There, at some point in the future, they would be successful in utilizing the concept, and would provide electricity from the Planet for a price; these descendants would found the Shin-Ra Company of Final Fantasy VII.
The connection would again be hinted toward in the Final Fantasy X-2: International+Last Mission (released in 2004) game's Last Mission scenario, in which Rikku revealed that Rin and Shinra had begun working together. Finally, the Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega guidebook (released in 2005) also brings forth mention of the concept.
***Interview with Yoshinori Kitase and Kazushige Nojima in the Final Fantasy X Ultimania Omega*** (Page 191) **FFVII and FFX are connected?!** --"Previously, with a conversation in the FFX Scenario Ultimania, you made certain inferences, and since it's been about half a year since then, is there anything new you'd like to clarify about FFX?"
Kitase "That's true...... Now that FFX International is out and we're in the future, I'm in a predicament; it really isn't that hard to think of another story [set] in that world; room for expansion was left possible there without too much difficulty, don't you think? Speaking conversely, FFX received a splendid reception and made us think of adding to it."
Nojima "After FFVII was finished, we were easily able to add Zack's open[-ended role] into the International version. But, with X, there was an older story with a partly-finished world and an opening that this new one could be added to and [, in doing] so[,] complete it."
Kitase "So, you could say [in terms of] time, Nojima-san decided to designate it to act as a sequel to VII, if you follow me." --"It's a sequel to VII!!"
Kitase "Well, there was a joke right there. Simply put, in VII's ending, Holy came, and the next thing you knew, it was over without closing things up, and then it was the "500 years later" [scene] in the future. There's a large margin buried there. A margin for the imagination. Nojima-san and Toriyama are going to be filling something of that with VII, though, while they're at their best and can do it."
--"So, will it become a sequel to VII's story?"
Nojima "I have a strong feeling that they're going to be connected." --"Huh, so VII and X ARE connected?"
Nojima "Well, there's not many specifics to it. I know that what becomes of people when they die is among them; you could say that it's basically the same. Both [concepts came to] function along the same line of thought as I wrote the stories. Sometimes my thoughts just flow out like that, even though pyreflies distinctly aren't green."
--"When you speak of the dead becoming [something] green, do you perhaps [mean]......?"
Nojima "Yes. In my mind, pyreflies and VII's Lifestream are the same substance."
Kitase "Nojima-san's even considering making use of an idea like this -- [with] an addition to the idea of life origin -- in a sequel to FFX International. That's just a little bit of the thought that's been going into what to do with VII."
Nojima "That's right. There's something like the Lifestream [in X's world also]......." --"'An addition to the idea of life origin'......does that mean you're going to revise life origin concepts or something?"
Nojima "I can't say......it's a secret (laughs)."
Kitase "It's a surprise with how someone from the story conducts theirself with regards to the Farplane."
***Interview with FFX-2 creators from the Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania*** (Page 723) **"So, what of this child, Shinra......"** --"Among these latest stories, 'connected' is one of the key words becoming applicable, isn't it?"
[Daisuke] Watanabe "I personally like the word 'connected,' but there's one aspect where that applies well."
Nojima "During the game's progression, various vague things will be tied together to reveal it."
--"For example, the name 'Shinra' suggests a connection with VII? There's [what's said] in the 'Graduation Mission' scenario [ -- 'graduation' referring to Shinra being soon to leave the Gullwings -- ], and the 'I am not alone in my thinking' line from the 'Rin's Detective Work' scenario seems to have some particular significance."
Nojima "Actually, it does. After quitting the Gullwings, Shinra received enormous financial support from Rin, and began trying to use Vegnagun to siphon Mako Energy from the Farplane. But, he is unable to complete the system for utilizing this energy in his generation, and in the future, when traveling to distant planets becomes possible, the Shin-Ra Company is founded on another world, or something like that....... That would happen about 1000 years after this story, I think."
--"So VII's story is after that?"
Nojima "Well, you could say the feelings I have are like that. When I think about the characters, those are the kinds of feelings I already have. Shinra is a good child, but his descendants are going to end up becoming like the president [of Shin-Ra] (laughs)."
Watanabe "With you said about VII, after seeing your episodes with Shinra, one of the people on the [development] staff said that the first shot of the Bevelle Underground 'gives the impression of somewhere else.'"
[Motomu] Toriyama "Certainly; it looks like the opening shot of Midgar in VII." ***Information on Shinra of the Gullwings in the Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega*** (Page 563) Shinra is a boy who supports the Gullwings, the group which the main protagonist, Yuna, belongs to. He carries a name that gives him an association to the Shin-Ra Company, and he is researching a method that could utilize the energy of "the life force that flows through our planet." The results of this cannot be seen in FFX-2, but maybe one day his descendants will establish a "company that supplies the energy of the planet"?
(Accompanying screenshot caption) The words of Shinra, which can be heard at the end of the story. This world has something similar to the Lifestream that is worthy of attention.
So what do you think? It sounds far fetched to me - but whatever Nojima and Kitase say in my mind is gospel. It just does sound weird that the Shinra family are actually from outer space and are Al Bheds - but pretty cool I suppose! I wonder if Rufus knows…. Also the concept of them both containing the Life-Stream is interesting. Its also very much like how Jenova arrived on the planet - and attempt to take over. I’ve never played FFX-2 but I really feel I have to now!
Also interesting to me and other Rufus fans is the bios on President Shinra and Rufus:
President of the Shin-Ra Company. Having taken it from a simple weapons development company to a corporation that controls the world in a single generation, he is a remarkably capable manager. He excelled at the art of predicting human nature and guiding what the public thought. With the legends of the Ancients' "Promised Land" [in mind], he believes that abundant mako may lie there, and plans to monopolize it to further the company's development.
(Accompanying screenshot caption) It is his cherished theory that one can control the world by grasping the people's hearts with money. He finds the opinion of his son, Rufus, [on how to control the world] dangerous and ensures that it's kept away from the company's affairs.
*Rufus Shinra*
The only son of President Shinra. Cunning but cold-hearted, it's said that no one has ever seen him bleed or cry and he has unfavorable criticism within society. As he carried thoughts of controlling the world through fear, his father regarded him as dangerous. After Sephiroth murdered his father, he was given a perfect opportunity to assume position as the new president. In the hopes of finding the Promised Land, he initiates a pursuit of Sephiroth. In the latter half of the story, he works to conceive plans stop to Meteor and the WEAPONs, ironically taking up the position of protecing the world from dread.
I just found it interesting that the author seems to make Pres. Shinra seem more moral than Rufus - and the idea that he thinks Rufus is “dangerous” is also very interesting. I also like the fact that the public see Rufus unfavourably - when I had always believed him to be quite popular with the people (with the exception of the few who actually get to met him - lol!) i.e. comments in Costa Del Sol “Little Prez” etc.
I also had to post Heidegger’s one as its just funny
*Public Safety Maintenance Department* -Heidgger-
The man in charge of [Shin-Ra's] Public Safety Maintenance Division, he has a coarse laugh of "Gahahaha" and doesn't present himself in his words or actions as possessing much intelligence; he will speak in flattering tones to those in higher positions, but those who are below him are the objects of his vented annoyance and displeasure. He was a close aide of the [first] President, but after Rufus' inauguration, he's treated coldly, and this treatment intensifies because of [the actions] of Cloud and the others.
(Accompanying screenshot caption) His title generally held practically no value [previously], as he did nothing but flatter the President, but Rufus saw through his incompetence.
He is just *so* the professional flatterer ^ ^
Another *very* interesting point - UO also confirms that Sephiroth was controlling Jenova - not the other way round. Pretty deep huh?
I may post more of this when I read through it all and find anything interesting.
As some fans of Final Fantasy VII, X and X-2 may or may not know, the worlds of the two games share a plot-related connection. The connection's existance was established during an interview with Yoshinori Kitase (lead developer of the Final Fantasy series) and Kazushige Nojima (the scenario writer of Final Fantasy VII, Before Crisis, Advent Children, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy X-2 and the Kingdom Hearts series) in 2002, as featured in the Final Fantasy X Ultimania Omega guidebook, an official Square-Enix publication.
This interview established that there would be a connection between the two worlds, though it didn't detail it. However, based on what was later revealed to be the connection, it's clear that it had already been conceived, as Kitase hints at it with his final word on the subject. In 2003, the exact nature of the concept was finally revealed in the Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania, having been hinted toward by a few elements of the game.
Nojima revealed that Shinra of the Gullwings, an Al Bhed child prodigy and inventor of various machinery, would attempt using the remains of Vegnagun -- the behemoth machina Shuyin tried to destroy Spira with -- to extract life energy from the Farplane and use it to power machines. Shinra would attempt doing this as a result of his analysis of the Farplane late in the game. During this diagnostic, Shinra concluded that there was a great deal of energy floating around inside the Farplane, and that it was most likely the life force of Spira, which could be extracted and used as a power source; however, he concluded that it would take generations to properly implement the idea.
Further of note is that Nojima explained that the Al Bhed entrepeneur Rin also was interested in extracting mako from the Farplane, and that he provided Shinra with the funding to make the attempt. For his part, Rin's desire to do this is revealed during the game should he be uncovered as the culprit behind covering up the malfunctioning machina disaster on the Mi'hen Highroad.
Nojima went on to say that Shinra's attempts to use Vegnagun's remains failed and that he was unable to complete the concept of mako-extraction, just as Shinra had predicted. However, some 1000 years later, once space travel became possible, Shinra's descendants would go on a voyage to the world of Final Fantasy VII. There, at some point in the future, they would be successful in utilizing the concept, and would provide electricity from the Planet for a price; these descendants would found the Shin-Ra Company of Final Fantasy VII.
The connection would again be hinted toward in the Final Fantasy X-2: International+Last Mission (released in 2004) game's Last Mission scenario, in which Rikku revealed that Rin and Shinra had begun working together. Finally, the Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega guidebook (released in 2005) also brings forth mention of the concept.
***Interview with Yoshinori Kitase and Kazushige Nojima in the Final Fantasy X Ultimania Omega*** (Page 191) **FFVII and FFX are connected?!** --"Previously, with a conversation in the FFX Scenario Ultimania, you made certain inferences, and since it's been about half a year since then, is there anything new you'd like to clarify about FFX?"
Kitase "That's true...... Now that FFX International is out and we're in the future, I'm in a predicament; it really isn't that hard to think of another story [set] in that world; room for expansion was left possible there without too much difficulty, don't you think? Speaking conversely, FFX received a splendid reception and made us think of adding to it."
Nojima "After FFVII was finished, we were easily able to add Zack's open[-ended role] into the International version. But, with X, there was an older story with a partly-finished world and an opening that this new one could be added to and [, in doing] so[,] complete it."
Kitase "So, you could say [in terms of] time, Nojima-san decided to designate it to act as a sequel to VII, if you follow me." --"It's a sequel to VII!!"
Kitase "Well, there was a joke right there. Simply put, in VII's ending, Holy came, and the next thing you knew, it was over without closing things up, and then it was the "500 years later" [scene] in the future. There's a large margin buried there. A margin for the imagination. Nojima-san and Toriyama are going to be filling something of that with VII, though, while they're at their best and can do it."
--"So, will it become a sequel to VII's story?"
Nojima "I have a strong feeling that they're going to be connected." --"Huh, so VII and X ARE connected?"
Nojima "Well, there's not many specifics to it. I know that what becomes of people when they die is among them; you could say that it's basically the same. Both [concepts came to] function along the same line of thought as I wrote the stories. Sometimes my thoughts just flow out like that, even though pyreflies distinctly aren't green."
--"When you speak of the dead becoming [something] green, do you perhaps [mean]......?"
Nojima "Yes. In my mind, pyreflies and VII's Lifestream are the same substance."
Kitase "Nojima-san's even considering making use of an idea like this -- [with] an addition to the idea of life origin -- in a sequel to FFX International. That's just a little bit of the thought that's been going into what to do with VII."
Nojima "That's right. There's something like the Lifestream [in X's world also]......." --"'An addition to the idea of life origin'......does that mean you're going to revise life origin concepts or something?"
Nojima "I can't say......it's a secret (laughs)."
Kitase "It's a surprise with how someone from the story conducts theirself with regards to the Farplane."
***Interview with FFX-2 creators from the Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania*** (Page 723) **"So, what of this child, Shinra......"** --"Among these latest stories, 'connected' is one of the key words becoming applicable, isn't it?"
[Daisuke] Watanabe "I personally like the word 'connected,' but there's one aspect where that applies well."
Nojima "During the game's progression, various vague things will be tied together to reveal it."
--"For example, the name 'Shinra' suggests a connection with VII? There's [what's said] in the 'Graduation Mission' scenario [ -- 'graduation' referring to Shinra being soon to leave the Gullwings -- ], and the 'I am not alone in my thinking' line from the 'Rin's Detective Work' scenario seems to have some particular significance."
Nojima "Actually, it does. After quitting the Gullwings, Shinra received enormous financial support from Rin, and began trying to use Vegnagun to siphon Mako Energy from the Farplane. But, he is unable to complete the system for utilizing this energy in his generation, and in the future, when traveling to distant planets becomes possible, the Shin-Ra Company is founded on another world, or something like that....... That would happen about 1000 years after this story, I think."
--"So VII's story is after that?"
Nojima "Well, you could say the feelings I have are like that. When I think about the characters, those are the kinds of feelings I already have. Shinra is a good child, but his descendants are going to end up becoming like the president [of Shin-Ra] (laughs)."
Watanabe "With you said about VII, after seeing your episodes with Shinra, one of the people on the [development] staff said that the first shot of the Bevelle Underground 'gives the impression of somewhere else.'"
[Motomu] Toriyama "Certainly; it looks like the opening shot of Midgar in VII." ***Information on Shinra of the Gullwings in the Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Omega*** (Page 563) Shinra is a boy who supports the Gullwings, the group which the main protagonist, Yuna, belongs to. He carries a name that gives him an association to the Shin-Ra Company, and he is researching a method that could utilize the energy of "the life force that flows through our planet." The results of this cannot be seen in FFX-2, but maybe one day his descendants will establish a "company that supplies the energy of the planet"?
(Accompanying screenshot caption) The words of Shinra, which can be heard at the end of the story. This world has something similar to the Lifestream that is worthy of attention.
So what do you think? It sounds far fetched to me - but whatever Nojima and Kitase say in my mind is gospel. It just does sound weird that the Shinra family are actually from outer space and are Al Bheds - but pretty cool I suppose! I wonder if Rufus knows…. Also the concept of them both containing the Life-Stream is interesting. Its also very much like how Jenova arrived on the planet - and attempt to take over. I’ve never played FFX-2 but I really feel I have to now!
Also interesting to me and other Rufus fans is the bios on President Shinra and Rufus:
President of the Shin-Ra Company. Having taken it from a simple weapons development company to a corporation that controls the world in a single generation, he is a remarkably capable manager. He excelled at the art of predicting human nature and guiding what the public thought. With the legends of the Ancients' "Promised Land" [in mind], he believes that abundant mako may lie there, and plans to monopolize it to further the company's development.
(Accompanying screenshot caption) It is his cherished theory that one can control the world by grasping the people's hearts with money. He finds the opinion of his son, Rufus, [on how to control the world] dangerous and ensures that it's kept away from the company's affairs.
*Rufus Shinra*
The only son of President Shinra. Cunning but cold-hearted, it's said that no one has ever seen him bleed or cry and he has unfavorable criticism within society. As he carried thoughts of controlling the world through fear, his father regarded him as dangerous. After Sephiroth murdered his father, he was given a perfect opportunity to assume position as the new president. In the hopes of finding the Promised Land, he initiates a pursuit of Sephiroth. In the latter half of the story, he works to conceive plans stop to Meteor and the WEAPONs, ironically taking up the position of protecing the world from dread.
I just found it interesting that the author seems to make Pres. Shinra seem more moral than Rufus - and the idea that he thinks Rufus is “dangerous” is also very interesting. I also like the fact that the public see Rufus unfavourably - when I had always believed him to be quite popular with the people (with the exception of the few who actually get to met him - lol!) i.e. comments in Costa Del Sol “Little Prez” etc.
I also had to post Heidegger’s one as its just funny
*Public Safety Maintenance Department* -Heidgger-
The man in charge of [Shin-Ra's] Public Safety Maintenance Division, he has a coarse laugh of "Gahahaha" and doesn't present himself in his words or actions as possessing much intelligence; he will speak in flattering tones to those in higher positions, but those who are below him are the objects of his vented annoyance and displeasure. He was a close aide of the [first] President, but after Rufus' inauguration, he's treated coldly, and this treatment intensifies because of [the actions] of Cloud and the others.
(Accompanying screenshot caption) His title generally held practically no value [previously], as he did nothing but flatter the President, but Rufus saw through his incompetence.
He is just *so* the professional flatterer ^ ^
Another *very* interesting point - UO also confirms that Sephiroth was controlling Jenova - not the other way round. Pretty deep huh?
I may post more of this when I read through it all and find anything interesting.