The Limits To Final Fantasy Debate

[neo_rufus]

Ok so I have a pretty neat debate topic that was inspired by my good friend (wakka_luver), so I owe him one for the topic. We had a very brief conversation regarding the upcoming Final Fantasy games of the future. In our conversation I was informed that Final Fantasy 13 is in the making, along with a handful of other Final Fantasy games. Here is where the

Comments

[nosignalinput]

I don't think it's a risky move at all. The Final Fantasy fanbase is absolutely huge and the games will continue to sell regardless of the number. Plus, why does the number matter when each game has different characters and a different setting anyway? It's not like Fifa that does yearly updates, with little change to aesthetics and is more or less just a roster update. Fifa still sells no matter what (at least in the UK, substitute Madden for the USA) because it's an established series.

Another example would be Grand Theft Auto or Resident Evil people may complain about how bad the new game is but that doesn't stop them buying the next one that comes around. This is the main reason original games don't sell well - because they are constantly overshadowed by the established franchises.

Plus, a brand new series? Well, Square Enix also make Dragon Quest, Front Mission, Kingdom Hearts, Star Ocean, and The World of Mana - to name but a few. All of them are established franchises. Granted, most are more popular in Japan but the majority

[neo_rufus]

You know after reading your comments, along with the ones below...I see that now. I guess the old saying "a number is just a number" comes into play here. It's just that some things tend to crash and burn when to many of the same series is made, but like you said, each one is different, so in the end...it doesn't matter. As long as they don't lose the "magic" of a good Final Fantasy game...then it is fine.

That's something I never understood, actually. lol. Although the fans "wishful thinking" does pay of in the end because the next game is usually better then the one they despised. That is what happened to me with FF X-2. I hated that game, but I was still in love with Final Fantasy itself, hence why I got FF 12.

Star Ocean was pretty damn awesome! ^.^

Thanks for the eye opener Tom. I have no clue what I was thinking. Maybe that's just it...I wasn't. ^.^;

[summonerluna]

My opinion on that is the same as my opinion on the FFVII compilation...as long as the material they are creating is interesting, engaging, and has something to make it different and separate it from it's predecessors...then I am okay with however many products they have the creativity to put out. It's when quality starts to fall, that quantity becomes an issue...when they are no longer trying to create games that are powerful enough to stand without the "final fantasy" logo, I will stop playing them. If we get Final Fantasy XXVI, as long as it has something that makes it different from the first XXV (and whatever spinoffs they spawned), I'll still be there at midnight waiting to buy it :)

[nosignalinput]

The problem seems to be that, regardless of quality, well established franchises seem to sell like hot cakes. At least it's that way in the UK anyway.

[summonerluna]

Oh I think it's definitely that way in the US as well...but I think if quality starts to take a major fall, then sales will gradually start to follow...the die-hard fans will buy it no matter what, look for any positive trait it has at all, and defend the games as though their life depended on it, even if they know the games are trash anyway...but the casual fans--the ones who will play the main titles but not buy the spin-offs, the ones who loved VII, VIII, and X, but stopped playing IX before the end of disc 1 because it wasn't like the others, they'll buy the first crap game, but by the time the game after that comes out, will probably borrow it from a friend before spending money on it...then you'll lose the people who have played all the games and enjoyed them, but possibly have other favorites, and they might give it two bad games before they start to give up...I think it will be a slow process, that if quality fell, over the course of a few games, sales would drop dramatically enough for the franchise to lose it's popularity

[neo_rufus]

Yes...I agree with that idea now. It's just a frightening thought of Final Fantasy losing its magic and going downhill. But I suppose loyal and loving fans like us will always be there to back it up. So you and I share that fear, no doubt. As I mentioned in the comment above I wasn't that fond of FF X-2, because it was lacking something. Or maybe I just didn't like the battle system. lol. Nevertheless, I finished it, and it was worth the buy in the end. My favorite component of any Final Fantasy game is the rivalry. You know like Rufus and Cloud, Seifer and Squall...its those kinds of relationships that keeps me begging for more! That and the love connections. lol. But yeah, I'm with you now...as long as they don't lose the "magic" of the Final Fantasy games...then I'm cool with the idea of many more in the future. ^.^

[shahrizai]

NO MORE SPINOFFS PLZ. I'm not even looking at FFXIII, for many reasons, but a big one is that there's just a gazillion games being based off of it. Square, if you can't cram it all into one game, then make it a serial thing like Xenosaga - otherwise, stop trying to cross genre lines and use different plot styles.

[neo_rufus]

LOL!

You sound just like my mate Shane. So you aren't the only one who feels the same way. This is why I love this community and the members in it. One topic spawns another. It never ends. lol.

[ili_chan]

The one true thing I am dismayed about is that they are making these spin-offs for different consoles. It is too costly and irritating to know that you have to own a PSP and DS to get the full FF range of games. That is the curse of the franchise. They know they can do whatever they like because we, the fans, will buy their product. Even if it means buying other consoles.

I for one will continue playing these games, even if I have to wait years to get enough money to buy a PS3.

But as for the initial question... I never thought about it. I acknowledge now that there may be a time when we have about twenty different FF's, but I think it is a very long way off since Square-Enix are focusing so much on spin-offs. I'd still rather they focused on bringing us original and different worlds. Definitely too many sequals and spin-offs, if you ask me.

[wheatear]

The one true thing I am dismayed about is that they are making these spin-offs for different consoles.Yeah, I agree. This is what annoys me most. I'm not forking out money to buy a load of different consoles just so I can play all the spin-offs

[neo_rufus]

Yeah after reading all the comments here...I see that the idea of many Final Fantasy games in the future isn't such a bad idea. I just had a fear that it would lose its magic if they brought out too many. But like you said, each one is unique, so it doesn't matter how many they bring because the fact that they are all different make them new. So yeah, that was very well said of you.

Thanks for snapping me back to reality. Now I am REALLY looking forward to the future Final Fantasy games. lol.

[neo_rufus]

Now THIS is something I totally overlooked. Nice topic. That is true. I have no idea what a Final Fantasy is doing with the DS, but I digress. I see where you are coming from though. It would be nice if majority of them just stuck with the main consoles, like PS2 and PS3. One thing is for sure, I'm not even going to bother with a PSP. At this rate...I see wither a Wii or a PS3 in my future. I wonder how many Final Fantasy games are coming out for the PSP. It should be interesting to see.

I don't blame you at all! I realize now that Final Fantasy is just too strong to lose it's steam. ^.^

I agree with the too many sequels and spin offs thing. Does FF 12 really need a sequel? Quite frankly I do not see the point. As for FF VIII...I think the ending is fine as it is. Unlike FF VII, the ending to FF VIII made sense and was clear to me.

[galadhfea]

I don't mind them continuing with the series as long as they manage to maintain a constant level of quality. Hell I'm super excited by XIII, actually more excited for that than I was for XII.

I don't have too much of a reason except for perhaps, that Final Fantasy games are always engaging and entertaining and pretty much everything I look for in a good game. Yeah, sure, if you take it down to fundamentals, they're all doing the same thing, but they're still fun. That's what matters to me.