Best article of the decade - Yoshida: Another Mistake Like FF14 Would "Destroy" SE

[Shin Asura]

They had a similar experience with Final Fantasy Spirits Within where they planned big for a franchise that hadn't even taken off yet and they got burned

They did this to themselves though, who the hell expects the industry and fans to not judge your product? If your product gets released it's going to either be praised or slammed even if you want it not to be judged which is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. You either release something that is complete or don't release it at all.

Yoshida: Another Mistake Like FF14 Would "Destroy" Square

"Unless you are a genius, you cannot make something completely new from nothing."


by Luke Karmali
NOVEMBER 27, 2012


Naoki Yoshida has revealed that he feels another mistake like Final Fantasy XIV would end up "destroying" Square Enix.
Speaking with Kotaku, the game's producer and director explained that his team is fully aware of the pressure on them to salvage the brand's reputation following the poor reception the MMO received. He asserted that this was why they were determined not to launch the revamped Final Fantasy XIV - A Realm Reborn until they feel the game is ready.
“
We won't make a mistake like FFXIV again. If we did, it would be like at the level of destroying the company.

"We won't make a mistake like FFXIV again," he said. "If we did, it would be like at the level of destroying the company."
Final Fantasy XIV launched back in 2010 to a negative reaction from fans and critics alike, resulting in Square Enix CEO Yoichi Wada saying "the Final Fantasy brand has been greatly damaged."

Just why the game didn't fare particularly well has been the subject of much scrutiny over the last couple of years, but now Yoshida himself has waded in with his thoughts. Filling both the producer and director roles for the game since December 2010, when the previous producer of the game resigned and left the company, he's now revealed he had qualms about the state of the game even before he was involved with it.
"When I heard that it was going to go on sale as planned, I thought, that will probably be a big mistake," he admitted, before saying he believes the fundamental error made was that lessons weren't learned from other MMOs. The original team supposedly were just trying to make an MMO that felt different from Final Fantasy XI, which Yoshida believes was a mistake.

"I think it would've been good if they tried seeing what happened if they turned World of Warcraft into Final Fantasy. So, because they tried only to make something that was 'different from FFXI,' they ended up with not much of anything.

"They should have said, 'Hey you, go play WoW for a year [for inspiration].'

"Unless you are a genius, you cannot make something completely new from nothing."

There's still no set launch date for the revamped Final Fantasy XIV, though it's expected to appear around the middle of 2013. The PlayStation 3 version is also still in development, with more details expected on that soon.

[Bigdoggy]

when it comes to the FF series as a whole, they damaged it completely this gen. SE for some reason became more stupid and it seems every year they got dumber and dumber. I highly doubt they will get back into the RPG base like they use to be, I think this company fucked it all up.

[keefy]

So they buggered 14 and it was slammed by fans and critics alike but are re-releasing it 3 years later and they think thats a good idea?

[Fenix]

What amazes me is there excuse of a "promise" for keeping a sub in, they would be smart to make it F2P on PS3 - at least that would get my attention.. maybe.

[Shin Asura]

So they buggered 14 and it was slammed by fans and critics alike but are re-releasing it 3 years later and they think thats a good idea?

I know right, if they were smart which they aren't they would keep their assests from failed projects and actually make games people want like Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Final Fantasy X HD, and Final Fantasy Agito XIII (Type Zero). Instead they purchased Eidos and are trying to be a company they weren't in the past, the way they're acting now totally destroys the image they layed out for themselves when they were Squaresoft

[Sir_Scud]

So they buggered 14 and it was slammed by fans and critics alike but are re-releasing it 3 years later and they think thats a good idea?

Well, yeah. FFXI is their most successful Final Fantasy game to date. The game makes them a steady cash flow. Not to mention that MMO projects cost a ridiculous amount of money to make and maintain, something 38 Studios learned the hard way. So you can't blame a company that wants to recoup some major losses. This is far worse than a game release selling far under their intended target goal.

Unfortunately for SE there has already been a lot of damage to the franchise in general. It will take a lot more than just fixing XIV. People have already made their opinions on the XIII saga, so I think all eyes will be on XV. I think that is a project that cannot afford to fuck up.

[Wrath]

Just you wait and see how FF XIV will turn things around.

Meanwhile, you guys can go play through FF VII for the 200th time.

[Blacksite]

So they buggered 14 and it was slammed by fans and critics alike but are re-releasing it 3 years later and they think thats a good idea?

Remaking Final Fantasy XIV makes more sense than taking 10 years, in their words, to remake Final Fantasy VII, which was already hugely successful.

[Two4DaMoney]

SE can go to hell tbh. I'm starting to think FF13vs is being developed for the 360 on the hush. There's no reason that game shouldn't be out yet.

[TDbank24]

Square Enix better not fall off the map. I can't quit playing FFXI.

[brebaz]

After the release of both FFXIII and FFXIV, i was disappointed in SE and the only thing that could redeem them a little for me is release FFX HD and FFXIIIvs.

FFXIV was a mess. FFXIII was a corridor FF and true to the old formulas, but more westernized!!

[mickice]

They should have dropped all their projects this gen and just remade FFVII.

[Blacksite]

They should have dropped all their projects this gen and just remade FFVII.

Except they aren't obligated to remake anything.

And even if they gave into the selfish demands of some hardcore fans, do you honestly believe it would save the company? Why wouldn't you want to play through a brand new, open world JRPG?

Square Enix have made a habit of announcing one too many titles over the years but they shouldn't stop creating new experiences.

[TheTenth666]

what damaged Final fantasy is FFXIII with its mix of interactive movie, action with few RPG elements
sad thing is millions of gamers bought the game anyway

[Bigdoggy]

Remaking Final Fantasy XIV makes more sense than taking 10 years, in their words, to remake Final Fantasy VII, which was already hugely successful.

exactly, they keep on making the dumbest decisions. I really think this company is to stubborn to stay open. if they keep acting this way I wouldn't be surprised to see them shut the doors within 5 more years imo. They seem so detached from their RPG fanbase and not only that but they don't even acknowledge the success of past RPG's, they straight up refuse to acknowledge any past successes.

I can definitely see this company losing all the RPG base, they most likely already lost most of them.

[RedOrb_Collector]

Can't seem to give a shit about this company anymore.