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[Pooya]

Kitase should move to Hawaii after he promoted Toriyama to producer.

 

[Mxrz]

I gotta believe in something, so I'm going to keep believing Ito is working on XV somewhere and the future isn't really just more Toriyama, Kitase and stuff like Versus.

 

[Castor Krieg]

But what if Kitase is so pleased with Toriyama that he decided to promote him to a producer?

It's obvious Toriyama loves to write stories. He needs you to love his stories. Pls, love him.

 

[Meccanical]

But that can't be true ! I mean, we still have no idea what he's doing right now. He's not even credited at all in any of the XIII game.

Shouldn't this give us hope that he is secretly working somewhere on something that will revitalize the franchise ? I want to.

Don't do this to yourself.

 

[Mario007]

Ah, then the moment we have all awaited will come! Toriyama will do for Daisuke Watanabe what Kitase did for Toriyama! Final Fantasy XV... directed and written by Daisuke Watanabe! YES!!!

Damn it, forgot about Watanabe. Then again Watanabe has some good stuff...I'm just reading his Wikipedia page and he apparently wrote a lot of Judges in XII so that's good. On the other hand we have this:

Daisuke Watanabe believes that by Vaan getting barely any story focus and not having a major character arc, he felt more like a "transparent character", and therefore an empty shell for the player to put themselves into and see the world and story first-hand

While he clearly achieved just that, I question whether it was a right decision.

What do you guys think will be the choice of the platform for this one? I mean Toriyama did say he wasn't sure what platform his 'next project' was going to be aimed at.

 

[Meccanical]

I think Watanabe needs to get away from Toriyama for a while.

 

[AuthenticM]

Wasn't it Sakaguchi who did an interview about a year ago, saying that there was only one person he believed could bring back Final Fantasy to what it was, and that person was Hiroyuki Ito ?

 

[Meccanical]

Wasn't it Sakaguchi who did an interview about a year ago, saying that there was only one person he believed could bring back Final Fantasy to what it was, and that person was Hiroyuki Ito ?

Yeah he said that.

 

[Mario007]

Wasn't it Sakaguchi who did an interview about a year ago, saying that there was only one person he believed could bring back Final Fantasy to what it was, and that person was Hiroyuki Ito ?

He did say there was one person he trusted to oversee FF and that was...Kitase. He didn't mention Ito.

“But when I left Square, I left the franchise in Kitase’s hands, and he promised me he would protect and progress the Final Fantasy brand.

“He has been my right-hand man since round about the middle of Final Fantasy III, and therefore I have a lot of trust in him.”

By the way Ito IS working on an announced game. It was stated during the Dissidia 012 interviews that the staff couldn't really get Ito to oversee the transition of Vaan into the game as he was away working on an unannounced game, so they only sent him a file by email for him to ok it.

Didn't the staff for FF 12 go around Europe to get inspiration for the art and the world of Ivalice.

 

[DarkLordMalik]

I want a new XIII game where we go back in the past to the time when XIII was originally being created and we erase this game from existence and instead make Versus XIII the mainstream title.

 

[Meccanical]

He did say there was one person he trusted to oversee FF and that was...Kitase. He didn't mention Ito.



By the way Ito IS working on an announced game. It was stated during the Dissidia 012 interviews that the staff couldn't really get Ito to oversee the transition of Vaan into the game as he was away working on an unannounced game, so they only sent him a file by email for him to ok it.

Didn't the staff for FF 12 go around Europe to get inspiration for the art and the world of Ivalice.

Maybe, I recall for Vagrant Story they went to France.

Man I loved that games art direction, so good.

 

[Kagari]

I feel Toriyama isn't alone in the blame game here. Kitase has become really jaded- at least that's how he appeared when I last interviewed him.

 

[Meccanical]

I feel Toriyama isn't alone in the blame game here. Kitase has become really jaded- at least that's how he appeared when I last interviewed him.

Well that's sad, the only ones that seem to be really excited about making their game is Nomura's team with Versus.

At least Nomura sounds excited from what I gather from interviews and stuff. Scared, but excited.

 

[TGO]

Fixed that for you.

As soon as Toriyama is shuffled off to some cell-phone-game back office and Hiroyuki Ito is let out of whatever prison they've put him in, the Square name will rise again:

I thought Kitase is the main man, Toriyama is more the right hand man & Hiroyuki is the tea boy, but his mainly the battle system guy ain't it he?
And obviously IX & XII, thou I didn't think they was the best FF's

 

[AuthenticM]

Daisuke Watanabe should also take part of the blame. The guy has written X-2, XIII and XIII-2, all three of them having horrible anime dialogue.

 

[Mario007]

Maybe, I recall for Vagrant Story they went to France.

Man I loved that games art direction, so good.

Just looked it up on wikipedia. They apparently did some traveling:

The art team visited Turkey, which influenced the game's Mediterranean-style setting.

I feel Toriyama isn't alone in the blame game here. Kitase has become really jaded- at least that's how he appeared when I last interviewed him.

Could you elaborate on what you mean by jaded? (I've always had a problem figuring out what exactly people mean by the that term).

But I agree that Kitase should have stepped in and make sure the games were actually quality final fantasy titles. Not sure why he loves Toriyama so much.

 

[Meccanical]

I thought Kitase is the main man, Toriyama is more the right hand man & Hiroyuki is the tea boy, but his mainly the battle system guy ain't it he?

Most of his credits are for battle systems yes.

 

[DarkLordMalik]

Why can't we get any new talent from Japan which is in the same league as the legends of the past. Does Japan lack new talent?

Their games have seem to deteriorated in quality over time.

 

[Mario007]

Daisuke Watanabe should also take part of the blame. The guy has written X-2, XIII and XIII-2, all three of them having horrible anime dialogue.

Seeing that all three were directed by Toriyama and Watanabe even admitting that most of XIII script was rewritten so that it would fall exactly in line with Toriyama's vision I'd blame it more on Toriyama. Watanabe wrote Birth By Sleep which had great dialogue, for example. Also writing the part of the Judges in XII gives him a pass in my book.

 

[Meccanical]

Why can't we get any new talent from Japan which is in the same league as the legends of the past. Does Japan lack new talent?

Their games have seem to deteriorated in quality over time.

It would seem so, then again how long has Hajime Tabata been with SE, seems relatively new, and he's doing some good stuff.

 

[TGO]

But I agree that Kitase should have stepped in and make sure the games were actually quality final fantasy titles. Not sure why he loves Toriyama so much.

FFX HD is ringing in my head for some reason.

 

[Mario007]

Why can't we get any new talent from Japan which is in the same league as the legends of the past. Does Japan lack new talent?

Their games have seem to deteriorated in quality over time.

Meet Naoki Yoshida, the one ray of light in SE:

FFX HD is ringing in my head for some reason.

Well he said he would oversee that title but honestly it's not too hard to oversee a remake and a new game at the same time.

 

[LiK]

Meet Naoki Yoshida, the one ray of light in SE:

saving one franchise at a time.

 

[Meccanical]

Meet Naoki Yoshida, the one ray of light in SE:

That guy is passionate, I'll give you that, though I am not a fan of MMOs.

I would like to see him bring that passion to a single player FF in the future.

 

[Mario007]

That guy is passionate, I'll give you that, though I am not a fan of MMOs.

I would like to see him bring that passion to a single player FF in the future.

Himself and Nomura give me hope that that company can do some good in the future (I'm not a big DQ fan, although SE is actually well with that series). They're both passionate and give the impression that they single-handedly drive their games forward towards quality. Quite the opposite of Toriyama who thinks he's awesome and can't seem to accept any sort of criticism when it comes to his writing.

 

[Kagari]

Just looked it up on wikipedia. They apparently did some traveling:





Could you elaborate on what you mean by jaded? (I've always had a problem figuring out what exactly people mean by the that term).

But I agree that Kitase should have stepped in and make sure the games were actually quality final fantasy titles. Not sure why he loves Toriyama so much.

Basically he gave a bunch of long winded non-answers to questions and it felt like he was more or less casually approving everything Toriyama did without genuinely caring about the consequences.

 

[Mario007]

Basically he gave a bunch of long winded non-answers to questions and it felt like he was more or less casually approving everything Toriyama did without genuinely caring about the consequences.

Oh right, sounds like he's there enjoying his position of doing nothing and getting money while not really caring for the games...damn.

 

[Meccanical]

Basically he gave a bunch of long winded non-answers to questions and it felt like he was more or less casually approving everything Toriyama did without genuinely caring about the consequences.

Hm.

Well that's sad.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

FFX HD is ringing in my head for some reason.

I'm still salty about FF X getting the HD treatment instead of FF XII

 

[Original Man]

Lightning will be in Versus 13

 

[Mario007]

I'm still salty about FF X getting the HD treatment instead of FF XII

Maybe because it's the better game of the two.

Spoiler

FF XII was my the most disappointing FF experience. But I know you don't like FF X, so to each their own

 

[Esura]

Lightning will be in Versus 13

I still like that one poster's theory on who Lightning would be in Versus XIII. That would be pretty neat.

Spoiler

Noctis and Stella...bow to your lord Etro...er Lightning!

 

[MagiusNecros]

Kitase is kinda in the backseat. And full of vague answers that mean nothing.

 

[DarkLordMalik]

It would seem so, then again how long has Hajime Tabata been with SE, seems relatively new, and he's doing some good stuff.

He has mostly worked on portable titles. He has yet to show his true skills.

 

[LiK]

Lightning will be in Versus 13

i'm sure she will be.

 

[luca1980]

So correct me if I'm wrong, but the guy has not been at the head of any AAA project since XII ? Wikipedia says that he worked on a bunch of stuff since then, but not as a director or producer. Isn't it logical to think that Square trusts him and would give him the reign of a mainline Final Fantasy game once again ? I mean, the guy fucking created the ATB system, went on to direct Final Fantasy VI, regarded as what is possibly the greatest JRPG of all time, then worked on Chrono Trigger, directed IX and then XII.

The only fact we have is a confirmation that the guy is still working for Square. Shouldn't what he's working on be announced sooner rather than later ?

he should but we are talking of Se: the company which destroyed squaresoft great directors, takahashi, Matsuno, kato masato.
Now everything is in toryiama and nomura hand.

 

[badcrumble]

I'm still salty about FF X getting the HD treatment instead of FF XII

I'm still hoping that we get both.

I'm also hoping that both offer improvements above and beyond the changes made for the International versions. For example: they both need a real new game+ (like FFX-2 had). FFXII's ultra-lame version that remembers none of your equipment or abilities or licenses but starts characters off at level 90 does not fucking count.

 

[Meccanical]

He has mostly worked on portable titles. He has yet to show his true skills.

I would like to see him get to work on some beefier hardware, so he can really flex and show what him and his team can do.

 

[TGO]

I'm still salty about FF X getting the HD treatment instead of FF XII

Thats why I mention it, Kitase loves FFX & as Toriyama was mainly responsible is probably why he see in him in such high regard, & probably explains why we've had sequels to both X & XIII on top of the HD edition of X being made

 

[Shinta]

Kitase is kinda in the backseat. And full of vague answers that mean nothing.

Maybe he's just jaded about giving interviews? I know if I worked at SQEX and busted my ass with FFXIII, the ridiculous reaction online would leave me a bit jaded. People rake them over the coals for 4 years, then act surprised that he's not cheerful.

Compare it to the way the Diablo devs acted when they get comparatively minuscule criticism, or Bioware. They flipped out, publicly.

 

[MagiusNecros]

He has mostly worked on portable titles. He has yet to show his true skills.

4 games.

Before Crisis, Crisis Core, 3rd Birthday(Toriyama ruined that one), Type 0.

And he keeps getting better.

 

[Mario007]

He has mostly worked on portable titles. He has yet to show his true skills.

He was given a really tough job actually. He had to make a prequel to the most loved FF games ever and did it quite some justice. Then he was told to make a sequel to a beloved PS One series and Toriyama's script and many would say The Third Birthday is a brilliant game outside of the story. Lastly he was given a job to create a sub-series that would keep in line with the spirit of FF but be significantly different than mainline titles and he seemed to have succeed with Type-0. In fact both Toriyama and Tabata were given the same source material to work with, and Tabata's take on a modern FF game with FNC mythos seemed to be the better one despite the gimped hardware that he was given.

 

[Meccanical]

Thats why I mention it, Kitase loves FFX & as Toriyama was mainly responsible is probably why he see in him in such high regard, & probably explains why we've had sequels to both X & XIII on top of the HD edition of X being made

But FFX had THREE directors.

Why single him out.

 

[DarkLordMalik]

I would like to see a Final Fantasy HD collection consisting of FF X and FF XII. They should be on Vita and PS3 and should support cross-buy.

 

[MagiusNecros]

Maybe he's just jaded about giving interviews? I know if I worked at SQEX and busted my ass with FFXIII, the ridiculous reaction online would leave me a bit jaded.

Compare it to the way the Diablo devs acted when they get comparatively minuscule criticism, or Bioware. They flipped out, publicly.

He's better off not giving interviews that hold no information. It's more like a blog IMO.

 

[Mario007]

Thats why I mention it, Kitase loves FFX & as Toriyama was mainly responsible is probably why he see in him in such high regard, & probably explains why we've had sequels to both X & XIII on top of the HD edition of X being made

There was a sequel to XII too you know

In all seriousness XII actually has a lot of games being released around that world and lore. And Toriyama isn't wholly responsible for X. For example, he didn't actually write it (Nojima did) so maybe that's why it was a good game.

 

[YoungOne]

After playing crisis core and type 0 square really should let this have a hand at the consoles.

 

[TGO]

But FFX had THREE directors.

Why single him out.

Motomu Toiyama had the biggest and most important role out of all the staff working on Final Fantasy X and he was regarded by Kitase as the main director of the game.[3] Toriyama was responsible for every single event scene in Final Fantasy X and also the pacing and flow of the entire game. He also created the back story of all the playable characters.[3] He was also the scenario editor and he would often edit the script to match what he wanted to portray out on screen in an event scene.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motomu_Toriyama

 

[MagiusNecros]

But FFX had THREE directors.

Why single him out.

People fail to understand FFX was a joint project of 3.

 

[Meccanical]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motomu_Toriyama

But my least favorite part about FFX were the cutscenes...