WHEN YOU INTRODUCE A SYSTEM LIKE SOCIAL LINKS, YOU ALWAYS GET THOSE PLAYERS WHO WANT TO MAX OUT ALL OF THE LINKS. HOW DID THAT NOTION OF MANIPULATING HUMAN RELATIONS FIT INTO THE OVERALL GAME EXPERIENCE THAT YOU WANTED TO CREATE?
HASHINO: In a manner of speaking, aren’t all social bonds a form of using other people? Maybe that’s just my opinion. (laughs) But I think, as adults, we have to admit that’s true to a certain extent. Still, speaking from personal experience, that doesn’t necessarily define an entire relationship. It’s possible that you will approach a person with a specific goal in mind, but once you accomplish that goal, you might find that you enjoy talking to them and being with them regardless of the fact that you no longer “need” them for the original purpose. That’s how some lasting friendships are forged, and I think it’s completely legitimate. Instead of sitting around saying, “I don’t have any friends, and I don’t know how to make friends,” just think about what you want to accomplish right now, and figure out what kind of social networking would best serve your purpose. Even in the beginning of the relationship feels calculated, you never known where social interaction will lead.
SO EVEN IF THE ORIGINAL INTENTION IS NOT FOR A FRIENDSHIP, YOU MIGHT END UP WITH A REAL FRIEND ANYWAY.
HASHINO: Yes, exactly. I once knew this young guy who would always complain about not knowing how to make friends. I said, “Who cares?” but I didn’t mean he shouldn’t care about not having friends; I just meant it shouldn’t matter how he made friends. Making friends isn’t all about success and failure; sometimes it’s just about making the effort. I think that’s becoming more and more important these days. In the past, we actually felt isolated when we were alone, didn’t we?
SOEJIMA: We don’t now?
HASHINO: Well, I just mean that being alone has become a recognized lifestyle now. It’s not uncommon to know someone who sits at home alone all day, surfing the net or whatever.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE LIKE THAT TODAY, IT’S TRUE.
HASHINO: See? A lot of people are alone these days. If you’re alone out of choice, that’s one thing; but if you’re alone simply because you think you can’t make friends, I think that’s a negative way to live. In this way, I think the Social Link system in the game mimics social networking in real life. You’re more than welcome to try and systematically max out all of your Social Links… though it’s not actually possible.
DID YOU INTENTIONALLY MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE?
HASHINO: Not at all. To be honest, I didn’t think about that aspect too much. If it was possible, fine; if not, that was fine by me as well. Toward the end of development, I was told it wouldn’t be possible, and my reaction was, “Okay.” That was it. A comment we get from lots of players is that they didn’t care about maxing out Social Links, but they were so intrigued by one particular character’s story that they felt compelled to strengthen that Social Link. I think that’s a totally valid way to go about it.