PSM3 interview Final Fantasy devs Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Arakawa

A while ago, PSM3 headed down to the capital to interview the Godfather of Final Fantasy, Yoshinori Kitase, and Dissidia's lead designer, Tetsuya Arakawa. In between pinching ourselves to check if it was a dream, we talked about all things Final Fantasy, from forthcoming beat-em-up Dissidia, to the epic Final Fantasy XIII and rounding up some interesting insights into Final Fantasy VII. Check out the video for the full interview.

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• final fantasy
• final fantasy xiii
• final fantasy dissidia
• final fantasy vii
• cloud strife
• lightning
• kitase
• arakawa
• psm3
• RPG

[DefenceSpeech]

Mergers in the tech world never work. It's sad to say, but Square-Enix's stock isn't going into the dumpster for no reason. I still hold out hope for verses xiii though.

[SonsoftheProphets]

@quezcatol I guess it being so linear doesn't make it feel like a real 'RPG' which the GTA series mastered in doing so. When I played GTA III I thought that Square-Enix or the Final Fantasy game developers would create a game like that, but they haven't. What made Final Fantasy XIII a bit boring was the storyline, had the story been as good as Final Fantasy VII, many wouldn't mind the game linear's nature. I guess if you make a game that is as linear as that, then the storyline has to be great.

[SonsoftheProphets]

@quezcatol Yeah, that's unfortunate because I actually liked the game being linear. Being extremely organised myself, I prefer completing the main storyline without 'distractions', and then doing any available sides quests after the storyline has been completed. I guess it feels more like a movie that you get to interact with (which I like). Also am not really a fan of challenging monsters with a low develop party, thus getting my ass kicked. Which I hated in Final Fantasy XII.

[SonsoftheProphets]

@Dyssadia The funny thing is that to me, the Final Fantasy Series tends to be linear in that there may be side quests that you may complete during your journey thourgh the game however, there still tends to be only 1 path to trigger the next stage of development in the main storyline. The first game I played that was truly non-linear was Super Mario 3 where literally many parts, skipping stages & worlds lead to progression in the game, and the GTA series is the godfather of all non-linear games.

[Dyssadia]

@SonsoftheProphets It means that it follows a flow, that there really aren't many decisions as you, the player, has an effect on the story. Its very similiar to a rollercoaster, you are along for the crazy ass ride. You follow it through its many loops, twists and turns till the ride is over. Non-linear just means you choose during that ride where to take and go. Fallout 3 is very nonlinear whereas FFXIII is incredibly linear by its level design, story and characters whereas Fallout 3 is not.

[Dyssadia]

@quezcatol Actually linear means that there is a beginning and end point. How that "exactly" pans out is on decisions and directions of the designers. Its true that most "linear" games offer a straight A to B formula. However it should also be noted that what starts as A and what is leading to what is expressed as B doesn't make it so. In the case of the FF series, only a handful of main antagonists have been the main target and focal point to complete the game.

[yamo10]

yoshinori-chan! tetsuya mo bocchan!

[quezcatol]

@SonsoftheProphets no problem, I liked FFXIII. but... you just ran in a straight line the whole game and it pissed me off.

[SonsoftheProphets]

@quezcatol Hey thanks for answering

[quezcatol]

@SonsoftheProphets linear means that its follows like a "line" its just straight, it forces you to go straight and no to the left/right for ex.

It gives you no options and a linear story is basically that it has no suprises in it. Also, you cant do any real side-quest or side-missions.