When do you think the franchise will die?

[seanb]

I don't like getting into the business end of such beautiful games, but how long do you think Final Fantasy will last?
Can it last forever or is it already going down-hill?
Perhaps you even think its improving?

For me I believe square enix aren't doing anything wrong, but they are beginning to follow in the direction of the mainstream gaming industry.
For example with recent advances in realistic graphics, the attraction with FF XIII was how great the graphics were and how action packed the game-play was leaving little regard to what the plot/story/setting was. Well this is what I observed from the media coverage of FF XIII before it was released.
Also, I'm not to pushed on the idea of playing FF online, and would hope SE don't make too many more online installments.

[Rowan]

For me I believe square enix aren't doing anything wrong, but they are beginning to follow in the direction of the mainstream gaming industry.

Yes, and most of us are bound to be dissapointed in the future. Growing up with VII and VIII (VIII being the best ff), we cant help but to compare what we liked so much about our favorites. They put the benchmark on FF gaming. Its not like we want a clone of VII or VIII, just something that can be as enjoyable as they were. So far many of us have been let down. Where one final fantasy picked up in the free roaming aspect, (ffXII), we were let down with an abysmal set of characters and star wars storyline (as well as a non memorable score.)

Maybe it was all apart of the magic of being a kid and experiencing these games for the first time. In saying that, I dont think the franchise will ever die, until they decide to call it quits.

[Final Hearts 69]

I agree with you, Seanb, I'm not one to play video games on the internet.

I think it could last forever, I had recently found the trailer on youtube for FF14 and it said online under the title. If that's where it's headed, i'll just go and find all the other games that are for ps systems...and the ds. I mean, they've been at it for what.... since the 80's? If you think about it, that is a long time already. They must be running out of idea as we speak for other FF games. I had no idea that there was a 14 until I saw it on the home page of the website. I actually have 13, however I'm still waiting for 13versus to come out...that game really looks entertainingly fun to play. Considering that it is based off of real life events and has a 'Romeo and Juliet' feel to it... and I could already tell that Prince Noctis is going be my favorite character in that game. -clears throat- Anyways...getting back on topic, if they think that they could keep me hooked on the games series by going online, then they are wrong. Don't get me wrong, I love playing FF it's a great series and all; But why can't they do what they did with FF7 Dirge of Cerberus? where they had gotten the game out for PS2 and then put 'the last episode' (...I think it's 'the lost episode, but I could be wrong) on the phones...but instead of the phone they could put it on the internet.

[seanb]

Yes, I agree with you guys. Starfighters points are interesting, I also think that as good as 12 and 13 were, they don't have the same aura as 7-10. Something is missing, but I cant really pinpoint it.

That sounds somewhat promising Final Hearts. What platforms will versus be available on btw? And I agree with the online thing too. For me FF was always a solitary thing. It was me and the game, that's it. You get involved personally with the story, and I wouldnt like to share it online while I play. I always saw Final Fantasy as kind of like reading a book, only a million times better.

[Superjord]

For me they'll never die, I play, with full enjoyment, all of them to this day. When I complete one I play one that is the most distant in my memory. Nothing beats the magic of the first play through but they're replayability in my opinion is something that can never be lost and the reason why for me, even if they stopped making them in the future, it's a franchise that literally can't die.

[markandrewkinzett]

Impossible to say as Squaresoft/enix said FF7 was gonna be the last then it was FF8 gonna be the last game. However we are now on FF13, FF14 and 13-2 are coming out this year plus other side series games etc so when the franchise will end is (hopefully in my time) not until I die!!!!!!!

[ZenMonkey59]

I think we'll see Final Fantasy going on for a very long time. I can't imagine Square Enix surviving without it, so I think we'll see the FF series go on indefinitely.

Which is fine with me!

[TheNiteAngel]

I think that we'll be seeing the Final Fantasy series for a long long time to come. However, all of us have preferences as to the best in the series and the best era in the series. The games have very much evolved from their beginnings, so I think that the series will evolve even further appealing to a new generation of gamers. There are those of us who will surely continue with the series until we can't possibly play another, but some of us will probably grow out of it... that's depressing... I'm gonna go escape the depression with Final Fantasy

[Kyreaan]

When they finally make your party out to be the bad guys and cause the final Final Fantasy. I'm just hoping they keep running XIV and add on to no end.

[nickness89]

For example with recent advances in realistic graphics, the attraction with FF XIII was how great the graphics were and how action packed the game-play was leaving little regard to what the plot/story/setting was. Well this is what I observed from the media coverage of FF XIII before it was released.
Also, I'm not to pushed on the idea of playing FF online, and would hope SE don't make too many more online installments.For example with recent advances in realistic graphics, the attraction with FF XIII was how great the graphics were and how action packed the game-play was leaving little regard to what the plot/story/setting was. Well this is what I observed from the media coverage of FF XIII before it was released.
Also, I'm not to pushed on the idea of playing FF online, and would hope SE don't make too many more online installments.

I agree, it's much more mainstream nowadays ... it's more a case of impressing a wider audience with the graphics, than keeping the original fanbase happy. I don't disagree with expanding the audience and getting a larger fanbase, but I think that they are going to start losing the original die-hard Final Fantasy Fans.

The whole point of the games, in my opinion, is to have it as the name suggests ... a FANTASY. Magical creatures in your party, the use of swords etc is what fantasy is. For the past few games, the only party members you can have are humans, and they use modern futuristic technology, including guns. I preferred the older FF's in that your party had a mix of different races, and lots of different weapons, battle methods etc.

Final Fantasy will still last a long time I feel, but it will be more action packed and modern, rather than magical, timeless and full of interesting storylines, side-quests and characters.

[Judge Magistrate]

I think it's a long way off FF ending. From what I hear FFXIII-2 is going to have a good plot so maybe that can revamp the series.

[Firefly]

I don't think it will end for a long time,and I hope it won't end.And if does come to an end,I hope it comes after I die.And I also hope that FF doesn't go online completely.I mean a couple of games online will be fine (to suit certain people) but others like me want the old,traditional FF's like 4,5,6,7,8,9,and so on and so forth.I could preach on and on,but I think you get my gist...hopefully

[loaf]

For me I believe square enix aren't doing anything wrong, but they are beginning to follow in the direction of the mainstream gaming industry.

Just had to get this out there. Maybe in America it may be leaning towards "mainstream." Go to where the company resides. In Japan, Final Fantasy is THE Mainstream RPG.

[nickness89]

I mean a couple of games online will be fine (to suit certain people) but others like me want the old,traditional FF's like 4,5,6,7,8,9,and so on and so forth

I completely agree with this. The online games really piss me off. It would be fine if you could buy the game and play it on the PC or Laptop offline, but it's completely online ONLY and it's a monthly subscription fee ... I was sooo looking forward to XI and XIV but then they came as online games ... disappointing :'(

And as for traditional Final Fantasy games, I really want them back ... X to XIII have been good, but the older games had better storylines that I want to see back in the series. If they keep disappointing the way they have been, then Final Fantasy may actually just die off ... hopefully not though. They are focusing too much on action than on Fantasy and storylines and magical creatures etc, just like Resident Evil has been. I loved the virus games ... the plaga games were good too, but i preferred survival horror than action, and FF is heading the same way.

[loaf]

SPOILER!!:

They will never go back to those days.

[nickness89]

They will never go back to those days.

I know, and it's sad really lets just hope that they at least listen to us fans, and make the upcoming games a "little bit" more traditional.

[Judge Magistrate]

I'm not convinced that the franchise will die out just yet. Just wait, they will come out with a classic, good story that has great graphics. It will be the game to end (or begin anew as the case may be) all games.

[Illusion]

Never, not in our life time. Final Fantasy spits out money when it's sick (FFXII, FFXIII for those who hate it, FFXI & FFXIV for most of us), and money will flow steadily when it recovers.

I don't see FFXII & FFXIII as bad games; its just most people (who have played the older games) have a higher standard for the series, and like everything in life, franchises have their ups and downs, for whatever reason. Don't forget that Dragon Quest, another huge Square franchise, also has a great number of titles in its series, so this is a pattern that Square has a lot of success with. I have enjoyed every FF game I have played, and I see the series as going through a stage of changing into a franchise more appealing to the mainstream gamer, as has already been said. Sad? Perhaps, depends how you see it. Will or does this break the series? It shouldn't and it won't, but again, on an individual level, it depends on what kind of gamer you are.

[loaf]

Everyone wants the conflict spat in their face right when they start new game.

[FF9isthebest]

NEVER!!!!!

Only when the whole world goes to Nuclear war, and not even then...

[FF9isthebest]

Shame on you for making this thread I mean really, screw you...

[driftrunner]

i think the FF series will one day die if square insists in not making a FF7 remake. FF7 was the best FF ever.

[nickness89]

i think the FF series will one day die if square insists in not making a FF7 remake.

I doubt the future of the series depends on a Final Fantasy VII Remake ... in my opinion VII was the best too, but it's not everyone's favourite, so i'm thinking it won't affect the series as a whole.

[Linus Li Lelouch]

When they finally make your party out to be the bad guys and cause the final Final Fantasy. I'm just hoping they keep running XIV and add on to no end.

Best post I've read so far...

I think the last Final Fantasy game should be something like this, because when you think about it, it will be the final fantasy since the bad guys pwned everyone.

That's what I'm hoping for at least.

[FFGamer86]

I don't think Final Fantasy will ever die. Thats like saying will Zelda or Mario ever die? Zelda Mario and Final Fantasy practically own the gaming industry. You create a game with any one of those names on it and you're guaranteed to sell millions of copies.

I'm surprised though that since Final Fantasy is coming out with games to try and cash in on the other styles of play. Final Fantasy 11 and 14. (Trying to compete with WOW.)

Final Fantasy Dirge of Cerebus: For the people who like shooters.

Where is the Final Fantasy RTS??? Gotta get that starcraft engine into a final fantasy game lol.

[FF9isthebest]

I don't think Final Fantasy will ever die. Thats like saying will Zelda or Mario ever die? Zelda Mario and Final Fantasy practically own the gaming industry. You create a game with any one of those names on it and you're guaranteed to sell millions of copies.

I'm surprised though that since Final Fantasy is coming out with games to try and cash in on the other styles of play. Final Fantasy 11 and 14. (Trying to compete with WOW.)

Final Fantasy Dirge of Cerebus: For the people who like shooters.

Where is the Final Fantasy RTS??? Gotta get that starcraft engine into a final fantasy game lol.

Man everything dies, society's die, if this country falls, or if Japan falls, no more FF no more anything....

[Gilgamesh~Enkidu]

FF XII: Revenant Wings was an RTS...


Also, I think the best course of action is a console-based MMO.


It work wonders.

[FFGamer86]

You could play FF11 on your ps2.

[mineteaser]

I don't think Final Fantasy should die or will ever die and that's just the way I like it.

The way I see it, Square Enix knows what its doing more than people think. They're trying to do something new and different. I'm pretty sure they even have their own criteria of what makes a (numbered) Final Fantasy game (not that I really know that or whatever). I've played each of the numbered games in order (at the age of 20) and have enjoyed all of them in various extents. The earlier games were fun and enjoyable, but the more modern games put a very neat, cool, and interesting spin on them.

I say Final Fantasy will continue to evolve into more experimental gameplay. After all, even the earlier games had experimental gameplay in them, such as the Active Time Battle system.

[Superjord]

Man everything dies, society's die, if this country falls, or if Japan falls, no more FF no more anything....

Well you're the positive one aren't you? XD