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Square Enix producer Kitase on Lightning Returns reviews, HD remasters, and that FF7 tech demo
Lightning Returns brought an end to what's been - relative to the series' high standards and typically universal acclaim - a divisive trilogy of games. While we enjoyed the final fantasy in Lightning's saga, other reviewers were happy enough to say so long to the rosy-haired heroine. When I spoke with series producer Yoshinori Kitase days after the game launched, I asked if he'd had a chance to read the reviews, and what he thought of them. "Yes I have scanned through more or less all the reviews, as well as user feedback available on the Internet," Kitase said, through a translator "I wasn't really shocked. There are negative reviews and positive reviews, it's a real mixture. When I started making this game I took on very new challenges, so in a way I had anticipated that there would be mixed opinions, so this is more or less what we had anticipated." Kitase, a Square Enix veteran of some 24 years, also argued the game might leave some with a negative impression at first, but as you play it the whole way through, your mind might change. For a second I wondered if we'd gone back in time to 2010, and Kitase was talking about the ever-so-slow introduction that put some players off Final Fantasy 13. "In a normal process where we make numbered Final Fantasy games, it takes at least two or three years, [and it's] quite a long turnaround," Kitase pointed out, referring to the much shorter cycle that saw three FF13 games released in just under four years. "In the space of three years, lots of things can [change] quite dramatically," he added. "The market situation, user trends, users' preferences, everything can change. So we've always taken feedback both from media and users on board, and when we want to reflect those views on the next project, in the space of three years, the situation might be completely different. The changes we've affected or implemented as a result of this feedback may not mean very much in three years' time, because of the long cycle."
Making Time: Final Fantasy Adventure
This is Making Time, a column about the games we've always wanted to play, and the games we've always wanted to play again. We all have to start somewhere. Yoshinori Kitase has been, more or less, the man in charge of the Final Fantasy series since 1994. Kitase directed the operatic Final Fantasy VI, the gluttonous sc-fi epic Final Fantasy VII, the romantic head-trips Final Fantasy VIII and X, and he's been the producer of the entire hallucinatory Fabula Nova Crystalis pantheon, including Final Fantasy XIII. At this point Final Fantasy is as much Kitase's baby as it was that of Hironobu Sakaguchi, Nobuo Uematsu, and Yoshitaka Amano back on the NES. Back in 1991, though, Kitase started his career with Square on a very different project. He was the designer and writer of Final Fantasy Adventure for Nintendo's old black and white Game Boy. The project's original name was Seiken Densetsu, the predecessor to what we in the U.S. know as Secret of Mana. What's fascinating about Kitase's debut is how it bears all his idiosyncrasies all in one primitive package.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII introduced by producer Yoshinori Kitase
Itching to know more about the third entry in the Final Fantasy XIII series, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII? So are we, but unfortunately all Square Enix is giving out for now is this video from producer Yoshinori Kitase introducing the new game.
Final Fantasy XIII-2 announced, coming to 360 and PS3
Square Enix has announced Final Fantasy XIII-2 for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. During a Square Enix 1st Production Department event in Japan, producer Yoshinori Kitase revealed the direct sequel to last year's Final Fantasy XIII, which is to be directed by Motomu Toriyama. Though we hope the "-2" in the title signifies the subtraction of Hope and Vanille, the logo highlights the addition of a new character alongside XIII's prickly leading lady, Lightning. According to a translation by RPG Site, Final Fantasy XIII-2 is set to launch in 2011, though it's unclear if that pertains to Japan only. Update: The English version will launch "next Winter." %Gallery-114575%
Square Enix producers have more Final Fantasy 13 stories in mind
Despite the eventual existence of Final Fantasy Agito XIII and Final Fantasy Versus XIII, there's apparently still room for more "Fabula Nova Crystallis" games from Square Enix. Maybe. In an interview in the Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Omega guide, producer Yoshinori Kitase expressed an interest in continuing the Final Fantasy XIII story. "I'd like to at some point make a story where Lightning ends up happy," director Motomu Toriyama said. Whether or not this becomes a game depends on demand from fans. The team also revealed content that was planned as DLC but cut from Final Fantasy XIII: an area called "Seventh Ark" that would have offered "free battles." This was axed for quality reasons, as well as for differences in PSN and Xbox Live.
Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International confirmed for Xbox 360 in Japan
Square Enix has confirmed the forthcoming release of FFXIII on Xbox 360 in Japan, dubbed "Final Fantasy XIII Ultimate Hits International." The game will be released in December and features English voice acting with Japanese subtitles (other subtitle options are also available). Despite early reports of the release, no additional content will arrive with FFXIII -- it differs from the PlayStation 3 version in Japan in that it will feature content originally only in the US release. It will also add an easy mode and "Final Fantasy XIII - Episode 1" (a short story book). Square Enix producer Yoshinori Kitase told Famitsu (via Gamasutra) that the new version was spurred by the launch of the remodeled 360 earlier this year, which aimed to bolster the console's install base in Japan. "We feel that there are ... a lot of people in Japan who own nothing but 360s. Thanks to the new system and such, the situation's a lot different than it was in July 2008," he explained. FFXIII will be the first Xbox 360 title released under Square's "Ultimate Hits" budget line, dropping at ¥4,980 ($59.50) on December 16.
Japan to celebrate The 3rd Birthday winter 2010, rest of the world will 'soon after'
If Square Enix is going to get Parasite Eve and its sequel onto PSN as PSOne Classics before the third game in the series ships, in only has a few months left to do so. The 3rd Birthday producer Yoshinori Kitase has confirmed that his game will release on PSP in Japan "winter this year." Speaking to VG247, Kitase remarked that "The Japanese version's going to come out in winter this year," adding, "And we've already started localising the game for overseas versions. So we're hoping to release it sometime rather soon after the Japanese release, but we can't specify an exact time." He did, however, confirm that an international release will happen within 2011. Also, Kitase's comment regarding localization having already begun is pretty much in line with the faster turn-around Square-Enix has been targeting for global availability of its games in recent years. We'll have a more specific -- hopefully international -- release date when it's announced, after which we fully expect GameStop to begin offering party hats and noisemakers as pre-order incentives.
Final Fantasy XIII UK launch event rewarding cosplayers
Square Enix, apparently, is all about the cosplay. Just today, the publisher announced that it'll be rewarding the first 50 people dressed in "Final Fantasy costumes" who arrive at the March 9 launch event for Final Fantasy XIII with a free copy of the game's soundtrack. Oh, and also, Square Enix producer Yoshinori Kitase and art director Isamu Kamikokuryo will be there, signing whatever you want. The release further entices attendees with "high-profile DJ and TV presenter Alex Zane," who'll no doubt be spitting hot fire into a mic all evening. The event kicks off at 5:30PM at the Oxford Street HMV in London and runs until the sun comes up -- or 7:30PM, whichever comes first. %Gallery-41346%
Yoshinori Kitase: Cut Final Fantasy XIII content will not return as DLC
That "entire game's worth" of content that was reported to have been cut from Final Fantasy XIII? Well, don't expect it to return in the form of DLC for the game. Speaking with Joystiq, FFXIII producer Yoshihiro Kitase said of the trimmed elements, "There wasn't all this other stuff that we wanted to include but had to cut. It was more of a selective process you'd find in any development process, where there were a lot of ideas but then we chose the best of those to include in the final game. The things that were cut either didn't make sense in the storyline, would slow down the pace of the game or were otherwise unnecessary." Kitase wanted to stress his "final word" on topic, telling us, "There is no plan for these things that were cut -- because they weren't essential to the game -- to be revived as downloadable content," laughing as he remarked that he wouldn't want to add back in the stuff he didn't think should be in there in the first place. We're cool with that, as long as they didn't cut out a "Meanwhile ..." segment that just happened to be a remake of Final Fantasy VII in its entirety.
Producers: Final Fantasy XIII will 'resurrect' Japanese game industry
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2010/02/09/producers-final-fantasy-xiii-will-resurrect-japanese-game-ind/'; Final Fantasy XIII may not be out in North America and Europe yet, but the development team is in full "victory lap" mode in Japan. At least, that's how it seemed when noted industry figure Jem Alexander interviewed producer Yoshinori Kitase and director Motomu Toriyama for the European PlayStation Blog. Asked about the state of the Japanese game industry, the two (no individual attribution was given to the speakers) said that FFXIII was going to fix it. "Some people have been saying that the Japanese game industry is dead, and all that... I dunno," the creative lead said. "I will say that Final Fantasy XIII is one really epic title for high definition consoles. With this game, we are going to resurrect the whole thing." And then they immediately moved from boastful to confusing: "As for Western games that have influenced us - FPSs mostly. The Call of Duty series, for example." Influenced their desire to sell a lot of copies, maybe? The team also suggested elsewhere in the interview that God of War Collection-style remakes of previous Final Fantasy titles are unlikely. And, while they didn't outright deny DLC (which is looking more and more likely), they said that material or ideas originally left out won't be put back in as DLC.
Back of FFXIII box for 360 mentions DLC
It looks like that entire game's worth of removed content might be making it into Final Fantasy XIII after all. GameStop has posted the box art for the Xbox 360 version of the game and, more importantly, it has also posted the art for the back of the box. As you can see above, the box mentions that Final Fantasy XIII will support downloadable content after all, though there is no mention of what the DLC actually is. It's worth noting that the content could be something as simple as Avatar outfits or accessories, though it would certainly make sense for Square Enix to supply its most well-known franchise with post-launch DLC. The news comes after producer Yoshinori Kitase was rumored to have stated that no DLC had been planned for the game, though he noted it was still "possible." Final Fantasy Union, however, notes that Kitase apparently confirmed DLC during a recent interview with the Dutch Official Playstation Magazine. The box art certainly seems to confirm that, though we've reached out to Square for clarification. As of this writing, GameStop has yet to post the art for the back of the PS3 version, so it's unclear if both platforms will support said content. [Via Final Fantasy Union]
Final Fantasy XIII producers: Traditional RPG towns are tough to do in HD
Lots of fans think it would be great to see the classic Final Fantasy VII remade in full HD glory on a platform like the PS3, but Final Fantasy XIII producers Yoshinori Kitase and Motomu Toriyama say it would be really tough to do. In a recent interview with Ultimania, they say that the limit isn't the HD technology, it's the amount of artisanship. "Considering the amount of work to make graphics that deserve HD, it is hard to make towns in the conventional style," said Toriyama. FFVII's graphics were beautiful at the time, but when you consider that we all played them on a 4:3 TV SD screen rather than the 1080p HD behemoths we're all playing games on today, you realize that it's a lot more work for artists to put in to make the game look as epic as Final Fantasy should. That's one reason why FFXIII doesn't have conventional RPG towns. Kitase agrees, saying that "it is very hard to make games on PlayStation 3 in the same style the games in that era had. Making graphics will take enormous time." So score one for standard definition and the limits of the old pre-HD consoles. Note that neither producer says it's impossible, just a lot of work. So maybe some enterprising young developer will come along and make a solid, HD JRPG in the old-school fashion.
FFXIII development started on PS2, delayed launch by a year and a half
We've been wondering why it's taken Square Enix so long to churn out another installment in the core Final Fantasy franchise, seeing as how the last game came out approximately forever ago. The answer recently came in the latest Dutch issue of Official PlayStation Magazine, which contains a revealing interview with Squeenix's Yoshinori Kitase. According to a fan translation of the interview, Kitase said "Final Fantasy XIII was originally meant to be a PS2 title, but we had to switch systems due to the arrival of the PS3. That cost us about one and a half years and was constantly a case of trial and error." Considering it took Square Enix roughly "one and a half years" to develop and release Final Fantasy IX, that's a pretty substantial amount of time lost. Hopefully the developer will have an easier time when working on the next current-gen Fantasy. [Via VG247]
Rumor: No Final Fantasy XIII DLC planned, but 'possible'
Considering that an entire game's worth of content was supposedly cut from Final Fantasy XIII, one could imagine there's a veritable gold mine of content waiting to be polished and released as DLC. Apparently not, however, as producer Yoshinori Kitase has allegedly indicated, "at present we're not considering [DLC]." The quote is said to originate from a brief interview featured in an Ultima Guide for the game (via FFReunion), and Kitase apparently added that DLC is still "possible," but it's just not something Square Enix is working on right now. Kitase cited the team's drive to create a complete experience in the final retail game as one of the contributing factors to putting DLC plans aside. He also pointed to the game's exceedingly long development time and the developers' focus on getting the game finished as soon as possible. Clearly, "asap" has a different meaning in Japan. [Via Andriasang]
Final Fantasy XIII might get DLC, no story expansions
We know -- it's tiresome hearing about "DLC" when we're still waiting on "regular ol' C" -- still, our interest was piqued by the mention of possible downloadable content for Final Fantasy XIII in a recent RPG Site interview with Squeenix's Motomu Toriyama and Yoshinori Kitase. According to Kitase, the developer is "exploring the option of downloadable content, perhaps adding new areas, items or enemies." He went on to add that any DLC wouldn't expand the game's story -- that'll be completely contained within the core game. Our hope is, as ever, that any potential expansion for the game will finally add that Final Fantasy kart racer mode we've been waiting on ever since -- wait, they already did one of those? Get out of town! [Via VG247]
English Final Fantasy XIII demo will be brand new, downloadable (if it happens)
Click to embiggen. Right now, there's only one way to get an early hands-on with Final Fantasy XIII: own the Japanese Blu-ray release of Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete. Heck, you can't even go to a gaming convention to get a proper hands-on!Square Enix is undecided about releasing a playable demo of Final Fantasy XIII in the States, but if it does, it won't be available on disc form. Square Enix's Yoshinori Kitase commented, "we are thinking of providing it in a downloadable format," reiterating earlier sentiments. However, don't expect to play a localized version of the PS3 demo. Instead, "if we were to provide the demo overseas, it would be a completely new version." The game has progressed quite a bit since the release of the Japanese demo, meaning Square Enix would be more inclined to show something new ... if they decide on actually making one in the first place.%Gallery-70579%
Development on 360 version of FFXIII just two months old
Considering the impressive demo of Final Fantasy XIII running on Xbox 360 shown off at the Microsoft presser during E3, we were shocked to find out recently that the build being demoed was actually less than six months old. The game's producer Yoshinori Kitase told Giant Bomb during E3 that, "Up to the trial demo version that was released in Japan, [the game] was PS3-only in terms of development." He explains further, saying, "The Xbox 360 version is definitely following after the PS3 version, but [we] were finally able to come to a point in the PS3 development where some of the staff could take their hands off and start programming the 360 version." Seems as though the claims that the PS3 version would be complete before work on 360 development started were a bit ... overzealous?%Gallery-41346%
Interview: Final Fantasy XIII's Yoshinori Kitase and Motomu Toriyama
We were given the opportunity to sit down for a brief roundtable group discussion with Final Fantasy XIII's director, Motomu Toriyama, and producer, Yoshinori Kitase, shortly before getting eyes on with the newly announced summon Gestault mode. Check after the break for the full interview and, if you haven't already, make sure you read through our impressions of the summon system.
FFXIII producer says FF franchise 'straddles genre,' not just a JRPG
Yoshinori Kitase, producer of Final Fantasy XIII, is getting older. Running into his 40s and still at the helm of one of Japan's biggest franchises, the man has been employed by Square Enix for 19 years now. In his time, he's headed up production of classics from Chrono Trigger to Final Fantasy VII to Kingdom Hearts. And you'd think, after all those games and all that time, the man wouldn't react bitterly if the newest entry in the FF series were characterized as a JRPG ... and you'd be wrong."There's a trend these days to strictly categorize games as western RPGs or Japanese RPGs, but Final Fantasy is something that we don't try to categorize as either/or," Kitase told Edge Magazine. Forgive us if we're mistaken here, but we were quite under the impression that the FF franchise more or less defined what a JRPG is. Continuing, he says, "For us, the game straddles genre." We're not sure what game he's playing, but early reports of the recently released FFXIII demo in Japan lead us to believe turn-based battles and spiky-haired androgynous characters are still par for the course. Guess we'll have to find out for ourselves when the game releases in North America sometime next year.
Square Enix fast-tracking Final Fantasy XIII localization
Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase spoke to VideoGamer.com about the localization plans for the game, indicating that the company would like to get the European version out "sooner than a year later than the Japanese release."According to Kitase, "Traditionally the Final Fantasy numbered series, it takes about half a year between the release in Japan and the release in North America, and another half a year before it's released in Europe. But we would like to minimise this, this time." Steps taken to minimize the wait include recording English voices during the development of the Japanese game, not after. English text localization is also in progress concurrent with work on the Japanese version.Square Enix must have finally realized that the sooner it gets North American and European versions out, the sooner it can sell the game in Japan again as the "International" version.%Gallery-41346%
