Final Fantasy XII Interview - Conducted by GamePro.com
Interview with: Hideo Minaba, Akihiko Yoshida, and Isamu
Kamikokuryo.
Interview Conducted by:
GamePro.com
Opening Comment by Hideo Inaba: If you can summarize what to expect
moving forward with the unraveling of Final Fantasy XII, I can say it will be
much like how actor or actress is covered by media, revealing them from
different points of view, almost making each report and each perspective
scandalous.
Akihiko Yoshida: Just by looking at the still shots and the stuff showed
yesterday, things may still be unclear and you're probably excited to see more.
You'll start seeing why we've made the sacrifices we said we've made yesterday,
for example the reduced polygon count for characters and the restrictions we had
to face; you will be able to see why we made these sacrifices, and what kind of
meaning they have in this game.
Isamu Kamikokuryo: The game has been a big challenge for us as we
approached the limits of what the game console can handle. For example, there's
a scene where you go through a large city teeming with people - our goal was to
give users a realistic experience.
Q: In the poetic blurb on the website, it says that "trained skills
are transferred onto stone." Is this pointing towards a system where you equip
powers to train like Final Fantasy VII?
A: Each Final Fantasy has introduced a new system, and Final Fantasy
XII will be no different. A nuance of such a system may be included in this
series.
Q: Will this game feature free-form 3D?
A: Yes, you will be able to scan the area 360 degrees. You can even
look up and look at the ceiling.
Q: I noticed a recent trend in Final Fantasy games for more effeminate
characters.
Akihiko Yoshida: In the initial character design the character was more
rugged. Hideo Minaba: Wasn't very hip.
Akihiko Yoshida: However
as the game progressed, the character changed to fit the story and scenarios.
Q: I've noticed that airships play a more prominent role in the game
compared to the previous series. Will they play a more key role in gameplay
mechanics?
A: All we can say is that the airships will be used in many different
places.
Q: Is this Ivalice the same Ivalice as in the Final Fantasy Tactics
games?
A: Although we cannot get into Mr. Matsuno's (creator of Ogre Battle
and Final Fantasy Tactics series) head, we know that he keeps in mind a
different version of Ivalice from the previous games.
Q: What has changed the most in Final Fantasy XII?
A: Players will be shocked by the fresh new feeling. The feels of the
control will be different.
Q: Will non-human races (like Bangaa and Viera) play a bigger role?
How about Caste systems playing a bigger role?
A: Humans will still be the central part of the game, but non-human
races will play a notable role in the game.
Q: We know you went to Turkey to study the architecture there. Any
other country influences besides Turkey?
A: Other inspirations come from India, the Art Deco areas of New York.
I cannot give you more details, but in other parts of the game other countries
have a big influence. Unlike FFX where the world had one general style, we have
tried to maximize the variation and flavor for settings in the game.
Q: Any strategy game elements in addition to RPG elements, as Mr.
Matsuno did Final Fantasy Tactics?
A: We will leave this to your imagination.
Q: Final Fantasy XI was online; Are there any online components for
Final Fantasy XII?
A: This game will be offline. Mr. Matsuno said he wanted to put some
online component, but decided it was not going to be part of the game.
Q: Final Fantasy X seemed to have a Japanese/Okinawan look, and XII seems
Western; was this to target foreign audiences?
Isamu Kamikokuryo: It was not dependent on foreign audiences. We
referred to tons of reference material, and tried to get design inspirations
from the most unexpected places, like a water faucet when thinking of airship
designs, or the view outside the train.
Hideo Minaba: There was no particular audience for the design of the
game. Internationally there has been more and more exposure to Arab cultures,
for example Techno music in club scenes in Europe. We also wanted to bring out
elements of Arab culture in the game.
Akihiko Yoshida: The staff plays and likes many foreign video games,
like Baldur's Gate for example. We may have been influenced by such games simply
because we liked them. Vagrant Story was made to feel as non-Japanese as
possible, with many foreign influences. We did not take that same direction for
this game.
Hideo Minaba: Mr. Matsuno said he wanted to make the world more
weathered and grimy and less pure and clean in feel.
Q: Why is there a Judge on the logo, and why is it so big compared to
the logo?
A: The judges hold the key to the game. And that is in part reflected
by the logo design.
Q: In the trailers, there seemed to be only one judge. Is there more
than one judge?
A: There is not only one judge, but we can't say more than that.
Q: What historical periods influenced the design of the game?
A: Ancient Rome, and periods where Alchemy flourished. We've also
looked at Fullmetal Alchemist, which is also currently being developed at Square
Enix.
Q: This may be an obvious question, but is war a central theme in the
game?
A: War is the central setting, but there are other major themes as
well.
Q: Mr. Sakaguchi made a guest appearance at the press conference
yesterday. Does that mean he is playing a role in the design process?
Hideo Minaba: I have no direct exchange with Mr. Sakaguchi, although
Mr. Matsuno probably consults with him given that Mr. Sakaguchi is the founder.
Q: I've noticed in one of the items on the press kit that lists the
release dates of Final Fantasy that Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Advance
are listed in there, but are very dim and almost unnoticeable. Will elements of
Final Fantasy Tactics or Tactics Advance be in the game?
A: Final Fantasy Tactics will be more integrated into Final Fantasy
XII.
Q: Will Final Fantasy XII have romance between Vaan and Ashe?
A: Romance isn't as prevalent compared to the previous series, but it
can go either way. It also might even not be a romantic relationship with those
two. |
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