Jimquisition: Two Rules For Square Enix
- Thread starter Jimothy Sterling
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Announcements and restraint aren't the problem; it's the fact that Squeenix doesn't understand how to make good games anymore.
For every decent Squeenix title I've seen/played, there are at least six games that are either total shit, or ports of old Squaresoft games.
For every decent Squeenix title I've seen/played, there are at least six games that are either total shit, or ports of old Squaresoft games.
"I love FF games, but if it helps them release them, make the games shorter. FFX was a perfect length, but if that's just not possible nowadays, make the game shorter and it's fine. Most RPGs can tell a story in 20 hours, most other games can make a game in 10, most films 1 1/2. 60 hours isn't necessary and probably even suits some people better to have a shorter game"
FFX was the same length of XIII WITH Blitzball and Arena battles. The problem with 30+ hours is battles that drag on or are in ridiculous quantity. XIII was terrible because it stretched a 6-hour movie into a miniseries blocked off by 50 million battles and nothing else. Compare that to Ys, which can get done telling just as much story and have as many battles in about 20. They get away being so short because they stick to real-time battles or the bump system. I can bet you at least an hour is spent in FF games loading the battle screens throughout the game. About 20-30 hours is spent waiting for your stupid AI characters and their ATB bars to load.
With KH in existence, FF games have no excuse to continue with the traditional ATB and "alternate reality battlefields." You could easily condense an arduous 60-70 hour game into 30-40 hours that way.
FFX was the same length of XIII WITH Blitzball and Arena battles. The problem with 30+ hours is battles that drag on or are in ridiculous quantity. XIII was terrible because it stretched a 6-hour movie into a miniseries blocked off by 50 million battles and nothing else. Compare that to Ys, which can get done telling just as much story and have as many battles in about 20. They get away being so short because they stick to real-time battles or the bump system. I can bet you at least an hour is spent in FF games loading the battle screens throughout the game. About 20-30 hours is spent waiting for your stupid AI characters and their ATB bars to load.
With KH in existence, FF games have no excuse to continue with the traditional ATB and "alternate reality battlefields." You could easily condense an arduous 60-70 hour game into 30-40 hours that way.
I think you kind of hit the problem, but kind of missed it as well. It's more premature announcement syndrome, where a game is announced only slightly after some concept art and ideas can be crammed into a trailer, then potential development time is ignored. It's not like these guys are fanfic writers bouncing from idea to idea but never finishing everything. These are "ahr-teets" (artits) that won't let a development schedule get in the way of their ideal work. Some of the trailer excess and pointlessness is our own fault. Fans just expect something at both E3 and TGS, even if there's nothing new to see, but I don't think anyone's sitting on their laurels here.
Admittedly, SE does need some focus, and the best way to do that is to remove the millstone of FFXIV from their neck. I mean, I could start at the folley of continuing to try and leech the WoW crowd, or the general stupidity at creating a game that would ultimatly compete with one of your other games (XI), but there's an extra credits video about MMOs around here that makes the point better. Rather, even if you could ignore the bad idea it was in the first place, they still botched it, and botched it bad. Now they're spending time and resources trying to make the unplayable playble that could better be served on other projects like versus XIII. I admit, I like the influx of PSN and DS releases of older games to keep cash flow going and want it to continue, but lloking forward, the tallent could be spent a lot better.
Admittedly, SE does need some focus, and the best way to do that is to remove the millstone of FFXIV from their neck. I mean, I could start at the folley of continuing to try and leech the WoW crowd, or the general stupidity at creating a game that would ultimatly compete with one of your other games (XI), but there's an extra credits video about MMOs around here that makes the point better. Rather, even if you could ignore the bad idea it was in the first place, they still botched it, and botched it bad. Now they're spending time and resources trying to make the unplayable playble that could better be served on other projects like versus XIII. I admit, I like the influx of PSN and DS releases of older games to keep cash flow going and want it to continue, but lloking forward, the tallent could be spent a lot better.
Very sadly, yes, loads. The same people that will ignore all the glaring issues in FF13 and 14, including all the content that was outright pulled from the game. Either because of time constraints in the case of 13(which is funny considering it's dev time), or kneejerk reactions to speculation like in 14.(Removing mail/auction systems to 'stop' goldsellers.)PixelKing said:
Even despite the past two FF's being major clusterfucks, there is still a very vocal legion of people waiting for Versus 13 to make everything all better, despite it being headed by Nomura, who took the Kingdom Hearts series down the toilet when given full control over it.
Personally I started to lose hope in SE years ago, but only until FF14 did I give up all hope and just say fuck it. I was one of the people that really enjoyed FF11, even with it's horrible grind. I hoped 14 would fix that aspect and make things better, and once I got into the beta I learned I was very, very, horribly wrong.
There are some good points but again, the delivery is more grating than funny.
I know Jim has some interesting things to say about gaming but frequently it gets lost amongst the noise he produces as 'JIM' instead of the writing/sharp/interesting person involved in the industry.
I know Jim has some interesting things to say about gaming but frequently it gets lost amongst the noise he produces as 'JIM' instead of the writing/sharp/interesting person involved in the industry.
How is it invalid?AgentBJ09 said:
Because there's two shows on this site that prove a double-standard exists, it's suddenly not a double-standard?
I'll have to become an attorney and try that one out in court:
"Well you see your honor, my client is innocent because another person was guilty of the same crime."
It boils down to opinion, but the basis for saying he should go has to work both ways. You don't like Jim because he "breaks the rules"? So does Yahtzee, yet both are contracted by this site.Atmos Duality said:
Also, those rules he brought up are for the forums and User Groups, not the video producers. If you want to start applying those rules to Jim, they have to apply to everyone else who makes videos here, including Yahtzee, meaning the sexual imagery and flaming talk in many of his videos and columns would get him booted as well.
Well, if you, like me, are perfectly content pretending FF XI & XIV never happened, the only FF left whose errors you need to skirt around is FF XIII (and granted, there is lots of skirting needed). Now, given that FF XII was marvellous, it's not really that much of a stretch to still hold out hope that either Versus-XIII, XIII-2 or eventually XV will be good.Jennacide said:
You'd think that would be the case, and yet I'm STILL getting quoted for a troll post I did a week ago because the JRPG fanboys rolled in and couldn't take a joke.PixelKing said:
OT: I completely agree. With the popularity of threads about SE last week and the news of FFvsXIII, it's good to know others are tired of them as well.
No offense to fans of 13, but i really REALLY think they should just stop making the sequel and just divert the resources to Versus 13. Cause hey, atleast Versus is trying SOMETHING new with it's lead protagonists personality. The game, while certainly better then 12, was just...boring. The fact that they have Rosh Penin as one of the main characters (Seriously, listen to the voice in that one gameplay footage thing and TELL me it doesn't sound like Rosh)...if you don't know who Rosh is, I truly envy you. As a result, the sequel to 13 isn't really making itself look too good in my eyes.orangeapples said:
So yeah, less 13-2 and more Versus 13...then you can make Kingdom Hearts 3!
You don't troll JRPG's unless you want a legion at your house, I got the same reaction to my response to Osama Bin Ladens death which is much grander on the scale. Although in latest posts there was a thread named 'JRGPS SUCK' so some people agree that JRPGS are wastes of time and effort.DigitalAtlas said:
Boils down to OPINION?AgentBJ09 said:
Absolutely not!
When you establish RULES, you are establishing an OBJECTIVE code of behavior with the intention of enforcing a set of principles (in this case, a more orderly, polite online community).
Either you follow them, or you don't. There is no opinion involved.
Simply put: A double-standard contradicts the purpose of a rule in the first place.
What's the point of making rules if you don't believe in them?
Don't you think it's the games and people who make games that would stop it from being taken seriously as an art form rather than a guy who's only known within the video game community and probably doesn't really have an identity that can be exploited that easily?Sylocat said:
I seriously loved how you said all those words it's just as arrogant and egocentric as Jim himself.
How about this for a rule for Square Enix;
Announce as many titles as you like just go back to making good games! Go back to the point where everybody can depend upon the next Final Fantasy rocking their worlds, yes story and graphics are important to a JRPG but so is gameplay and the world that we are asked to explore and if you leave both feeling empty and shallow whats the point. Bottom line, you make games and despite some recent disapointments you make very good games in my opinion, go back to making great, rich and deep games or become a film studio.
Announce as many titles as you like just go back to making good games! Go back to the point where everybody can depend upon the next Final Fantasy rocking their worlds, yes story and graphics are important to a JRPG but so is gameplay and the world that we are asked to explore and if you leave both feeling empty and shallow whats the point. Bottom line, you make games and despite some recent disapointments you make very good games in my opinion, go back to making great, rich and deep games or become a film studio.
I just wish Square Enix worked on more handheld games instead. I have no problem with Square Enix working on an HD title, but we should at least get a decent title while we're waiting for it.
"They're painful failures"
Holy shit, this post almost gave me a aneurysm.
Most of their games receive great sales and receive critical acclaim.Mister Linton said:
"They're painful failures"
Holy shit, this post almost gave me a aneurysm.
If I recall correctly, Final Fantasy XI was a mediocre game in the beginning as well. Judging an MMO on firsthand experience, out of all games, is foolish, especially when the new team is much smarter and actually listens to customer complaints.Jennacide said:
Jim is a supremely annoying person, but he does make a lot of good points. Square Enix really does need to restrain itself. Although, I'm uncertain about whether or not he actually knows the extent of what goes on at the studio.
The way he presents his material makes me wonder if he isn't just going on a huge rant about what he knows by ear, not by research.
Square Enix seems to be fixing itself a little though since XIII-2 will be out in less than half a year. Versus XIII needs to get up and running. Lucasarts and Square seem to be acting similarly. Battlefront III still has yet to be released and was announced in 2006.
The way he presents his material makes me wonder if he isn't just going on a huge rant about what he knows by ear, not by research.
Square Enix seems to be fixing itself a little though since XIII-2 will be out in less than half a year. Versus XIII needs to get up and running. Lucasarts and Square seem to be acting similarly. Battlefront III still has yet to be released and was announced in 2006.