Double Agent
Back in a routine? - April 2nd, 2000 - Andrew Kaufmann

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this column are those of the participants and the moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the GIA. Waaaazzzzzzzzzzup? There is coarse language and potentially offensive material afoot. Don't say we didn't warn you.


I think it'd be rather foolish to start writing this column and pretend it's been rather inconsistent lately, not including this past week where Chris took over. I must say, Chris is doing a crackerjack job, and I am back as weekends person. So, with that little bit out of the way, let's hit some letters.

That nagging FFXI thing again

Is it just me, or is Square taking the completely wrong direction with Final Fantasy. Not only does PlayOnline have a fee, but FF11 has a fee. Plus your going to have to buy FF11. Thats too much money for something like Everquest. I think Everquest is boring, mostly because its not an RPG really, more just a chat room you can walk around in. Sure, it has some RPG elements, like battling, but when it comes down to it its quite lame. To be honest I think Sega's Phantasy Star Online will be the greatest online game for awhile, due to the fact that you'll only have to pay one small fee (for the DC Network), and it's an actual RPG you play with your friends and people across the world. It's gonna be sweet. Plus, if Sega decides (and you know they will) to make Panzer Dragoon Saga 2, Shining Force 4 and the long awaited and prayed for Phantasy Star 5, Dreamcast beat out PS2 as far as RPGs go. Who knows if Square will screw itself over?


Square announcing that you have to pay for both PlayOnline and Final Fantasy XI (alongside the initial game purchase) was definetely a large disappointment, and I'm hoping that the policy will change by the time the game arrives in the U.S. I think (or maybe hope is a better word) that Square would realize that people don't mind one expense for a game, and maybe even two is tolerable, but that three would be asking for trouble.

I do strongly disagree with calling FFXI "something like Everquest." We have no idea what the game will consist of; assuming that it would be exactly like Everquest is forgetting that Square has been a trailblazer in every way for years and assuming the worst. For the very least, until more concrete details come out about the game, I'd hold off on saying it will be a bad game. A bad business venture, possibly, but a bad game, no.

On the topic of Phantasy Star Online, though, that game looks pretty splendoriffic. I'd love to see it in action, see how the online thing works out. I don't know if I'd go as far as to say the Dreamcast will be THE system for RPGs, but it will definetely be stronger than it is now. That's not saying much, but it gives hope.

More Final Fantasy fears

FFXI is *not* a good thing, ladies and gentlemen, and I'll tell you why:

I'm not against having an online Final Fantasy game, but does Square absolutely *have* to call it Final Fantasy XI? Does this mean that FFX will be the last single player Final Fantasy game? (I point you towards Ultima IX as an example of a company switching focus towards multiplayer only).

If FFXII is a single player game, that'll be great. But if not...then frankly, I'm going to be really annoyed. I don't *like* online RPGs. I like my storytelling dammit. And I *love* single player Final Fantasy games. Square needs to take their head out of their collective ass and rename the game Final Fantasy Online instead.

-jason


Well, you make a good point in saying that this represents a change in direction -- and I think Square is aware of that by calling it FFXI instead of FF Online. It seems to me that they're confident enough in their product that it will succeed. Again, I'll repeat my usual stance: I'm against disliking FFXI based solely on the fact it's an online game. I can understand the worry (heck, I worry about it myself at times, when I have nothing better to worry about), but to write it off when it's in such an early stage of development is jumping the gun. I'd at least wait until you read some specific reviews of the game and the system, if not waiting until you actually play the game. You can come over to my place, we'll have an FF Online party!

You see my shining face pop up in the craziest of places

A.K.

Man, it's seems like it's been forever since we last heard from you. How are you? First I need to know, was that really you in the March 2000 issue of Official Dreamcast Magazine. Because the picture kind of looks familiar, though I couldn't check the DA Archives to be sure, from that time you posted your pic to be put on other's faces. Another thing hat game me this idea was that itsaid that Andrew Kaufmann also liked RPG's and wrote for a gaming site.

I would like to add anyone who has a Dreamcast needs to buy Resident Evil: Code Veronica. I got mine on Thursday and I must say it is awesome. It has probably the best graphics I've seen, it has that cool Resident Evil feel to it, and it has a story that makes you want to play right through. I played for over 5 hours a did not even realize that that much time had passed. Unfortunately it also has some problems. First, to shoot you have to lift your finger off of the firing button for every shot, you can't just hold it down like in the other RE's. I know it's small but it tends to be very annoying. The zombies seem very stiff when they fall and that is also annoying. Other careless things that should have been changed are: you should NOT have to press the action button every time you go up stairs, I thought that was a thing of the past when RE: 3 came out, and they should have left some sort of the dodging in from the third Resident Evil. Other than that it is awesome. On a scale from one to ten it gets a 9 and a half, losing that half of a point for those small and bothersome things that I mentioned. I just thought everyone would like to know how it was. I would tell some of the story but, I don't want to ruin it. -E


Sorry about my absence, but there were a lot of things going on. Drew can attest to that. But any rate, it's all about the present which is right here right now.

Yup, that was me in the two most recent Official Dreamcast Magazines! I do some freelance game reviews for them. Fun stuff. That, and I get my picture in a magazine. What a treat! Every time I go to malls, people recognize me and ask for my autograph. Well, maybe that's a bit of a lie, but I like to pretend, anyway.

I haven't had the chance to play RE: Code Veronica yet, but I hear it's an awesome title, especially if you're a fan of the adventure genre. I'd give it at least a rental, I plan to. Thanks for your two cents on it!

An FF that a few more people are excited about

Hi AK -

I know you and Mister Jones (who, by the way, is doing a splendid job with the column...) are probably sick of seeing blokes like me write about how much they love/hate the ideas behind the next 39 Final Fantasies recently announced, but I got more of that for youse.

I can't frickin' wait for FF9. Can I get a woe-superdeformedcharacters? I'm a strange breed...I'm an old-skoolish but nice looking RPG fan who started with the genre with...brace yourself...FF7. Before that it was nothing but platformers and sports games...now if it 'aint gonna take me 60 hours to beat, then screw it. I mean, I'll take the occasional deviation and rock a game of GT2, CTR, RE2, or any other acronym-laden titles, but I'll take FF6 or old-skoolish games like Xenogears or LUNAR any day over those. And yes, I thought FF8 kinda sucked. Shoulda ended halfway through the third disc...game wasn't too bad, but characters were boring and uninspired. Hopefully Square can learn their lesson and bring back some good storytelling along with the weird looking characters. I don't know, maybe the series has lost its flare, but they have three more games to get back on track with, so let's all join hands and pray the get the frickin' thing right.

My message to Square: Slick visuals = good. Shit storyline because of them = bad. FF7 was great...keep it real.

Pikafoo


Final Fantasy IX has me more and more excited every day. I feel like I'm about 10 years younger, eagerly anticipating every shred of information I can get my hands on about a game. It's a great feeling. What makes it even better is that every scrap of information I find just strengthens my eager anticipation. Square is saying everything I want them to say about the game. Let's just hope it pans out, because I for one really cannot wait for this game.

I also agree on your point about the storytelling, in part. I thought Final Fantasy VII had the weakest storytelling in the series, but I don't feel that storytelling was Final Fantasy VIII's strong point. It was solid, for sure, well above par. But I think Square is capable of more. I hope that they'll show off their capabilities in FFIX.

Be careful where you put that!

AK! so good to see you!

in a fit of drunken rage, i just put my fist through my stereo. Now i have a really bloody fist and a totally decimated $400 stereo. And on top of that, my dad will be coming home tomorow from Tokyo where he picked me up the Xenogears soundtrack, and i have no way of listening to it. So please print my letter or i'll put my fist through my computer screen and won't ever be able to read your column again.

thank you.

opul-kun (Map Man Extraordinaire)

Not to be judgemental, but I don't think you're very bright. I heard a rumor though that if you spin a CD around your finger really fast and point one of those handheld laser-pointers at it, then it'll play music. Worth a try!

The bottomless pit

Hey AK

When I buy a $50 game where does all that money goto? I guy I talked to at EB said they make $10 off of each game. Who gets the rest of the money?


Why, the companies that make the games of course. How else could Square have grown into the huge conglomeration it is now?

Closing Comments

Chris is going to be back tomorrow. Be nice to him. Remember, he loves each and every one of you for who you are, not for what you look or smell like!

-Andrew Kaufmann

 
Recent Columns  
03.31.00
03.30.00
03.29.00
Double Agent Archives
Gizmos
Chris is sitting in front of his computer, waiting for YOUR letter. Make him happy.