Hookay. A slow news weekend, but a pretty good one, letters-wise. No overwhelming topics of debate this time out, but some response to the current Deep Thought (which I'll keep up for another day or two, and use the End of FF one after that). Low turnout for the favourite rumor question, though there's a zinger down below. Just sort of a strange, upsetting sort of weekend for me, personally. It's a strange thing when the thing in my life that makes the most sense is this column. I'm starting to believe that I'm a weirdness magnet, naturally attuned to all things strange and nonsensical. I mean, do normal people deal with rumors that they're dead? Ever wake up and find a plastic bird on the pillow beside you, with no sign of where it came from? And please, will someone explain to me why people always assume my name is Max the first time we meet? I'd really like to know. Righto, then. Enough with the personal natterings. We've got letters to answer, so huzzah and hi-ho, friends! | Hiding from spoilers | Greetings and Salutations, Oneriomancer Allan FF8 reviews? Already? Oh Dear Gad, the end approacheth! Soon millions ofspoilers shall pour in from all directions, mediums and media, leavingmy poor mind tainted and, and, and...Spoiled! Really though... Am I going to have to ignore everyone on ICQ and not check my mail forhowever long it takes for FF8 to be safely tucked inside my PSX where itbelongs? All those soulless Revive Aeris Petioners with their foolbuttons on every single page. My friends showing me animated gifs of herdeath scene. Where is the anti-troll spray when you really need it,Allan? Oh and am I the only one who remembers some news article that saidSquare was translating FF7 with English speaking Japanese people foroptimal understanding? Or did I dream that up? Funny if true no? Laughdamn you. ~Ian, "I wrote this after playing the FF7 Drinking Game!" P. |
Sadly, I fear that the FF8 spoiler blitz will be quite bad. There'll be false rumors, unannounced and loud plot spoiling, and all the usual gunk. My only consolation is this: there will be no unwanted spoilers revealed at GIA. We'll certainly have spoilerific material, but it will be clearly marked in all sections of the page, including this column, as a discussed a few days ago. Fair enough? As for the FF7 translation... well, I didn't read anything to that effect. Me, I think it would've been neat if they'd maybe edited it or something radical like that... | The importance of being calm | Huzzah! (Can you hear it? It's the anger of the spirits. No! Iwon'tforgive you!) Finally someone who doesn't like Pokemon but admits itisn't necessarily crap. I didn't see the column from the 3rd go up, sohere's be belated take on hype: Things get hyped, and people will buythem because of hype. It's a fact. But what bugs me, and is oftenignored in discussions of the issue, is the fact that whenever somethingbecomes popular and cool to like, regardless of whether or not it isactually good, there's inevitably a backlash in which it becomes cool tohate said thing. Worst because the people conforming to the latter trendseem to think they're being clever and subversive, which means that weget ten billion "Kill Furby" websites, or what have you. Of course, it'seasy to then fall into the trap of saying that everyone who dislikessomething popular is doing it in response to the trend, whihc is a sillything to say...but...er...I was going somewhere with this, and I totallylost it. Crap. Anyway, debate is good, arguements are bad, and the onewho maintains a cool head when discussing something he cares about is tobe respected. - AJ |
AJ brings up an important point: it's easy to fight, it's harder to fight and be willing to lose. I'm an extremely opinionated, bitter bastard, and I make no bones about it. However, I do make an effort to be as even-tempered about most subjects as I can. I'm in no way consistent about this, of course (I snipe and yell more than 99% of letter writers here), but I'm trying to keep a cool head here. To really do. I will admit defeat. And that, I think, is the most important skill you can derive from debate forums like this: the ability to learn, and lose graciously. | Graphical glitching | Allan- Bart Kelsey's Deep Thought got me thinking about how much people overemphasizethe importance of graphics. People who complain about games like FFVIIselling based on graphics alone should look at the whole picture. Graphicsare certainly an important seeling point. But if graphics are all thatmatters in the market, why haven't RPGs games always sold well in the U.S.?Am I the only one who remembers that Chrono Trigger's graphics were consideredjaw-dropping when the game was released? Notice the background for the finalbattle. That is what's known as "pushing a system to its limit." Just aboutall of the RPGs that we call classics were backed by great graphics. Sowhat's changed? Why do RPGs sell now? The answer is marketing. Commercialseverywhere, full of nice pretty FMV. Ads in mainstream and computermagazines. In short, exposure. Warp back to 1995 and give CT an FFVII-stylemarketing campaign, and it'll sell. As for Kelsey's argument, my main problem with it is its assumption that 3Dgraphics = bad game. It's quite a stretch to assume that games would be anybetter today without 3D graphics. We haven't missed out on any kind of"golden age" because of the shift in graphics. Remember, this is a letterwhich claims that a real player won't judge a game based on graphics, and willlook at story, music, gameplay, etc. Well, these things are a major emphasisof today's RPGs. How else do you explain all the innovative battle systems,or the fifteen-minute dialogue sequences of FFVII and Xenogears? Whether ornot you personally like the gameplay or story of every single game thatemerges from the hype-machine, the effort is clearly being made. I might beupset if RPGs were ignoring these things in favor of graphics and hype, butthat simply isn't happening. Look at the whole picture. -Toma Levine |
Interesting point, Toma. I'm... er... I really can't add anything to this. Good letter. :) | Power-lame rumor | The stupidest rumor I've ever heard is still alive. My friend still claims Final Fantasy VIII is coming out for PC inMarch, and that the announcement is on the official Eidos website. (Even though it's a stupid rumor, I searched Eidos's website and foundno reference to FF8). I have no idea where this rumor came from. Ialso once read Dragon Quest VII was due out in the US summer '98, andthat Enix had secretly been developing the US version to release herefirst and win back the market. - Michael Goff |
That's so dumb that it deserves some sort of medal. Yeah, that's right, Eidos has a hidden press release that says that they'll be releasing a game they don't have the rights to, a sold four months before it sees the light of day in the US via the original developer. It makes PERFECT FRIGGING SENSE. That's so stupid and unbelievable that it commands a sort of respect. Well done, Michael. | Wandering train 'o thought | Allan,Be ye prepared for a widely varied letter? Good. Thou hast one inthine hands. First of all, I thought I'd bring up a topic that (I don't think) hasbeen discussed in the letters column before. What did you think ofLegend of the Crystals: Final Fantasy? You know, that 2 tape animethat slipped in around the beggining of '98? The first time I saw it,I thought it was OK; you know, not Evangelion or Escaflowne, but itwas enjoyable. I didn't watch it for a while, but a day or two ago, Iwas bored and watched it again, and found it to be a lot better thanthe first time I watched it. Hm, I don't know why...it just seemedbetter. (One thing I noticed this time, was the Amano influence inthe clouds. At first glimpse, they look very plain, but if you knowwhat to look at, it's very apparent.) Second, I'm going to ask about another little known Final Fantasydohicky. Does anyone remember back in the day when Nintendo had thosecomic books based on games, like Metroid, Zelda, and Mario? Well, Isaw an advertisement in one of those promising a FF comic? Doesanyone remember this, or even have it? Lastly, I have to address this "anger" that's permeated not only thiscolumn, but seemingly the whole RPG scene online. I don't know whereit's come from, but it's everywhere. It makes coming to sitesunbearable sometimes, because you know all you're going to find isanother angry "issue" that's being ripped apart by numerous "fans". First of all, I say "issue" because, well...it's just a game, people. Have fun. If something doesn't rub you the right way, take it like aman or woman, and concentrate on the good. (Did you just pay 40+dollars just for the bad? No? You bought whatever game you boughtfor entertainment. For fun. Be quiet.) I can see where this angeris coming from, though. We've been tricked, prodded, ignored, or justplain treated badly since Final Fantasy 7. Still, I think, being theintelligent people that we are, we can maybe find a better outlet forthis anger than long, annoying letters and editorials. How aboutdrawing, or writing? Maybe you could write a song? Songs are nice. If you do get so angry, you're about to take your fingers to thekeyboard in complete disgust, please try this method. Tat Nakao (didI get his name right?) Has opened a Virtual Illucia on his new page,the Internet Cruiser Zephyros. (Located at:http://uni.dragonfire.net) Please go and take a short walk aroundIllucia, and remember how much fun we used to have online with RPGs. If you're still angry, then you've probably got good cause to be, andby all means, write that letter/editorial. It will be well foundedthen, and you'll have had time to think about it, and maybe it justwon't be random mad thoughts laced together by a similar theme.Uhm, well, that's about it. I hope I've offended about half of youinto actually trying out my anger reduction method. And, oh! Pleasedon't bother Tat about officially reopening Illucia. He's providedthis memorial out of the goodness in his heart, and deserves to beleft alone to get on with his life. Peace out, brothers and sisters, Aaron Littleton |
First, I wasn't overly impressed with the FF anime. It wasn't awful, but I've seen much better video game adaptations, and moreover was a years-later version of what I consider the weakest cast of the modern FF series (FFV). It wasn't offensively bad, by any means, but just sort of blah. A sequel to FFIV, if likely to get melodramatic very fast, might have been better material. (Good game-to-anime translation: both Ys OAVs are very excellent.) Secondly, I believe the publisher of the comics in question, Valiant, lost the Nintendo license shortly before the FF comic was to debut. Ironically, they ended up being bought up by Acclaim, and the comic arm of Acclaim is pretty much dead nowadays. Lastly, on the subject of negativity... well, I'm sort of in a quandary on this issue. On one hand, I'm totally, shamelessly guilty of being negative and argumentative and ranting and raving. But, well, it kinda comes with the territory. I run a letters column, where opinions are expressed, questions are answered, and debates carried out. Frankly, without long, angry rants, there IS no column. Really, this column, and others like it, aren't especially representative of the gaming public at large. It's a forum that demands constant debate, constant movement of conversation, or I start to yell at people. I do agree, however, that there are very useful, productive outlets for anger and frustration, and that no one should ever get too worked up about anything said or done in a debate forum. As we said earlier, keep a cool head. But in the end, I don't think long, angry letters and editorials are a completely bad thing. Sometimes they raise valid, important points that can and should be discussed. Hell, it's very often entertaining and sometimes educational. Then again, my livelihood is dependent on dispute - if everyone agreed, and was well-informed, I'd be out of a job. Anyone else have thoughts on negativity, from a less biased perspective than mine? I agree, though, to leave Tat alone about reopening Illucia. He's a good guy, and ran a fantastic page, and does not deserve to be harrassed by anyone. Give the man respect, above all. | Zinger of the day | Allan, About absurd rumors, how about the one that claims that Lunar: Complete willbe released sometime this millennium? :) -- Brian Sebby |
Ouch... that's gotta sting. By the by, Vic Ireland is now on record as saying Lunar should be ready by late... March. Ouch again. Then again, hey, that's just in time for my birthday. Cool beans for me. :) | Sales vs. fandom figures | Agent Allan - If a game is going to sell, will the company make it? Yeah? Are you sure? The answer really depresses me - it's a no. They usually do it, but thereare important exceptions. Everyone knows that millions of Seiken Densetsuand Chrono Trigger fans are in agony of anticipation for a sequel. Whatabout all those masterpiece that sold zillions in Japan but never made it tothe US? Won't most of them sell nearly as well in here? Arrrrgh, I amzealous enough to write a letter lengthy beyond the capacity of a humanbrain, but since my last rant was pretty long, more matter with less art forthis time. Why won't they make it when they know that they'll earn moneywith it? Ah, and one last question. Why are you DOUBLE Agent, not something like MONOor TRIPLE Agent? (Although this really looks silly, I'm asking you seriouslybecause I don't know) -Kei |
Well, the thing is that Seiken Densetsu and especially Chrono Trigger aren't the sales powerhouses people seem to think they are. They didn't break sales records. They didn't revolutionize the industry. Here's a neat little figure: did you know that Parasite Eve outsold Chrono Trigger worldwide? Both SD and CT sold primarily on the basis of brand name, and were not particularly huge mechandising hits either, so contrary to what seems to be, support for a Chrono Trigger 2 is not so overwhelming. It is not a foregone conclusion, withheld as an act of cruelty. Doing a sequel would probably sell well, but not brilliantly so, ergo they'll choose newer, more risky projects first. As for the Double Agent name, well, I could tell you who my other employer is, but then, I'd have to do terrible things to your pet goat, Mabel. And you wouldn't want that, would you? | Just when you thought it was safe in the freezer | True to our name, we make sherbet the same way you would. We add thefesshest ingredients and the finest fruits. We absolutely will not skimp onthe quantity or the quality of what goes into our sherbets. We can tastethe difference, and we think you will too. So take a nice big bite andyou'll know why... Nothing tastes better than homemade. -Toaster Thief, doing his Premium Homemade fat-free sherbet containerimpression. |
Sometimes, the letters are so thoughtful and brilliant, I've just gotta post 'em. Sometimes, they're such perfect conversation starters that I can't help but post 'em. And sometimes, sometimes, they're just so goddam weird, I can only post them, and marvel. Lastly, NickW wrote in to ask about Grandia, and why it wasn't originally slated for PSX release, since the PSX didn't have the RAM to pull it off. Well, you see, Grandia was in development for the Saturn for a loooong time. It was in development before the system launched. It pushed the processors of the Saturn to the utmost, utilizing every scrap of RAM the machine had in it to create a thorough, rich 3D/2D world. The PSX simply does not have as much RAM as the Saturn does - it can't handle as many frames of animation, as many moving characters, as many textures, etc. etc. etc. So, porting a game that pushes a machine with lots of RAM to a machine with relatively little was thought to be impossible. Apparently not, though. I guess they're just really, really good at pushing the PSX to its limits now. - The Double Agent | | | |
