http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/07/13/nomura_on_ff_versus_xiii/ Some new details, but then there was this: I suppose you can take "entering full production" to mean multiple things, but either way, that doesn't sound encouraging.
They are finishing it. With it in full production, should take 2-3 years tops. Then add another 1+ year for NA localization, which will include figuring out which Taylor Swift song to include as the game's theme song. Don't know why anyone was expecting it to come out soon or anything. (yes, there's lots of sarcasm in this post)
Release dates FF7 - 1997 FF8 - 1999 FF9 - 2000 FFX - 2001(and on a new platform too) This was the peak of my fanhood. Waiting for the next FF game to come out was like an annual ritual. Oh how things have changed since then.
And this was just FF. Also had Xenogears, Parasite Eve, Chrono Cross, etc., all coming out around this time as well. Awesome FF and non-FF games released consistently. Thank you, Yoichi Wada. Think there was some comment by a SE employee that implied working conditions and company culture is a lot worse now as well.
Ever since the merger Square has just gone down hill. They basically spend their time now re-releasing every single NES/SNES game ever created. If only one can re-write a history where Square never tried to venture into the movie business.
You gotta wonder how the reality check isn't hitting them at some point. For every 1 person who liked FF13 there are 10 who didn't it seems. And their focus on MMOs lately is just tragic. Why Square? WHY? How fast would people buy 1) an FF7 remake and 2) a new Chrono game? But no, why do those things, that's just what your silly customers want. Instead why don't we continue with the directionless circle-jerk.
I don't even care if we don't get a FF7 remake or a new Chrono game (the ship has probably sailed on that anyway). I just would like some good games that don't take 5+ years to make. Right now, I think the only games from SE that I'm really interested in are from Eidos. That's sad. I think they still have some nice creative talent there, so game quality probably isn't that much of concern IMO (although maybe not as good as it once was). But they probably have some of the worst, if not the worst, management of any video game company out there...and that's really saying something in this industry. Just stuff like the "closed mega theater" and how they treat fans in general is all wrong. Whenever I hear reports about how they treat developers (e.g., all the news involving GRIN's Finally Fantasy project), can't say I'm really surprised. By the way, speaking of a FF7 remake, did I (or someone else) ever post this? I saw it a while back and thought about posting it here, but can't remember if I did. Guess even if it was posted, some might have missed it: <iframe width="560" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bKVKLPB8llo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Ironically, this is from the Kingdom Hearts team. There are some KH spinoffs for handhelds (I think one for the 3DS coming out soonish?). But no new KH console game for a while. Maybe not until next-gen at this pace, unless Square-Enix gives it to another team (probably some of the people working on the handheld games).
It is a running joke at this point. Like Duke Nukem Forever. I don't even really care that much about the games anymore (well...the new ones). I just like making fun of Square-Enix. Again...a game that was announced/revealed in 2006 has still not reached "full production." That is pretty bad, especially for a major title like this.
The last one will be when people stop buying it or poor sale. Until than if fans still buy them and it makes millions don't expect it to die. Square Enix desperately needed the money.
More on working conditions at SE: http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2011/07/13/famitsu_squenix_feature/ http://www.dualshockers.com/2011/07...sts-new-interview-to-naoki-yoshida-published/ Though I'm thinking Yoshida might be doing it to himself rather.
It started when they gave Sakaguchi the window seat because of FF: The Spirits Within. They just bled out talent when the PS2 came out. The team which made Chrono Cross and Xenogears left to form Monolith Soft, spec. Tetsuya Takahashi, Soraya Saga, Yasunori Mitsuda, which hasn't panned out. Nobuo Uematsu went freelance and has worked more with Sakaguchi than Square Enix. Another, Yasumi Matsuno(FFT, Vagrant Story) left the company in the middle of FFXII for "health reasons." The PS2 was a generation of unfulfilled promises. BTW, FFXIV BLOWS.
