^^. I see many people on the forums express real hate about Final Fantasy XIII. I see things changing in a good direction. For example

1. Story isn`t concentrated on one or two characters(i.e. FF8,FF9, and FF10)

2. No leveling up

3. Combat system looks like it very fast and innovative to me at least

4. Some characters didn`t follow the usual Japanese aesthetics like Fang, Lightning, and Sazh.

There are elements that I wish weren`t in there like linearity, tutorials, and fixed parties but those don`t cast aside this game. I know many people said that this is piece of crap all the way to this doesn`t bring nothing new to the table. I have also played many other Final Fantasies which to me brought the same old gameplay and story(love story) this one will change the course of the franchise. Gameplay to me was action based and was to me very interesting which actually could bring in more fans that never liked RPGs lately and that where all RPGs are going Japanese or Western. If anybody talking how JRPGs bring nothing new to the table then nobody has played Nier which blows always all JRPG`s conventions and still got underappreciated to me. Nier was like God of War meets Final Fantasy the professionals today are all about graphics in which why it got mixed reviews. I agree FFXIV was rushed and disappointing but is now getting a reboot which I hope that Square Enix has learned it lesson. Final Fantasy Versus XIII could be liked Mass Effect and go the shooter route which would probably get more people angry. If a western studio did get their hands on Final Fantasy which some want it would most likely be obsidian because they are also developing Dungeon Siege III. I can also remember a short time people were mad about a certain franchise getting rebooted by a western developer and how the main character look i.e Devil May Cry. If Obsidian develops the next Final Fantasy how would it look and how would it feel and would look Final Fantasy like or Western-style RPG like ask those things to yourselves people. Agree with me or not? Why?

Digital Download is pretty much the future right but how long will it take so it doesn`t take that long to download? I kind a guy who still like to own his games and anyone that says it is a joke need to wake up. Let make this comaprison it is like a buying a car at full price then the guys you can only keep if for three years. If you are a console players do you think Wii 2, PS4, and XBOX 720 will go all digtial? I may be attached to physical media but I believe it is going back to its original function a storage medium. Physical media will always be here but with its original purpose of storing stuff on them. Am I right or not?

In the age of digital sales how is it that people still keep pirating music which are already cheap?

[QUOTE="hippiesanta"][QUOTE="GamingBoy2009"]

For me, its hard copy. I think with a hard copy, your holding a piece of art, similar to getting a music album, its a piece of art. Also, when your PC or console carrying all that digital content ever breaks or fails, you can lose all that content.

GamingBoy2009

Somebody in school told me that the age of physical media is over and we going to go all digital so I believe that digtal download will becaome the only to get you games.

I been hearing alot about cloud gaming but I do not think it is viable future. I believe digital download has a future because people can keep the games, movies, and music permanently. Cloud gaming to me is one big rental service which would be utlized in the next generation of consoles. Hard copy would probably stay around because we can talk about a recent leak of classified documents was put on a CD and then given to the person in charge of the website i.e. Wikileaks. Digital Download would be a good alternative because you actuallly still own the software and anybody that says I do not know what the big idea is living in fantasy land. Doesn`t perlman now can get money of all others competitors like Gaikai which I believe hurts his cause because he has a patent. It probably going to happpen to the game industry to the music industry where digital sales are flat and vinyl is making a comeback but in a simliar way. Do you agree or not agree? Why?

I've wondered for awhile now what has happened. Back in the late 90s RE, FF and MGS were THE games to play and the best. You see I think its probably a growing cultural difference and having better graphics distinguishes the art more. Back in the 90s I dont think FF and MGS felt very japanese and now it feels lole RE MGS and FF are made in a different world. ulable

Where did the idea the MGS is made in another world because MGS 4 was great and didn`t seem Japanese to me.

[QUOTE="Vexx88"]I liked it better when they didn't try to "westernize" everything.SteveTabernacle

I like them where thet direction their going because that where all the game industry is going.

Square did lose Sakaguchi and Uematsu, Doug.SteveTabernacle

I think I see it the other way around, but still optimistic.

What I think we see, is alot of great talent being fed up with the strict static infrastructure of the huge devs and pubs over there, and fleeing those, in favor of either the more relaxed western dev teams, or new upstart Japanese Devs.

Well TC Did write about that too, I just think that this aspect is the most important of them.

I have this nagging feeling that the reason that the Japanese games divisions have grinded to a halt, and stuck in the same loop, is largely due to thier infrastructure, and the exodus from various big divisions are a sign that the people with the really good ideas, have had enough, and trying thier luck somewhere else, in hopes of kickstarting the industry again over there, since it seems that those divisions seem not to have the will to try something new, or different.

I hope we see more then a few new (smaller) Japanese Dev houses, begin to make new games, and reimagine genres. Which I am looking farwards to alot.

Those that are heading to the west, I am less thrilled about, but I still think they will be able to make better hybrid games that may appeal to both the Japanese market and the west. I just fear theyve been in said regid infrastructures for so long, that it may make things difficult for them. I hope I am wrong.

Maddie_Larkin