Got this from another forum:

Extract from an interview in LEVEL magazine (japanese publication?):


Quote:
About FFXIII:

Q: "How does it effect you, and Square Enix, that FFXIII is such a big project that it's been divided in a lot of separate projects?"

Toriyama:"We've definitely been forced to change our habits and work in new ways. In the center you have the crystals that define Final Fantasy and unite the three XIII projects. But every single game is evolving in its own direction and take place in their own worlds with their own characters. Nomura has designed Lightning, but she's our character."

Q: "So who is she then?"

A: "I can't say much more than that she likes to call herself that. And that she's a female character who's vastly different compared to Yuna."

Q: "Ten years ago, Final Fantasy VII became a symbol to the entire PlayStation format. Could FFXIII come to mean as much for the PS3?"

A:"FFVII was a milestone in PS history. The game changed the entire RPG genre and set a lot of new trends. Strictly content-wise, the theme alternated between fantasy and futurism and we're doing something similar with FFXIII. The game mixes a new kind of fantasy with futuristic elements that have never been seen in a game before. It's very interesting to explore the new hardware. When you've managed to harness the power in it the results become unbelievable. We're accomplishing things you hardly can manage without the PS3."

Q:"So there will be a mix between fantasy and sci-fi again?"

A: "Last time, our time worked with the Asian-influenced world in FFX and wanted to do something completely different this time around. So we took the futuristic theme to its limit. FFXIII will truly define the term futurism. You've never seen anything like it."

Q:"You've worked at Square Enix for a long time, but this is the first time you're in charge of such a big FF project. How do you cope with the pressure?"

A: "The difference between the side projects and the big games, the one with numbers, isn't really that big. I know I have to deliver, but I knew that when I worked on Revenant Wings as well. The pressure from outside is almost worse. A lot of people view FFXIII as a title that can decide the success for the PS3. But I can't think about that. We've had a lot of time on our hands to prepare our game, and now we're working full-speed."

Q: "If you look past the visuals, how will FFXIII be a game for the next generation?"

A: "It's never solely about graphics, but at the same time you can't deny the meaning of the looks for the experience as a whole. The technique allows us to create characters so realistic that the player perceives them as being alive. It adds something emotional to the entire game experience. Which in its turn makes the combat system feel different since you care about the characters and you feel for them in a way that you've never done before. When you play FFXIII, it feels like you're controlling something that's not a 3D model, but a real creature."

About Versus:

Nomura: "There's been times when I've wanted to take FF in a completely different direction than the game's producer has wanted. I'm not saying that his or mine opinions have been right or wrong, just different. One thing I've always wanted to explore deeper is human emotions. By going in that direction, you risk to make the target group for the game narrower, and FF is appreciated by a very large audience. But with Versus XIII, it feels like the right time to take that risk. Since the script isn't done yet, I still don't know exactly how far I dare to go, but I know I want to squeeze humanity out of these characters. I want Versus to feel in the entire body."

Q: "You've also said that this is going to be the darkest FF game ever."

A: "When I produced Kingdom Hearts, I was in a world so bright that I almost got blinded. So now I want to do something completely different. Maybe it has something to do with my love for extremes. FFvXIII is about man in the real world. In that sense, the game will contain less fantasy than usual We've created some dark environments and shown them in our trailers. But the entire game won't look like that; we've only just begun."

Q: "When you talk about the real world, do you mean modern life on Earth?"

A: "I don't want the characters in the game to feel fabricated, so my focus lies on designing them through their humanity. They have to be perceived as humans, as someone you and I could meet in reality. The world in Versus is reminiscent with the one we live in today. That doesn't mean I'm inspired by locations or persons that actually exist, it's more of a feeling that the characters and locations are believeable, like something you'd be able to find in your daily life. I want to take this concept and make it into an FF experience. That's the challenge I've given myself, anyway."

Q: "So that's how you will use the power of the PS3?"

A: "The PS3 is such a powerful machine that the technical possibilities have a great influence over the game design and in the end, the entire game experience. I can't go into details about my ideas, but many of them would never have been possible during the last console generation."



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Seems like this will be one of the first games, that will truly use the power of the PS3......Unfortunate it will be a very long wait..............

What wait? Motorstorm, Lair, Heavenly Sword, Uncharted, R & C are already doing that :P

Anyway, eh on the interview. I've learned my lesson after getting burned by many of SE titles over the last few years. They can hype it up all they want, won't change a damn thing for me. They've been talking a lot of big game on this title as of late, and judging by past games, I'm a little reluctant to believe they will deliver. Still, FFXIII is still my top most wanted PS3 game though, and I haven't been this interested in a Final Fantasy game since back in the Playstation days. I want to believe, but this is SE, they've lost a lot of their luster since back in the SS days. So we will see

Forgot about those :) but I said one of the :P


One thing I know for sure is that it will be alot better then XII ( at least I hope)...I'm a big FF fan so I'll always be overhyped about the main FF series.....

I still always stay alert on the Sequels and side games though, you never know it with those.

*two days later*
FF: XIII announced for X360.
lol

Agree 100% with kenshin.

Yeah, the side quests spin-offs seem to be hit and miss. Upcoming FF7CC is sounding good though(to my surprise). I'm not saying they lack the ability to make good games, I believe they can if they really want to. It's just that, they aren't as consistent as back in the SS days, especially when it comes to Final Fantasy games. I guess the main problem would be that they are making about 10+ a year.

I'm still pretty hyped for FFXIII, and I to believe it will be better than X and XII as well(not like it's that hard compared to those 2) :P

Lightning FTW! I just wish Nobuo was working on the soundtrack though. Damn you MW! :(lol, a real Final Fantasy game on the 360? Hah! I'll take my ice skates on down to hell when that day comes :P

Personally i don't think SE have created a engaging world/characters since FF8.

It's well known that SE have lost many of the old staff that used to work there, and it shows in the quailty of their games.

The only reason i look forward to a SE game is because its likely to be a JRPG, but I haven't played one of their games in a while that i have thought this is something truely awesome.

Regardless to what they make their games will sell well anyways, they are a bit like the Japanese EA in that respect.

^

Agreed.

We're accomplishing things you hardly can manage without the PS3. (Yawn zzzzzzz.... dont people get tied of using this line)

Q:"So there will be a mix between fantasy and sci-fi again?"

A: "Last time, our time worked with the Asian-influenced world in FFX and wanted to do something completely different this time around. So we took the futuristic theme to its limit. FFXIII will truly define the term futurism. You've never seen anything like it."

(Hmmm getting more interested :) )

Q: "If you look past the visuals, how will FFXIII be a game for the next generation?"

A: "It's never solely about graphics, but at the same time you can't deny the meaning of the looks for the experience as a whole. The technique allows us to create characters so realistic that the player perceives them as being alive. It adds something emotional to the entire game experience. Which in its turn makes the combat system feel different since you care about the characters and you feel for them in a way that you've never done before. When you play FFXIII, it feels like you're controlling something that's not a 3D model, but a real creature."

(More interested....)

DC have you played FF12 ?

That game was pretty much a western game, inspired by Sci-fi, semi real time battle and such.

What the guy says above isn't much different than what we have already seen in FF12 in my eyes, obviously they can create more believable characters and such because of the extra processing power.

On the other hand I personally don't like the idea of Sci-Fi in FF games, surely they are losing the point... it's supposed to be Fantasy ..!!

No i have not, is it any good?

not really. But hey, it's worth a try I guess....you may enjoy it :p

It is good, you bloody elitists!

thus why i said he should at least try it, some people liked it...most hated it :P I kid, I kid


and
http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/urltrurl?...
Lightning FTW!