GamesCom 2009 Interview With Tanaka Hiromichi and Sage Sundi

4Gamer: Thank you for
meeting with us today. Please let us start right away because I think
I’m not on time. FFXI has been in service for 8 years now; the online
gaming environment has change a lot since then. When developing FFXIV
has there been certain care taken in regards to the future of online
gaming? Are there things you learned from the past?

Tanaka: When I first began developing FFXI
the mainstream was single-core computers but soon after the release
multi-core processors were released and became the standard in
computers. With FFXIV, however, we are thinking ahead and plan to
include support for multi-core and multi-threading technologies from
the start.

4Gamer: Besides the
evolution of technology there is the issue that the game will be on
both the PC and a console. The console can’t be upgraded where as the
PC can always be upgraded and with improvements to the game this can
cause issues. How do you plan to adapt to this?

Tanaka: What machine the client uses
doesn’t really matter. What matters is the server which is giving the
information. You want most of the work being done on the server side.
For example, a TV station can broadcast to a black and white TV or a
color TV, but if the signal doesn’t get sent then no one gets anything.
Therefore, the most important thing to have is a stable server and this
is the most difficult part.

4Gamer: I see.

Tanaka: So this means that we wouldn’t
have to make a server that works on each machine. That would be like
working on another MMO at the same time.

4Gamer: By the way, how will billing work? At E3 there was word of anniversary billing.

Tanaka: I feel that anniversary billing is
the best approach. We are unlikely to use “Micro-transactions.” We
decided that it is cheaper for players and they are able to play longer
as a result. On average an item can run up to $4-$5 using
micro-transactions.

Sundi: With micro-transactions I think
that players will buy everything they want, collecting a large bill,
then quit because there is nothing else to get. I want players to have
a lasting enjoyment instead.

4Gamer: Will there be the possibility of purchasing additional services?

Sundi: We may want to have option services
like server transfers or options for players to purchase. These things
were not added until 3 or 4 years after the launch of FFXI.

4Gamer: The basis of FFXI’s income would be from anniversary payments then but do you feel that buyable items would be a possibility?

Tanaka: That would be the basis for FFXI
but for now we have no plans for selling items. The possibility of
losing players is higher if we did. When people don’t want to keep
spending lots of money then will stop playing. With the anniversary
payments we get a consistent payment and it is better for the players
as well as the long term life of the game.

4Gamer: Right now there is
truly a “war” between MMO players and the developers because of the
rapid consumption of content. There are different approaches to
battling this issue, what is FFXIV going to do?

Tanaka: The Guildleave system is really a
pillar in the game. This is content that can be played many times
repeatedly unlike traditional quests where you do them once and they
are gone. We want to look into how players use the system. In FFXI the
users would sometimes inject their play style into the game and the
system would bend and shape into something new and unexpected. I hope
to see this same thing happen once again and our developers may be able
to make the game even bated based on how the players enjoy it.

4Gamer: With FFXIV coming out will FFXI still be worked on simultaneously?

Tanaka: Yes it will be. I have divided the
teams up onto different floors and they are assigned to their
respective games but the work will not be combined.

4Gamer: When FFXI was
being developed it was said that you yourself did most of the work
including some of the text and UI. What is your part going to be here
with FFXIV?

Tanaka: This time around I will be taking
a more Hands off approach. When making FFXI I felt that it was faster
to do things myself rather than take the time to explain what I wanted.
*laughs*

All: *laughs*

4Gamer: Won’t it get frustrating if you can’t do it for yourself?

Tanaka: Sometimes you have to stand back
and let the younger guys figure it out. If I don’t allow them to then
they can’t become the next generation of great developers.

4Gamer: There isn’t much time left so I’d like to hear more about how the game works.

Sundi: When targeting a mob the “action
menu” comes up at the bottom of the screen and this is where you
perform actions. The more you use a weapon, the stronger you get, and
the more skills learn with that weapon. You can set these abilities in
the action menu and activate them during battle. If you want you can
also register multiple abilities with macros.

4Gamer: Now, when you change your weapon the role of your character will change along with the action menu?

Tanaka: Yes, for example if you were to equip a wand then your magic commands will come up.

4Gamer: How does the player use these commands?

Tanaka: First you have to store up the
action gauge. If you select a command before the gauge is ready it will
activate once the gauge is filled. There is also a power gauge, this
increases the strength and accuracy of your techniques.

4Gamer: Then a player can choose to use a powerful attack over and over again?

Tanaka: If you keep using the same attack
the monster will start to predict your actions and it will become
harder to land that attack again. The best way to defeat a monster is
to combine different techniques.

4Gamer: Are you able to switch weapons during battle?

Tanaka: No, you have to do that out of combat.

Sundi: In Final Fantasy XI, one had to return to their Mog House in order to switch jobs, but players in
Eorzea can do it anywhere they please, though you can’t in battle.

4Gamer: Ah, I see. This
would allow more flexibility for the player because they don’t have to
wait for parties. Your role isn’t fixed so it offers a variety of play.


Tanaka: I don’t want players to have to be
a fixed job. The idea is for people to be able to solo or find a party.
They can do what they want.

4player: As a player yourself, what do you think the play style would be?

Tanaka: When adventuring solo or with
small groups, players need to acquire a number of different skills and
abilities to be able to survive. I hope this will create a rich variety
of players and really make each character unique.

4Gamer: Will this be doable when you chose to mainly solo?

Tanaka: Truthfully, the player’s growth can come a bit slower when they focus mainly on solo adventuring.

Sundi: Getting a party and working
together will help you improve faster but there can be negative and
positive sides to both aspects.

4gamer: Now, let me focus on Guildleave. Will they be different from person to person?

Sundi: Yes they will be different.
Guildleave is at the heart of FFXIV and comes in many different forms.
Now types will continually be added through version updates.

Tanaka: The development team is working to create a large amount of content for the Guildleaves.

4gamer: Can you tell us more specifics on the Guildleaves?

Tanaka: Right now I am not able to tell
you much more. But there is an upper limit to the number of guildleave
one player can aquire at a time. If you want to play beyond that, you
may have to help other players with their Guildleaves.

Sundi: Players can freely aid each other
on quests and it is possible to do so even if one player doesn’t
possess the particular Guildleave. Other specifics are still a secret.
*laughs*

4gamer: I see, there are still many other mysteries. But we could see some things form the screenshot we
got of one.

Tanaka: Yes, there are some quests that will take less than 30 minutes to complete and some that will take up to a couple days.

4gamer: So the player can decide how they want to paly.

Tanaka: It’s made to not exclude the less
casual players. Guildleave is all about customizing the game for the
players own style of play.

4gamer: So this system will assure that everyone can have fun.

4gamer: The races have already been announced, but is there a possibility of more being announced?

Tanaka: Ahh-- *laughs* (Tanaka sidesteps
the question) Players can customize their skin, eyes, hair-style and
face. You can also choose a faction with each race. For example, the
Miqo’te can choose from the Seekers of the Sun or the Keepers of the
Moon.

4gamer: So this will create differences in the races?

Tanaka: Not right now. In the future they may be things to differentiate the factions.

4gamer: Is your starting location dependent on your race?

Tanaka: No, you can choose to start wherever you would like.

4gamer: In FFXI plauers were offered special rings depending on their hometown, for example players from Bastok got a unique ring.

Tanaka: It won’t be like that; this time I
want everyone to start on the same level with a fresh start. That way
it won’t influence choices in race or town.

4gamer: Will there be differences between the races?

Tanaka: There won’t be any significant
differences between the races. All races can learn the same skills and
abilities, but there may be other slight differences to make them
unique.

4gamer: Because they are so equal, is there the possibility of PvP?

Tanaka: PvE is the focus in FFXIV. If PvP
elements are added then they will be in the form of a sport or game
like FFXI. We decided early on to not have PvP.

4gamer: I’m sorry, there is no time to lose! But quickly can you tell us about the camera view?

Tanaka: Now the camera is set on
third-person from behind the character but we are looking at having a
third-person shooter style shoulder camera and a first-person camera.

4gamer: Over the shoulder is quite unusual in an MMO.

Tanaka: We actually have heard complaints about the camera being
positioned behind the character saying that it makes it difficult to
see what is in front of you so we wanted to address that.

4gamer: Is there one last think you would like to say to the readers quickly?

Tanaka: I’m happy to have been able to
meet so many fans and gather their opinions on our work so far and I
hope to have more chances in the future to do this again.



Credits:
MakaiTenshi- Translations, presentaion

Source:
4Gamer

That would be the basis for FFXI but for now we have no plans for
selling items. The possibility of losing players is higher if we did.
When people don’t want to keep spending lots of money then will stop
playing.

4Gamer: Now, when you change your weapon the role of your character will change along with the action menu?

Tanaka: Yes, for example if you were to equip a wand then your magic commands will come up.

Yes, there are some quests that will take less than 30 minutes to complete and some that will take up to a couple days.