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View Full Version : Tabata Responds to feedback (Active Time Report)



Tyson
04-28-2015, 08:58 AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqPFqMOqJDc

An interesting watch, I'm glad the two biggest complaints were the lock on system and camera, seems those problems are already being addressed.

Also interesting to see how the geographical regions compare, Japan doesn't seem to like it as much as the US/EU.

Ayen
04-28-2015, 10:00 AM
Them not liking it doesn't surprise me. I remember reading somewhere the Japanese aren't too keen on big, open worlds like we are. Unless you meant something else, not sure. I don't have the patience to watch an hour long video.

Loony BoB
04-28-2015, 10:13 AM
I'll have to find a summary of that video somewhere. But yeah, when watching Danielle try it out (I haven't played it just yet) I found the camera to be really awkward. It needs to be able to zoom out.

Tyson
04-28-2015, 10:23 AM
Them not liking it doesn't surprise me. I remember reading somewhere the Japanese aren't too keen on big, open worlds like we are. Unless you meant something else, not sure. I don't have the patience to watch an hour long video.

Yeah the Japanese results were rather polarizing. The over whelming response by the Japanese audience was the demo was too hard (both the US/EU thought it was too easy) They also didn't seem to care about the story or characters whatsover (was very important to the Western Audience) Tabata even mentioned that in Western interviews people seemed far more interested in the narrative/story then the Japanese audience. It really does seem like the Japanese want it to be almost like a 3DS game, something you can just pick up and play, that is very direct with little to no custscenes/story elements.

For me personally FF has always been about the story and characters so I hope they keep trying to appease the EU/US audiences, I also much prefer the open world gameplay.

The big highlights are they're planning to release an update to Episode Duscae in Mid May (Version 2.0) That fixes a bunch of stuff and even adds some functionality like a dodge roll option (You can choose that instead of the warp dodge ability.)

They're also skipping E3 (although they said there may be a small trailer) They said the first big info blow out will be at Gamescom in August. It's supposedly the start of promotion for the full game there.

Del Murder
04-28-2015, 05:23 PM
That is very interesting about the culture change in Japanese gaming. Hopefully they don't cave to that pressure which would be difficult seeing as they are a Japanese company.

Also interesting is that they plan on updating the demo. It's almost like this is a beta test rather than a demo.

Loony BoB
04-28-2015, 05:43 PM
If so, that's a seriously good thing.

Del Murder
04-28-2015, 05:53 PM
I think it is mostly good, but it could be bad if they start making ad hoc changes based on feedback that addresses very specific concerns but does not mesh with the overall atmosphere and objective of the game. This has been something I've seen in the FFXIII series. SE has done a great job showing that they care about fan feedback lately but I feel like they are amateurs at actually incorporating that feedback seamlessly into their original vision.

Loony BoB
04-28-2015, 05:57 PM
Given that the things they are changing are things like "camera" and "lock on system" I don't think it'll break things.

Del Murder
04-28-2015, 06:02 PM
Yeah, but someone mentioned characters and story and I started thinking :erm:...

I haven't actually watched the video so it could be nothing.

Mirage
04-28-2015, 07:00 PM
It sounds like they had no idea why europeans complained about cindy. Almsot like the idea of having a female character in the party that wasn't fanservice was a completely foreign concept to them.

Was I interpreting it wrong?

Sephiroth
04-28-2015, 08:16 PM
I really like this. Square Enix totally shows that it still knows how to sell itself.

Also, Eye Candy Cindy is no problem. People should really start realizing that sometimes talking nonsense just for the sake of doing so is too much. There is no problem with being appealing and still having a normal, active and cheerful personality. I am more annoying by Cindy's accent and the fact that in the West she really is called Cindy now. But apparently not through mistranslation but intentional so I am fine with that in a way. Just like with Terra or Bartz.

- A European.


It sounds like they had no idea why europeans complained about cindy. Almsot like the idea of having a female character in the party that wasn't fanservice was a completely foreign concept to them.

Was I interpreting it wrong?

No, Tabata-san did indeed talk a bit about other aspects of why you could not like that. Which is why the other man told him what was meant. He did kinda understand it then but I guess they did not see that people mean "ohh no! she is oversexualized for the sake of it (even though I am fine with it in many other games because as the rest of the world I am sexually attracted to other people and do actually only complain because I have no normal, constructive and non-hypocritical comment)!" And so he still talked a bit about other aspects as well.

Mirage
04-28-2015, 09:42 PM
Considering they had gotten very many messages about it, a lot of people disagree with you on that it isn't a problem.

I'm not sure why you bring up that everyone is sexually attracted to other people. That's got nothing to do with this thing. Liking tits doesn't mean I want to see them in every possible situation they could be in. How come some games manage to avoid doing it? Are these games exclusively for asexual people?

Sephiroth
04-28-2015, 09:45 PM
Considering they had gotten very many messages about it, a lot of people disagree with you on that it isn't a problem.

People disagree with many things. That does not make them right or not magically "no longer searching for something just for the argument's sake". Just like 3/4 of the Dragon Ball community makes claims that are just not right. Or how half complaints about things that have fans are just nonsensical arguments.

Fox
04-28-2015, 10:04 PM
I really like this. Square Enix totally shows that it still knows how to sell itself.

Also, Eye Candy Cindy is no problem. People should really start realizing that sometimes talking nonsense just for the sake of doing so is too much. There is no problem with being appealing and still having a normal, active and cheerful personality. I am more annoying by Cindy's accent and the fact that in the West she really is called Cindy now. But apparently not through mistranslation but intentional so I am fine with that in a way. Just like with Terra or Bartz.

Look, it boils down to this:

Is Cindy intended to be an interesting, well fleshed out, respected character with a meaningful presence in the story?

If yes, why distract people from that by focussing the camera on her bending over in hot pants so much? How much would Auron's role in FFX be affected if he walked around in crotchless pants and a banana hammock? "This is your story," he would say, while gently thrusting his hips towards camera.
If no, and she's just there to provide sexy boobs... then the problem is obvious.


Either way, it doesn't come out being a smart idea.

Regarding the rest of the report, good to see they're using the feedback constructively. Although I was very surprised to learn of an update to the XV demo! Hope they didn't waste too much time on that one!

Mirage
04-28-2015, 10:07 PM
Considering they had gotten very many messages about it, a lot of people disagree with you on that it isn't a problem.

People disagree with many things. That does not make them right or not magically "no longer searching for something just for the argument's sake". Just like 3/4 of the Dragon Ball community makes claims that are just not right. Or how half complaints about things that have fans are just nonsensical arguments.

No, you're right. It takes a good argument as well. Which a lot of people have supplied. There is a mile long thread full of such arguments somewhere else so let's not repeat it here.

Sephiroth
04-28-2015, 10:20 PM
I really like this. Square Enix totally shows that it still knows how to sell itself.

Also, Eye Candy Cindy is no problem. People should really start realizing that sometimes talking nonsense just for the sake of doing so is too much. There is no problem with being appealing and still having a normal, active and cheerful personality. I am more annoying by Cindy's accent and the fact that in the West she really is called Cindy now. But apparently not through mistranslation but intentional so I am fine with that in a way. Just like with Terra or Bartz.

Look, it boils down to this:

Is Cindy intended to be an interesting, well fleshed out, respected character with a meaningful presence in the story?

If yes, why distract people from that by focussing the camera on her bending over in hot pants so much? How much would Auron's role in FFX be affected if he walked around in crotchless pants and a banana hammock? "This is your story," he would say, while gently thrusting his hips towards camera.
If no, and she's just there to provide sexy boobs... then the problem is obvious.


Either way, it doesn't come out being a smart idea.

Regarding the rest of the report, good to see they're using the feedback constructively. Although I was very surprised to learn of an update to the XV demo! Hope they didn't waste too much time on that one!

I am not going to participate in this kind of argument that the last thread about this "issue" was. As I have mentioned before, people who just say they do not want a person to be sexually attractive dressed because they think it "gets shoved down their throats for no reason but the looks themselves" are getting very hypocritical here. We all are attracted to things and if a company makes a person as eye candy for the sake of being an eye candy than that alone is no problem. The problem is only caused if it actually results in people automatically treating others bad because you have been so heavily influenced by it. But this whole "a virtual person gets broken down to being sexually attractive just for the sake of being sexually attractive and that is total objectification" is an unnecessarily bloated opinion about something that really should not even be bothered about that much. If people really care so much about not treating other people worse then they should probably bother doing something in countries where others are treated really bad for sure. But because a person is made to be sexually attractive and oh no, it does not even fit her character - which would have been another complaint anyway because then people would have said she was added as a prostitute-esque character who looks and behaves like one - really, you spent way too much thoughts on that. Square Enix said "You like apples? Here have one and we hope you enjoy it!" They did not say "You want that apple? I shove it down your throat so we hope you choke on it!". The positive intention was in mind, not the negative one.

That's my 5 cents about it. I am not gonna repeat myself rephrasing the posts from half a year ago. I am sorry if that seems kinda aggressive to you as that is not the intention but some of those "problems" almighty fans recognize all the time are just ridiculous. It has not become a problem. People hate it just for the reason it could become one "because there are other things that have become one". But just because I can cut myself with a knife I won't stop using it as there definitely are some things that you can use it for. And yes, being visually appealing very well is one of that, no matter for which reason.




No, you're right. It takes a good argument as well. Which a lot of people have supplied. There is a mile long thread full of such arguments somewhere else so let's not repeat it here.

Indeed. A thread which proved, just as many threads all over the internet that people just want to read the parts they need so they can counter, no matter if the rest actually speaks against it, they have forgotten something or simply misunderstood. I am roaming forums for over 10 years now. Such threads do not reflect people being as intelligent and right as they think of themselves. And I have yet to see a forum which is an exception.

Mirage
04-28-2015, 10:23 PM
I guess we could just make every single female in every single game a gigantic breasted glamour model then. There's no issue, right. Everyone wants to look at pretty ladies. As long as they have good personalities.

Elpizo
04-28-2015, 10:27 PM
I guess we could just make every single female in every single game a gigantic breasted glamour model then. There's no issue, right. Everyone wants to look at pretty ladies. As long as they have good personalities.

Way to simplify what Sephiroth said to turn it into something he didn't say at all.

Fox
04-28-2015, 10:32 PM
That's OK Sephiroth, I had no intention on saying any more than I already said. It'll just end up escalating until you summon a comet to destroy the sun and envelop the Earth, dealing approximately 3000hp damage and sometimes turning one of my friends into a frog for some reason. Nobody wants to see it come to that.

I want to talk about the AI.

So, Tabata-san is like "We'll address the sometimes poor-AI by making it better". That's fair enough, but I gotta say the more I think about it the more I want some level of control over those other dudes. Gambits are so good, let's have them! Even Kingdom Hearts allowed you *some* level of control over Donald and Goofy; I think it's going to be a real shame if for all intents and purposes they're only there to be damage sponges and story companions. I wanna use them tactically, grow their abilities, all that sort of thing.

Mirage
04-28-2015, 10:33 PM
Gambits are cool, but even giving them rough tactics like in tales games would be an improvement.

Ayen
04-28-2015, 11:00 PM
Them not liking it doesn't surprise me. I remember reading somewhere the Japanese aren't too keen on big, open worlds like we are. Unless you meant something else, not sure. I don't have the patience to watch an hour long video.

Yeah the Japanese results were rather polarizing. The over whelming response by the Japanese audience was the demo was too hard (both the US/EU thought it was too easy) They also didn't seem to care about the story or characters whatsover (was very important to the Western Audience) Tabata even mentioned that in Western interviews people seemed far more interested in the narrative/story then the Japanese audience. It really does seem like the Japanese want it to be almost like a 3DS game, something you can just pick up and play, that is very direct with little to no custscenes/story elements.

For me personally FF has always been about the story and characters so I hope they keep trying to appease the EU/US audiences, I also much prefer the open world gameplay.

The big highlights are they're planning to release an update to Episode Duscae in Mid May (Version 2.0) That fixes a bunch of stuff and even adds some functionality like a dodge roll option (You can choose that instead of the warp dodge ability.)

They're also skipping E3 (although they said there may be a small trailer) They said the first big info blow out will be at Gamescom in August. It's supposedly the start of promotion for the full game there.

Yet they like FFXIII which had cut-scenes so long you could save during them.

I do not understand the Japanese.

Del Murder
04-28-2015, 11:23 PM
Oh wow, so all the other characters are really going to be 100% AI like in the demo? That's really disappointing, even if they fix the AI.

Aulayna
04-30-2015, 02:13 AM
I feel like a lot of what's been discovered about the polarising difference between Western and Japanese expectations and preferences in terms of gameplay, is something I've been saying at EoFF for years now and getting ignored for - or even called crazy for.

SE should really hire me.

Remember that Mevius Final Fantasy game, now called Mobius Final Fantasy, with that spandex wearing, ripped, male protagonist with loads of skin showing? (http://www.hardcoregamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/mevius-2.jpg)


Well due to Japanese Male Gamer complaints, his character design got changed:

64028

Because it was "too sexy."

http://kotaku.com/square-changes-final-fantasy-character-to-show-less-but-1695940250

Cindy's fine though, apparently.

Food for thought for you :D

Ayen
04-30-2015, 02:30 AM
It's almost like openly complaining about this stuff makes a difference or something. Crazy!

Lawr
05-03-2015, 05:27 PM
Square being so open with their fans is almost unheard of from Japanese video game companies and I love it. I was watching that whole video with a grin on my face and I'm sure other companies will follow suit with how well FFXV is gonna do. Another bonus is the fact that they're going to change the "direction" of Noct's strangely deep english voice, whether they're getting a new voice actor or telling him to straighten the hell up and match Noct's age is fine with me.

Also, Japan confirmed for land of casuals via poll results lol.

Mirage
05-03-2015, 10:33 PM
Don't get ahead of yourself. We still don't know how well FF15 will do.

Lawr
05-03-2015, 11:31 PM
Okay then let's be logical here. As much as people hate FFXIII, it was the fourth highest selling Square game behind VII, X, and VIII in Japan. (http://vgsales.wikia.com/wiki/Best_selling_Square-Enix_games) Just looking at the number of people who bought Type-0 for Episode Duscae, I'm pretty sure FFXV will do well.

With all of the interest and buzz this game is creating, it's safe to assume it'll do better rather than not. Will people enjoy it and like it? Who knows. But from a business standpoint, selling is doing well.

Night Fury
05-04-2015, 08:56 AM
As I have mentioned before, people who just say they do not want a person to be sexually attractive dressed because they think it "gets shoved down their throats for no reason but the looks themselves" are getting very hypocritical here. We all are attracted to things and if a company makes a person as eye candy for the sake of being an eye candy than that alone is no problem.

It's fine that you don't think it's a problem. It's your opinion, but many people, myself included, do. Our reasons for this are valid. It doesn't boil down to the fact that 'people are attracted to things' - it comes down to the fact that it's ALL. THE. TIME. I watched the demo and the part with Cindy just made me roll my eyes. She was bending over the car, the boys were gawping at her, her long legs were poking out of the bottom... It was almost like it was straight from a porno parody.

Yes, people are attracted to women and to men and whatever else. If you like Cindy in FFXIV as she is, it doesn't make you a sexist you can like her if you want - the point is that it's just lazy to make her the token sexy character of the game. The game is already lacking in female characters. She's a mechanic for smurfs sake and all that is being represented is her chest. You can't take her seriously. It's lazy and I'm well within my right to hate it.

I think that being a human being with breasts and a :bou::bou::bou::bou: gives me a unique perspective on the issue. I see the lack of female diversity in video games (I would also say racial diversity, but I am aware I am white and so my perspective is not the same as a POC, even though I do believe it) I want to see a female character in a video game who is like me. It is tiring to try to remain a fan of video games when as a woman, I am so poorly represented at times.

And no, pointing out the small handful of exceptions to the rule does not make me feel better.

FFFFsephychibi
05-04-2015, 11:06 PM
R.I.P. Batman Noctis.