• Eyes on Final Fantasy Under New Ownership


    On December 5, 1999, Sean Robinson created a tiny little EzBoard called The Highwind, which after a few months was renamed Eyes on Final Fantasy. Sean could not have predicted what his creation would turn into; the result ended up being beyond anyone’s wildest dreams.

    Fourteen years later, EoFF is not only alive, but thriving, despite Sean having sold the place to professionals years ago. EoFF has changed the lives of many, including being the cause of a number of marriages, and earlier this year had a spotlight on Kotaku. And on EoFF’s fourteenth anniversary, a new dream was met.

    Daniel Towns, aka Loony BoB, aka that guy with the same chocobo avatar after 13 years, registered on EoFF in 2000, shortly after its move to UBB, once the big name in online message board software. In the years that followed, he became a moderator (called “Cid’s Knights” after Sean Robinson’s screen name, Cid Highwind) and then an administrator. He has been the face of EoFF for a number of years, indisputably the most dedicated member EoFF has ever had. He single-handedly turned EoFF’s semi-annual awards, the Ciddies, into EoFF’s biggest event; has previously run the site staff; and has dedicated countless hours to managing the forums -- among other contributions too numerous to list.

    And now this place is back in the members’ hands, as Daniel Towns finally fulfilled what we all know he had wanted for years: he bought EoFF (appropriately enough the same year as his marriage that was caused by EoFF -- both of them). Eyes on Final Fantasy could not be in better hands, and I believe on that fact that I can speak for all of EoFF, past and present.

    I, for one, welcome our new chocobo overlords.
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Eyes on Final Fantasy XIV: A Community Reborn started by Loony BoB View original post
    Comments 97 Comments
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB -
      I wish! Sadly, I need to keep you punks around or else this place will be boring. What's tyranny without anyone to be tyrannical over? Catch 22 situation.
    1. Jiro's Avatar
      Jiro -
      You just need to figure out a way to force us to stay logged in and sat at our computer.
    1. The Summoner of Leviathan's Avatar
      The Summoner of Leviathan -
      Essentially, you are saying he needs neuroconnectors and set-up a situation like Sword Art Online?
    1. Jiro's Avatar
      Jiro -
      Quote Originally Posted by The Summoner of Leviathan View Post
      Essentially, you are saying he needs neuroconnectors and set-up a situation like Sword Art Online?
      Yes. Though I had a force-a-coma-a-la-dot-Hack in mind because I've not seen any of SAO except the first ep.
    1. Lonely Paper Star's Avatar
      Lonely Paper Star -
      Very belated, but yay!
    1. Ouch!'s Avatar
      Ouch! -
      So Face told me about this on FFXIV tonight. I figured I'd stop by and say: "Holy trout, this actually happened? Awesome!"
    1. Del Murder's Avatar
      Del Murder -
      Shouldn't something about the purchase go up on the frontsite? I would consider this a newsworthy item!
    1. Calliope's Avatar
      Calliope -
      You guys really need a communications/public relations manager

      On the frontsite, social media, etc etc.
    1. Del Murder's Avatar
      Del Murder -
      We have a PR manager. He recently bought the place. You may have heard of him.
    1. Calliope's Avatar
      Calliope -
      I might have, but probably not if he doesn't make announcements, post things on the frontsite, etc.
    1. Del Murder's Avatar
      Del Murder -
      He's pretty shy.
    1. Quina's Avatar
      Quina -
      Who is Daniel Towns? Is he BoB Towns's brother? He bought the site from Square-Enix?
    1. Calliope's Avatar
      Calliope -
      No, there was a company merger and now it's called Pentagon-Enix.
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB -
      Quote Originally Posted by Calliope View Post
      You guys really need a communications/public relations manager
      I think you may have us confused with an actual business. On a sidenote, it was announced on Facebook at the very least!
    1. Calliope's Avatar
      Calliope -
      You might want to be slightly more like an actual business in some respects if you want to make actual money? I found the post, and in the process I also found the other "open group" page that only has Matt and Ojoj left as members xD

      I suddenly feel strongly compelled to bake and ice you a congratulatory chocolate cake, except I can't give it to you
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB -
      First and foremost, this place is somewhere people should feel that everyone is welcoming, friendly and there for each other when someone is in need for a laugh, a cry, whatever. I don't think that aiming to come across like a business suits that kind of thing. This place is where me and my friends hang out. My intended funding is on par with "Hey guys, we should busk on the streets to help raise cash for that big party we're gonna have... anything we don't make from the busking, we'll just see what we can scrummage together between us. If it comes down to it, I'll pay for it, though."

      I don't want people to keep looking at me like their business manager when I'm their friend.

      I want a cake, dammit! *sulk*
    1. Calliope's Avatar
      Calliope -
      I don't think it's an either/or situation - you can be clear about consistently communicating what is happening and what your objectives are without ostracizing everyone or sucking the fun out of achieving one of your major life goals, dammit!

      Perhaps next year I will be more readily able to bake you a cake!
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB -
      Given that everything has been very, very sudden for me and there is a lot to do (and I actually want to have fun in my life while I'm at it, so EoFF isn't my 24/7), some things will inevitably slip through. I'm not running to anyone's deadlines but my own when it comes to figuring out things. I'll let an editor slap up something if they want to, but I'm not really sure it's needed on the frontsite... up to them!
    1. Calliope's Avatar
      Calliope -
      FINE THEN










      That sounds pretty reasonable
    1. Loony BoB's Avatar
      Loony BoB -
      [img]http://home.eyesonff.com/images/smilies/heart.gif[/img]
  • EoFF on Twitter

  • Square Enix on Twitter