Wada: "FFVII remake = 10x the length of FFXIII project."

[seiferalmasy2]

Graphics have never been able to sell a game to the masses though and sadly, at the moment, they can.

[Mirage]

Graphics have never been able to sell a game to the masses though and sadly, at the moment, they can.

I'm actually not so sure that graphics push games that have no other redeeming qualities much more than they did in the 90s. I also doubt you actually know that, and actually just "assume" it to be true because it fits with your romantic, nostalgic impression of the 90s (which many of us have, I just try to look past it).

Not to mention, "the masses" didn't exist back then nearly as much as they do now. Video games were for nerds only back then, and very few had game consoles compared to now. Now everyone and their mother have a console of some kind.

Our brains use an enormous amount of resources on visual sensory input, far more than it uses on any other sense we've got, likewise, almost every console to date also use the majority of the processing power on producing graphics. How much processing power do you think the SNES used on audio versus video? Smart AI was almost nonexistent on the SNES as well, and core gameplay mechanics in most games were so simple that I could nearly have done them with a pen and paper in realtime, so that's not where most of the processing power was used either.

Actually, a fun fact is that in many games nowadays (and perhaps the last decade), AI routines/algorithms have seen a very big increase in complexity, and it's perhaps the second most CPU intensive task for consoles these days (in games that actually require good AI, I guess final fantasy in general is excluded from this). MGS2 had something like 30% of the PS2's CPU reserved for AI calculations.

[Jessweeee♪]

Honestly in a FFVII remake, super spiffy graphics are just what I'd want. I mean, I don't want them changing up the game too much, so if that wish is granted but the graphics aren't enhanced, isn't it just the exact same game on a different system? I'll take my $10 PSN version in that case. It would be nice to see FFVII's world in such nice detail. Of course I wouldn't rush out to buy a giant HDTV and a PS3 just to optimize all of that; even Crisis Core levels would be nice.

[Carl the Llama]

That's a let down ;( i woulden't mind FF7 with ps2 graphics, however i still don't want a ff7 remake. Give the limelight to IX, VIII or VI, n'awh well.

FFI, FFII, FFIII and FFIV are seeing this treatment, FFV and FFVI was remade on the PS1/GBA, it's very likely that they will do the same for FFV and FFVI on the 3DS or PSP.

What I don't understand is that why would it take so long? what is their reasoning? I may be missing why it would take 40 years to remake a game, did I miss something?

IMO though if they did remake the game I would want them to make it the very best they can make it, like for instance if they want to "polish every stone 3-4 times" I say let them, its been so long after all I don't know about the rest of you guys but I'm happy to continue playing my original version untill they get every last detail perfect.

[Bolivar]

Source: Sankaku Complex (NSFW)

Square Enix’s CEO has claimed that a remake of Final Fantasy VII would be a difficult proposition indeed, which by his estimation could take 10 times the development time Final Fantasy XIII took.

Square Enix CEO Wada tweeted thus:

Regarding an FF7 remake:

We get this question all the time from lots of countries. At this level of quality it took us 3-4 years to finish FF13, but if we were to finish a FF7 remake at the same level of quality it would take 10 times as long, so it’s a difficult issue and not just something we could start at any time.

However, with the request being so frequent it’s something we keep to heart.

Naturally there are those who are quick to begin making disparaging comments about the relationship between Final Fantasy XIII’s notorious linearity and the likely development time (“It’s because there are towns!”), as well as those who are left wondering about Square Enix’s constant vacillations over the feasibility of such a remake in the face of what must already be the most anticipated remake of videogame history.

I take it that since most a gamer nowadays is a graphics whore, they'll spend the most time on graphics, obviously.

I'd like to read your opinion on this.

I can't believe i missed this

Newsflash: People were graphics whores in the 90s too.

Newsflash: People were graphics whores in the 80s too.

VeloZer0 is making good sense on the pre-rendered backgrounds-tip; especially considering downloadable games like that rendered in 1080p, I think there would be a really interesting way to remake this game that most people aren't seeing. It would also answer the problem of how do you get the same sense from the Honey Bee Inn in HD. It simply wouldn't work in hyper-realistic graphics without coming off as a freaky-deaky German hardcore film.

Which is why I'm feeling Wolf Kanno's idea as well. They might as well just remake this game for the PSP, or as one of those Playstation Store jawns that you can download and play on PS3 and PSP. Good framerate, stay true to the anime-feel, it wouldn't really get much better than that.

But at this point I really don't care about a remake anymore. After playing through the game again a few months back - I still love the visuals, the music is still slamming, the combat is still fun, and the story is still good. What do I need a remake for now that I can play it at home and on the go? (legally)

Really, the only thing that needs addressing are smoothing out the polygons (jagged as hell on my Bravia TV!!!), update the resolution, fixing the battles' framerate, and possibly remastering the soundtrack. Which, again, probably reinforces a remake somewhere in between what VeloZer0 and Kanno are talking about (or maybe it's just something that I'm talking about!)

[Christmas]

I should now pray to the gods that I can live long enough to see this happen!

[Skyblade]

Of course I know how it is meant. But I don't understand how much sense it makes to pretend something doesn't exist if it does exist.

We pretend it doesn't exist because it is preferable than having to acknowledge it any further. Any time you get a retcon that ruins the original material so badly (the Compendium, or the New Star Wars movies), fans prefer to ignore it than have to constantly reference the "original" or "real" versions.

We stick with the canon that is worth keeping, and that's the original. It's easier to pretend the Compendium doesn't exist than it is to fill the forum with complaints about it.