Tanaka's out, and more free play time!

[Rostum]

I got this email from Square-Enix. This is insane news.

Source

Thank you for your continued interest in and support of FINAL FANTASY XIV.

While more than two months have passed since the official launch of FINAL FANTASY XIV service, we deeply regret that the game has yet to achieve the level of enjoyability that FINAL FANTASY fans have come to expect from the franchise, and for this we offer our sincerest of apologies.

After thorough deliberation on how to meet those expectations, it was decided that the most viable step was to approach improvements under new leadership and with a restructured team.

To realize this vision, and in doing so, provide our customers with a better game experience, we have assembled our company’s top talent and resources. Taking over the role of producer and director is Naoki Yoshida, a passionate individual for whom customer satisfaction has always taken top priority. Not only is he one of our Group’s most accomplished and experienced members, Naoki Yoshida is also a charismatic leader possessing the skill to bring together and effectively helm a team which encompasses a wide range of responsibilities. We also welcome several new leaders handpicked from other projects to work with the existing talent on FINAL FANTASY XIV.

We realize time is of the essence and are fully determined to provide our customers with quality service. It is because of this that we ask our customers to be patient until we are able to confidently present them with a concrete plan outlining FINAL FANTASY XIV’s new direction. The free trial period will be extended until that time.

Regarding the PlayStation 3, it is not our wish to release a simple conversion of the Windows version in its current state, but rather an update that includes all the improvements we have planned. For that reason, we have made the difficult decision to delay the release of the PlayStation 3 version beyond the originally announced date of March 2011.

The FINAL FANTASY XIV team is working hard to bring our customers an unparalleled adventure, and we ask for your continued understanding and support as we march ever diligently towards that goal.

This is just... God damn, things must be pretty dire for them to rip the very experienced producer and throw in a different development team.

But wait, there's more!

The development and management teams would like to make an announcement regarding personnel changes.

[Organizational Changes to the Development Team]
To improve the service of FINAL FANTASY XIV, Square Enix has made the following changes to the development team:

Managerial Changes

Producer/Director
Naoki Yoshida

Section Leader Changes

Assistant Director
Shintaro Tamai (FINAL FANTASY X, Front Mission 5: Scars of the War)

Lead Game Designer
Nobuaki Komoto (FINAL FANTASY IX, FINAL FANTASY XI)

Lead Combat System Designer
Akihiko Matsui (FINAL FANTASY XI)

Technical Advisor
Yoshihisa Hashimoto (Next Generation Game Engine Development)

Lead Programmer
Hideyuki Kasuga (FINAL FANTASY XI, DIRGE OF CERBERUS -FINAL FANTASY VII-)

Senior Concept Artist
Akihiko Yoshida (FINAL FANTASY XII, Vagrant Story)

Lead Artist
Hiroshi Takai (FINAL FANTASY XI, THE LAST REMNANT)

Lead UI Designer/Lead Web Designer
Hiroshi Minagawa (FINAL FANTASY XII, Vagrant Story)

These members will make up the development team’s new core—a core dedicated to ensuring we achieve a level of enjoyability that will more than satisfy our customers. Under a schedule of more frequent version updates, the new leaders and their respective sections will strive for continued improvements to FINAL FANTASY XIV service operation and development.

Lots of staff from FFXII and FFIX. Which is excellent, imo.

Here's the rest of the email.

[Extension of the Free Trial Period]
As stated above, the newly restructured team’s top priority is to bring about improvements to the game’s enjoyability, and therefore we have decided to extend the free trial period until we can provide a plan that outlines a level of enjoyment that will satisfy both us and our customers. When we are confident that we have reached that goal, we will notify our customers immediately.

[Future Version Updates]
At present, the development team is putting the finishing touches on the previously announced version update, which is still slated for release in mid-December. In addition, there is one more version update scheduled for release before year’s end. Details on the content and dates of these updates will be released in the near future.

[Delay of the PlayStation 3 Version Release]
Although the release date for the PlayStation 3 version of the game was previously announced as late March of 2011, we regret to inform that this date has been changed.

The PlayStation 3 release will be delayed until we are confident that the game has reached the level of enjoyability and service befitting the FINAL FANTASY name for users on all supported platforms. We offer our sincerest apologies to any fans anticipating the PlayStation 3 release, and humbly ask for your continued patience and understanding as both the development team and Square Enix as a whole strive towards making FINAL FANTASY XIV a truly enjoyable and unforgettable adventure.

[New Development Team Policy]
I would like to take this opportunity to greet all of you—those currently playing FINAL FANTASY XIV, those who have taken a respite from playing, and those awaiting the PlayStation 3 release—and offer a brief word by way of an introduction.

No doubt there are very few, if any, among you who have ever heard the name Naoki Yoshida. To be sure, I have never been in the fore on any of the titles I have worked on in the past. I am, however, honored and privileged to work alongside many talented and inspiring colleagues, and with their support have enjoyed making games for a number of years. I am aware that a great many people will think the responsibility of leading FINAL FANTASY XIV is far too large a task for someone so unknown. After all, even my very best may seem no more than a drop in the bucket when considering the sheer scope of FINAL FANTASY XIV. But working together with me are the very talented and very capable development and management teams, whose dedication and motivation are unwavering. I would like to ask you to please put to rest uncertainties that you may have.

Now, more than ever, myself, the development team, and Square Enix as a whole, are committed to furthering our efforts to provide a quality service.

Everything we do will be for our players and customers.

FINAL FANTASY XIV Producer/Director, Naoki Yoshida

And finally, the standard apology from Tanaka himself.

First of all, I would like to apologize for our inability to fully satisfy our users with the initial release of FINAL FANTASY XIV. I take full responsibility for the game’s current situation, and have therefore made the decision to step down from my role as producer. A number of concerns that have been voiced by users, such as the design of the user interface, availability of tutorials and game content, and battle system functionality, represent key issues that must be addressed. While improvements are already well underway in many areas, we were unfortunately not able to incorporate player feedback as quickly as we would have liked. We are aware, however, that in many cases, addressing these issues will call for a reworking of game elements. As these changes are our first priority, they will be commanding our full attention and efforts. It is to that end that we have put a new organizational structure into place for the development team. Under this new system, FINAL FANTASY XIV will see changes and additions in line with the desires and expectations of players. Though no longer producer, I will be continuing to support the development team in other capacities, and personally hope that you will continue your adventures in the realm of Eorzea.

-Hiromichi Tanaka

Sorry just fixed up some formatting errors. So yeah... New development team, it's staying free until they fix it all, and they are delaying the PS3 launch. Fun times. But hopefully this will see a much better product in the end.

[*Devore*]

Hmm...very interesting letter. I heard bad reviews, but I didn't relalise that it was so bad that they needed to change whole the development team. I hope they are able to improve the faults before I get the game.

Was this sent out to everyone that has the game or do you work for SE, Rostum?

[kotora]

about time they replaced those incompetents

[Loony BoB]

I have no idea what to make of this. I'm hoping for someone who is more open to listening to ideas of players, although I always felt that the user's issues were being dealt with (with the exception of content) and that the only major issues that still keep me from playing are firstly lack of content, and secondly lack of friends from EoFF actively playing. I think there is only Bleys playing now, although he wasn't on for the few times I played this week.

I suppose the proof will inevitably be in the pudding.

For me, the first thing they need to do is unveil Ishgard. >=( It's just THERE, waiting for us! But we can't get in!

[Del Murder]

Whoa.

[Ouch!]

Whoa.

That's what I said when I saw the email.

Edit:The new lead combat designer, Matsui, is the guy who has been directing FFXI through the most recent editions including the increase in level cap. He oversaw a number of changes to FFXI which were long over due. Since he took the helm, Final Fantasy XI started putting out updates that actually made the fans pretty happy for the most part, and while one might argue that a number of the changes to FFXI have also destroyed what the game was, it's also become a lot more user-friendly as a result.

Long story short, this is fantastic news.

[Jessweeee♪]

Whoa did they just like, fire everybody?

[Roogle]

I am surprised that the amount of discord regarding this title has resulted in so many drastic changes. I wonder what will come of this?

I wonder if Final Fantasy XIV was released too early in its development? Previously, it was acceptable to release a base product and continue to develop it as time goes on, but it sounds like the general membership feels that the game is unfinished and lacks a foundation rather than the product being slow to build up.

[Wolf Kanno]

Damn... Tanaka is like one of the few remaining members of the original FF team from the 8-bit era. The guy who also pretty much made Secret of Mana (he's responsible for most of the significant parts of the game) so to have him knocked out for a relative unknown just says something is happening with XIV.

The guy replacing him doesn't have much info on him but oddly enough his most significant titles are ones that I don't remember SE having any part of so I wonder if this guy is freelancing on the side. He worked on Cross Edge and the Agarest War series for those who don't know, titles that are closer to Nippon Ichi than Squenix. It will be interesting to see what happens from here but god I can't help thinking about that interview with Kifune from Capcom in regards to Tanaka. If the game succeeds, the company is praised, if the game fails, it's this individuals failure. Still, with an overhaul of the entire team, XIV might have some major changes but lord, is this game really that bad?

[ShinGundam]

Damn... Tanaka is like one of the few remaining members of the original FF team from the 8-bit era. The guy who also pretty much made Secret of Mana (he's responsible for most of the significant parts of the game) so to have him knocked out for a relative unknown just says something is happening with XIV.

The guy replacing him doesn't have much info on him but oddly enough his most significant titles are ones that I don't remember SE having any part of so I wonder if this guy is freelancing on the side. He worked on Cross Edge and the Agarest War series for those who don't know, titles that are closer to Nippon Ichi than Squenix. It will be interesting to see what happens from here but god I can't help thinking about that interview with Kifune from Capcom in regards to Tanaka. If the game succeeds, the company is praised, if the game fails, it's this individuals failure. Still, with an overhaul of the entire team, XIV might have some major changes but lord, is this game really that bad?

Stolen from GAF:

For those interested in knowing what the new core members of the team have done in more specific terms...


Producer/Director: Naoki Yoshida [Never heard of this guy. Jonnyram says he's a director in S-E's R&D division.]

Section Leader Changes

Assistant Director: Shintaro Tamai [Graphics director for various FF games (7, 8, 10, 13) mostly specializing in battle graphics and special effects. He was also the director of Front Mission 5.]

Lead Game Designer: Nobuaki Komoto [Originally director of FFXIV, it seems they're reducing his responsibilities so he can focus on designing the stuff he originally specialized in on FFXI - the scenario and quest design.]

Lead Combat System Designer: Akihiko Matsui [Originally the lead battle data planner for FFXI, he took over entirely as battle director for Aht Urhgan and Wings of the Goddess after Katsuhisa Higuchi left S-E.]

Technical Advisor: Yoshihisa Hashimoto [Ex-Sonic Team programmer, director of Sonic Unleashed and technical director of the Hedgehog Engine. Left Sonic Team and joined S-E in 2009 to work on their next-generation engine platform.]

Lead Programmer: Hideyuki Kasuga [Network programmer for the FFXI client and Dirge of Cerberus online mode. Lead programmer for Gyromancer.]

Senior Concept Artist: Akihiko Yoshida [FFXIV Art director, character designer for all of Matsuno's games, character designer for FF3 DS and FF 4 Warriors of Light. God's gift to S-E's art teams.]

Lead Artist: Hiroshi Takai [Mostly a battle graphic/effects director for most of the SaGa games, more recently overall director of The Last Remnant.]

Lead UI Designer/Lead Web Designer: Hiroshi Minagawa [Director of FFXII and Tactics Ogre PSP. Art director for all of Matsuno's games. God's other gift to S-E's art teams.]

[Slothy]

It will be interesting to see what happens from here but god I can't help thinking about that interview with Kifune from Capcom in regards to Tanaka. If the game succeeds, the company is praised, if the game fails, it's this individuals failure.

Too true, but I have to kind of admire Yoshida for walking into a storm like that. Really at this point, if they really are suffering from terrible player numbers and a bad reputation for the game then even if they turn things around it might be too late (and if it is guess who's going to get the flak for not turning it around. Of course if he does pull it off he''l be a damn hero to Squenix). These things are costly to make and maintain and if the player count doesn't increase to a respectable level (whatever that may be) within even a few months I'd say they may just be digging themselves into a deeper hole. Still though, I have to give Squenix credit: lesser companies would have dropped the game altogether by now and cut their losses. In fact, many companies have had to do that before, so at least Square is trying to fix it for those who want it.

[Baloki]

It even got featured in Slashdot today:

Top Final Fantasy XIV Devs Replaced, PS3 Version Delayed - Slashdot

[Ouch!]

I wouldn't be so quick to jump to Tanaka's defense. The probably certainly wasn't exclusively his fault, and while it's unfair that it seems to have fallen largely on him, he has shown through his tenure in FFXI and now with FFXIV that he is not the type of developer suited to leading a project which inherently requires communication of some degree with the player base. FFXI suffered from a dev. team whose attitudes toward the player base was, "It's great that you really want us to make this change, but we don't think the game needs it, so tough cookies."

This was a little more acceptable when FFXI came out only because the MMORPG genre was relatively young, but that type of attitude has become completely unacceptable. Certainly developers have to show restraint to maintain game balance and they can't give us absolutely everything that we want because of it, but both FFXI and now FFXIV under Tanaka has shown a development team that is out of touch with the fanbase. In an MMORPG, that's entirely unacceptable.

[Mirage]

If only the PC version had seen the same delay. Oh well, at least we get free FF14 for a while longer.

[Freya]

I heard about this from my brother. I don't check this section so I didn't know about it! Shouldn't it be on the frontsite? I would have known that way

Now this just means I have more time to get a better comp before playing the game.