Quote Originally Posted by Squall of SeeD

By the way, it seems like you're downplaying the importance of Nojima's role a good deal. Nomura and Sakaguchi came up with the concepts, sure (the focus on life, death, and spirituality, Aerith's death, etc.; thus, the "Based on the story by..." credits for them), but Kitase and Nojima would have been those who gave them specifications and such. By the way, seeing as how Nojima is the sole writer for Advent Children, Before Crisis, Dirge of Cerberus, and Crisis Core, I'm thinking it just might be that Square-Enix at the least regards him as something of an authority as well by this point.




How is that anymore than personal opinion than what you claimed Nojima's concept to be? That's selectively acknowledging who you consider important to the production and who you don't, despite the obvious importance placed on them.
Yes, that's very subjective. Just relaying my own opinions. For whatever reason, when I think of FFVII, I think Sakaguchi, Kitase, and Nomura. And Uematsu, of course.





Quote Originally Posted by Squall of SeeD
If they decide to expand on the concept, perhaps an answer to how they could have been so easily forgotten will be offered. By the way, I wouldn't say that the folks from Spira would have certainly had to arrive after JENOVA's assault on the Cetra. Sephiroth's words in the Shinra Mansion's library suggest that some Cetra turned from the Cetra ways before JENOVA's arrival, these Cetra becoming Common Homo Sapiens, and the ancestors of Gaia's dominant species in the game's present. The reason I would deem this potentially relevant is that something like offworlders arriving and presenting different ways of life could very well be something that would lead to certain Cetra abandoning their current one. The possibility is as likely as the one you've mentioned.
It's chronologically impossible, given what Nojima has said. JENOVA was found in a "2000 year old geological stratum", while Nojima's remarks have FFVII only 1000 years after X/X-2. Admittedly, it would be very easy to adjust 1000 years to 2000-2500, and....I now see how exactly they could pull it off, and I don't like it. The mysterious jet in Bone Village becomes a remnant of Al Bhed technology. The Al Bhed, after imparting their philosophy, could have been wiped out by the JENOVA impact. No! NO! It still doesn't explain why there is no oral tradition regarding the Al Bhed, as well as other notable gaps, but it shows that a...semi-plausible explanation could be reached. And, as I've said before, the idea sickens me. Yes, I'm clearly biased, in that I'm doing all I can to suggest the idea is implausible. I don't want to see FFVII linked to X and X-2.

For that matter, you're absolutely right as to III and VIII; I dislike that proposition as well. For the record, the only connection I'll endorse is that the characters in TA were playing XII in order to form the template for Ivalice, and only because the link doesn't directly connect the worlds.

Except in the case of direct sequels (X and X-2, the entire Compilation of FFVII), I feel that the worlds and stories of Final Fantasy are and should remain separate entities. I personally have no objection to sequels, as long as there are legitimate questions left to be answered. Thus, for almost every game, I wouldn't be terribly upset with a sequel. However, connecting the games bothers me in a way no sequel could. I don't even mind the speculation, as long as it doesn't become official. If I see evidence of a connection (not just a fun reference) to X/X-2 in AC, BC, CC, or DC, I'll be very disappointed. Clearly, I'm totally in the realm of opinion right now. But that's my honest opinion. I don't want to see a connection between VII and X, or III and VIII, or any other game (especially VII and X-2).

Squall, what are your feelings on the matter? Do you want to see the games connected? Do you oppose it? Are you indifferent?