IGN: So, what many American fans want to know is how Cloud was chosen as the lead character.
Kitase: That's a pretty common misconception.
Nomura: Yeah, we hear that one all the time (he rolled his eyes here). I originally designed Cloud as a hidden joke. His sword is too big for anyone to wield. Why don't more people understand why this is funny?
IGN: So you're saying Cloud wasn't the main character?
Nomura: Exactly. We simply decided that making him a secret character would mean not everyone would discover him, so not everyone would get to see the joke.
Kitase: The boring characters (referring to Vincent and Yuffie) were chosen to be secret so you wouldn't have to suffer through their dialogue if you didn't want to, while Cloud was kept as a standard character.
IGN: So if Cloud isn't the central character, who is?
Nomura: Heidegger.
Kitase: Heidegger.
IGN: Oh! Wow, I can't believe that didn't occur to me sooner!
Kitase: Well, this is why we keep not releasing all our cool games in your country. You guys just suck like that.