The Final Fantasy Stigma

[Dynast-Kid]

Yesterday,I wrote in my school planner,that FFXII is released on October 31st.Some kids saw it,and immediately,the Final Fantasy bashing began.I tried to defend it but,I was out numbered.They're my buds though,so I din't mind much.Anyway,I later heard them talk about how each Final Fantasy is "repetitive" and "boring" and "terrible",something that could only stem from the ignorance and lack of playing a Final Fantasy game.My friend then remarked that:
"Final Fantasy fans are shunned."
That really got me thinking...I guess what my real question is:

Why is it that,people think so lowly of Final Fantasy?

DISCUSS.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

I'd say most people who know about Final Fantasy think more highly of it than they rightly should.

I later heard them talk about how each Final Fantasy is "repetitive" and "boring" and "terrible",something that could only stem from the ignorance and lack of playing a Final Fantasy game.[/B]

Or maybe, you know, they just don't like the games.

[Forsaken Lover]

It's called popularity. Popularity inevitably overshadoes better things. Final Fantasy has in its shadoes better series like Xenosaga, Chrono and s-forth. May people resent that. If something is well-liked, it will be hated by a good few because of that hype. Main reason I vocalize my contempt for FFVII. It's by no means the best in the series but it is unquestionably the most hyped. No one bothers talking about unknown games they don't like. They talk about games people know about and bitch about them. It's just human nature.

[Azure Chrysanthemum]

What games do your classmates like to play? The "boring" comments imply they prefer action games that aren't so story heavy. Not everyone enjoys RPGs.

[LunarWeaver]

Well, whether they dislike it or not they still should leave you alone about it and respect that you do at the very least Unless it's playful teasing, then you should poke them in the eye. If not, eh... No matter what you're a fan of somebody is always going to have something to say about it D:

[Araciel]

every video game i know of is repetetive...hah

[DJZen]

Yesterday,I wrote in my school planner,that FFXII is released on October 31st.Some kids saw it,and immediately,the Final Fantasy bashing began.I tried to defend it but,I was out numbered.They're my buds though,so I din't mind much.Anyway,I later heard them talk about how each Final Fantasy is "repetitive" and "boring" and "terrible",something that could only stem from the ignorance and lack of playing a Final Fantasy game.My friend then remarked that:
"Final Fantasy fans are shunned."

If people feel the need to pick on you just for that, they've got issues. Then again, you mentioned school, and what I remember of middle school is that everyone picks on everyone for dumb stuff, less so in highschool, then it begins again in college for political/philosophical stances. Unless you're on the football team. Then they just worship you.

[Jimmy Dark Aeons Slayer]

Well i don´t think it´s boring but the storyline is pretty much the same.

[Bart's Friend Milhouse]

The storylines seem to be the offending factor here. The story is absolutely capital to an RPG, without it there would be no meaning for any gameplay. Seeing that the title of the game is Final Fantasy one would expect an epic tale where good battles evil set in a dreamlike fairytale world. This allows the designers to let their imaginations run wild and therefore leads them to introduce very technical far-fetched terms that only a handful of players are willing to pledge any sort of commitment to understand and a fair amount of others to dismiss the whole game as 'boring'. I come somewhere in between these two categories. I find it very hard to get to grips with some of these terms but it is not nearly enough to detract me from the game as a whole.

[ljkkjlcm9]

A lot of people just don't like RPGs in general, and FF is the most well known RPG so it gets bashed. But honestly, anyone who says an RPG is repetitive.... Sports games are hella more repetitive and most people I know who don't like RPGs love Sports games. Explain that one to me? I hate most sports games.

AS with all things popular, some people hate it just to hate it. I don't like GTA, mostly because I think it's highly overrated. Not that it's bad, just overrated so I get pissed off. Some of these people may think the same thing. Not that FF is actually bad, just overrated, so they say it's bad.

THE JACKEL

[Ender]

RPGs have the reputation of being "gamer's games," that is, something that conjures images of someone holed-up in their room for hours at a time, often for weeks. RPGs are seen as requiring a signficant amount of time and mental energy as opposed to something that can be picked up, played for an hour or two, and then put away until a rainy day a month later. They're also games you don't play socially with other people, generally speaking anyway (though I have played marathon sessions of Wild Arms with some friends, taking two-hour turns at the controls). Multiplayer options and MMORPGs might be changing that slowly, but its's still largely the case that being a gamer is seen as being anti-social, which in our society is really frowned down upon (better to be an life-of-the-party goof-off who does nothing but get sloppy drunk seven nights a week than someone who derives entertainment in the comfort of one's room through thought/imagination-stimulating media ). Because FF is the most popular and broadly-known RPG series out there the same reputation gets associated with it (next time try telling someone you are playing Xenogears or Chrono Trigger...I guarantee they'll give you a queer look but be too afraid to say something that would obviously make them look stupid to their friends when you correct them).

There is some truth behind the stereotype...certainly RPGs are something you devote a significant amount of time and thought to while you are playing them and something that you just don't pick up in the middle of a game after a month's absence (at least I don't). Of course, I know plenty of people who diss FF but who also sit by themselves in their apartments/dorm rooms playing entire seasons of madden over the weekend too.

Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about it. I don't volunteer the information that I'm going home to play FF because I know that I would have to endure five-minutes of inevitable bashing, and snide remarks for weeks later, but if it's the way I choose to pass the time why should I care what anyone else thinks I should be doing instead?

[the_sandman]

its simple. cool kids like them think that final fantasy are for losers and geeks. i have friends that think like that. they think i'm a loser because i want to stay home sometimes and play final fantasy.

[YTDN]

The friends I told about FF think it's OK, as long as I don't go on about it. But one of my 'friends', who I forever hate, think FF is the suckiest game in existance. Reasons she hates it, is that

1. They have dumb names like 'Final Fantasy 10-2'. She thinks there is some problem with one being called ten two.

2. The outfits are dumb and weird. She thinks there is some problems with capes, half skirts, random belts, and random accesories.

3. The monsters are dumb and weird. She thinks there is some problem with the monsters looking, well like monsters.

4. The story and names are dumb and weird. She thinks there is some problem with names like 'Yuna' and stories that include magic and, well, anything that is not completely real life.

The only one she's ever seen me play is X-2, and her only experience of the other games is me drawing the characters in lessons, and occasionally trying to explain to her about FF.

I gave up talking to her about FF ages ago. Wait, I gave up talking to her ages ago. So she's not a problem anymore.

[Orophin]

The friends I told about FF think it's OK, as long as I don't go on about it. But one of my 'friends', who I forever hate, think FF is the suckiest game in existance. Reasons she hates it, is that

1. They have dumb names like 'Final Fantasy 10-2'. She thinks there is some problem with one being called ten two.

2. The outfits are dumb and weird. She thinks there is some problems with capes, half skirts, random belts, and random accesories.

3. The monsters are dumb and weird. She thinks there is some problem with the monsters looking, well like monsters.

4. The story and names are dumb and weird. She thinks there is some problem with names like 'Yuna' and stories that include magic and, well, anything that is not completely real life.

The only one she's ever seen me play is X-2, and her only experience of the other games is me drawing the characters in lessons, and occasionally trying to explain to her about FF.

I gave up talking to her about FF ages ago. Wait, I gave up talking to her ages ago. So she's not a problem anymore.

Damn, your friend is dumb and weird.

[Dynast-Kid]

What games do your classmates like to play? The "boring" comments imply they prefer action games that aren't so story heavy. Not everyone enjoys RPGs.

They're all about the Halo/GTA and other shooter/army games.

But I have one friend who LOVES Kingdom Hearts,and for that,I will eternally have an extra layer of respect for him.

Anyway,thanks you guys for all of your comments and replies.It's really a thought-provoking topic...