^ I know, right?

I wouldn't say FF lost any of its brand-recognition, and I would hardly say it lost any of its credibility. FFXII is exemplary of both.

But I would say perhaps that the release of each game isn't the "OMG! WHATS IT LIKE!?!?" event it was during the VII-X era. I remember back in the days if you were the first one to get those games, everyone else would be asking you about it, coming over to watch it, check out the battles, videos, characters, stories and such. Now, not so much. My one Madden/MLBTheShow loving roommate asked me about it last year when he saw me playing it, but that's about it.

I think it has more to do with the last two games not being as out there as those 4 blockbusters were, and the fact that XIII isn't coming anytime soon. I think when the time comes, the first "next-gen" FF will make some noise, maybe put them back on the map a little.

Props for the link, Karellen, I enjoy Tim Rogers' writing. But some of the narratives he gives about developers as if he was there... well, that's for another thread.