Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn - Les raisons du succès, les plans à long terme de Naoki Yoshida

Naoki Yoshida's Interview (english dubbed) :

• Some readers may not know the world of this fourteenth opus of Final Fantasy. First, why the original version on PC has been a failure? Could you tell us something about that?
  

Final Fantasy 14 was originally launched on September, 30th, 2010 on Windows Platform. At this time, I was not part of the staff of the development team. The originally Final Fantasy 14 had very tough start. For example, the content was lacking, the user interface was not user friendly at all. The servers were crashing and going down several hundred times per day. So they were some many issues with the original launch and the media, the fans and the players of Final Fantasy 14 was really questioning what’s going on. What happening to the Final Fantasy development team. So it had very negative and though start. That was the original Final Fantasy 14. But Square Enix took that frustration really seriously and we decided to make it, change the perception of this original Final Fantasy 14 launch. So the same year, on the 3 of December, we took over the project, the producer and the director. And I took over the entire project and I brought the core member to the game and we decided to restablish this franchise and the brand about this gam

The staff, who started to work on this Final Fantasy 14, the new Final Fantasy 14 is probably a group of crew that we could call all stars for Square Enix. So it’s really a dedicated team and we decided to continue to upgrade the original Final Fantasy 14 and had patch to improve the original Final Fantasy 14. But because it’s Final Fantasy game, we really thought that we need to give more surprises and impact to the players. And we had to get away the whole negative impact that we had from the original launch. So in order to do that, we had to change the core part of the game itself. Therefore we were upgrading the 1.0 version witch is the original version, we call it 1.0 version.

At the same time, myself personally, I design a new game from scratch. That’s Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn. A Realm Reborn is a 2.0 version, so that’s how we call it. It has totally new, the story line is different, but the game itself and also the characters are the same from the original version. But actually the story takes place 5 years after the original version.

So it is the same title, but it’s a totally different game. This new game, A Realm Reborn, was launched on the 27th of august 2013. So this is the new adventure the players can experience, this is the latest in theFinal Fantasy series, the latest title of the Final Fantasy. We only had a short among of time, so that was 2 years and nine months. But we manage to get it out in this short time span.

So it’s been 3three and half years since I took over this Final Fantasy 14 project. And we received a lot of support from the fans all over the world. And that’s why I managed to bring A Realm Reborn to the world. And actually, we already have millions of players enjoying this Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn. And this number is significant has a MMO and we can considered it as a success. I would like to continue on working on this project along with the players, together with the players all over the world.

• At the end of 2010, you took the control of this new Final Fantasy 14. How did you feel about to that? Have you been honored or did you find this project really difficult to manage?

Actually before I got the phone call asking me Yoshida to take over the project. Two month prior to that day, we were starting to hear feedback from the staff themselves who we’re working on the project. Saying this is not going right. So we had already started the investigation and we searched what’s going on with the original launch and I was already involved in part of the investigation. So, It was quit a step forward for them to ask me to take over the project. So in that sense, there was not really any surprise and I did not feel any pressure or anything like that. It was more like, I have to do something, I have to make it happen. And actually It was my first Final Fantasy title to work on. I’d never worked on Final Fantasy 14 before. I was just one of the fans of theFinal Fantasy franchise. So it was actually really exciting to be part of this new challenge. I was myself quite disappointing from the Final Fantasy 14 original launch. Changing this perception among the players that was negative to positive was going to be very challenging, but at the same time, exciting. So I did not feel any pressure or stress. I only sort of thought to myself, I have to do it and I had to make it happen. Actually I’m quit a positive person that’s how I felt and didn’t feel any pressure.

• Working on Final Fantasy license should not be simple because of its enormous fan's community. They love, they hate but they are rarely between the two feelings. Therefore, did you not feel some pressure? At least, the one to satisfy the expectetions of all aficionados of the license? Did you have any ideas in mind about what had to be improved when Square Enix called you ?

One of the reason behind that is I introduced a new policy that‘s quit different from the traditional Square Enix policy or other Final Fantasy Titles. My policy was to explain everything to the players and communicate with them, transparency. Human nature tries to avoid accepting failure or stain spot. But I told the players on the forums what was wrong with the original launch. For example, the servers were going down several hundred times each day is wrong. And I explain to them what’s wrong, we had to fix it and this how to be fix. I explain everything to them and I also told them this is the Final Fantasy. I have in mind and this is the direction that I wanted to take. I try to continually communicate with the players, so it’s not like I build a new game and I give it to them without out telling them what’s happening. They kind of knew what I was trying to achieve so that’s why I think they had idea. And they could of guess what was going to come, because I always keep telling them what was going to come. The players had idea what kind of Final Fantasy myself was going to create so I think that help to reduce my pressure. Actually to tell the true at the beginning, players would say: Actually who are you? What is our sheet? They didn’t know me at all. And I had nothing to lose and that’s why I decided I have to enjoy this moment, to do everything I can and make the Final Fantasy game which I believe is fun has a Final Fantasy game. And then, they said the players actually enjoy this game that really helps me reduce the pressure for me. I think that’s how I came to achieve this to happen.

• As Final Fantasy XIV is an MMO, the story becomes more and more important over time. Fans play all days (and nights) and I think it's a challenge to satisfy them. Over the next years, what do you intend to do so that the players don't quit? Without necessarily going into details (without spoiler, unless you have a little surprise under the elbow), what have you planned in order to keep the flame burning in the players' hearts? What have you planned for the long term?

First of all, I believed Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn has some really good plan, long time span plan, even compare to other MMO. We already introduced some majors updates approximately every three months. And with this cycle, we are bringing a huge amount of contents something that is like a totally new game. We’re bringing in a huge amount of contents with every single update. I don’t think many other MMO, can do that this days. Actually, I have not seen many other MMO bringing in this amount of contents so regularly every three months. So that’s something I can reassure the players, they can keep on expecting more contains, huge amount of contents they can envoy regularly.

And of course, we have already an expansion pack in mind, witch we call 3.0 version. The new expansion pack is on the horizon. That’s something we are developing along side with all the patches update we are working on. With this new expansion pack, we are bringing in totally news areas, wide areas, new donjons, many more new challenges and surprises to the players. So that’s something the players can look forward to and we will continue to bring all this new surprises

This is not actually, the actual plan, it’s more like a policy. But what I always keep in mind and tell my developing team, this is a Final Fantasy, the latest Final Fantasy franchise, and this is a MMO, so each individuals contents is also important, but the bigger picture is also important. The dynamic story line, providing a gaming experience that can only be enjoy here in the game. As long has we can bring these contents, players will continue to play and stick to us and envoy the gaming experience. If it’s fun, they will continue to play. If it’s boring, they all going to stop playing, its simple has that. So as long has we’re bringing something that we personally feel it’s enjoyable and try to get it out as soon has possible then I think it will bring success to the MMO. That’s the secret to as successful MMO. It’s challenging for sure, but we’re going to continue to do our best. I think it’s the answer to successful MMO.

• What things are you the proudest in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn ?

I think it’s the warm fans we have worldwide who are supporting Final Fantasy 14. I think it’s the best of the world. I think we have the best fans, witch other MMO may not have. Especially considering the fans, who had stock with us since the 1.0 version. Supporting us, they never give up on us. And the community is very warm and supportive. I think it’s the thing I’m really proud of to have these fans and it’s my privilege to work together with these fans. I really am enjoying running this game together.

• Now let me ask you the last question. You're no longer the producer of the game, but the marketing's director and you have to explain to our readers why they should absolutely buy Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.
  

Final Fantasy 14 is the latest Final Fantasy title, also MMO genre but I don’t think it’s a complicated to envoy has you did with the previous Final Fantasy title. Just like any Final Fantasy title it would have a very deep storyline, beautiful graphics, and the best gaming experience. And another good thing about it, it’s never ending. Just because, you bought the game doesn’t mean you are going to play it and completed. Every three-to forth months, you will have new contents, you can enjoy just like you are starting a new game. So the contents volumes will continuously bring new gaming experience to you. So you can enjoy this which ever angle you want to envoy it. Even after ten years time I will consider it as the latest Final Fantasy games. So please try it out and I really hope you are going to enjoy this game.