“Before everything,” Naoki Yoshida says, through his interpreter. I’ve barely managed to sit down down and press file on my dictaphone. “I’d wish to say thanks for becoming a member of us at Ultimate Fantasy 14 on the primary day of Gamescom, proper in the beginning. I’m certain you’re extraordinarily busy so I actually admire your time.”
He’s not unsuitable – it’s 10am on the primary enterprise day at Gamescom, and the Ultimate Fantasy 14 director/producer and I are one another’s first appointments of the present.
It’s uncommon for the interviewee to thank the interviewer for his or her time earlier than they will get a phrase in, although – often it’s the opposite approach round – however thus begins the attraction offensive Yoshida – greatest recognized by followers of the Ultimate Fantasy collection as Yoshi-P – is commonly acknowledged for.
In a world the place studies of gamers turning in opposition to builders have gotten sadly commonplace, Yoshida has constructed a status as some of the approachable and genuine administrators, as a result of his frequent communication with Ultimate Fantasy 14’s playerbase. The overall consensus amongst gamers is that even when the sport goes in a path they could not personally like, it’s nonetheless laborious to dislike the person in cost.
As I sit down with Yoshida, it’s been a mere matter of hours since Gamescom’s Opening Evening Stay present, the place it was revealed that Ultimate Fantasy 14 and Monster Hunter Wilds could be crossing over into one another’s worlds, with particular collaborative DLC coming to every sport.
It’s an apparent place to start out, however quickly the dialog strikes on to the sport’s participant base, a tease a few Swap 2 port and at last, true to kind, a name for the gaming neighborhood to return collectively peacefully.
Though this interview came about final week, at the moment marks precisely 12 years since Yoshida’s relaunched model of Ultimate Fantasy 14, subtitled A Realm Reborn, was launched on PlayStation 3 and PC.
Let’s begin with the information concerning the Ultimate Fantasy 14 and Monster Hunter Wilds collaboration. How did that crossover begin? When it’s a single sport getting a crossover, it’s simpler to determine who approached whom with the concept, however with each video games getting crossover content material, did Sq. Enix method Capcom or vice versa?
Truly, the Ultimate Fantasy 14 growth workforce and the Monster Hunter workforce at Capcom have a really lengthy rooted historical past and a really lengthy connection. It goes again to the times of the PSP, when Monster Hunter Moveable 2nd G (Monster Hunter Freedom Unite) was launched. At the moment I talked with the producer and the director, and we used to speak rather a lot, nearly how issues have been within the video games business.
So as a result of we had that present relationship, after I came visiting to the Ultimate Fantasy 14 workforce, the fellows at Capcom very kindly mentioned: ‘Yoshida-san, because you’re now in command of Ultimate Fantasy 14, it could be nice if we may type out some form of a collaboration between Monster Hunter and Ultimate Fantasy 14. And the eventual outcome was the earlier crossover collaboration that we had, which was with Monster Hunter World.
After that crossover collaboration completed, the workforce at Capcom advised us that it was a lot enjoyable and it could be nice if we may get one other alternative to do it once more. And it simply seems that at Gamescom final 12 months, I met up with a few of these Capcom builders at evening, and we went out consuming collectively.
They advised me that because it was a lot enjoyable final time, it could be nice if we may do one thing actually massive once more. And so we talked concerning the chance and I mentioned: ‘Okay, in case you’re involved in it, then let’s do it.’
And so, actually, the entire planning for this crossover collaboration began only one 12 months in the past at Gamescom final 12 months.
As a result of the Ultimate Fantasy collection is so narrative-heavy, a number of the fanbase cares deeply about its storyline. Do you ever fear that with crossovers like this, a few of them may take it too critically and assume ‘wait a minute, this isn’t a part of the lore’ or one thing like that?
So, I’ll begin with the conclusion first. The entire Ultimate Fantasy 14 gamers and all of our followers are extraordinarily optimistic. This is applicable not solely to Ultimate Fantasy 14, however all through the Ultimate Fantasy collection.
We’ve a handy chance which lies behind this factor which we name the Interdimensional Rift, and that serves as a door of types the place totally different worlds can join collectively, and it offers the opportunity of bringing these parts into the story.
This time too, for our crossover, we now have been engaged on addressing every of the the explanation why the Palico comes into the world of Ultimate Fantasy 14, and in addition the weather which you noticed within the trailer, why they’re presenting themselves in Ultimate Fantasy 14 and the way that connects with the story.
We’ve been placing in a number of laborious work to current this narrative within the crossover content material, and I believe all of our followers are actually wanting ahead to experiencing that and discovering it for themselves.
When it comes to the content material in Ultimate Fantasy 14, the entire traces from the Palico have been reviewed by the principle author for Monster Hunter at Capcom. Additionally, for our Ultimate Fantasy 14 content material which shall be in Monster Hunter Wild – that’s the Omega Planetes and the setting for Omega Planetes, and the entire traces of dialogue on the Monster Hunter Wild aspect – our workforce has additionally been reviewing and supervising for that as nicely.
So each of those parts are official tales which shall be carried out within the video games, and I hope that gamers will sit up for them.
We’re developing for the twelfth anniversary of Ultimate Fantasy 14, in its A Realm Reborn model [the day this article was published]. As time goes on, does it get more durable juggling the wants of the present participant base by including new options, whereas additionally ensuring that it doesn’t change into too overwhelming for brand new gamers? Xbox gamers simply obtained it final 12 months for the primary time, for instance.
For instance, you generally get the longer-term gamers saying issues like “jobs must be extra sophisticated”, and others saying “no, make them less complicated”. Is it troublesome discovering a steadiness?
Can I double-check the intention behind the query? If it’s extra concerning the content material design or if it’s extra about job mechanics, the reply I’ll present may be very totally different. We’ve a number of totally different parts in Ultimate Fantasy 14, so I simply needed to be sure that I understood the focal factors of the query.
Job mechanics was simply an instance of 1 factor. It was extra of a common query about how, with every new replace, you determine the steadiness between including an increasing number of content material, with out it changing into overwhelming.
Thanks. Firstly, concerning present gamers, the purpose got here up in certainly one of your earlier questions – Ultimate Fantasy 14 is a narrative pushed sport. And so the very first thing that we place the first significance on for brand new gamers is for them to play by the entire predominant story, and we wish them to get pleasure from that have.
So we place essentially the most significance on ensuring that the participant’s expertise all through the principle state of affairs is as easy as it may be for them, and we be sure that to observe up accordingly to that finish.
“We place essentially the most significance on ensuring that the participant’s expertise all through the principle state of affairs is as easy as it may be for them, and we be sure that to observe up accordingly to that finish.”
On the subject of the instance of job mechanics, it was again on the time of Shadowbringers – so round two expansions in the past – that we acquired a number of suggestions from the gamers that for the job that they have been taking part in with, they needed to have a sure motion from one other job.
We acquired numerous this suggestions, and the overall suggestions was that they needed a extra averaged-out expertise for enjoying every job, so we took that in and we acted on that suggestions.
However I believe both approach you have a look at it, there’s no case of “this adjustment could be good” or “this sort of path of adjustment could be unhealthy”. In any case, I believe it’s extra a case of addressing the gamers’ wants. And so once we get that form of suggestions from the gamers, we be sure that to make our changes.
The factor that I place significance on is ensuring that the gamers’ sense of pleasure remains to be there. And I believe we all the time must hold that in thoughts, and be sure that we’re engaged on that suggestions accordingly.
So I believe, inevitably, that turns into the reply to the query. So there’s actually no form of laborious or agency “that is the right reply”, however inevitably that turns into the reply that we take.
On the subject of the following growth, if we took on the participant suggestions that they need the roles to be extra sophisticated, and if we made these changes, then ultimately we might get the identical form of suggestions that we wouldn’t be capable of fulfill the entire gamers. So with that in thoughts, we all the time intention to be sure that we’re offering an thrilling taking part in expertise for the gamers.
Having mentioned that, proper now we do have one thing actually massive deliberate concerning jobs. At this time limit, I can’t share any particulars. However I do hope that gamers will sit up for an announcement sooner or later.
The Ultimate Fantasy collection has been evolving ever for the reason that very starting. Ultimate Fantasy 2 didn’t have XP in it, for instance. It looks like lately, there appears to be extra backlash when new mechanics are launched – making 14 on-line, making 15 open-world, making 16 a darkish fantasy motion sport.
I ponder in case you consider that perhaps Ultimate Fantasy 16 would have been higher acquired if it didn’t have Ultimate Fantasy within the title, as a result of gamers convey their very own preconceptions as to what Ultimate Fantasy means to them?
Apologies if I haven’t actually precisely taken within the intention of the query. Concerning Ultimate Fantasy 14, 15 and 16, I believe within the first place in the event that they weren’t Ultimate Fantasy video games then they wouldn’t have been developed, and the reason being that as a result of it’s a Ultimate Fantasy there are such a lot of assets and prices, and high quality assurance and efforts put into producing a title of that scope.
Additionally, Mr Sakaguchi, who was the founding father of the collection, mentioned it’s important to tackle a problem for it to be Ultimate Fantasy. We realized that from him, and so due to that I’ve by no means as soon as felt that issues could be totally different if it didn’t have Ultimate Fantasy within the title.
However, as you talked about, Ultimate Fantasy is a long-lasting franchise and now we now have many, many gamers throughout the globe, so a number of totally different gamers can have their very own preferences on what they are saying is their favorite Ultimate Fantasy.
Some may say 7, others would say 14, others would say 16 and even different gamers would say 10. So I believe Ultimate Fantasy is exclusive in that as a result of it’s so long-standing there are such a lot of totally different titles within the franchise.
And so once we develop a Ultimate Fantasy and launch it as the most recent entry, there shall be some gamers who play it and say “oh, that is the most effective Ultimate Fantasy”, after which there shall be others who say “this isn’t Ultimate Fantasy!”. And we do perceive that on an organization stage.
“After we develop a Ultimate Fantasy and launch it as the most recent entry, there shall be some gamers who play it and say ‘oh, that is the most effective Ultimate Fantasy’, after which there shall be others who say ‘this isn’t Ultimate Fantasy!’. And we do perceive that on an organization stage.”
For the following instalment of the Ultimate Fantasy franchise, we’re at present discussing it among the many firm and contemplating what kind of response gamers may present. We’re discussing what could be greatest for the following Ultimate Fantasy, and this dialogue is going down throughout Sq. Enix as an organization, however as somebody who’s concerned within the franchise engaged on Ultimate Fantasy 14 and 16, I’m sharing my opinions as nicely.
After all at this time limit, we will’t share any details about the most recent instalment within the franchise, however we’re very critically contemplating and discussing the probabilities, and we’ll by no means hand over on that problem, so I do hope that gamers will sit up for no matter is launched sooner or later.
When Rod Fergusson was nonetheless at Blizzard, he was speaking about the opportunity of Diablo coming to Swap 2, and he implied that it may very well be troublesome to convey a reside service sport over to a system like that, presumably as a result of some gamers have a tendency to make use of it offline. Would that be one of many potential sticking factors in maybe bringing Ultimate Fantasy 14 to Swap 2?
I’d wish to first begin by saying I don’t know precisely the intentions and particulars behind what Rod talked about.
On the subject of Ultimate Fantasy 14, after I grew to become in cost and A Realm Reborn was launched, in fact it was obtainable on PC however the principle platform was PlayStation 3, and in order that was already a console. And so I take into account consoles to have a community atmosphere as a given, and I believe that goes for not solely PlayStation but additionally Xbox and Nintendo’s platforms.
Particularly once we take into account the youthful gamers – after they have been born issues equivalent to community connections have been already the norm and a given for them, and rising up they’ve all the time had that round them, so for me as a developer I don’t actually have a lot concern about that form of factor.
For me, it’s simply my intention to offer Ultimate Fantasy 14 and 16 to as many gamers as potential, and I hope that as many gamers as potential will be capable of get pleasure from these two video games. We’re placing in our greatest efforts to make sure that this occurs, so it’s positive to convey to your readership that I take into account the probabilities very positively, and we’re placing in our greatest efforts, so I hope gamers would sit up for potentialities sooner or later. However I simply ask for slightly bit extra time.
On the subject of present Ultimate Fantasy 14 gamers, if hypothetically a Swap 2 model was launched, they’d have the possibility, for instance, going by the principle story – they might play that on the PC and do raiding on the PC, however on the subject of different sorts of content material they might sit again, loosen up on the couch with the Swap 2 in hand, and so they may do their gatherer and crafter content material, and I’m tremendous enthusiastic about that form of chance for our gamers.
On the subject of gamers who haven’t performed Ultimate Fantasy 14 earlier than, the youthful era of gamers, in the event that they began taking part in Ultimate Fantasy 14 on Swap 2, in fact being an MMO, it is likely to be a brand new style for them, and I might be tremendous excited to get these new gamers into this style and having fun with the sport as nicely.
So to this finish we now have been discussing with Nintendo, and the discussions have been optimistic, so I do hope that gamers will sit up for hopefully excellent news sooner or later.
There are lots of video games on the market with massive participant bases – and Ultimate Fantasy 14 isn’t any totally different – which regularly have gamers saying “why don’t they only do that?” “I want they might simply do this.” Is there one particular factor you would like individuals understood extra concerning the sport growth course of?
After all, the gamers are our prospects and so they’re paying cash to play our video games, so if it involves the query of whether or not I might give them a flat out request to know a sure side extra, I believe each from a technical perspective and a workflow perspective I might not have that expectation in the direction of the gamers.
That being mentioned, we do get a number of suggestions from the gamers, and so they say issues like “oh, I would like such-and-such system” or “I would like any such content material”. On the subject of the sorts of issues we will do, I shall be open and say “that is potential” and provides a timeline of “we might be capable of do it by such-and-such a time”.
“If something, I hope that [the players and I] would be capable of have an open and mutual dialogue, as a result of on the finish of the day we’re individuals, and I do hope that we can attain a mutual understanding and proceed to overtly talk about the probabilities collectively.”
On the subject of issues which we’re not in a position to do, I might say overtly that it isn’t potential, or I may say that technically it isn’t potential but, however I would supply numerous sorts of solutions based mostly on the scenario.
So when I’m requested these questions by gamers I shall be open and supply an sincere reply, and when I’m requested the rationale why it’s not potential it’s been my coverage proper from the begin to be open and sincere concerning the causes.
If there’s something I might ask from the gamers, it’s that I hope they’d be open and receptive and take heed to the solutions that I present, as a result of if they supply me a response alongside the traces of “nicely, that’s obtained nothing to do with us” or “that’s not our drawback”, it could make me cease and assume “okay, nicely how ought to I reply questions shifting ahead?”
If something, I hope that we might be capable of have an open and mutual dialogue, as a result of on the finish of the day we’re individuals, and I do hope that we can attain a mutual understanding and proceed to overtly talk about the probabilities collectively.
And I might additionally wish to say one thing, not as a developer of Ultimate Fantasy 14 or as a member of Sq. Enix, however simply as a member of the video games developer neighborhood within the business.
I attended Opening Evening Stay for Gamescom and I may see all of the players gathered from across the globe. As builders, it’s our aspiration and intention to make the most effective taking part in expertise for all of our gamers to get pleasure from, and I actually hope that gamers won’t overlook that we’re placing in our perfect with a view to ship that have for them.
After all, from a participant’s perspective, there are video games which they may discover enjoyable, and there are different video games which could not have been enjoyable for them. However on the finish of the day, as builders, we’re doing our perfect to offer the most effective gaming expertise for the gamers, and I actually do hope that the gamers received’t overlook that.
After all, proper now world wide, there are a number of massive issues and really troublesome conditions. On account of that, there’s sure suggestions that comes up on social media. However I do hope that gamers received’t overlook on the finish of the day that as builders, we’re individuals too.
I actually hope that we will work on fostering the optimistic relationship with our gamers, as a result of we’re individuals, and I actually hope that we will try collectively to work on that relationship collectively and actually make it one thing optimistic.
Lastly, how are you doing usually? You’ve labored on Ultimate Fantasy 14 for greater than a decade now, you produced Ultimate Fantasy 16, and also you say you’ve been contributing your opinion on 17. Are you okay? Are you not creatively exhausted? Do you’ve got a approach of conserving your vitality up?
[Laughs] Oh, however I need to hear your ideas. me at the moment, do I look exhausted or burned out?
You’re the image of well being. You appear like a 20-year-old man.
[Laughs] Then that’s your reply! I’m all good.
