[News] FFIV Sequel... yes for cell phones :/

Originally Posted by Borg1982

2 things that are sad here:

1. People who hate FF4 are IN A THREAD ABOUT FF4.
2. People are saying how bad the sequel will be when absolutely nobody knows what the hell its going to be like. Maybe they are just mad it's for cell phones and are creating excuses to hate it so they can make themselves believe its bad to not get it.

Except that both Lurker and I like FF4. So, you know, you fail there. Also, this thread isn't about FF4, it's about FF4-II. So, you know, you fail there.

Also, please name me a single cell phone game with a rich storyline that isn't just random jap filler. Oh yeah, you can't do it, because it doesn't exist. It's never existed, and it won't in the immediate future. There are size constraints, there are display restraints, and there are design restraints to working on a cel phone. The fact you think this is anything but a cash grab is laughable. Go rock your fanboyism somewheres else, we like a certain amount of basic logic in our posters here.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I have to agree with Deni on what he said above.

My job is currently to test Cellphone games, look for bugs, make sure they pass Carrier Tests, and other things. I can't disclose what exact games I'm testing (Non-Disclosure Agreement)... but I have not come across anything remotely in-depth, even on the newest phones (LG's Razr, for example). All of the games I've tested so far have been SHIT. The ONLY reason that Square Enix is apparently making Cellphone games is because its a Japanese company and the Japanese are one of the highest (If not #1) Cellphone users, and they usually have the most advance handsets which allow for minimally fun cellphone games (From a gameplay standpoint on Before Crisis, it was a nice move to have the phone's camera be built into the story-line, because you create new Materia (Which allows Magic & other things) from taking pictures of various items, and judging by the primary color of whatever you take a photo of, it creates a Materia of that color), with few exceptions to that (Before Crisis looks to be one of these, as in somewhat fun).

The games I've seen are usually very easy or not very long, but the cellphone as a platform for games is a poor one, if you're dealing with anything complex (Such as an RPG or anything graphically intensive). I'd like to say its good for quick puzzle games or something, but honestly until the hardware and carrier restrictions loosen up (Google's Android may be that key change) and we (USA, Europe?) get the same kind of hardware around the same time that the Japanese do, all the games coming out for Cellphones will generally be crap.

tl;dr: Cellphone games are SHIT.

Now, I understand WHY Squarenix is making Cellphone games period, but what I don't get is why they would make it exclusively for the cellphone. I mean, shouldn't the recent string of DS Remakes and Ports on the PSP indicate that those handheld devices are the place to go for Old-School Final Fantasy?

At the very LEAST, another version of this sequel on the DS or PSP would make this news much much easier to take in.

tl;dr: This is a bad business decision.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

It's not like this game will ever make it to America anyway, so we'll never get to play it.

It also doesn't help that the phones under the DoCoMo provider in which S-E designs their games for can run almost at the speed of a normal (i.e. not overclocking the games) PSP. Japan has some wild supercomputer phones that literally can pretty much do it all (Breathalyzer in your phone, probably useless but they have it on there).

Obviously the reason they chose to make it mobile exclusive is because it's very cheap to design for, the consumer base in Japan is xbox hueg, and they don't have to pay as much overhead to release this game for people to buy. Common sense man, goal of a business is to make profit. It's cheap to make a game for a cellphone, so why not create some for some quick change?

At least, they have stated in the past they would be willing to port any of their "mobile-exclusive" games to the DS if they feel it would be worth putting on the market -- AKA if it will make them more money. They're doing it with the mobile game Front Mission 2089 that came out way back in '05.

It's kind of stupid, but at the same time their cellphone games don't move at the rate of slug ass like ours do (now if only they weren't just plain ass). By the time we manage to (if ever) catch up, Japan will use cellphones to perform everyday life functions.

Oh wait they pretty much already do

We'll see a DS port, in like 2010+, and by then no one will really care.

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With the way some of you speak, you all come off as FF4 haters.

So I didn't fail anywhere if I perceived you guys as haters. You sure did a great job coming off as such.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Borg1982

With the way some of you speak, you all come off as FF4 haters.

Oh, you're just precious. So saying there was a single aspect of the game that made me balk means I came off as someone who hated the game? So I suppose if I say that I don't like my girlfriend's choice in shoes, I hate her? Because yeah, that makes a whole bucket full of sense, that does. Lurker said that Cecil isn't a super strong character. And he's not. Doesn't mean she doesn't like the game. The problem with you is that you think you have to love everything about something in order to appreciate it. It's called critical thinking, you should give it a whirl some time.

You're especially laughable when earlier in this very thread, I expressed frustration with SE alienating people who liked their older works. I.E. people who liked FF IV. I.E. me.

Quote:

So I didn't fail anywhere if I perceived you guys as haters. You sure did a great job coming off as such.

Actually, it means you failed to perceive the situation properly. So, you know, you failed there. But again, good hustle out there.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Regardless, it's retarded that everyone responded to the news with hatred. Yes, I know, every cell phone game sucks, but if FF1 (a game from 1987) is an excellent video game, surely they can do a better job than that times 100000 for FF4-2... so ya never know what can happen.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Borg1982

Regardless, it's retarded that everyone responded to the news with hatred. Yes, I know, every cell phone game sucks, but if FF1 (a game from 1987) is an excellent video game, surely they can do a better job than that times 100000 for FF4-2... so ya never know what can happen.

Yeah, except if someone was to bring out the original Final Fantasy right now, I'd say it was sparse, lacked depth and suffered from a lack of playability because in context, it wouldn't stack up.

And the problem is yes, we do know what can happen. We've seen what Square does with cell phone games. They're not very impressive. So no, they probably can't do a game that's a hundred thousand times better than FF1, because they're doing it on a very limiting medium. They've castrated themselves before they even start. FF IV is loved for being a deep story with interesting characters. So they went somewhere that limits the amount of story you can show and used a story that wrapped up very nicely as their launch point and a game that didn't really -need- a follow up, I might add. So really all they can do is cheapen the existing game with a faulty follow-up.

"Why would everyone respond poorly to a widely loved game getting raped and thrown on a terrible medium with little to no chance of success? I mean, guys, it's unfair to assume something is going to suck just because all signs point to it sucking."

Get real, son.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

It is indeed sad that it's for cell phones. I have no idea of SE's track record with making cell phone games since I've seen none. Maybe I was being optimistic from the start but I may have no reason to be. If it's a nice, simple FF game with a smart menu and decent story, that is the best we can hope for.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

I think there are very few people on these boards who hate FFIV for any reason. We're all roughly the same age group, we all have the love for the old stuff, It's personally my favorite FF ever, but this announcement is kinda lukewarm.

Square is probably just trying to cash in on the new FFIV DS remake, but I'm at least glad the game isn't a *direct* sequel. I mean, it's not like it could have been, but at least this way the story won't really be "messed up", just expanded upon in a way I don't think anyone really asked for. The original FFIV won't really be affected by it at all unless Square tacks on some ending to the remake to tie the games together or something (think Chrono Trigger PSX - Square, don't get any ideas!). Even If the game is totally bad, you can just choose to ignore it; us Westerners may not have any other choice. Like was said, there's a market for this sorta thing in Japan, and, for better or worse, this is a Japanese game for Japanese gamers.

Of course, I don't *know* the game will be terrible, just going by every other cell phone game I've bought, RPGs included. Prove me wrong, Squeenix, prove me wrong!

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Borg1982

It is indeed sad that it's for cell phones. I have no idea of SE's track record with making cell phone games since I've seen none. Maybe I was being optimistic from the start but I may have no reason to be. If it's a nice, simple FF game with a smart menu and decent story, that is the best we can hope for.

No, it fucking isn't. You're basically saying as long as Square does the bare fucking minimum, we should be thrilled.

No. I expect them to be the best in the business at what they do. They have the resources to be extraordinary in their work, and the fact that people are willing to let them slide by with bare minimums is why they keep giving us just that. A smart menu and a decent story is NOT the best we can hope for. We can actively hope they pull their collective heads out of their asses and give us a good game.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Borg1982

With the way some of you speak, you all come off as FF4 haters.

So I didn't fail anywhere if I perceived you guys as haters. You sure did a great job coming off as such.

I didn't see any FF4 hating. I did see you going off on a tangent by launching into your usual vendetta against FF6.

FF4 had one loose end and that was Kain's quest to find himself. That this so-called sequel seems to ignore that and simply jump to the next generation screams "tacked on story for the sake of milking the franchise". And the fact that it's for cell phones seems to seal the deal.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

What I meant to say was:

We expect garbage.
We want a very, very good game because they have those resources.
Since it never happens, I am hoping to god the game will be 7.5/10 ... which is better than what we expect.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Megavolt

I didn't see any FF4 hating. I did see you going off on a tangent by launching into your usual vendetta against FF6.

Exactly. I did a quick look of the thread, and his first post brought up complaints in regards to FFVI, which BEFORE his post, FFVI was not mentioned at all.

Borg, if you have some sort of issue against FFVI, then make a journal entry about it. It has no place in this thread, which is about a sequel to Final Fantasy 4, NOT 6.

Anyway, the phone from the picture is the FOMA 903i (FOMA if you might recall, was the brand used by Cloud in Advent Children, specifically the Panasonic FOMA P900iV). Its also using (Possibly some variant) of BREW, which is short for Binary Runtime Enviroment for Wireless, and is an application development platform for Mobile Phones. There are games that use BREW at my work, so its certainly able to be ported over to the US, should Square Enix go that route.

If they do, they have the option of releasing it themselves, or outsourcing to a third-party publisher, such as Namco Wireless, EA Mobile, or THQ Wireless, among others.

Here's a pic of the phone itself (& Link)


Three major questions remain: Will Square Enix make with a DS/PSP Version,will the game even see the light of day across the Pacific, and why... why make a sequel?

I just don't get it. Are they strapped for cash more then we might have thought? I thought they were doing pretty successful with Dragon Quest IV, VIII, Final Fantasy XII, etc., Oh well, I guess not much can be answered at this point.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I'm actually pretty relieved to see that this is only for cell phones. That means it'll never see the light of day outside Japan and will be almost instantly forgotten after its release.

Like many others have already said, FFIV ended about as conclusively as a game can. Having a sequel now just to cash in on the DS remake is nothing short of retarded (no, not business-wise of course). I'd much rather ignore little Theodore's existance and move on with life.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Dark Nation

Exactly. I did a quick look of the thread, and his first post brought up complaints in regards to FFVI, which BEFORE his post, FFVI was not mentioned at all.

Lurker was trying to diss FF4 (When he shouldn't be in the thread in the first place if he hates it. It's called flaming) so I used his own game against him to state how that story is any better considering all of its failures.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I wouldn't underestimate the capability of Japanese cellphones...those things probably double as dishwashers and mind control devices at this point.

Originally Posted by Zuare

I just wish Square-Enix would stop continuing stories for games that already had good endings. Not only are the sequels usually bad, but it kinda ruins the story of the original game too.

I'm not sure how that works. At worst it ruins the games after it. And in that case you can ignore them. :P

I hope the game is about the inevitably apocalyptic consequences caused by the freaking MOON suddenly leaving the planet's orbit.

Also I need the source for that Samus Ouendan pic.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Hm which Dshu's post reminds me that this game could turn into the dreaded "Major Mask's" premise. The evil moon is about to bombard the world, thus contributing towards an inevitable apolcolypse. Then we have Fusoya and Golbez saving the day, flying in with their Space Whale.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Squeenix needs to release "Golbez & FuSoYa's Space Whale Adventures" that plays like Einhander with the trippiness of Silhouette Mirage.

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Originally Posted by Denicalis

Also, please name me a single cell phone game with a rich storyline that isn't just random jap filler. Oh yeah, you can't do it, because it doesn't exist. It's never existed, and it won't in the immediate future.

Eh, mobile phone gaming is bloody huge in Japan. DS/breathing style huge. Just because the things are an absolute nightmare to try and play on doesn't stop them. There's a shit load of story heavy adventure games on them. I have no doubt some wallies have put some exclusive RPGs on mobiles with the same tired storylines and heart-wrenching plot twists over there to rival any of the rubbish we get in big budget console games!

"No way! The main characters best friend turned out to be a bad guy! This is perhaps the most shocking thing to happen to my feelings while on the train.. today!"

Originally Posted by Dark Nation

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I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Originally Posted by Borg1982

Lurker was trying to diss FF4 (When he shouldn't be in the thread in the first place if he hates it. It's called flaming)

I think I would know what flaming is.

And furthermore, I was only saying that FF4 was very much in the style of the late NES / early SNES era. I did not see you refute me. I guess I won.

I was speaking idiomatically.

While it's somewhat infuriating hearing about Squeenix cashing in yet again on the Final Fantasy franchise, the fact that it's for cell phones makes the whole game pretty much worthless to worry about.

If they decide to port it to portable consoles... then it may be a bit much.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I will not be playing this. Final Fantasy IV, for the SNES, is how I wish to remember it. I won't be wasting my time playing the cell-phone edition.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Borg1982

Lurker was trying to diss FF4 (When he shouldn't be in the thread in the first place if he hates it. It's called flaming) so I used his own game against him to state how that story is any better considering all of its failures.

So, all that time I spent in the Star Ocean 2 remake thread chuckling about how godforsakenly bad the original's translation was, that was just trolling on my part? It's entirely possible to be aware of and point out the flaws in something you like.

Give me some time and I could rattle off a whole list of problems with FF6. That Vanish/Doom bug? What was up with that? lol lazy programmers

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"cecil's character traits are gullability, guilt, lack of awareness for danger."

This is called trolling. If he knows those points are unfair to the game and is saying this anyway, it is trolling.

If he thinks the points are true, he's wrong. The main character does not just simply walk into danger because he doesn't know what he's doing. He's not gullible while doing it.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Borg1982

Lurker was trying to diss FF4 (When he shouldn't be in the thread in the first place if he hates it. It's called flaming)

Originally Posted by Borg1982

"cecil's character traits are gullability, guilt, lack of awareness for danger."

This is called trolling. If he knows those points are unfair to the game and is saying this anyway, it is trolling.

Your dictionary needs a major update.

Seriously.

Pro-Tip: What I'm doing to you is flaming. Flaming you for how dumb you're being.

There's nowhere I can't reach.