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Flower dev: Final Fantasy a chore

February 16, 2009 in Interview comments 21

In an interview published by Digital Arts today, Flower developer Xinghan "Jenova" Chen reveals a lot about what the game is, the approach, and why Final Fantasy's leveling system has no relevance to life, among other things.

Here's a highlight, though parties interested should give it all a read:

JC: I force myself to play some games...like Final Fantasy XII. I had to struggle through because of all the [endless quests]. Even though I really wanted to know how the story ended, after a couple weeks I had to just give up. The chore of making your character gain more experience to complete the game had no relevance to real life. And that is where a lot of games lose people.
chautemoc via digitalartsonline.co.uk »
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Most recently commented on by on Feb 17, 2009

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  • 2
    redneonfish Feb 16, 09
    Yeah baby, someone who agrees with me. Final Fantasy and JRPGs in general are all games I can't relate to. The characters are all too angsty, and weird for me, the combat is usually too slow, the story usually a decent premise but the characters ruin how it's played out.

    I'm sure some FF fanboy will reply and say OMFGWTF FF IS TEH PWNZ0Rz. No it's not. It's mediocre at best.
  • 1
    Koloth Feb 16, 09
    How does gaining experience have no relevance to real life? To get good at anything in life you have to gain experience. When I was starting out in computer programming I wasn't good at it right away. I had to learn and write actual programs. I had to build upon my experience and continue to grow and learn more. And that is how most games use experience points. As you take on challenges you gain experience and get strong fast and better. Just like an athlete practicing for the Olympics. What loses people isn't the aspect of gaining experience to get stronger, it is the grinding that many games put you through to gain that experience.

    For that matter if we are going to compare apples to oranges what does blowing petals around in the breeze have to do with real life? I love the emotional impact the game has but give me a break. It is a game it has no impact on real life.
  • 0
    carouselambra Feb 16, 09
    HA! this makes my day. the flower developer saying FINAL FANTASY has no relevance to life? talk about hypocrisy man. The whole level up thing is about setting goals, and working towards something, and of actual achievement, albeit within a game. Gives you something to work for, and shows that by putting in effort you get something back. But never mind. lets not start all that again
    • 3
      Supernouva Feb 17, 09
      As if life is always so straightforward like that.
      • 0
        CAROUSELAMBRATIMES2 Feb 17, 09
        Dont be stupid, of course it's not as simple as that. But, that is most certainly the basics of it. By removing that, you have NOTHING. nothing will give you nothing in return. if you take responsibility out of it all, then what does that teach anyone? To a child, that plays an FF game, they will learn that if they want to be the best, they have to put in the work. They have to do something.
  • 2
    RabidChinaGirl Feb 16, 09
    I've stopped relating to J-RPGs since I graduated middle school. Pretty interesting to see a talented/creative guy like that in the industry make such a statement about Final Fantasy. That's just the guy's opinion anyway. Funny to see people going to such great lengths to discount him?
    • 2
      Koloth Feb 16, 09
      Don't have to go to any great lengths. Just as far as common sense takes you.
  • 0
    phowell23 Feb 16, 09
    Im a fan of rpgs and final fantasy and even I thought that ffXII was a chore.
    • 1
      Koloth Feb 16, 09
      Well...

      I'll give him that one. But I still say his reasoning is wrong.
  • 1
    Zero and X Feb 16, 09
    Wtf? You name the article based on one comment at the end of the interview?
    • 6
      RabidChinaGirl Feb 17, 09
      If the headline read, "Flower dev: inspired by nature because he grew up in Shanghai" would you have clicked it? xD
      • 1
        Koloth Feb 17, 09
        Maybe...

        Ok, no. And I actually like the game.
      • 1
        Zero and X Feb 17, 09
        At least it wouldn't be misleading. I was expecting the interview to be at least a little more than just one comment than what was said about the game. Hell there could have been other names for the article other than what you said, its not like it was a short interview. Hell just cal; the article an interview and leave it at that. Whatever, its not like it matters.
      • 0
        vortis Feb 17, 09
        Now if only this kind of logic worked with the fanboys...instead of spending hours defending why the headline is the way it is.
        • 0
          Zero and X Feb 17, 09
          Umm, did you just call me a fanboy? Or am I misreading your comment? (no sarcasm intended)
        • 0
          Sayyed Feb 17, 09
          I think he was talking about fanboys in general

          Edit: Thats actually a picture of cloud, not flower.
  • 1
    Arikardo Feb 16, 09
    He has a good point there, however some levelling up characters is one of the key parts of an RPG. In my opinion though FF is just utter boring crap but thats my opinion.
  • 1
    Stefan Feb 17, 09
    yeh i have to agree. most final fantasies go through a Barron stage were all your doing is going from one cut scene to the next and what ever is in between is just a pain in the arse.
  • 0
    Bale Fire Feb 17, 09
    Grinding can be a chore, but as long as extensive leveling isn't required for large periods of time I'm cool with that.

    And trying to compare any videogame to real life = stupidity.
  • 0
    OkamiAlucard Feb 17, 09
    .......couldn't finsh FF12.........it only took me a week on the first go though. and i didn't even need to grind at all. the sidequests gave enough exp for that.
    And even some games where you have to grind (Disgaea, MMOs, and others) just add on the game time so you get more bang for your buck. I don't know about this guy but i'd rather buy a Rpg that gives me 100+ hours of grinding than a game of (Flowers gametime). And from what i've seen flower loks like a game you pla while trippin on something, or when you bored and you need something else to do than grind.
  • 0
    kik36 Feb 17, 09
    Well his nickname is Jenova, so he musta liked FF at one point in time LMAO. Great article.

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