Wrong.
Spin-off in regards to a series. "Something that is imitative or derivative of an earlier work, product, or establishment; especially : a television show starring a character popular in a secondary role of an earlier show "
Therefore, anything that has atleast one returning cast member in the same universe as the original work.
In case you didn't know, FFX is a sequel to FFVII, as far as timeline and world. It's canon. Look it up.
Regardless, spin-offs are almost never as well received as the original work, but if FFXII-2 has more to offer than XII did, it will put SE back on a steady track. XII was an excellent game as far as it's own standards and system was concerned. The combat was fun and engaging, but reminiscent enough to play to the nostalgia crowd. It was hokey as far as story, and there were very few characters worth caring about. The lack of exploration during gameplay was hard to swallow for many, but you really need to accept this for quite a few more years. The costs of "HD"ifying all games now is a massive weight to burden.
Technology has allowed games to peak graphically, and it's really a matter of artistic style and expression now. I grew up with a better generation of games, and that may be long past, but I'll be damned before I allow some 15 year old's to tell us older gamers that any of those games were bad.
With this new generation expecting only HD graphics, they rob themselves of what it means to play a GAME. It's not an alternative visual media platform. It's not hollywood. Nor should it be. It's functionality, ingenuity, creativity, and so much more.
Nostalgia allows us to set standards. If SE wants to continue masquerading behind a franchise name, they sure as hell better keep plugging those franchise traits in to their works. Otherwise, the entire FF name will be a farce, and the fanbase will 'grow up.'
Hope was one of those "only believable characters" from XII I was referring too.