Tanaka Leaves Square Enix.

[Hycinthus]

I do hope he gets better soon. Cancer is never a battle any of us chooses to wage.

[Lienn]

Best Game Designer/Director/Producer in the industry in my opinion. I don't put any of XIV blame on him. Most of his contributions to this game were revolutionary. Sadly, too revolutionary for this generation of MMO players. All the bad decisions in that game were clearly made at the Board level. Dated Technology, Old Engine, Early Release. These are decisions made by Suits to save money. He has had his hand in a large chunk of the Best RPGs ever made. That is what I'll remember.

Ditto. This is why i supported him since the very start of FFXIV...and still support. IMO FFXIV had the potential to become the ultimate MMO experience when finished and the fact internal/external factors caused it to be abandoned before its completion doesn't make him a bad game developer.

I still hope he returns one day and maybe even try the original FFXIV again as a different game with the new technologies by then.

[Zezlar]

...


Come on guys did you even read the thread? Please stop mentioning the thread that got locked for reasons totally outside the scope of this one.

I didn't to be honest. I clicked on it and went straight to the end. My fault on that one.

[Reinheart]

That's Tanaka when he was 22
I guess the last hand shake I had with him at FFXI Fan Fest has more meaning to me now.

Hope he gets well and thank you for giving me my dream to wanting to become game programmer (although I never got there 'yet')

[BobbinT]

Wow! Nice pics.

You will be missed greatly. And especially since I love both Xenogears and Chrono Cross.

[Zahak]

Thank you Tanaka for 10 amazing years in Vanadiel. And thank you for creating Eorzea, even if it did need an overhaul
I'll never forget Valkurm Dunes, thanks for the memories

[Sagagemini]

Thank you, Tanaka!
FFXI was definetely the best MMO i ever played.

[Fiosha_Maureiba]

Thank you Mr. Tanaka.

It truly was his final fantasy.

[Crysten]

This is probably more relevant to the XI community but I do find it amusing at the amount of tributes pouring in for Tanaka when most people would do nothing but spit venom at the sheer mention of him recently.

After XIV's failure and XI's stagnation over the past year, I would say it's pretty much the best time for him to throw in the towel, really. I would say that his departure is one of the best things that could happen for XI's future after seeing how far XIV has come under Yoshi-P.

That being said, I wish him all the best and good health in the future.

[Eekiki]

Hiromichi Tanaka is the new Michael Jackson.