Square Enix’s New President Plans To Review The Entire Company - ARR incert future?

[SkyeWindbinder]

FFIV had a shit tons of remake, changing the graphics, altering the combat sytem, allowing character swap, etc...and each time the game sold pretty nice.

FF VII has sold more than all FF "new gen" combined, only couting the PSOne version.

And even the Dragon Quest remakes on DS sold pretty well, despite being the pinnacle of archaism.

True. But did FFIV ever reach the cult status of FFVII?

I'll answer that question for you. NO. As I said before, FFVII is practically the definitive game of it's franchise. Some might even call it the representative of Final Fantasy. Although FFVI has also reached a high pedestal of it's own within the franchise, it's still not reached the status of FFVII as far as fans.

Which is a HUGE reason why remaking it could be the final nail in Squeenix's coffin, as well as the stake that is driven through Squeenix's heart. You do NOT mess with something that has reached that status. You can make sequels, prequels, even a fan service that doubles as a good game (cough, Kingdom Hearts, cough). But messing with the original formula is beyond risky, it borders on being just a plain stupid move.

Let me give you an example: Star Wars: A New Hope. More specifically: Greedo shoots first. To this very day, George Lucas swears up and down that it was always meant for Greedo to have shot first. The fans of Star Wars beg to differ. THEY know it was Han Solo who shot first. Geroge pouted and stuck his lip out, called his fans stupid for saying that, and ultimately yelled "But it's my movie! If I say Greedo shot first, then he did. So THERE!" The fans hated him for it. They also hated him for all the extra effects crap he put into the original trilogy, and the way he "rewrote" certain scenes, to make it more dramatic or up to date or whatever he was trying to do. (Darth Vader "Noooooooo!", anyone?) It got so bad between Lucas ans fans of the franchise that he actually quit making the movies, saying in no certain words that the fans were just mean. Now we have Disney taking a crack at it.

My point is, when something reaches a certain cult level, it becomes an instant classic. You don't mess with the classics. Because you are taking a risk that shouldn't be taken. And really doesn't need to be taken in this case, since the original FFVII is still so well received. Squeenix needs to focus on moving forward, not doing the stupid mistake of updating and remaking a game that is just fine as it is.

[Abriael]

See. People think it's "easy" lol.

A remake of Final Fantasy VII would obviously be a high risk operation, and even if successful, it wouldn't be as successful as it could be now that the brand isn't at its top popularity-wise.

If naval warfare ever thaught us something is that you don't fire your best ammo until you can deliver a full broadside.

At the moment remaking Final Fantasy VII would probably be a mistake, no matter how much part of the fanbase on the internet demands it.

[Reynhart]

Right, let's look at Star Wars. Episode IV ? 783 million dollars.
V and VI, 534 and 573 million dollars respectively.
Indeed, it became a cult.

Then came Episode I. Huge succes, 922 million dollars. Nothing surprising since fans waited it for years. But after the first boom, a lot of people said that it was fairly disappointing.

Then came Episode II...this time, people knew how the new saga could be bad, and betray the sacred cult of IV, V VI...648 million dollars...

FFVII is the best selling of the franchise (When you look at the number of copies sold) with approximately 10 millions. Let's say the remake sell for "only" 8 or 9 millions. It would still be the best-selling FF for a long time. And this time, they could release it on all the HD console along with PC.

By the way, FF VII was released in 1997. Recent Final Fantasy players weren't even born that year. Do you realise how many people would by it without even having played the original one and thus couldn't compare the two ?

[ArkhamNative]

Apologies for this, but Reynhart made me check Star Wars box office revenues against "ticket price inflation" (i.e. if everyone's admission cost the same as the average 2013 ticket price in US dollars):

Ep 4 1400 M
Ep 5 790 M
Ep 6 757 M

Ep 1 727 M
Ep 2 430 M
Ep 3 478 M

FFVII:
But slightly back on topic, SE re-released FF7 for PC just last year. (They sell it only through their online store, though.) That would be a major reason they wouldn't want to re-re-release (or HD remaster or whatever) it any time soon.

[Abriael]

Right, let's look at Star Wars. Episode IV ? 783 million dollars.
V and VI, 534 and 573 million dollars respectively.
Indeed, it became a cult.

Then came Episode I. Huge succes, 922 million dollars. Nothing surprising since fans waited it for years. But after the first boom, a lot of people said that it was fairly disappointing.

Then came Episode II...this time, people knew how the new saga could be bad, and betray the sacred cult of IV, V VI...648 million dollars...

FFVII is the best selling of the franchise (When you look at the number of copies sold) with approximately 10 millions. Let's say the remake sell for "only" 8 or 9 millions. It would still be the best-selling FF for a long time. And this time, they could release it on all the HD console along with PC.

By the way, FF VII was released in 1997. Recent Final Fantasy players weren't even born that year. Do you realise how many people would by it without even having played the original one and thus couldn't compare the two ?

FFVII has been recently made available both for the PSN and for PC. I'm sure SE has quite a lot better sales data to gauge the feasibility, risks and opportunities of a remake than you do.

But do keep thinking you know better. It's hilarious

[SkyeWindbinder]

Right, let's look at Star Wars. Episode IV ? 783 million dollars.
V and VI, 534 and 573 million dollars respectively.
Indeed, it became a cult.

Then came Episode I. Huge succes, 922 million dollars. Nothing surprising since fans waited it for years. But after the first boom, a lot of people said that it was fairly disappointing.

Then came Episode II...this time, people knew how the new saga could be bad, and betray the sacred cult of IV, V VI...648 million dollars...

FFVII is the best selling of the franchise (When you look at the number of copies sold) with approximately 10 millions. Let's say the remake sell for "only" 8 or 9 millions. It would still be the best-selling FF for a long time. And this time, they could release it on all the HD console along with PC.

By the way, FF VII was released in 1997. Recent Final Fantasy players weren't even born that year. Do you realise how many people would by it without even having played the original one and thus couldn't compare the two ?

You see, the thin of it is, Star Wars IV, V, and VI are not the same things as Star Wars I, II, and III. IV, V, and VI were practically universally well received, as was FFVII, back in their hey days. And even now, again, just like FFVII, they're still well received and cult classics.

Fast forward to I, I, and III. Not as well received. Then again, those were the prequels. NOT the same thing as IV. So comparing the success of the first made trilogy to the second really doesn't work. It would make more sense to compare the success of the first made trilogy to the success of the first made trilogy "remastered" by George Lucas in his own vision. And that was not received well by a lot of fans, enough fans to make George Lucas decide to simply stop making Star Wars films altogether and go somewhere and sulk.

You may also look at the fact that Star Wars' popularity is not in trouble due to as much competition in it's field. Star Wars is the highest selling sci-fi series EVER. Final Fantasy isn't exactly at the top of the RPG pyramid, at least not anymore, especially with the growing fondness over western-style RPGs lately. Then you have to look at the fact that the recent FFXIII games weren't received as well as Squeenix would have liked. In fact, arguably, fans of the Star Wars series seemed more tolerant of episodes I, II, and III than FF fans were of the FFXIII games. And the XIII games did not exactly top the sales charts, especially compared to it's predecessor, FFXII. Put that up next to the fact that Final Fantasy has just been dwindling in it's ability to draw in new people to the franchise or to JRPGs in general, as well as the horrible, HORRIBLE mistake that was The Spirits Within that still haunt the company to this very DAY, and there you have it.

Now, do you really, I mean REALLY think Squeenix should risk pissing off a whole lot of fans by remaking arguably it's most popular and powerful product ever? Do you really? I'm sorry, but hearing a bunch of fans squealing for a remake does not necessarily mean that a remake would be a good idea. Remaking FFVII is too big a risk. In fact, if you take a step back and look at the risk factors vs the rewards possibilities, remaking FFVII would be an impressively stupid move. And deep down, Squeenix knows this. I mean, they've done some stupid things with the FF brand, but I really don't think they'd be this stupid. That's why it hasn't been done yet. People have been crying for a remake of the game for a while. If they were gonna do it, they'd have done it by now. But they haven't. Because it's highly likely they never will. And I wholeheartedly agree with the idea.

Also, your last point doesn't really hold too much water. What year a person was born in doesn't matter. FFVII is still popular as a game, even to this day. If a person is a fan of JRPGs and have played them, chances are they have tried FFVII and already decided whether they like it or not. And even those who haven't, do you really think a remake of the game would draw them in? If FFXIII or any of the other more recent FFs haven't, what makes you think a remastered version of a game that already sells well since it was made in the 90s will? Come ON, here! lol They will likely just want to play the original. And yes, there will be a comparison made between the remake and the original, regardless of when a person was "born". And that's where another risk lies in losing yet more money, as if the remastered version isn't as great to these people as the original, they'll likely say so. Word of mouth will spread, and bad reviews could destroy the company. Then you have the fans who are screaming "SACRILEGE" in fromt of Squeenix headquarters while waving pitchforks and torches... it's just too big a risk factor.

Face it: Remaking FFVII = phenomenally BAD idea.

P.S.: Also, what ArkhamNative and Abriael said was correct, the games were re-released on PC and PSN. They sell well there. So, if people not born in 1997 want to check it out, there's a good start. So, really, I'm not seeing the benefit of remaking the game. Not at all.

[Reynhart]

But do keep thinking you know better. It's hilarious

You're right, doing remakes is a very bad idea...except for Final Fantasy I to IV...and Dragon Quest IV to VII.

[Abriael]

You're right, doing remakes is a very bad idea...except for Final Fantasy I to IV...and Dragon Quest IV to VII.

Comparing apples to oranges won't help your argument too much. And the fact that you seem to think you know anything about the industry already doesn't help it at all.

[Reynhart]

Comparing apples to oranges won't help your argument too much. And the fact that you seem to think you know anything about the industry already doesn't help it at all.

I must be out of my mind for comparing Final Fantasy remakes to...Final Fantasy remakes...
And I'm sure you have a degree in economy since you seem to know far better than me how it works.

[SkyeWindbinder]

I must be out of my mind for comparing Final Fantasy remakes to...Final Fantasy remakes...
And I'm sure you have a degree in economy since you seem to know far better than me how it works.

Dude, the point is, you're comparing different Final Fantasies and Dragon Quests to FFVII. And I've already told you numerous times why that's not going to work.

Remaking FFIV = low risk factor.

Remaking FFVII - extremely stupidly high risk factor.

It's just not a good idea.