I've said in the past to those who defend XIII by referencing it's massive sales that the game sold well because it was branded "FF".

They did not know all the gameplay and exploration was streamlined out of it to make way for a 30hr soap opera.

I do like FF games but I'm not blind to the lack of content or interactivity in modern games. I think the sales reflect the fact that I'm not the only one who feels this way:

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/3..._Franchise.php

Public is not making the same mistake twice it seems.

In summary my assumption(totally subjective mind you) is that the general public has caught on the fact that Motomu Toriyama can not direct a good game to save his life.

Please SE bring forth new designers that can design games without streamlining everything we love away from this franchise.

In the end money talks and right now people are voting with their wallets.