Solution 9 - Unfounded Speculation!

[WhiteArchmage]

I'm... uh... Garlemald was a military dictatorship, not just a dictatorship, but one that had the pretense of utilitarianism. I'm not at all surprised the military had the high-tech, overdesigned mechs (spider-bots are also better for uneven terrain, but not cost-effective for civilian paved roads) while the rubes use the highly practical, if somewhat boring box cars.

Which actually reminds me, didn't someone actually suss out the Garlean cars and they turned out to be pretty similar to an actual Japanese car from the (I want to say) 80s?

[MikkoAkure]

Which actually reminds me, didn't someone actually suss out the Garlean cars and they turned out to be pretty similar to an actual Japanese car from the (I want to say) 80s?

I can't find my own quote but I thought I remembered posting somewhere in these forums comparing the Novus D minion and the snow-covered cars in Garlemald to an old Honda or Suzuki kei car (which were based on older European peoples' cars).

But those were meant for driving in the city instead of going on the highway. Even today I'm sure most Japanese (where the game was made) and Europeans (that the Garleans are based on) travel via rail instead of car anyway. I don't think car ownership was very high in Soviet Russia either.

[kaynide]

I can't find my own quote but I thought I remembered posting somewhere in these forums comparing the Novus D minion and the snow-covered cars in Garlemald to an old Honda or Suzuki kei car (which were based on older European peoples' cars).

They're basically that- something like the 1950-60s-ish German Goggomobil or Japanese Toyopet Master.

(Goggomobil)


(Toyopet Master)


(Our boy Nero cruising)

..those were meant for driving in the city instead of going on the highway. Even today I'm sure most Japanese (where the game was made) and Europeans (that the Garleans are based on) travel via rail instead of car anyway.

This is a very big (and interesting) misconception about Japan- my American parents couldn't really wrap their head around it. Basically, it's VERY similar to the USA, except a lot more Japanese live in Urban centers compared to Americans living in Suburbs. So, people living in the big cities like Tokyo are a lot like New Yorkers (who may or may not have a car, and don't need a car for daily life). Owning a car in a major city is almost a status symbol with how much parking costs ($100s a month just to park, and that's lower-end pricing).

People (like me) living in mid-sized cities almost all have cars and use them pretty much like Suburbanites would in USA. Soccer moms and all.

The only real difference with small-sized cities is a much more prolific use of bicycles. People DO use public transit, but it's more...a tourist thing. As in, the public transit company makes negative revenue and is propped up by the government because "what kinda city doesn't have public transit!? think of the people!" (Think Streetcars in San Francisco)

[SannaR]

Of course they have hover tech and what look like modern aircraft carriers; that can fly. So Tron gets back to the top of the pile.

[MikkoAkure]

Keeping my tinfoil hat on, the Enigmatic Maiden's color palette of white, gold, and blue along with the strange winged device on her hip are reminiscent of FFXII's Ultima, as the title of "maiden" is also the same for Virgo, Ultima's zodiac.

Back to reality, the FFIX-looking abandoned village at the foot of Solution Nine in Heritage Found is interesting, doublely so that they weren't allowed to talk about it. It's much more generic fantasy looking, as is the Enigmatic Maiden's attire, minus the green tron lines on her shoes. Solution Nine is to no one's surprise, looking to be the lost city of "gold" and it's interesting they mentioned people living forever carefree. Maybe it's possible it's a server like people had said before?

Tangentially related to Solution Nine, it seems that railroad tracks lead up to it in the new trailer through a tunnel, and unrelated to anything else, the "Bar" sign in Shaaloani appears to have changed since the original Shaaloani trailer to now say "Saloon". Back to Solution Nine, there are two new "Bar" signs in proto-alphabet and another sign that says "Owen" next to the companion cube-looking thing? Gonna need a second opinion on that one.

[diamondedge83]

Back to Solution Nine, there are two new "Bar" signs in proto-alphabet and another sign that says "Owen" next to the companion cube-looking thing? Gonna need a second opinion on that one.

I haven't had time to review the live letter yet, but if it is Owen, we know he was exiled from the Allagan Empire after he stood up to the leaders while trying to find a cure for tempering which means he's done a lot of research into souls, which could very well be connected to the "Soul Supply" sign we saw in the first few screenshots of Solution 9. Fandaniel also says that Owen had come up with his own version of the Warding Scale. Perhaps Owen is alive and well in Solution 9?

[kaynide]

Re: Arcadion Black Cat

If we go with FF9 vibes, the only thing I can speculate from the words "Black cat" related are the Gimmie Cat (with a weird gimmick to get a lotta gil; kinda like Metal Slime giving XP from DQ), or, alternatively, the Black Waltz characters.

Re: S9
My vote is the Enigmatic Maiden is the AI/MCP for S9. Or a surviving Allagan.


Wild Speculation Time:

S9 is the City of Gold that was sealed off. It's been in a time/Stasis bubble. The people are surviving Allagans, or their descendants.

Alternatively, something something Kairos.

[MikkoAkure]

I haven't had time to review the live letter yet, but if it is Owen, we know he was exiled from the Allagan Empire after he stood up to the leaders while trying to find a cure for tempering which means he's done a lot of research into souls, which could very well be connected to the "Soul Supply" sign we saw in the first few screenshots of Solution 9. Fandaniel also says that Owen had come up with his own version of the Warding Scale. Perhaps Owen is alive and well in Solution 9?

In the recent trailer, Owen's name is on a sign that also contains a symbol that looks like the "Soul Supply" sign.

I didn't recognize the name as having anything to do with Allagans before, but a quick google search confirms it. Does this mean Allagans after all?

[diamondedge83]

In the recent trailer, Owen's name is on a sign that also contains a symbol that looks like the "Soul Supply" sign.

I didn't recognize the name as having anything to do with Allagans before, but a quick google search confirms it. Does this mean Allagans after all?

Your guess is as good as mine, but I'm inclined to say it could just be Owen alone or perhaps with other Allagan exiles, and the empire has nothing to do with it. The fact is Owen was exiled for being a slight nuisance to those in charge, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that there could have been many great minds whose ideals didn't align with Xande 2.0 that banded together to create something better.

[Fenral]

Live letter is on and ongoing. One of the areas showed off in Heritage Found seemed a lot like the ruins of FF9's Alexandria town. No way they'd be able to say that out loud.

Solution Nine is looking more and more Allagan. Also, the mysterious girl in the artwork said something about having a key in hand, right as the montage cut to G'raha. In the spirit of entering the "it couldn't possibly be this" theories into the written record: Salina, is that you?