Did Final Fantasy really save Square?

[James8BitStar]

Personally, I thought Dade's response (And the responses he got in turn) were pretty funny.  No hard feelings on my end.

Back to the topic:

Did Final Fantasy save Square? I couldn't tell you for sure but it seems to me the Final Fantasy series was started in order to capitalize on the success of the first Dragon Quest game. The first games in both series are highly similar though I suppose you could argue this is simply because of technology limitations.

I disagree.  First, I don't see much similarity between DW1 and FF1 outside of some genre conventions (menu-based battles).  Other than that, the games had many vast differences.

Secondly, despite "technology limitations" the NES had one of the most outright diverse lineups of RPGs on any console system, from the DW clones to the PC port-overs (many of which, IMO, succeeded in being superior to the originals), to the original games that went totally their own way (Legend of the Ghost Lion and Dungeon Magic, for example).

[Dios GX]

RPG Lore.

WATCH OUT GUYS, INTERNET BIG SHOT COMING THROUGH. EDUCATING US ABOUT "RPG LORE"

SERIOUS SHIT GOING ON HERE.

are you for real

[Alisha]

Yea, sorry I snapped Dade.  I was having a very bad day when I posted that, and unfortunately your post also triggered one of my pet peeves--I can't stand it when people make claims that openly defy logic.

So, once again, sorry.

that avatar makes it almost impossible for me to take anything you say seriously.

[Eusis]

that avatar makes it almost impossible for me to take anything you say seriously.

I don't think you can take half the board seriously then.

[MonCapitan2002]

Personally, I thought Dade's response (And the responses he got in turn) were pretty funny.  No hard feelings on my end.

I don't think you own anyone an apology.  

For what it is worth, I remember hearing about the legend that Final Fantasy saved Squaresoft.  When videogames.com was still around in that incarnation, they had a feature on the franchise and quoted that very legend.  I have no idea if there is any credence to it or not.

[James8BitStar]

that avatar makes it almost impossible for me to take anything you say seriously.

Thus you understand the first part of my insidious plan to RULE THE WORLD!

And I'll do it, too!  Using my RPG LORE!!!

[GrimReality]

I like this James fellow. Plus, I thought the term "RPG lore" fit the topic just fine. Nothing wrong with taking ones hobby seriously, even if it is "just" video games. Some of us have been playing games for over 20 years now. I'd say I'd have to be pretty serious about a hobby to keep doing it that long.
I've heard plenty a time about FF saving Square from bankruptcy/shutting down. Never thought much about til now.

[Professor Gast]

I never spent a lot of time thinking about this. Square founder Masashi Miyamoto got 100 million yen from his old man who owned a construction firm in Kyushu. At first he (and his long-time trusted manager Hisashi Suzuki) thought it was impossible to start up a business with that amount of money, but then he invested it to set up Square.

The way I remember that story, Final Fantasy was not so much a financial issue, but rather a personal career issue for Sakaguchi to become a well-known, respected director.

[Ark]

RPG Lore.

WATCH OUT GUYS, INTERNET BIG SHOT COMING THROUGH. EDUCATING US ABOUT "RPG LORE"

SERIOUS SHIT GOING ON HERE.

are you for real

I DARE SAY GOOD SIR HOW DO YOU DO THIS FINE DAY WOULD YOU LOVE TO TALK A BIT OF RPG LORE?

OH MOST CERTAINLY DEAR ANTONIO( Salbato, esquire.) I WOULD SO DEAR LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS TOPIC I DO HOLD SO CLOSE TO MY HEART, A-HO-HO!

*Monocle pops off and lands on the floor*

I MUST SAY THE DEPTH AND BEAUTY INVOLVED IN THE CLASSIC ORWELLIAN EPIC 'SECRET OF THE STARS' IS AN ABSOLUTE SOUL-MOVER, AS FOUR COMPLETELY UNRELATED STRANGERS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD! OH YES DEAR ANTONIO I QUITE AGREE, PIP PIP, THE VOLUMES OF LORE BEHIND THIS WORLD ARE TRULY PAINSTAKINGLY ARCHIVED!

HOLY SHIT JAMES SHUT THE FUCK UP[/b]

[Vilnius]

RPG Lore.

WATCH OUT GUYS, INTERNET BIG SHOT COMING THROUGH. EDUCATING US ABOUT "RPG LORE"

SERIOUS SHIT GOING ON HERE.

are you for real

I DARE SAY GOOD SIR HOW DO YOU DO THIS FINE DAY WOULD YOU LOVE TO TALK A BIT OF RPG LORE?

OH MOST CERTAINLY DEAR ANTONIO( Salbato, esquire.) I WOULD SO DEAR LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS TOPIC I DO HOLD SO CLOSE TO MY HEART, A-HO-HO!

*Monocle pops off and lands on the floor*

I MUST SAY THE DEPTH AND BEAUTY INVOLVED IN THE CLASSIC ORWELLIAN EPIC 'SECRET OF THE STARS' IS AN ABSOLUTE SOUL-MOVER, AS FOUR COMPLETELY UNRELATED STRANGERS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD! OH YES DEAR ANTONIO I QUITE AGREE, PIP PIP, THE VOLUMES OF LORE BEHIND THIS WORLD ARE TRULY PAINSTAKINGLY ARCHIVED!

HOLY SHIT JAMES SHUT THE FUCK UP[/b]

[James8BitStar]

HOLY SHIT JAMES SHUT THE FUCK UP

You're a shotard.  Now bow before my RPG LORE, lesser mortal!

[Tenchi-no-Ryu]

RPG Lore.

WATCH OUT GUYS, INTERNET BIG SHOT COMING THROUGH. EDUCATING US ABOUT "RPG LORE"

SERIOUS SHIT GOING ON HERE.

are you for real

I DARE SAY GOOD SIR HOW DO YOU DO THIS FINE DAY WOULD YOU LOVE TO TALK A BIT OF RPG LORE?

OH MOST CERTAINLY DEAR ANTONIO( Salbato, esquire.) I WOULD SO DEAR LOVE TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS TOPIC I DO HOLD SO CLOSE TO MY HEART, A-HO-HO!

*Monocle pops off and lands on the floor*

I MUST SAY THE DEPTH AND BEAUTY INVOLVED IN THE CLASSIC ORWELLIAN EPIC 'SECRET OF THE STARS' IS AN ABSOLUTE SOUL-MOVER, AS FOUR COMPLETELY UNRELATED STRANGERS ARE BROUGHT TOGETHER TO FIGHT FOR THE SAKE OF THE WORLD! OH YES DEAR ANTONIO I QUITE AGREE, PIP PIP, THE VOLUMES OF LORE BEHIND THIS WORLD ARE TRULY PAINSTAKINGLY ARCHIVED!

HOLY SHIT JAMES SHUT THE FUCK UP[/b]

And that sir - made me spit up my morning coffee laughing.

*puts monacle on*

NOW WHERE ARE MY GREEN HAIRED BITCHES!?

[White_Mage]

I think final Fantasy saved square as well as rpg gaming in general.

[Dade]

So does this mean that Tony is Twisp?

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2004/04/07

[James8BitStar]

I think final Fantasy saved square as well as rpg gaming in general.

... You're kidding, right?