Guard Changing: Messages from the FFXI Producers

 On August 1st, 2012, Hiromichi Tanaka will pass the torch of producer of Final Fantasy XI over to Akihiko Matsui. Today, on the eve of this major event, the two have decided to address the community, sharing such things as their feelings over Tanaka's departure and their views of what the future has in store for the world of Vana'diel.

Tanaka's farewell and Matsui's greeting messages can be found below the break.

Let us know what you think of this producer address over on the ZAM forums!

From Playonline.com:

On August 1, 2012, Akihiko Matsui will take over as producer of FINAL FANTASY XI for Hiromichi Tanaka, who has produced the game since its launch a decade ago.

To commemorate this occasion, Mr. Tanaka and Mr. Matsui have respectively written a farewell and a greeting to the FINAL FANTASY XI community.

 

Greetings, everyone. It feels good to write to you once again.

As of August 1, 2012, I will be the new producer of FINAL FANTASY XI. While Mr. Tanaka's shoes are certainly big ones to fill, I am confident I will eventually be able to do so with the support of the many talented people on the FFXI team.

FINAL FANTASY XI has undergone some radical changes since I left the project two years ago, and although I obviously expected it to evolve in my absence, the degree of change is overwhelming. I will definitely need to familiarize myself with the current state of the game as fast as possible if I want to be effective at this new position.

Thinking back to when I wrote, "I wanted to stay on the development team to the very end," for a FFXI tenth anniversary book, I had never in my wildest dreams thought I would be able to assume the role of producer. Therefore, please allow me to write this down in hopes that it comes true in the same way that tenth anniversary message did: I will work as hard as possible to protect the integrity of FINAL FANTASY XI and to honor the opinions of its community so that the players may continue to love this game as they have for the past decade.

On that note, I had best get started checking the official forums every day.

I look forward to working with XI again, and may your words of encouragement give me the motivation to continue to do my best.

Akihiko Matsui

After coming here day after day, year after year, this is my last day at SQUARE ENIX.

A little over one month has passed since I announced my departure at Vanafest, but even now I can scarcely believe the time has come. I'll have to make sure not to accidentally show up for work tomorrow out of habit.

Although my time on this project has come to a close, I know that all the developers and project staff will give their utmost under the guidance of Mr. Matsui to expand the world of Vana'diel, and, in particular, to develop the new lands of Adoulin. I can sleep soundly knowing the game is safe in their hands.

Though I will be leaving for new pastures without SQUARE ENIX, I hope to continue to contribute to the future of the gaming industry and online gaming, even if only in a small way. Thank you very much for your support all these years.

Hiromichi Tanaka

Comments

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Well done!
# Aug 03 2012 at 2:26 AM Rating: Good
How many people on this planet can say they made a game that has been constantly played for over 10 years!
Thank you for everything Hiromichi Tanaka
# Jul 31 2012 at 4:03 PM Rating: Decent
I started playing this game at launch of US and I want to thank you Mr Hiromichi Tanaka for making one of the best games to ever grace the planet. Still after 9 years + I can not get enough & I am sure I speak on behalf of the entire community. This game goes beyond the screen but to the heart all the way from the characters to the music. May the rest of your life be full of the same happy and joy you have put in our homes..

Shoden the Ninja of Fenrir
Best wishes
# Jul 31 2012 at 12:10 PM Rating: Decent
Scholar
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6,631 posts
Changing jobs, getting married, having family, retirement... All part of life. I wish Tanaka-san the best in whatever he shall do for his life in the future.
____________________________
Amanada (Cerberus-Retired) (aka MaiNoKen/Steven)
-- Thank you for the fun times in Vana'diel

Art for the sake of art itself is an idle sentence.
Art for the sake of truth, for the sake of what is
beautiful and good — that is the creed I seek.
- George Sand

A designer knows he has achieved perfection,
not when there is nothing left to add,
but when there is nothing left to take away.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Guard Changing
# Jul 31 2012 at 8:45 AM Rating: Good
Dear Mr. Tanaka,
Thank you for 10 wonderful years of FFXI. It is my favorite game, and I'm sure you contributed to much of that pleasure. Good luck in your future endeavors.

Dear Mr. Matsui,
You certainly have large shoes to fill. FFXI is still unique in the on-line game world. Although we players complain, sometimes, about how hard it is to complete a quest, or get that special item, it's the challenge and sense of accomplishment that keeps me coming back. Good luck in your new job. We'll be watching! And playing!
aaaaaaaand stay out.
# Jul 31 2012 at 8:39 AM Rating: Good
***
1,004 posts
Heres hoping they don't hire him back for contract work.

Cheers! *clink*
aaaaaaaand stay out.
# Jul 31 2012 at 6:02 PM Rating: Decent
Scholar
***
2,430 posts
They probably wont read this but;

***** the haters, tanaka! Youre one of the last game developers willing to say "im doing it my way because i am the game developer". Your way may not have always been the best way, but id rather play a game made by a professional who believes in his vision than a game made by a poll. Fans arent devs and they dont always know whats best.

Thank you for creating a wonderous and captivating place where i can get away from my life and relax.

Mr. Matsui, welcome and good luck! All i ask is, please no skinner boxes!
____________________________
monk
dragoon
[ffxivsig]477065[/ffxivsig]
aaaaaaaand stay out.
# Aug 01 2012 at 1:20 AM Rating: Decent
Scholar
****
6,631 posts
As a personal opinion, I also tend to favor developers to take initiative and design the game that they have envisioned. Sometimes, as you say, not everything will work out, but I think the best known games that I have known is also made by developers taking the direction that they wanted. In some ways, I think many key players in gaming industry (not just Japanese ones, but European and American ones) is stuck in a black hole of unable to change, unable to make something that is not a sequel, unable to make something that is considered risky and daring - fearing the wrath from the consumers and shareholders. The best innovators are not yes-man chickens, but they are daring no-man.

Changing and trying often is only the way forward. They are no any other way. Of course, one should not change and try for their own sake - instead change and try for the sake to become better and innovative.

Edited, Aug 1st 2012 3:21am by scchan
____________________________
Amanada (Cerberus-Retired) (aka MaiNoKen/Steven)
-- Thank you for the fun times in Vana'diel

Art for the sake of art itself is an idle sentence.
Art for the sake of truth, for the sake of what is
beautiful and good — that is the creed I seek.
- George Sand

A designer knows he has achieved perfection,
not when there is nothing left to add,
but when there is nothing left to take away.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
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