Video Interviews with Tanaka Hiromichi.

Two great video interviews with Tanaka Hiromichi, developer of FFXI and FFXIV. These interviews include Tanaka himself playing FFXIV alpha and explaining different elements of the game.



Tanaka demonstrates and explains battles, guildleves, and even goes on to note that the amazing graphics are not even complete and are still under development, meaning of course the final product will have even more stunning graphics than it already does.

You can also see in the video that the keyboard control elements are almost exactly like those of FFXI, which is great for us FFXIers making the transition to FFXIV. For those of you not accustomed to it, I can assure you that it is the greatest control system of any MMORPG once you get used to it. Although, for you WoW and other MMO fans, it has been stated they will allow functioning with the mouse as well (if that is your cup of tea).

Once more, something I want viewers to keep in mind while viewing these video's is the game is in ALPHA stage at the time of these videos, and is the version Tanaka is playing. You can notice how the character movements and transitions are not always smooth, like when running and making a turn. This is all going to be corrected (as they have assured us time and again recently) by the time the final product is out. So if something doesn't appear as smooth as it should, keep in mind this is not the final version of the game, and we are seeing it while it is still under heavy development.

Tanaka goes on to explain how you will be able to see monsters and quest objectives on the map when you run a guildleve mission, but that you cannot see them in this video because once again, he is playing the Alpha version of the game.

He also goes on to talk about the "TP gauge" which seems to work just like FFXI, where attacking a mob and being attacked will increase your TP. Although in FFXIV, as all well know by now, you will be preforming more actions instead of the basic auto-attack you get so used to in FFXI. However, in FFXIV it appears gaining TP will allow you to preform more advanced skills and abilities, and execute the normal ones more proficiently.

And now on to video #2!



Tanaka explains how your commands and abilities change depending on what kind of weapon you are currently using and have equipped. For example, equipping a staff gives you magic related abilities, and equipping a sword gives you melee related abilities. It seems a lot more strait forward than the more "hybrid" system in FFXI. However, I'm sure there will be tons of "hybrid commands" in FFXIV. He goes on to explain how learning certain commands and abilities will require you to be using and have the proper weapon equipped, perhaps even magic?

The next tidbit of information he gives is that there is a "Command Bar" much like the ones many MMORPG's use (such as World of Warcraft, and Lineage 2), where you set certain abilities to be used at once. He explains that "currently" (meaning as of this Alpha version) 10 can be set, however, we will most likely get more in the end product, or it may advance will your level in the game. However he explains what many already know, that by limiting ones total usable abilities it allows you to customize how you play, and what you are most proficient in at the time.

Another great thing Tanaka explains is that the User Interface is customizable. Meaning you can move things around such as the party member stats, your own stats, the chat window, etc. to make it aesthetically pleasing to the user based on their own preferences.

He goes on to talk about the Camera Angles as well, which he explains (and we learned more later on) will also work much like FFXI, in that you will have the shoulder view 3rd person cam, and the first person view as well. It was also explained later on that the 3rd person cam view would indeed work like FFXI when the FFXIV final product is released, in that it will follow you.

Tanaka once more goes on to stress that there is hardly anything to see in this Alpha version of FFXIV compared to what the final product will be like, and that they are just trying to show off some of the guildleve systems.

At the end, Sage Sundi chimes in to reassure us this game will not be a clone of any other MMORPG. That their main concern is pleasing the final fantasy fans first and foremost (that's a lot of F words) and from there finding ways to attract other MMORPG players. Sounds like a win win situation to me!

I'm sure FFXIV will be great, and I hope you all enjoyed these two video interviews, taken from GamesCom 2009.

As a disclaimer I would like to note that these video's do not belong to me. These video's belong to their rightful owners, and Square Enix, LTD. As well as FFXIVcore and the staff and associations who produced them. Please keep in mind that I had nothing to do with the making or development of these video's and am simply re-posting them as pure fan related material.