The great Final Fantasy XVI Staff Debate: Who do you want?

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Who do you want to direct Final Fantasy XVI?

  • Yoshinori Kitase (FFVI, FFVII, FFVIII)

    Votes: 5 16.1%
  • Hiroyuki Ito (FFVI, FFIX, FFXII, FFXII IZJS)

    Votes: 24 77.4%
  • Motomu Toriyama (FFX, FFX-2, FFXII RW, FFXIII, FFXIII-2, LR FFXIII)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Hajime Tabata (BC FFVII, CC FFVII, FF Type-0, FFXV)

    Votes: 2 6.5%

  • Total voters
    31

BrokenHeart

PSICOM Soldier
Mar 16, 2015
80
8
#1
I think this is an interesting question. Seeing as FFXV looks like it will release next year, it won't be long until FFXVI is announced, possibly in 2016 or 2017. That being the case, who you want to direct the game?

For the selection list, I've only included FF directors that are still employed at Square Enix as of April 2015. Also, the directors of the MMORPG mainline FF games (Akihiko Matsui for FFXI, and Naoki Yoshida for FFXIV) have been excluded, as they are unlikely to direct single-player titles due to being busy with their respective MMORPGs.
 

Sora96

Warrior of Light
Nov 12, 2014
1,326
239
27
Australia
kh13.com
#3
It's most likely not going to be Tabata, he's probably going to do Type-1 and Kitase does not direct games any more.

Also, excuse me but where is Tokita on your poll? While unlikely he would do another mainline entry, he's still fully employed by Square Enix almost 30 years after Square hired him and is still directing Final Fantasy games to this very day.

Another possible wild-card is Naoki Hamaguchi who is directing Mobius.
 

BrokenHeart

PSICOM Soldier
Mar 16, 2015
80
8
#4
I want fresh minds. New ideas, new philosophies, new perspectives. Therefore, I won't answer the poll.
Also, if this is purely about what we want, I don't see why you would leave out the people in charge of the MMORPGs.
I gave my reason for this in the OP. Wanting one of the MMORPG directors to direct FFXVI is almost an unlikely to happen as Hironobu Sakaguchi directing it. I want people to choose what they want out of realistic candidates.

It's most likely not going to be Tabata, he's probably going to do Type-1 and Kitase does not direct games any more.

Also, excuse me but where is Tokita on your poll? While unlikely he would do another mainline entry, he's still fully employed by Square Enix almost 30 years after Square hired him and is still directing Final Fantasy games to this very day.

Another possible wild-card is Naoki Hamaguchi who is directing Mobius.
Yes, Kitase doesn't direct anymore, but I felt I needed to include his name because people would complain if I didn't and make up excuses like he may return to directing with FFXVI.

Tokita is the current head of the Mobile division. There's no way FFXVI will be for smartphones/tablets, so he'll not be directing it. Naoki Hamaguchi won't be directing FFXVI because he's directing Mobius and Kitase already said he wants to make that into a sub-series just like Tabata does with Type sub-series.
 

Sora96

Warrior of Light
Nov 12, 2014
1,326
239
27
Australia
kh13.com
#5
I gave my reason for this in the OP. Wanting one of the MMORPG directors to direct FFXVI is almost an unlikely to happen as Hironobu Sakaguchi directing it. I want people to choose what they want out of realistic candidates.


Yes, Kitase doesn't direct anymore, but I felt I needed to include his name because people would complain if I didn't and make up excuses like he may return to directing with FFXVI.

Tokita is the current head of the Mobile division. There's no way FFXVI will be for smartphones/tablets, so he'll not be directing it. Naoki Hamaguchi won't be directing FFXVI because he's directing Mobius and Kitase already said he wants to make that into a sub-series just like Tabata does with Type sub-series.
He'd the head of the first mobile division actually.

So what if he's directing Mobius? He could easily be asked to direct XVI if he does such a good job. Under this reasoning Tabata should not be on your poll.
 

BrokenHeart

PSICOM Soldier
Mar 16, 2015
80
8
#8
He'd the head of the first mobile division actually.

So what if he's directing Mobius? He could easily be asked to direct XVI if he does such a good job. Under this reasoning Tabata should not be on your poll.
From what I know, Tokita is the head of original Mobile division established in Square Enix. If there is more than one now, I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if there is seeing how much Square Enix are pushing smartphone/tablet gaming.

Tabata is only directing FFXV because he replaced the original director (Tetsuya Nomura) who was working at a glacial pace. The current CEO already said in his statement that Nomura had been removed from FFXV that all future AAA titles will be assigned a director that ensures the title will be released in a timely manner. Therefore, I think whoever directs FFXVI will be somebody that will be solely focused on that game and not also have another foot in an unrelated series, such as Naoki Hamaguchi with the newly planned Mobius sub-series.

Ito, if 1truth was right about anything, it's Ito directing XVI.
/thread
Who is 1truth and where can I read their posts?
 
Jun 7, 2014
898
625
Poland
#9
Well, I think all of them are capable of delivering a good game, so I don't have any strong preferences. I doubt they would let Toriyama direct another game after XIII's rather unfavourable reception. Tabata is busy directing XV and then moving to Type series, and Kitase doesn't direct games anymore. That leaves us with Ito as pretty much the only candidate.
That said, I don't think that the game's director is such a big indicator of its quality. There are many factors out of the director's control that may impact the game's development. And yes, even Ito can deliver a bad game (of course I hope it won't happen and FFXVI will be a masterpiece).

Who is 1truth and where can I read their posts?
He made a thread about Ito secretly working on FFXVI. Some of his points are reasonable while some others are a bit ridiculous, but his premise is likely true. Then he started trolling in FFXV threads, saying it's crap and insulting people who liked it, while saying that Ito's FFXVI is our only hope for a good FF. Thankfully, he's gone away.
 

BrokenHeart

PSICOM Soldier
Mar 16, 2015
80
8
#10
He made a thread about Ito secretly working on FFXVI. Some of his points are reasonable while some others are a bit ridiculous, but his premise is likely true. Then he started trolling in FFXV threads, saying it's crap and insulting people who liked it, while saying that Ito's FFXVI is our only hope for a good FF. Thankfully, he's gone away.
Thanks for that URL. I'll give it a read. It seems really in-depth. This guy must have had a lot of free time and been very passionate about Hiroyuki Ito directing FFXVI. Still, it's nice to know there are FF fans out there trying to make the belief of Ito directing FFXVI not just be wishful thinking. Instead, they're trying to find valid proof to support their belief.
 
#12
I gave my reason for this in the OP. Wanting one of the MMORPG directors to direct FFXVI is almost an unlikely to happen as Hironobu Sakaguchi directing it. I want people to choose what they want out of realistic candidates.
You're making a poll about hypothetical scenario, not about who we want to direct XVI. There's a very fine difference there, and you misstated that in your OP. Again, if it's purely about who we want to be director, your poll should be more open and less stifling.
 

Squirrel Emperor

Nuts
Moderator
Sep 26, 2013
1,612
626
#13
Thanks for that URL. I'll give it a read. It seems really in-depth. This guy must have had a lot of free time and been very passionate about Hiroyuki Ito directing FFXVI. Still, it's nice to know there are FF fans out there trying to make the belief of Ito directing FFXVI not just be wishful thinking. Instead, they're trying to find valid proof to support their belief.
Most of 1Truth/Galvanizer's threads and posts are about trying to convince people that Ito is directing FFXVI, so there's going to be a lot of spin and quotes taken out of context. The created purpose of this thread for example is not about the business divisions and where everyone is located but 1Truth trying to convince people that Ito is working on FFXVI. It's not hard to see through this guy since he's pretty repetitive about it and has been doing it for so many years now. Everyone who has encountered him knows that he's a really really big Ivalice fan too.

As for FFXVI? Kojima. He's out of work I hear.
 

BrokenHeart

PSICOM Soldier
Mar 16, 2015
80
8
#15
Most of 1Truth/Galvanizer's threads and posts are about trying to convince people that Ito is directing FFXVI, so there's going to be a lot of spin and quotes taken out of context. The created purpose of this thread for example is not about the business divisions and where everyone is located but 1Truth trying to convince people that Ito is working on FFXVI. It's not hard to see through this guy since he's pretty repetitive about it and has been doing it for so many years now. Everyone who has encountered him knows that he's a really really big Ivalice fan too.
Thanks for the info. It seems that this 1Truth2Lies poster has a notorious reputation around these parts. It's a shame, really, as going by my own unbiased opinion upon reading his FFXVI thread, he seems really in-depth and insightful. There were many good points he brought up that I didn't know. He also provided URL sources that I could verify. Sure, he never provided sources for his face-to-face stuff, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on that. Besides, I think it's really cool and smart that he actually asked veteran FF staff about the possibility of Ito directing FFXVI.

Honestly, this guy seems to have done most of the legwork so the rest of the fanbase doesn't have to. I may be foolish, but he's convinced me. I was already beginning to think Ito was directing FFXVI due to him still being employed by Square Enix, yet being MIA on AAA Final Fantasy games since FFXII released in 2006, but that 1Truth2Lies thread has really won me over. One of the best Final Fantasy speculation threads I've ever read, to be quite honest.
 

Lulcielid

Warrior of Light
Oct 9, 2014
3,826
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Argentina
#16
I want someone who hasn´t worked(direction wise) too much with FINAL FANTASY , so my vote goes to Tetsuya Nomura but i as far as this poll goes my vote goes for Yoshinori Kitase. I don´t mind Ito working on FFXVI but we already have 3 games(FF6,9,12) with some "Ito flavour"(the same applies to Kitase) so i´d like more some fresh flevours such as Nomura´s (with FFXV being his first work as a director in the franchise)or someone completly new to the brand(like....Wan;)....a FF game directed by non-jap guy....)

Regarless who ends up directring FFXVI, i want a solid good game because any of them is capable of pulling that, even Toriyama
 
Likes: Death Penalty

BrokenHeart

PSICOM Soldier
Mar 16, 2015
80
8
#17
I want someone who hasn´t worked(direction wise) too much with FINAL FANTASY , so my vote goes to Tetsuya Nomura but i as far as this poll goes my vote goes for Yoshinori Kitase. I don´t mind Ito working on FFXVI but we already have 3 games(FF6,9,12) with some "Ito flavour"(the same applies to Kitase) so i´d like more some fresh flevours such as Nomura´s (with FFXV being his first work as a director in the franchise)or someone completly new to the brand(like....Wan;)....a FF game directed by non-jap guy....)

Regarless who ends up directring FFXVI, i want a solid good game because any of them is capable of pulling that, even Toriyama
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I think Tetsuya Nomura being removed from FFXV completely and told to focus on mainline Kingdom Hearts is proof that he'll never direct a mainline FF again. At this point, FFXVI is most likely to be directed by Ito. If not him, it will be somebody that he works closely with. I honestly can't see anybody else that's free enough to helm a big AAA project besides Motomu Toriyama, but fan speculation points to him currently directing FFX-3.
 

LeonBlade

Administrator
Administrator
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Site Staff
Oct 25, 2013
2,026
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Blossvale, New York
#18
Sorry to burst your bubble, but I think Tetsuya Nomura being removed from FFXV completely and told to focus on mainline Kingdom Hearts is proof that he'll never direct a mainline FF again. At this point, FFXVI is most likely to be directed by Ito. If not him, it will be somebody that he works closely with. I honestly can't see anybody else that's free enough to helm a big AAA project besides Motomu Toriyama, but fan speculation points to him currently directing FFX-3.
He will get another shot, he still created the original story and the focus for what the game currently is. It's not like he hasn't brought games to market before, we really don't know the full idea behind what went on behind close doors, but I'm sure they'll give him another shot later down the line.
 

Cadet

Yevonite
Jan 16, 2015
48
52
Duscae Region
#19
He will get another shot, he still created the original story and the focus for what the game currently is. It's not like he hasn't brought games to market before, we really don't know the full idea behind what went on behind close doors, but I'm sure they'll give him another shot later down the line.
Even when Nomura was director of Versus XIII/XV, I think he said some time ago that Versus XIII would be the first and last FF he directs because the burden was too much for him. Or something.
 
Likes: BrokenHeart

BrokenHeart

PSICOM Soldier
Mar 16, 2015
80
8
#20
He will get another shot, he still created the original story and the focus for what the game currently is. It's not like he hasn't brought games to market before, we really don't know the full idea behind what went on behind close doors, but I'm sure they'll give him another shot later down the line.
There's two factors at play here.

  1. Management are unlikely to ever let Nomura helm another mainline FF because he took too long with FFXV and they now want him to focus on developing games in the mainline Kingdom Hearts series.
  2. Nomura may not even want to direct another mainline FF because of his troubling experience with FFXV.

Even when Nomura was director of Versus XIII/XV, I think he said some time ago that Versus XIII would be the first and last FF he directs because the burden was too much for him. Or something.
I just looked this up via Google. You're correct. However, what Nomura said is that Versus XIII would be his first and only FF game as director. After that, he wants to focus on the mainline Kingdom Hearts series. Considering management have booted him off FFXV before he could even finish it, I think it's safe to presume he will now focus on mainline Kingdom Hearts games from now on.