Kitase interview: FF7 remake not yet in the works

Posted on Monday 5th May 2008 at 14:27 by Neal

Recently, bit-tech.net conducted an interview with Yoshinori Kitase, who some gamers may recognize as the director of Final Fantasy 7. The interview is mainly about the recently released Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core, a spin-off game for the PSP. However, the most interesting bit of the interview comes near the end, when the question is raised about whether or not there will be more prequels or sequels in the FF7 series. Kitase remains noncommittal, but mentions that they wouldn't even look at a remake of the initial game unless they could bring together the core of the FF7 development team, who are split among various projects, most notably FFXIII, so the idea won't be explored until at least after that game is completed.

Though I think a lot of good could come from a remake of FF7 on a system with much more power than the original PS1, I think I would much rather have the development team of such a great game working on newer projects. FF7 is getting a tremendous amount of overexposure as a new title within the universe seems to be released every year. It appears that the idea of a remake is at least put aside until after the completion of Final Fantasy XIII, so gamers who, like me, would rather see new content, will be placated to that end.

Those links again:
bit-tech.net
Interview with Yoshinori Kitase

Posted in: Final Fantasy VII

Written by	Neal
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	Member Since: 2001-01-01
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Comments

BlitzSage	Comment 1: 2008-05-05 19:28
	I read about this on G4's website. It makes me a little optimistic about a remake because he seems pretty sure its going to happen, but it would still be about two to three years away. That's a shame, but I do agree that 7 is way too overexposed.
Harlequin	Comment 2: 2008-05-05 20:25
	Seven is, unfortunately, the "poster boy" of the series. Thousands upon thousands of fan boys would rejoice if there was ever an official announcement of a remake, and I would not be one of them. I would probably play it if they added some background and made the plot a little bit more understandable (I know that some like it that way, but I stare at the screen and ask, "What the hell?"). I'm not against remakes, but seeing as all SE needs to do is remake the graphics and add voices, I'm afraid they won't add a new twist to it. I like that they're trying to do some odd things with FFIV, because FF7 is one of the easiest PS1 games to find.
fatman	Comment 3: 2008-05-06 19:14
	I would like to see a remake some day, but I don't see any reason for them to rush. I agree that if they did, a much better translation would be required. Thankfully it seems they learnt from this in future FF games. I didn't think I would be, but I'm looking forward to Crisis Core now. It looks like it'll easily be one of the best PSP games going. Seems foolish to pass it up knowing that.
BlitzSage	Comment 4: 2008-05-06 20:37
	Quote (Harlequin @ 5th May 2008 20:25) Seven is, unfortunately, the "poster boy" of the series. Thousands upon thousands of fan boys would rejoice if there was ever an official announcement of a remake, and I would not be one of them. I would probably play it if they added some background and made the plot a little bit more understandable (I know that some like it that way, but I stare at the screen and ask, "What the hell?"). I'm not against remakes, but seeing as all SE needs to do is remake the graphics and add voices, I'm afraid they won't add a new twist to it. I like that they're trying to do some odd things with FFIV, because FF7 is one of the easiest PS1 games to find. I definitely wouldn't be a fan boy waiting in a line all night, but I still would like to see it remade. All I would want is extras or bonus features. That's something I wish more video games did.
Harlequin	Comment 5: 2008-05-07 00:33
	Quote (BlitzSage @ 6th May 2008 20:37) I definitely wouldn't be a fan boy waiting in a line all night, but I still would like to see it remade. All I would want is extras or bonus features. That's something I wish more video games did. "Extras" as in "behind the scenes" footage, helpful sections like a beastiary, or sidequests? I don't care about the making of the game, I just want to see the final result, but bonus games and sidequests would be nice. Extra scenes would satisfy my thirst. Fatman, "Off course!" is the most amazing line I've ever heard. I think I quote it once a week. "That guy are sick" is very close in inspirational value, I must admit.
Death Penalty	Comment 6: 2008-05-07 01:09
	This kinda makes it look like they plan on making a remake eventually, and i don't know why they wouldn't. but i think many fans of final fantasy, at least not the crazy cloud fanboys, would rather see new numbered games. i don't even want to see all these compiliations, like what squenix is doing for FFXIII. i really hope they just get back to the singular games, one at a time, make a new universe and then let it die with the rest.
painreaver	Comment 7: 2008-05-07 01:36
	I would love to see a new version of FF VII. I'm willing to admit I'm a Cloud fanboy. VII was the first RPG I ever played, mostly because where I'm from RPG's weren't very popular so access to earlier FF's and other RPG's was limited. Definately better translation...btw: who was it that always said "off course?" I remember it and used it in my everyday speech it amused me so much, but I can't remember who it was anymore. And I was playing a couple days ago and laughed like crazy at "that guy are sick" lol. They should keep that one if they do a remake
Harlequin	Comment 8: 2008-05-07 02:00
	Quote (painreaver @ 7th May 2008 01:36) Definately better translation...btw: who was it that always said "off course?" I remember it and used it in my everyday speech it amused me so much, but I can't remember who it was anymore. And I was playing a couple days ago and laughed like crazy at "that guy are sick" lol. They should keep that one if they do a remake It's been several years since I've played it, but I believe it is Tifa saying that, somewhere in Midgar. It could be Aeris, but I'm not sure. Mistakes in games rock. It wouldn't be very proper to leave a grammar mistake like that in the game, but I think we need to pass on those lines to our future generations. How else would they survive?
karasuman	Comment 9: 2008-05-07 02:21
	As I see it, remakes can only be sure of success if they stick to improving the graphics and adding bonus loot. FFVII is the only game in the series that I think could be significantly improved just with a graphical overhaul, and a bunch of new materia won't really unbalance a game that included W-Command and KOTR. I always thought that FFVII was okay--not great, not bad, but all right. If they remade it, I'd buy it without hesitating. A translation clean-up would be nice, but just making the game look less ugly would do a lot for it in my eyes. Oh, and if they had you do something other than chase Sephiroth from town to town for half the game, I'd like that, too.
Ruin's Fate	Comment 10: 2008-05-07 02:28
	Off course comes from the battle arena when it asks you if you want to keep going.
Glenn Magus Harvey	Comment 11: 2008-05-07 02:30
	Quote (Harlequin @ 5th May 2008 16:25) because FF7 is one of the easiest PS1 games to find. Yeah, regardless of what fankids think, Squenix would economically be competing against themselves if they simply re-released FFVII with updated script and improved graphics.
karasuman	Comment 12: 2008-05-07 20:43
	Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 6th May 2008 21:30) Quote (Harlequin @ 5th May 2008 16:25) because FF7 is one of the easiest PS1 games to find. Yeah, regardless of what fankids think, Squenix would economically be competing against themselves if they simply re-released FFVII with updated script and improved graphics. That doesn't make any sense to me. FFVII isn't a product that Square currently produces or sells; they aren't making any profit from PS1 copies of the game. It's value lies completely in spin-offs/sequels/merchandise at this point. A PS3 (or any other system) remake wouldn't be 'competing' with the PS1 original. Sure, some people would pass on it because they'd already experienced the original, or they didn't want to see their baby updated, or whatever... but that's not the same thing, and if you really want to argue that it is, then it should apply to any other remake that's ever been made. And, of course, those never happen. And if you didn't mean to call me a fankid just by referencing the two things I said I'd like most about a remake, you certainly chose some poor language there. I'd take offense if the idea of my being an FFVII fangirl weren't so laughable.
Glenn Magus Harvey	Comment 13: 2008-05-07 23:20
	Quote (karasuman @ 7th May 2008 16:43) Quote (Glenn Magus Harvey @ 6th May 2008 21:30) Quote (Harlequin @ 5th May 2008 16:25) because FF7 is one of the easiest PS1 games to find. Yeah, regardless of what fankids think, Squenix would economically be competing against themselves if they simply re-released FFVII with updated script and improved graphics. That doesn't make any sense to me. FFVII isn't a product that Square currently produces or sells; they aren't making any profit from PS1 copies of the game. It's value lies completely in spin-offs/sequels/merchandise at this point. A PS3 (or any other system) remake wouldn't be 'competing' with the PS1 original. Sure, some people would pass on it because they'd already experienced the original, or they didn't want to see their baby updated, or whatever... but that's not the same thing, and if you really want to argue that it is, then it should apply to any other remake that's ever been made. And, of course, those never happen. And if you didn't mean to call me a fankid just by referencing the two things I said I'd like most about a remake, you certainly chose some poor language there. I'd take offense if the idea of my being an FFVII fangirl weren't so laughable. I did not mean to refer to anyone as a fankid. I merely mentioned the term based on my understanding of it, noting that it'd been mentioned earlier. My apologies for making you misunderstand me. I'll admit to not having read most of the posts earlier. I probably would have written that bit differently had I realized that. But you do make an interesting and completely valid point that Squenix would have been competing against themselves with these remakes anyway, if that was a valid argument. And they obviously have no problems with it, and their strategy has been proven to be a sound business idea anyway. (Though, arguably, FFVII has a much wider scope and a greater number of copies floating around, than any of its predecessors.)
yelanates	Comment 14: 2008-05-10 06:18
	I would buy it, that's for sure. I would expect more sidequests for new weapons, accessories, and materia. New chocobos? A better Golden Saucer, for sure. If they resurrect Aeris (which I am almost positive they wouldn't), I would kick them. And then proceed to revive her
BlitzSage	Comment 15: 2008-05-10 16:26
	Quote (Harlequin @ 7th May 2008 00:33) Quote (BlitzSage @ 6th May 2008 20:37) I definitely wouldn't be a fan boy waiting in a line all night, but I still would like to see it remade. All I would want is extras or bonus features. That's something I wish more video games did. "Extras" as in "behind the scenes" footage, helpful sections like a beastiary, or sidequests? I don't care about the making of the game, I just want to see the final result, but bonus games and sidequests would be nice. Extra scenes would satisfy my thirst. Really. I disagree. I think that's the one thing video games are missing. I would love to see how they made it and what happened. Then again, that's what I want to do as a career (Actually I want to be a filmmaker, but I would love to make video games too). So maybe that's why I want special features. By the way, they don't make PS1 games anymore, so they wouldn't be competing with themselves. In fact, sadly, the #1 reason there are so many sequels and the #1 reason we could get a remake is that they aren't making money off of it anymore.
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