Final Fantasy fans are too conservative. They want the games to remain the way it did back in the “good old days”. You know, when Square knew its place. But the series has always been progressive. So how do we move forward? Acceptance.
A lot of fans of the series are getting older. It’s fine to be an old gamer. But many of them still can’t accept that the series they grew up with is moving on…without them. That’s right. It’s true. These gamers are no longer in Square Enix’s target demographic.
And why should they still be? Square Enix is interesting in introducing younger fans that’ll grow with the series. Once these teens became 40 themselves, they’ll either stick around or move on. The series will have moved on past them. And by that time, many others would have dropped off as well.
Don’t forget when you were a kid. Do you remember? How this was all brand new? Your first Final Fantasy? You were the kid, and they marketed to you. And if you’ve joined the series as an adult, Squaresoft/Square Enix sold Final Fantasy to kids. It was the kids they were after. Square Enix thinks about the kids. The kids are the ones who will grow up with the series. They’ll buy more Final Fantasy. And every business understands they’ll have a consistent revenue stream with repeat customers. The adult fans are the true risk, because who knows when they’ll stop playing Final Fantasy.
Fans of all ages can play Final Fantasy games at any point in their lives. But…
Once the older crowd starts demanding entitlement due to seniority…
And that Square Enix should listen to them based on that merit alone…
Square Enix will shrug.
“Thank you for your patronage – it’s time we both move on.”
“Whatever happened to the good old Final Fantasy, that was completely 2D and had no story?” That was Final Fantasy’s very beginning. That fan wanted Final Fantasy to stay a D&D clone. That fan eventually moved on. Does anyone now pine after that fan’s wish?
But none of this matters if we simply have acceptance. Not acceptance of graphical errors, advertisement in games, bad storytelling and delays. But acceptance that the series is constantly evolving. And the series is constantly evolving to the needs of kids nowadays. Take it up with the kids. Change their culture. Can you? Find the serenity to accept the things you cannot change; the courage to change the things you can; and the wisdom to know the difference.
Now of course, keep in mind, this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the new games. Just don’t expect Square Enix to cater to your interests like they did when you were a young whippersnapper.