Wow Flapjack, that was beautiful.
I confess that I share many of the same sentiments. Although I cut my teeth on FFVIII. Up until that point I was all about adventure games and Madden. I had never played an RPG. Then I saw the TV commercial for FFVIII with the jaw dropping opening FMV. I went to my local video game store and bought a copy with no idea of what Final Fantasy was all about.Â
I booted up the first (of four?!) discs and sat down. The first chance I got to actually do anything, Quistis was asking for my name in the infirmary. I didn't know I was supposed to be role-playing so I did what I always did when I was asked my name. I put in my own real name.
After that, everyone would refer to me by name. Whether it was to go to Timber and argue with Rinoa or try and save Selphie's Garden. It was a revelation. In short I felt like I was actually playing a part in how the events unfolded. By the time I got to the end my perspective on what video games could be was forever changed.Â
I've played every FF since then (with the big exception of FFXI). Nowadays, whenever I heard the level up sound bite in the betas I still feel the same sense of excitement I felt when I was a kid.
It's been 14 years since that fateful day and I am confident that I will continue to feel the same connection to this series that I started in Balamb Garden.
In FFXIV I see the potential for me to continue making a difference in the world, except that this time, when I go out there, other people will acknowledge my presence there. I'm so ready.
I confess that I share many of the same sentiments. Although I cut my teeth on FFVIII. Up until that point I was all about adventure games and Madden. I had never played an RPG. Then I saw the TV commercial for FFVIII with the jaw dropping opening FMV. I went to my local video game store and bought a copy with no idea of what Final Fantasy was all about.Â
I booted up the first (of four?!) discs and sat down. The first chance I got to actually do anything, Quistis was asking for my name in the infirmary. I didn't know I was supposed to be role-playing so I did what I always did when I was asked my name. I put in my own real name.
After that, everyone would refer to me by name. Whether it was to go to Timber and argue with Rinoa or try and save Selphie's Garden. It was a revelation. In short I felt like I was actually playing a part in how the events unfolded. By the time I got to the end my perspective on what video games could be was forever changed.Â
I've played every FF since then (with the big exception of FFXI). Nowadays, whenever I heard the level up sound bite in the betas I still feel the same sense of excitement I felt when I was a kid.
It's been 14 years since that fateful day and I am confident that I will continue to feel the same connection to this series that I started in Balamb Garden.
In FFXIV I see the potential for me to continue making a difference in the world, except that this time, when I go out there, other people will acknowledge my presence there. I'm so ready.
