With the goal being to provide some insight into “the game’s allure”, Square Enix have released the third instalment in a series of developer diaries created for online game Final Fantasy XIV.
Having been first released in 2010, the reception to this game was below expectations, with servers being taken taken down in November 2012. Rather than just abandon this online game and put more effort towards a new title or Final Fantasy XI, the time and effort was put into rebuilding it, resulting in a game which has continued to go strong and seen two major version releases (A Realm Reborn and Heavensward). With strong visuals/audio complemented by solid gameplay mechanics, there is likely to be a lot that Square Enix can share with viewers over the coming months.
This latest video focuses on the visual design team, and how they approached the creation and implementation of new landscapes and environments, as well as the introduction of flying mounts in the most recent expansion pack. It features commentary from key members of the team including lead designer Takeo Suzuki, lead background artist Junichi Murata, character artist Yuji Mitsuishi and lead animator Shinya Ichida. The video itself can be found at the top of this post.
Final Fantasy XIV and its expansion packs are available for purchase on the Windows PC, Mac, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 gaming platforms.
