I can definitely understand your sentiments, dgenerate. While "massively active games" probably shouldn't be the next step in new gaming, new and interesting ways to play games really need to happen, and soon.

The graphics war is not far off from its plateau. Then what? You can't improve the shiny graphics forever. At that point, the engines will get more complex (real-time physics, impacted particle control, stronger AI) and the way to play games will need to change, or the industry will dry up.

I do not consider you a "Wii hater" or anything like that at all. And your points are definitely valid.

Let's just pray this is a generation where everyone wins, not loses. I really do not want this to be the beginning of the death of true franchises as has happened to Final Fantasy.

Final Fantasy is hardly dead. It just took steps in a different direction. Meanwhile, its "sister series", Dragon Quest, still maintains the same RPG formula it's had since the days of Dragon Warrior III.

A fall from grace such as FF has experienced is nothing compared to a humble trend of successful mediocrity. While everyone has their own opinions on Final Fantasy I've seen little other than FFX come out since FF7 to warrant buying a single game of the main series and even then FFX was a sub-standard and lazy attempt in my opinion. I get the feeling that most fans are somewhat frustrated with the lazy tossing of remakes and spin-offs onto random consoles without any regard for the fanbase and with FFXI being an MMO, FFXII playing like a stripped down MMO and FFXIII turning out to be a shooter RPG (Dirge of Cerberus?) I can't imagine too many traditional fans have much faith in the main series or Square's vision for it anymore. I have no doubt FFXIII will sell decently enough on its name alone (as decently as a PS3 game can sell) but as to whether or not it or its spin-offs will ever be remembered as what an FF game should be... I think we'll find that to be an entirely different matter altogether.

What???? FFX a sub-standard, lazy attempt?? Whats your standard, because not everyone thinks that PS2 FF are as bad as you say. I enjoyed FF 9, 10, 11, and 12 more than I did for 7.

And FF XIII is NOT a shooter RPG!!! Where did get that tidbit? No screenshot or video has even hinted at it. FF 8 wasn't a shooter RPG. She has a gunblade much like Squall. The team that was behind FF X (as well as 7) is behind this one. So, it is going to be another amazing game; or a lack-luster attempt as the FF series is a joke.

That's your opinion, I stated mine, two opinions, two people, not everyone is going to agree. Why does it need to be any more than that? Why does my opinion need to be attacked?

I thought I had read somewhere on this site that FFXIII was a shooter RPG, I can't verify this with a link at the moment so your guess is as good as mine. Either way, my personal perception of the situation is that there are precious few outside of the Sony or FF faithful still holding out much hope for the latest incarnation of the main series, but that's just my observation. I may be right, I may be wrong, in the end its success will ultimately be determined by how well the PS3 has sold by then.

This is a totally reasonable position, Dgenerate, I just don't understand why people such as yourself own a PS3 or 360. I have many of the same feelings, and the PC is better in almost every regard.

It can handle better graphics, the controls are much more precise, and the overall skill level required is higher (this isn't just an opinion: a vast majority of professional gaming occurs on PCs with games like Counter Strike and Starcraft).  

 Hi, I've been playing Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest since FF1 and DW.  I am among these traditional fans you assume hate the newer stuff.  I loved Final Fantasy X.  It's my favorite one so far.  Final Fantasy XII was amazing.  Final fantasy VII?  It was good for its time.  But nowhere near a favorite.  And I can't stand how much Square Enix and Sony are bloating the FF7 line (the movie sucked balls).  The Tactics line was an interesting take on the FF formula.

I've been playing Square/Enix's RPGs since I was three.  I'm about as much a traditional FF/DQ fan as you can get.  They aren't dead, or dying. 

If Nintendo takes control, will they try and screw 3rd parties over like they did 15 years ago?

Some people won't like developing for the Wii, just like some people actually enjoy programming for a Mac, they take their preferences and work to make the best they can on what they are given. If the Wii proves to be a cash cow for 3rd party, those in the business portion of game making will love to program for the Wii.

Your opinion is your opinion and you're certainly entitled to it, but don't mistake mine for a fact that needs discrediting. Stepping up to show yourself as a traditional fan who dissagrees doesn't discredit anything I've said as all I presented was an observation and an opinion without any absolutes. For your anecdotal life story to mean anything relevant to this debate as which you've tried to present it, I would have had to stated my observation/opinion as a fact without exception, which I did not. In the end, its merely an exchange of opinions. No ground is gained one way or another so please don't act so self righteous over such a trivial differing of thought on an issue.

What we do have though is solid proof of declining sales in the FF main series games which show a disperaging contrast to the ever growing instalation base of the PS2 as each was released. Regardless the reason, FF's main series' appeal is waining and its not out of the question to assume people are not pleased with its current direction.