You all are putting way too much "doom and gloom" on this scenario.

One game being bad does not spell the end of Squaresoft. Do you know what would happen?

I'll show you.

"Hey guys, FF13 has disappointed the world. It's only sold 3 million copies"

"Hmm, what could we do to get back in everyones good graces"


"Hey, why don't we re-release Final Fantasy 7 with updated graphics, voice acting, and new content"

(insert random amount of time)

"Hey, now we're filthy rich again. Lets start work on 14. I was thinking the main character could be a penguin. That works, right"

Ah, I'm still kinda angry we didn't get that.

i am not joking.

if Batman were released earlier, SE would have to pay A LOT more than £84.3 million to acquire Eidos Interactive.  Backman: Arkham Asylum will sell more than 3 million copies and it's going to be an established franchise owned by SE.  this is probably the best (luckiest) investing decision SE has ever made.

Well I personally don't think FFXIII underperforming will spell 'doom' for SE.  However, the sad fact is, if it does underpwerform, they probably will do a similar scenario to what you just said.  Instead of learning their lesson, they'll probably just hastily make an even MORE expensive Final Fantasy game to try to make up the lost funds.  I don't know why their idea of making money = Investing MORE money into FMVs and graphics.

@ Soriku

And until the series does pick up again and sell tons, I will say it's in a decline.

On the PS2, each main release (Destiny 2 -> Rebirth -> Abyss) they sold less in Japan. The Abyss drop off wasn't as bad, but it's still 300k less than what Destiny 2 did.

It still doesn't answer the main point I was bringing up before we got sidetracked with 'comparing X tales game to X FF game' and now 'is Tales in decline'.  Is the fact that FF sales ALSO show less and less each year a sign that other RPGs have shown up to compete with it...or is the series just over saturated?  And this would have started on the PS2.

Well, the series improved with FFX over FFIX, but then fell with the release. I believe that both FFIX and FFXII were hurt in sales because they were released on last generation platforms. PS2 was already out when FFIX released and the 360 was already out (with PS3 and Wii the next month) when FFXII released.

I do think the series isn't as popular as it once was, but I think FFXIII will sell more than FFXII.

not likely.

Considering the userbase for the PSX and PS2 was unprecedented for their time and the resources for making a game was already set (unlike on the PS2 or 360), the decsision to make both FFIX and FFXII for those consoles was sound.  They were the most popular consoles at the time the games launched.  Plus with FFXII, the Japanese userbase wasn't going to switch over to the 360.

In any event, I don't think it has to do with the series losing popularity because FF isn't keeping up with the newest console.  I mean, look at how well DQ has done and it always waits to see which is the most popular console.  It even went to DS this time and was handsomly rewarded for it.  In some ways, Final Fantasy probably is just feeling pressures from its own success and not meeting expectations from the multitude of different fans its set up (there's as many different types of FF 'fans' as there are teams in the NFL with each side arguing how their view of the series is superior and each new game should turn out a certain way).  Add to that the pressure of other RPG series and the series own oversaturation....Final Fantasy is not in a good state right now.  I don't think FFXIII is going to KILL the series...but it could do less than expected for sure.  Especially on the HD platforms.

nothing, theres a reason FF XII is also coming to the 360, microsofts moneyhatting makes up for any lost sales. Theres nothing to worry about. SE will continue to support HD consoles thanks to microsofts money :)