That's Bull

So it’s been a while since I’ve posted an essay or any reflection. But soon it’s going to be the 20th anniversary of FF7 release, so I thought I might spew some thoughts about the game’s remake planned for PS4.

Changes, changes..

When Square Enix announced their remake of FF7, most people, including myself, thought that they are using the exact same story but in higher resolution graphics. However, what we may not be prepared for is that if the gaming platform can change, the story can too. It’s too early to say what will be different, what will be the same. Tech advancements afford new possibilities of augmented reality and gaming experience from a gamer perspective, but it might be at the expense of leaving out some of FF7′s original plots, features and symbolism. Similarly it can add new elements which can be confusing to the original. I don’t expect drastic changes but it gets me thinking... What will be replicated, what won’t? What relationships will it reaffirm about the old game, what will it contradict?

Basically,

different generation of gamers + new audiences = possibly new story --> conflict with old story

Canonising the original game

There’s no doubt that a new generation of gamers won’t be familiar with the old game. The remake’s success already signals the success the original 1997 ond. However, if story lines and characters differ too much from the og game, it begs the question of “Which version do we rely on?” when deciding what is canonical.

Simple answer: The original one.

Why? It came out first, duh. I understand the remake is still considered canon but for the sake of possible future confusion, future essays will refer to the original one.

It is evident that what Square Enix does, is offer a world of immersive transmedia storytelling. They’ve extended the FF7 world by creating novellas, films, prequel games that all fit the narrative arc. A ‘remake’ however, could be an exact replica of the og FF7 game but in high resolution models or in Hollywood terms, use the basic familiar elements of a plot and change the story completely i.e. Marvel. Japan’s storytelling’s methods are quite different and although I’m not too familiar with it’s creative industries, it may or may not be different to the North American market. Either way, original and artistic integrity will be lost at some stage, we don’t know how much either.

Any one who is an avid or active fan of FF7 or any fandom knows what I’m talking about. There are times when there’s too much ‘change’ in a remake. It happens all the time. In the end, we’re only audiences and don’t want to be confused. With that being said, my fellow FF7 fans, prepare to embrace drastic change if there is any.

1. what’s your favorite color?

Probably black

2. what’s your favorite song and why?

Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” or… Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida”. Why? Because the melodies are amazeballs thats why.

3.what would you like to see? (like an event or a place or something to happen in the world. whatever you want to see)

Myself win an Oscar. Or see my ship become officially canon hehehe actually I prefer my ship

4.where would your dream house be?

It would be either my own house because I’m so used to it or a house with so much space so I can just blank out and roll all over the place

5.what made you get a tumblr account?

Well this account is mainly used for supporting my ships through essays (yeeeee) . I read mostly enigma’s posts that gave me headaches because I couldn’t stop reading them because they were so wordy and addicting and I was like, “hey, I like the fandom too lets write essays because there’s a supportive online community”. And so I had to research the plot again just to make sure my facts were right before I started fleshing out theses

6.who is your most hated character of all time?

Never hated any characters but it’s either myself or Janice from “Friends”

7.what was your favorite/best class in highschool?

On average, probably business and art

8. where are you from?

I should actually let you take a guess :O

9. why did you start following me?

Because, Enigma, you never stop writing posts about kuraudo and tifa. You’re like a steam strain that never runs out of coal and it always amuses me. Even I’ve been absent for way too long. TRust me!!! I have a lot of stuff I want to post but its either,

1. I’m too lazy

2. It’s incomplete and I have other work to do

3. Both 1 and 2

but honestly, I want to post them up! Or if someone wants to put my opinion on something I wouldnt mind either :D

http://enigmaphenomenon.tumblr.com/post/90645225299/so-ive-been-thinking-about-how-people-call-tifa-a

Yea I'd sorta have to say some of their major decisions are based off of each other since childhood. And you know if it wasn't for Tifa, the story wouldn't be like it would be today.

And I guess part of Tifa's "clingyness" to Cloud comes from the linearity of the game. The game starts off with a bombing mission and the player has no idea whatsoever of whose relationships. We only know Tifa's intentions about mid-way through the game (cloud's mind) and we understand how crucial they both are to one another. Before that, some people just have preconceived ideas that Tifa's just "clingy" because she has feelings.

So I guess what the player misses out on is experiencing their relationship grow in an ordered way. If people don't get that sense of the "growth" in a relationship, they might assume Tifa's clingy. And you know, you don't see so much growth between them in the original game because well you know, tifa doesnt push her boundaries because she's insecure.

And CC is like their little growth shippity ship phase that the player experiences and so if players actually play the game in it's actual timeline instead of the release date, we understand more about how their relationship forms. And Tifa won't be so "clingy" either because the player has developed some sense of logic and reason unlike a player who just starts off with absolutely no knowledge.

And so that, it why I blame it on the linearity of the games' plot that affects Tifa's "clingyness". But honestly, playing the game through it's release date is more fun to me than the actually plot timeline.