Hiromichi Tanaka Leaving Square Enix For Health Reasons

[Vinedrai]

Final Fantasy XI Producer Hiromichi Tanaka announced at the end of VanaFest 2012 that he would be leaving Square Enix due to health issues.

Former Final Fantasy XI Director Akihiko Matsui will step in as the new Producer of Final Fantasy XI.

http://ffxi.gamerescape.com/2012/06/...ealth-reasons/

[Izzy]

Looks like he got balanced.

[Carth]

Is it sad that when I read Akihiko, I immediately thought of Persona?

...In any case, Matsui, if I'm not mistaken, is the battle director of FFXIV. So I would expect some tampering to the battle system.

[Ragnus]

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out man.

[Guyverarmor]

Hate to see anyone leave due to health reasons...but I am not sad he left, thank god.

[LidenbokValour]

As an individual I hope it's not too serious, but thank fuck for that. Can finally look forward to a brighter future for this title.

[Destinye]

I personally can't wait for people to start blaming Matsui if there's nothing to their liking added to XI.

[Kaisha]

I personally can't wait for people to start blaming Matsui if there's nothing to their liking added to XI.

This.

Hate to see anyone leave due to health reasons...

And this. Wish he had to leave his position for a reason other than his own well being though.

[ronin sparthos]

Aren't 'health concerns' codespeak for giving someone a graceful exit?

[NynJa]

I personally can't wait for people to start blaming Matsui if there's nothing to their liking added to XI.

Well FFXI semed to become enjoyable under his watch, and they then moved him to XIV, where the very few people who didnt rage quit off XIV are saying "omg the game is SOOOOO much better now"...so I doubt anyone is worried with Matsui at the helm.

[Churchill]

I can say for a fact that 14 is actually pretty fun now lol. Not only that, but it has difficulty and difficulty itself separates good from bad.

[NynJa]

I can say for a fact that 14 is actually pretty fun now lol. Not only that, but it has difficulty and difficulty itself separates good from bad.

Still supports my original claim...an MMO under Tanaka's watch (especially the past 4 years) is full of ridiculous garbage designed to make the player want to kill themself while maintaining the necessity to not require new content by using absurd drop rates to hold the player back (and to a brief extent in XIV...daily leveling caps)

[Blasta]

Aren't 'health concerns' codespeak for giving someone a graceful exit?

We shell never know, but either way, this is a win win sit... o well win situation.

[Gwynplaine]

Whatever, just make this game not suck in a year.

[Greyman]

We shell never know, but either way, this is a win win sit... o well win situation.

According to someone on neogaf, in the latest famitsu interview he outright states he has an incurable disease.

[Lordender]

According to someone on neogaf, in the latest famitsu interview he outright states he has an incurable disease.

I could crack so many balance jokes about that but I'm going to be a good human being and just hope he is able to walk off into the sunset and live a great life despite his illness. The guy sure did fuck up the MMO's he was involved in but he did make some of my favorite games as a kid. Hopefully with him gone FFXI gets a lot better updates and adjustments.

[Kurokikaze]

Sad to see him leave over health issues. ;/

[Karbuncle]

Sad to see him leave over health issues. ;/

I agree, I mean, Its nice the new director might make some neat changes to FFXI, but of all the ways i wanted Tanaka off FFXI, never wished health issues upon him.

[Sorantia]

He may have dropped the ball, in epic proportion when it comes to FFXI and FFXIV, but let's not forget that he has a history of great involvements with great games, including Chrono Cross, Xenogears, Secret of Mana, and Final Fantasy I ~ IV.

edit: Sheesh the past five years have not been good on him:

Him in 2007: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ka20070131.jpg

Him today: http://ffxi.gamerescape.com/files/2012/06/tanaka.jpg

While I'm very glad that he is leaving FFXI, it's a shame that he's having a big time health issue. Hate him or like him, he's made pretty significant contribution to SquareEnix's history.

[Lordender]

Man he looks worse than zombie Reggie >.>