Hironobu Sakaguchi is a man of legend. Gamers owe him a massive debt of gratitude for the games he’s created, and he will be honoured at the Game Developers Conference as a result.
Sakaguchi-san has been involved with bringing us some of the best and most influential franchises in gaming history. Starting with Final Fantasy, Meggan Scavio (GM of all GDC events) explained:
Final Fantasy helped pave the way for game stories that dealt with death, regret and character development in a mature and significant way, and we’re proud to honor Sakaguchi-san as a true leader in the space, and an inspired game developer.
Joining Square straight out of university, he went on to be involved in Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve and Kingdom Hearts. He even directed the 2001 film Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within. He became President of Square USA in 1995, but left in 2004 to found Mistwalker, a studio that would give us games like Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, The Last Story and Terra Battle. So yes, he is the brain behind all your favourite JRPG franchises – next time you wonder why Final Fantasy has gone downhill changed, remember that Sakaguchi-san is no longer in charge of them.
According to him, it’s all about the feelings for games:
Since I started making games, I just wanted to make people have warm feelings,” he said in 2012. When they play my games, I want them to feel warmth and kindness, not darkness. When I make games, I think about my daughter, so I don’t want darkness there. I only make games that my daughter would enjoy.
Funny idea considering the deep and dark concepts that are often depicted in his games. Then again, it’s all about triumphing over the darkness, which certainly is enjoyable an inspiring.
Congratulations Hironobu Sakaguchi and thank you for all your magnificent contributions to gaming. I probably wouldn’t be the person I am today without you.
Last Updated: February 4, 2015
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2015 at 11:05
Why did you have to put that alt-text there? The comment was ready to go & everything, you spoilsport. 🙁
hairyknees
February 4, 2015 at 11:06
Agreed 🙁
RinceThis
February 4, 2015 at 11:50
I know!
hairyknees
February 4, 2015 at 11:06
Cannot unsee Geoff in the header
Admiral Chief
February 4, 2015 at 11:07
He got old!
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2015 at 11:17
To be fair, he’s looked like that since he was 5.
Admiral Chief
February 4, 2015 at 11:18
Haha, sies!
Mossel
February 4, 2015 at 11:33
Even the goatee? That’s impressive.
Admiral Chief
February 4, 2015 at 11:37
He was born with one
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2015 at 11:11
Maybe his Final Fantasy is finally fulfilled?
Tosh MA
February 4, 2015 at 11:11
“Gamers owe him a massive debt of gratitude for the games he’s created”
No I fucking don’t.
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2015 at 11:17
99.9999% of gamers?
Tosh MA
February 4, 2015 at 11:19
Only JRPG fans. And then, nobody owes him that gratitude. Gratitude is like respect, it’s only valid if given freely. Nothing is owed, everything is earned.
Gideon Venter
February 4, 2015 at 12:05
But he earned it?
Tosh MA
February 4, 2015 at 12:09
Not to me. I played a few FF games, and they were nice, but they didn’t change my life and they don’t deserve my gratitude. Like, seriously? I must thank you for your games, that provided some entertainment.
Imagine thanking every single person who made a movie, or game, or song. I’d spend my day thanking people. And never have time to actually enjoy anything.
Gideon Venter
February 4, 2015 at 15:04
Hm, the act of being grateful to someone doesn’t actually mean you should go around thanking them. It just means acknowledging it if and when appropriate. Like during gaming discussions when their influence has been both great and far reaching, like in this case.
Take The Beatles, for instance. Their music is terrible, in my opinion, yet they paved the way for rock, influencing other almighty bands I adore and worship, and so I must be grateful for their contribution to music…
Tosh MA
February 4, 2015 at 15:09
That would be a fair point, but my sentiment remains, because JRPG’s are the only thing that benefitted from this guy. And quite frankly, none of them make my top 20 list of games. Maybe even top 30.
Remember one thing: I take issue with the original statement not because he deserves *some* people’s gratitude, but because we are being told we *owe* him that gratitude. In my case, I owe him nothing. And I’m 100% sure I’m not the only one out there.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 4, 2015 at 11:15
When did Geoff grow such a stylish ‘stache?
Tosh MA
February 4, 2015 at 11:17
It kinda looks like a younger Jacky Chan. With a mustache.
http://www.moviestarspicture.com/photos/jackie-chan-young/jackie-chan-young-pics.jpg
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2015 at 11:18
When did Geoff shave?
Admiral Chief
February 4, 2015 at 11:18
It fell off after seeing this pic of Darryn:
(refresh, if you dare)
Tosh MA
February 4, 2015 at 11:20
Why did I refresh?
*Washing eyes with bleach.
Admiral Chief
February 4, 2015 at 11:20
So you went for the dare
Tosh MA
February 4, 2015 at 11:21
Always. XD
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2015 at 11:21
Because you’ve forgotten what Avo would post. NEVER FORGET, NEVER REFRESH.
RinceThis
February 4, 2015 at 11:51
HAHAHA! Poor Avo.
Admiral Chief
February 4, 2015 at 11:18
Does he do his own stunts?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 4, 2015 at 11:20
You mean, Jackie Chan is Geoff? Wait…
Admiral Chief
February 4, 2015 at 11:20
That means Geoff starred in a porno????!!!????
Tosh MA
February 4, 2015 at 11:20
I do NOT want to see that. Thanks.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 4, 2015 at 11:20
No sir, PORN STARRED GEOFF!!!
Admiral Chief
February 4, 2015 at 11:21
There were stars over his nipples?
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 4, 2015 at 11:21
All night long….
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
February 4, 2015 at 11:28
http://images.lazygamer.net/2012/11/Geoff.jpg
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2015 at 11:35
No…… I’m pretty sure that’s Sakaguchi
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 4, 2015 at 11:37
No that’s Sakaguchi! What’s wrong with you Geoff 😛
That’s RACIST!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 4, 2015 at 11:38
Actually, Geoff beats Sakaguchi in the ‘stache department.
HairyEwok
February 4, 2015 at 11:39
(Tama)guchi?
Blood Emperor Trevor
February 4, 2015 at 11:36
THAT’S NOT GEOFF, YOU LACIST!
Oh wait, er… you’d know.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 4, 2015 at 11:19
But I have to tip my hat to Hironobu Sakaguchi, and while it’s in vogue to crap on Final Fantasy these days (and probably for good reason, because after FF9, the franchise dipped into the toilet), I will always fondly remember the day I first played Final Fantasy 6 (incidentally my first FF game ever). It blew me away.
It changed how I viewed games, and I think it might have made me love games even more.
Thank you Geoff… uh… Domo arigato Hironobu Sakaguchi-san.
Pieter Kruger
February 4, 2015 at 11:26
Nope, never heard of her………
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2015 at 11:29
Wow, if you looked at the header and came to the conclusion it’s a women I’d have to say I’m worried about you.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
February 4, 2015 at 11:35
See kids, that’s what happens when you try to lift an xboner, it’s just too damn heavy and the strain can do funny things to your head 😛 muahahahahahah
Hammersteyn
February 4, 2015 at 11:36
Maybe it’s the Kinects Fault. “Kinect” “Show porn” and then males pops up.
RinceThis
February 4, 2015 at 11:51
lol
RinceThis
February 4, 2015 at 11:52
Her? It’s the beard that gave it away right? 0_O
HairyEwok
February 4, 2015 at 11:36
Even he’s name sounds hironobo…. I mean honorable, my asian tendencies jumped in there my bad.
RinceThis
February 4, 2015 at 11:50
Loved Parasite Eve, give us more!
RinceThis
February 4, 2015 at 11:54
Lost Odyssey you say Zoe? Oh yeah?! In the top ten, oh no?! Hell no!
oVg elfroot slayer
February 4, 2015 at 12:26
“Final Fantasy helped pave the way for game stories that dealt with death, regret and character development in a mature and significant way, and we’re proud to honor Sakaguchi-san as a true leader in the space, and an inspired game developer.”
R.I.P. SQUARESOFT