Nobuo Uematsu:
Reminiscence of Final Fantasy
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Nobuo Uematsu has not fully composed for a Final Fantasy game in ten years (Final Fantasy IX was the last title he composed entirely unassisted), which makes Final Fantasy XIV’s score return to what many consider the heart of the series’ music. Uematsu estimates that there are 70 or 80 songs in total in the whole soundtrack as of now. A two part Reminiscence of Final Fantasy by Nobuo Uematsu was included in the flaps of the first mini CD’s produced from the game. He is very candid in his discussion of the music and days past when he worked at Square Enix.
Reproduce from: Final Fantasy XIV Battle Tracks & Final Fantasy XIV Field Tracks
A Reminiscence of FINAL FANTASY – Part 1 Nobuo Uematsu
When the first FINAL Fantasy was being developed in 1987, who could have predicted that it would become the hit series it is today, now into its fourteenth installment? Our development team at the time had close to zero experience, but what we did have was a group of stubborn twenty-somethings with a never-back-down attitude towards making games. Some members on the team were still enrolled in college. It never helps to have so many hard-headed people on a creative project, so you can imagine how much worse things were when we were all so young and naive. Now everyone is in their forties, we mellowed out a bit, but back then it didn’t take much to set us off. There were screaming matches, finger-pointing, name-calling and conflicts that went along the lines of
“You’re askin’ for it! Basement parking lot! Now!” “Right behind you!”
In 2008, twenty years after FINAL Fantasy was unleashed on the world, we held a small celebration with the original members of the team to commemorate the coming-of-age of our creation. Everything started out all friendly and jovial, until the drinking took its toll and we began to discussing game development. Naturally the discussions became heated and erupted into arguments. We were yelling at each other in the middle of the bar.
“You’ve got it all wrong!” “How stupid can you be? That’s why you’ll never understand!” Some things never change, no matter how old we get. Setting aside the inevitability of arguments, I think creative people need that kind of passion, and I prefer those who don’t try to hide it. Call me old fashioned.
For all the young people reading this, live you life with passion. Forget about looking cool. That’s for poseurs.
A Reminiscence of FINAL FANTASY – Part 2 Nobuo Uematsu
Have you ever felt the sense of accomplishment that comes with completing a project ? The Final games haven’t always been made by members that get along with each other. There might be people you can’t stand, or people that don’t share your views or aesthetic sense (although conflict between people of differing opinions can often serve as the catalyst that brings about a positive shift in direction). During development, the disagreements are constant.
“Mr. Uematasu, I dont know what to do! I’ve had enough of this project!”
I can’t remember the number of times people approached me like that while I was working at Square Enix. But that’s the job. If you’ve had enough, you can’t stand it, can’t keep up the pace, the only left to do is quit. It’s not the same as your club activities back in school. If you don’t want to quit, then you’ve just got to touch it out until the end, through the tears and frustration. And then the game some how gets done. You bring it to completion. And there is no feeling quite like that sense of accomplishment. There is a tradition for the FINAL FANTASY series (i don’t know if it still happens) where all the team members get together on the night of the game is completed, and watch as a selected member plays from the last dungeon, on to the last boss, and through to the ending. Everyone with beer in hand, of course. Once the ending credits roll, the sound of cans being opening joined by thunderous applause.
In that emotion-filled moment, you think, “Wow, we’ve been though some crazy times, but somehow we made it through again.” That thought gives you the confidence to face the next project, and transforms those you argued with into comrades-in-arms. That moment is priceless.
I still remember when, during the launch party for FINAL FANTASY VI, the notoriously unforgiving Mr. Sakaguchi gave a speech. “Thanks to every one of you, we have created the best game in the world! No! The universe! Thank you!” I cried. There were tears on my face. Those tears made me realize just how much I had invested myself in the project. I hope that the FINAL FANTASY games forever continue to be a source of joy not only for the fans, but the the developers as well!
S
mile Please Co., Ltd. (有限会社SMILEPLEASE, Yūgen gaisha SMILE PLEASE?), founded in October 2004, is the production company of former Square Enix composer Nobuo Uematsu.
Smile Please had its first customer in none other than Square Enix, who asked Uematsu to continue the concerts of his music in North America. In his composition for the Final Fantasy VII Advent Children, Uematsu was credited from Smile Please. Uematsu currently has his company working for Mistwalker Studios, a game development studio started by the creator of the Final Fantasy series, Hironobu Sakaguchi. Uematsu composed music for two Xbox 360 RPGs that were developed by Mistwalker: Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey.
