Final Fantasy III DS wi-fi feature revealed: emailing?
by James Ransom-Wiley 
{ Jul 7th 2006 at 11:55AM }
ClubSkill.com reports that a leaked screenshot from Jump, a Japanese publication, reveals that Final Fantasy III will make use of the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, at least in part, by allowing friends to send 'letters' to each other. Exchanging these emails is said to trigger special events in the game.Fair enough, but we're still holding out for some true co-op functionality, or even just a simple battle mode. C'mon Square Enix, we play games to take a break from emailing!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
j. @ Jul 7th 2006 12:00PM
With all the games that offer options to communicate with other people, I am left wondering, Am I the only DS owner who doesn't know any other DS owner? Well, except maybe my little cousin. But seriously, anyone else feels alone with their DS?
Ah, adult life... (snif)
32_Footsteps @ Jul 7th 2006 12:13PM
Again, I ask - how is a traditional turn-based single-player console RPG going to work if you make it a multiplayer wifi title? I've seen plenty of people hope for it to have multiplayer wifi, but I don't see any ideas as to how it would be interesting at all.
Probot @ Jul 7th 2006 12:22PM
I wouldn't hold my breath for co-op play. It seems like way too much to ask for a remake. I don't even see a battle mode as likely (or feasible).
I hated Pokemon multiplayer battles. It was always Lv. 100 vs Lv. 100. One person pulls out the fire pokemon, the other pulls out the water pokemon. So the first guy changes to electric pokemon, then the other guy changes to rock. It's really predictable and really boring.
Are there any other RPGs, besides pokemon, that did multiplayer battles? Are there any that have done it well?
I like the idea of using wi-fi to add replay value. In an RPG, the story is key. So using wi-fi to add to the story is ideal. Plus, I prefer not relying on another person's schedule to enjoy my game, so co-op is out.
If it's just simple messages, then this is probably just an attempt to get Wi-Fi listed as a feature. But I can certainly see value in it if they use it right.
adam @ Jul 7th 2006 12:22PM
I could work. Lets say you are playing then, someone joins your gameparty. You could trade items, show each other secrets etc. It would be awesome with wifi chat. If the player leaves your party, you keep going. Thats one thing I really hate about other people leaving a game in progress. They should replace the player with a bot and let you finish the match instead of aborting. Also, they could fill empty spots with bots too.
Probot @ Jul 7th 2006 12:31PM
#4 Adam, the problem with that is, who's playing whose game? Is your friend helping you progress through your game, or are you helping him? What if you're in two different places in the story? There's no feasible way to sync up the stories to make co-op playable.
You have to remember, this is an old game. We know what happens and how the game works. For those people that have played the game, do you see an opportunity to add deep multiplayer play?
wakusei @ Jul 7th 2006 12:36PM
There is always the possibility of item-swapping. After all, this is on a Nintendo system! That seems to pop up a lot...
The concept of email in the game is intriguing. Perhaps your friends are governmental contacts, or childhood pals, members of the resistance, couriers for the throne...that could play out in a lot of entertaining ways.
There could even be quests that involve obtaining an item for another player and vice versa. Done properly this could be a great spin on the traditional fetch quest.
Looking forward to it!
riffgod @ Jul 7th 2006 12:38PM
well j., you're not alone. I too am an adult DS owner who knows no one else that has one. So, if you happen to be in Chicago, maybe we should get together and figure out what's so great about ds communication.
unimental @ Jul 7th 2006 12:42PM
As long as I'm not sucked into writing silly letters to silly NPC animals like in AC:WW, I'm fine with it. Though I don't know just how much of an impact it will have, since (as has been stated above) we already know what happens in this game.
James @ Jul 7th 2006 12:46PM
Can someone just clarify something for me?
Is this American FF III (I.e. FF VI) or Japanese FF III?
Mohan @ Jul 7th 2006 12:51PM
Well I actually have quite a few friends with DS/DS Lite and we are in our mid twenties. So there are people (adults) with DS.
1up_clock @ Jul 7th 2006 1:02PM
I wonder how many people will use this feature to spoil important plot-points? :]
Probot @ Jul 7th 2006 1:04PM
#9 James,
The REAL Final Fantasy 3. The Japanese one that was never released officially in the US. SquareEnix has moved away from using the American numbering system, so you'll likely never see it mentioned again.
Dan @ Jul 7th 2006 1:28PM
I thought the only Final Fantasy series from japan that was not release in the US was FF: V
nimby @ Jul 7th 2006 1:57PM
Dan, FF: V came out on the PS1. Pretty sure it was the one that came with Chrono Trigger.
crono141 @ Jul 7th 2006 2:08PM
FF4 came with Chrono Trigger, FF 5 came on anthologies, with FF6.
If only they would remake ff4, 5, or 6 in the same way they have remade ff3.
That would rock... hard...
Probot @ Jul 7th 2006 2:13PM
#12,
FF 1, 4, 6 were the only games that originally came to the US. (They were titled 1, 2, and 3 here.)
Later, FF 5 and 6 were released on PS1 as Final Fantasy Anthology. FF 4 and Chrono Trigger were released on PS1 as Final Fantasy Chronicles. By most accounts, the games were almost the same as before, except they now had dull CG scenes and load times.
Probot @ Jul 7th 2006 2:15PM
#14 crono141,
It won't happen anytime soon, though it would be cool.
However, they are remaking FF 5 and 6 for the GBA, much like they did with FF 1, 2, and 4. Soon, every pre-VII FF will be playable on a single handheld. And not just as roms on hacked firmware.
32_Footsteps @ Jul 7th 2006 2:34PM
Probot, you're slightly off. You're forgetting the part where everyone brings in Mewtwo and you watch people trade Psychics for several rounds with stops to use Recover or Rest. It's worth noting that for people who actually are really competitive in Pokemon, they favor level 50 tourneys (where the stats are closer to being equalized and there's a greater variety of what you see).
But still, the problems with multiplayer battles will get really boring. Like with Pokemon, the vast majority of the players will drift to a very small subset of classes and equipment that make their characters absolutely absurd, making it less a matter of skill and more about who has the luck when the random number generator deals out damage.
It might be possible to equalize this (if certain classes are banned from multiplayer battles, or if there are enough good classes/equipment that the question is moot), but Nintendo has been trying for years with Pokemon and are still having issues with it (as anyone who plays the games know, Psychic types are still absurdly overpowered, partly because Nintendo keeps muffing how to handle the three types effective against it - Water types have similar advantages).
I'm not saying that it couldn't work. It's just that until I see an effective implimentation, I don't think anyone could treat FF3 going wifi as anything other than a gimmick to be quickly forgotten.
TravistyOJ @ Jul 7th 2006 2:36PM
Correct me if Im wrong, but....
All Final Fantasy Games (original release and re-release)
1 - NES (US + Japan), GBA (packaged with 2)
2 - NES (JPN only), GBA (packaged with 1)
3 - NES (JPN only), upcoming NDS
4 - SNES (US as 2 + JPN), GBA and PSX (packaged with Chrono Trigger)
5 - SNES (JPN only), PSX (packaged with 6) and upcoming GBA
6 - SNES (US as 3 + JPN), PSX (packaged with 5) and upcoming GBA
7 - PSX and PC, rumored release for PS3
8 - PSX and PC
9 - PSX
10 - PS2
11 - PS2, PC, Xbox 360
12 - PS2 (upcoming US release)
13 - upcoming PS3
These are just the main FF games, this isnt counting FF Adventure, or Mystic Quest or X-2, or Crystal Chronicles. Thats a whole different story.
Sinergy @ Jul 7th 2006 3:01PM
This remake is the reason I will be buying a DS lite :) Now, here's hoping for an FF6 remake .....
HaloBreaker @ Jul 7th 2006 3:22PM
I could see it now...
*classic square noise*
"You have new messages!"
tap tap -open-
NEW MESSAGES:
1. abgkk33@medsonline.com "D0 U NE3D A B1GGER PEN1$?"
2. FSSFSAF@REFYHOME.com "C1ICK HE4E TO REFIN@NCE!"
3. AFGGS@wrk4me.com "W0rk Frm H0m3 mak3 1,000,000"
4. asdsad@preteens.com "W@NT H0TT YUNG S1UTS N0W?!?"
ECT ECT
=(
VerdigriS @ Jul 7th 2006 4:10PM
Golden Sun for the GBA had multiplayer battles... and I'm pretty sure it's sequel had them too. They were fun for awhile, until both my friend and I got the two djiini that allowed you to take no damage, so then it got too cheap...
The letter thing sounds cool enough. Maybe you could send items and weapons along with your letter, and if you show a certain letter to an NPC (chosen by the author) you would get a very rare item...
just my two cents
nsolo1717 @ Jul 7th 2006 5:57PM
i gotta say that box art for FF3 DS looks very well done....i'm impressed....as for co op wifi for an old rpg style....meh......co op wifi would be so much better for something like a chrono trigger remake or that new children of mana
Magus @ Jul 8th 2006 1:09AM
I keep wondering why SquareEnix won't remake Chrono Trigger for the DS. I would bow down to that company and proclaim them God of all men if they would do that.
Dirk Dorkelson @ Jul 8th 2006 1:17AM
FFI and FFII were also packaged together for PSX as Final Fantasy Origins, weren't they? Also, FF7 was available on PC. Not sure about other titles on PC, though.
Kieron Rees @ Jul 8th 2006 6:54AM
In Final Fantasy 6 they featured characters who wrote letters to each other, letters you'd often have to deliver for them which would influence the story in one way or another perhaps FF3 will feature a similar system where the letters are from and to real people?
Michitastic @ Jul 9th 2006 12:12AM
FF1 and 2 can be played on my GBA.
#3 - Golden Sun and GS:TLA rocked hard.
LostMagic is kinda fun, but it's more of an RTS.
indysurfn @ Jul 9th 2006 1:54PM
I've read all your comments which lets me know I don't know jack about portables...especially yours TravistyOJ Dang that list is awesome!
okay here is my dumb question. I've been playing game consoles forever(I'm 44) and LOVE turn based RPG's. I have never bought a portable one but this game is the type I've been waiting for as a excuse..ummm reason. Is this the system to get? Is the PSP better with graphics(I know vain but I like graphics)? Or, are they close? If so which would you get for strickly playing turn based RPG's? THANKS!!!
Zoë K. @ Jul 9th 2006 2:05PM
Hear, hear Sinergy...
...enough with the re-releases of older titles, the Final Fantasy VII companion games, and this remake of III (though I'm sure I'll love it).
Give us more of Final Fantasy VI, damnit! Not just another port on GBA, but give it the treatment that you're giving III and VII. VI was arguably the best in the series, yet it's constantly getting the shaft.
Give me more VI, Square, or I shall contract Kefka to poison your water supply.
Zero_ @ Jul 10th 2006 7:42AM
"Is the PSP better with graphics(I know vain but I like graphics)? Or, are they close? If so which would you get for strickly playing turn based RPG's? THANKS!!!"
Well, depends. You can either get a PSP (And hope that it doesn't come with the firmware 2.7), so that you can play NES/SNES games (albeit, illegally), as they're aren't too many turn based RPGs in the PSP Libary, however on the DS, well... there's also not as much turn based games, though, this seems to be one of the good ones. So it's up to you, though to recommend, the hassle of the PSP to get it working with homebrew is too much, so get a DS Lite and wait for this game.
matt @ Jul 10th 2006 10:52AM
I think the email would be a nice idea. I have never played FF3 myself but if it is anything like the other RPG's out there I am sure there are towns scattered throughout out a map.
What would be nice is if each town had an online access point , were players could optionally log in talk and trade with other players in that same town in the game.
Sort like how Online PC games are doing it now. With the 3d environment where your character walks up to other people. This could be the town square, a bar or whatever. Enter that area of the town and you go online.
You could eliminate lag by only having that point in the town bring you online.
The email might be a way to faciliate times and communication for meetups or whatever.