85 million Final Fantasy games sold, global takeover imminent

What's a wifi tank? I want one.

yea and plus the fact that even FF 1-13 have little to nothing to do with each other besides the fact that they share the same name and genre.

I'm assuming you're American (like me). American maps always have the North American content pictured larger than scale and/or on the left side or center of the map. So I'm not surprised that a European-centric map would confuse you (they confuse me too at first glance), since it's not the orientation we're used to seeing.

Biased cartography is interesting. If you think about it, the entire world is one big sphere, so the way we choose to represent it on a map really reveals our ethnocentrism.

Actually having the Americas on the left isn't ethnocentrism, it's tradition. Human culture originated in the Fertile Crescent area (middle east) and spread from there. The Americas were "discovered" much later in human history and the entire world (not just Americans) refer to this side of the pond as "the Western Hemisphere". Therefore when you flatten the globe out, it just makes logical sense to put the Western Hemisphere, you know, on the west side of the map.

And what map are you referring to that increases the size of North America due to ethnocentrism? The scale of NA is certainly stretched a bit due to the inherent flaw of a flat map of a spherical object, but that has nothing to do with what culture happened to print the map. If that were the case, those dang penguins in Antarctica are the most ethnocentric bastards on the face of the planet!

@Spartacus: http://books.google.com/books?id=4hYs-rUd8QcC&pg=PA430

"Actually having the Americas on the left isn't ethnocentrism, it's tradition."

Yeah, Western tradition.

"Therefore when you flatten the globe out, it just makes logical sense to put the Western Hemisphere, you know, on the west side of the map."

Drawing the lines as to where the west/east hemisphere lie are completely arbitrary and culturally-bound.

"The scale of NA is certainly stretched a bit due to the inherent flaw of a flat map of a spherical object, but that has nothing to do with what culture happened to print the map."

That's the worst logic I've ever heard. NA is consistently printed larger than Europe and it is completely possible to print anything to scale based on, you know, actual continental size; the curvature of the earth does not impede a to-scale printing of the map.

You can check out different ethnocentric maps for purchase here:
http://www.mapsofworld.com/projection-maps/

Believe it or not, different parts of the world use different maps to teach kids geography. There is no universal map. :) Just 'cause it's American tradition doesn't mean everyone thinks the same way.

"Drawing the lines as to where the west/east hemisphere lie are completely arbitrary and culturally-bound."

It is European countries that have been labeled "Western Nations". This terminology is recognized around the world, not just in America. The Western Hemisphere is defined by the location of the Prime Meridian, which is also the international date line- which is recognized around the world, not just by Americans.

"That's the worst logic I've ever heard. NA is consistently printed larger than Europe and it is completely possible to print anything to scale based on, you know, actual continental size; the curvature of the earth does not impede a to-scale printing of the map."

Um, maybe because North America IS larger than Europe...

Europe: ~4,000,000 square miles
North America: ~9,450,000 square miles


I'm not denying ethnocentrism exists or that there is no such thing as cultural bias, I have a degree in anthropology and I've traveled to South America, the Middle East and Asia, so I know better. I'm just saying that the most popular, standard, traditional world map layout is with the Americas on the left. I've seen other map layouts in my studies and abroad, but even in the countries I've been to for the most part display maps in this standard configuration.

@Spartacus: So what you're trying to tell me is that you just like arguing with me. ;) If you have a degree in anthro, then you likely agree with me about ethnocentrism, and its occasional existence in cartography.

I do find it strange that you didn't find variations in the standard map used in schools across different countries, though. I've been to several countries in Europe, Asia, and lived in Mexico City, and they all had their differences in map design.

In Canada, all the maps show the US as being much smaller than Canada.

I know that Canada is HUGE and all, but it is funny considering maps in the US show the US as being quite large. It's no wonder that most Americans don't fully grasp how ridiculously huge and barren Canada is.

They should take some cues from the presentation in MGS4, as should all other JRPG developers. Now, I'm not saying they need to go all gritty or have a weird, obscure story, but they do need to create believable characters through better dialog, and for godsakes, get rid of all that androgyny!

I'd argue that FF IX was a refreshing departure, in terms of char design, story, and art direction. Still similar in many ways to the other installments of the series, I agree, but a departure nonetheless.

I'd love to see more refreshing installments like FF IX that aren't afraid to chance something.

Totally agree, Saria!

I thought FF IX was bold, beautiful, and very interesting.

Also, being a writer, the story elements captivated me a lot.

Though, I do think that Square really should do some work making a new FF work on a portable like the DS. So far, only the remakes have been stellar.

http://videogamejunkies1.blogspot.com/

Hell Yeah!!!!

Kain and Raziel cannot meet in a Kingdom Hearts game...

everyone's head would melt from the sheer awesomeness!

Seriously tho, my friend and I were just talking about how we hope the the Soul Reaver series will get some love now with the takeover.

One can dream...

Perhaps you could compare it to the other Nintendo juggernaut, Polkmanz. Each alliteration sells 8 bajillion copies and melts the minds of children and pedophiles alike.