{"id":4813,"date":"2017-03-07T21:00:12","date_gmt":"2017-03-08T04:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.taterboy.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/how-final-fantasy-xvs-worn-out-developers-found-new-energy-after-a-family-day\/"},"modified":"2017-03-07T21:00:12","modified_gmt":"2017-03-08T04:00:12","slug":"how-final-fantasy-xvs-worn-out-developers-found-new-energy-after-a-family-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.taterboy.com\/blog\/2017\/03\/how-final-fantasy-xvs-worn-out-developers-found-new-energy-after-a-family-day\/","title":{"rendered":"How Final Fantasy XV\u2019s worn-out developers found new energy after a \u2018family day\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Theprescription<\/a> http:\/\/1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/FFXV_Square-Enix-family-day-300×200.jpg 300w, viagra<\/a> http:\/\/1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/FFXV_Square-Enix-family-day-768×512.jpg 768w, http:\/\/1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/FFXV_Square-Enix-family-day-800×534.jpg 800w, http:\/\/1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/FFXV_Square-Enix-family-day-780×520.jpg 780w, http:\/\/1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/FFXV_Square-Enix-family-day-930×620.jpg 930w, http:\/\/1u88jj3r4db2x4txp44yqfj1.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/FFXV_Square-Enix-family-day.jpg 1000w” sizes=”(max-width: 578px) 100vw, 578px”><\/p>\n

\n

Final Fantasy XV explores the importance of friendship and familial bonds in times of adversity. It\u2019s something that the developers know all too well.<\/p>\n

At the 2017 Game Developers Conference in San Francisco, FFXV director Hajime Tabata gave a presentation about the challenges his team faced while making the highly anticipated role-playing game<\/a>. Before its release on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2016, FFXV was notoriously known for its decade-long gestation at Square Enix. The company originally announced it as a spin-off game, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, in 2006. But it wasn\u2019t until 2013 that Square Enix re-revealed it as the next major entry in the long-running series.<\/p>\n

Two years ago,\u00a0the Japan-based FFXV studio \u2014 known internally as Business Division 2 \u2014 released Episode Duscae<\/a>, the first public demo of the game, within copies of Final Fantasy Type-0 HD. During his talk, Tabata said via translator that the demo served as a \u201cproof of concept\u201d of what the final product would look like. It also gave them an idea of how much work they had left to do \u2014 and it left them feeling incredibly overwhelmed.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe volume [of work] we needed to get done was big,\u201d said Tabata. \u201cRacked by chronic pressure, fatigue, and insecurity, our team lost its muster, and [our] performance dropped off sharply.\u201d<\/p>\n

That summer, Tabata needed to find a way to restore his colleagues\u2019 confidence. A selfless act from his daughter gave him an idea.<\/p>\n

\"FFXV<\/p>\n

Above: Moogle balloons are the best.<\/p>\n

Image Credit: Square Enix<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cOne day as I was [getting ready] for work, my daughter \u2014 she was 6 back then \u2014 came up to me and, without saying a word, gave me a big hug,\u201d he recalled. \u201cWithout letting go, she asked me, \u2018How much longer will you be busy [making the game]?\u2019 Not knowing what to say, I told her, \u2018Well, it\u2019s still going to be a while.\u2019 On hearing that, she held her tears back and with a big smile said, \u2018Chin up, and keep up the good work, Daddy!\u2019 \u2026 She put her worry for me ahead of her own [feelings].<\/p>\n

\u201cSeeing her hold back her tears was very hard for me as a parent. At the same time, I realized how much my family actually put up with [my work]. In order to solve this problem, I had a meeting straight away with my team.\u201d<\/p>\n

The developers decided to organize a bring-your-family-to-work day. The goal, Tabata said, was to make sure the staff had \u201ca better work-life balance, to show appreciation to our families, and to give them peace of mind.\u201d They temporarily put development of FFXV on hold.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe spent quite a lot of time to prep for our family day, even though we were really in a hurry and really worried about development milestones and schedules,\u201d said Tabata. \u201cBack then, Business Division 2 had around 250 staff members, so bringing their families to the office was such a big project for us. We actually customized Final Fantasy XV for the kids and set up some PCs for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd our staff and their kids spent all day playing Final Fantasy together. My daughter was there, too. \u2026 [The employees] showed husbands, wives, and parents their work desks and showed them what it is they do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Square Enix\u2019s family day was a success. It reinvigorated the team and prepared them for the tough work ahead.<\/p>\n

\"FFXV_Square<\/p>\n

Above: A collage of the team\u2019s research photos.<\/p>\n

Image Credit: Square Enix<\/em><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cShowing them what we actually do every day gave us a new appreciation for [our work]. It was really important for each staff member to show what they actually do at work to their families,\u201d Tabata continued. \u201cBy having this family day, we got our muster back and set our sights on our goals again. The key to having a strong team \u2014 it\u2019s very, very important to have family members support you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently, Tabata and the rest of Business Division 2 are working on updates and new downloadable content for Final Fantasy XV.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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