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martinhoulden — FFVII : 10 Years
Published: 2007-12-06 13:35:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 2389; Favourites: 31; Downloads: 44
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[::: FFVII : 10 years :::]haha, i bet this one's got ya confused! (before you start scratching your head, no, this isnt a picture based on anything to do with FFVII). And all the text that accompanies this pic will probably be a garbled mess - i havent written it yet so i dont know!
But yes, it has got a lot to do with FFVII. So, its been 10 years to the day that i bought it (i still have the original receipt!). And there's a lot more going on to the significance of it than it being simply a game.
I've always been into games - into "cool boys toys stuff", music ... grandiose stories and so on. But this game acted as a catalyst for many things that have happened in my life, and may or may not have happened without it's existence.
Isn't that a bit dramatic i hear you ask? Well, perhaps. There's no way of knowing what anyone's life would be like without certain things happen. What could have happened if you left the house 5 minutes earlier than you actually did? Maybe you'd have been hit by a bus. Maybe the imporant things in life arent the big things.
But i'm pretty sure i can attribute some pretty big significance to this game. The game itself? no. I havent played it all the way through for about 6 years, and i've only completed it maybe 3 times. To this day I've never even watched Advent Children all the way through by myself (yet its my favourite film) and ive only completed Dirge of Cerberus once (a year ago).
But it was a catalyst, an inspiration for many things in my life - and it's important to know where youve come from, what/who to thank - and i have a pretty good sense of who i owe my thanks to, for various things, through my life.
My best friend - Chris - i may never have become friends with if it werent for the common talking point of this game. He was very much a Zelda fan, and i convinced him to give this game a go. And he was blown away, and so started a friendship that, to this day, has been going 8 years.
My admiration for what Square/Nomura/Uematsu had achieved inspired me to choose to study the game for my A level project when i was 16-17. The enthusiasm i put into the work was what grabbed my art teacher's attention, and he encouraged me to the point where i believed i might one day be able to part of making something as good as the game itself. All i did for the project was copy Nomura's work - and my teacher was so desperate to see me work from my head, and not just copy all the time. He said he "know you have great ideas and enough enthusiasm to see them through, you just need the confidence to stand on your own two feet and stop using other art as a crutch"
He was the only teacher that believed in me at school. I went to a grammer school - mainly focused towards academia. And well, i guess i was a bit of a rebel - choosing music and art over scienes. Funny though, because i used to love science before i went to that school ... but the teachers put me off.
Then shortly after, i started to discover internet gaming forums - mostly talking about ffvii. And wow, i discovered other people who seemed to like the game just as much as me! And i met some awesome guys, we started our own forums together, and we're still mates to this day.
Whilst i was on the forums, i met some people that influenced a lot of who i am - and on a more specific note, made a contact that recommended i check out the university i ended up studying at.
So i went there, made some amazing friends, and ultimately am here, in the seat i'm sat in now - working at a games company, a dream i've always had - because of ultimately the inspiration, belief that amazing things can be done, and confidence this game gave me.
I say "game" like all it really is is a piece of entertainment. And i understand that to many it is - and well, yes, that IS what it is. But its transcended into a symbolisation - a very personal one.
If this game hadnt have come along ... i'd like to think i would have found enduring inspiration elsewhere
so what is this picture? Well, its a tribute to the one thing the game brought out in me - and that is some kind of crazy, enduring belief that one day i might actually be part of a team that can achieve the same effect on someone else, as it did on me.
So no. The picture has nothing to do with FFVII. But to me, it has everything to do with it
My own character. My own creation. A tribute to an enduring spot of inspiration - of what can be achieved with the same tools we all have within our reach to attain one day in our lives.
I hope everyone who reads this can discover the best way to pay homage to a creation they really enjoy, is to create their own. Slightly ironic considering the amount of fanart i have in my gallery - but thats a little thing us humans are blessed with called "learning and realisation". Realising the fact that the reason it was so great, to me, was because it was unlike anything i had experienced before.
So lets all be pro-originality!
Thanks for reading!
Approx - 60 mins. Kickin' it old school. The picture isnt anything extravagant, or indeed worthy of the 10 years the game has endured to me. But, this IS who I am. I'm not about diong 600 hour pictures. I am me.
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Comments: 41
Not all of us can be original... but this is inspiring indeed..
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amazing sob..sob..sob, your words has moved me....
final fantasy VII is my inspiration too...
sob3 TAT
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thanks man, glad you liked!
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I don't think some people understand what a game can do for the soul, or emotions. Playing FFVII helped bring my brother and I together, and brought me my first experience of death. Although Aeris wasn't real, I felt connected and attached to her, and cried during her murder scene.
^.^ I completely believe in the power of FFVII on the mind and heart
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That's a great story that I can identify a lot with...I had similar experiences because of FFVII. Oh and, of course, it's a very cool picture too. Like...a fly girl kind of super hero?
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Fantastic work.
Like you, Final Fantasy VII, as well as the series of games itself, has inspired me in many ways over the years.
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i dig it oni... i still love ur pen rendition of cloud about 2,3 years ago.. still one of my faves here 
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(that bad boy took 10 hours though! 
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Amazing idea behind this, and I can completely understand your view. If it hadn't been for gaming (I don't know which game, specifically), I wouldn't be where I am today, either. I, like you, have that dream of being able to create something with true impact.
Very poignant, and very neat, to make an homage to Square and their creation with a creation of your own.
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Fair play, buddy.
FFVII seemed to be a catylist of sorts in different ways to me. I won't divulge but I think it's pretty amazing how this kind of stuff makes us progress in life.
When I saw Wallace & Gromit for the first time as a child, I knew what I wanted to be and ever since then have never changed my mind. Whenever I watch an animation, (whether it be a flash animation or anime) it drives me and gives me more inspiration. I pick up my tablet, open flash and proceed to play.
You should be very proud of yourself for getting where you are now.
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ah well, theres a long way to go yet!
and yes, inspiration comes from various places. And dont get me wrong, i do take inspiration from many places. But i gotta lotta dues to pay to this game !
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I have still yet to find the time to beat that game, heheh.
I'm with ya about the pro-originality thing. I like creating my own things/characters with the inspiration of something I hold much interest in. I don't know how many characters I made for a storyline I liked when I was a kid--but that kind of thing died down a bit since I've gotten older and more exposed to the fan-world, parts where punctual accuracy was held higher than creativity, yet I can still hold enough interests to bust out with some more if I wanted to, heheh.
Keep up the great work (^-^)!
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I see myself as a child born three years to late involving the game case.
When I was really young, say four years, my brother used to play on a Sega machine. Dunno what it's called like, but it was a fun console ^^
After that, he bought himself a N64. And a while after that, he bought Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. He let me play it a YEAR later (until I wasn't that clumsy anymore to make link do any other thing than running around in circles and bumping into walls) and it was a feeling I haven't had in a while anymore - a game that consumed me and making me want to play every single bit of it.
When I got a job and saved some money, I bought the N64 myself, played some games, but never got that feeling again as when playing Oot. It was magic.
Kenshin came, my very first manga series I bought - heavily influenced my drawing style then. Until there I didn't know what style to focus on and just doodled away a little. I was fifteen by then. Ideas of what I'd love to do in the future came up - I started to see drawing as a way to fill my life with.
A year later someone at school showed me a "how to draw manga" book (yeah, one of C. Hart) and that was really a start for me ^^
Then, I bought a PS2 after some more work and saving money -the only game I bought was FFX, since that was the game I wanted to buy the PS2 for. A little while, the magic seemes to revive, but then I considered that the game focussed on little personal matters instead of the greater picture (beat an evil beast anyone?) and got quickly bored. I got involved in cosplay too, what really made me outstanding at school - but hey, I didn't care. Drawing got better, people started to say they really liked my drawings and that I should do something with it in my life.
Joined some forums where I made very good friends, one of them is someone I do not want to get separated from anymore. He's even here on DA - asked me to join ^^ )
On those forums, there was lot of talking about FF - especially FF7. I've always wondered what that game was about, learned the character names, piece by piece I heard things about the story..
And one beautiful day, I found a copy of it (it is very hard to find in my country) at a market. 5 $. Immediately bought it and when came home, started playing.
That was the second time I've felt something like magic - and too, I could feel along with the personages. The graphics didn't bother me at all, and the gameplay was sooo addicting.. You know why, I do not have to explain you.
Myself, I think a lot would be lost if they re-make that game. I think if the original was so good people KEEP on playing it 10 years after its release, they should keep their hands of it.
Okay, this is a loooooong rant, dunno even why I writed everything down, but..
I wanted to say: I feel sorry for myself to know so little games and that I miss so much.. I have a handicap - I don't hear hight sounds like mobile phone ringin, birds whistling - and that makes me stand out from certain things. I miss a lot and even though I'm getting to know things I missed - like FF7 - I shall never be as influenced as you were when you were younger.
Maybe that's not a bad thing, but a lot of times I feel like I don't have enough luggage to ever be able working on a project I'd love to - like developing a game, mostly an RPG.
And I envie you, for not having these personal matters (although, I think so?)
You're stronger and more experienced than I am. With every step I take, I'm insecure about what will become of me, and you seem very determined.
Don't lose that determination, it will take you very far.
Creating my own thing - in a style I really like - seems very hard. Nowadays, I have difficulties drawing something other than fanart, and I try but still.
Your writing here encouraged me, and I won't give up, since I know I CAN draw, but I simply still have a very long way to go 
Argh, ranting too much. Don't block me for spamming under your drawings please
I adore your work even thought I don't say a lot about it.
Little word about your drawing: I don't know much of Nomura-sans artwork, but I only seem to recognize the style he colours/shades his characters. All the rest is YOUR work, seems to me. Reminds me of Lanfeust Of Troy, a comic here in Europe - don't know if YOU know it. ( [link] )
Okay. End of rant.
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well theres no such thing as being sure of what will become of you ... but i find that just being aware of the potential pitfalls, and being aware that you need to figure out what you want is enough to make you eventually realise what you want
Just figure out what you like doing ... and then ... do it like your life depends on it! cos it kinda does n_n
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FFVII is THE game!
Honestly it was the last rpg I could play in single player mode without boring myself to tears.
Previous to FFVII there were great games like 'Zelda: Link to the Past,' 'FF I-III', 'Secret of Mana', and 'Chrono Trigger.'
I think the issue is either that FF VII raised the bar far beyond what any single game could ever match, or that all subsequent games have substituted cool graphics and movies for actual gameplay and storyline.
Either way, new games suck, FF VII rules all.
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lol! i dunno so much about that ... there are some new games. But ffvii still had something that nothing else has matched - and thats a massive cut above the rest. It was light years above anything else. There hasnt been a game with that much of a margin in years. Well, 10 years to be precise
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Heh, you are right. But if you can find a new rpg that is fun to play with half-way decent graphics I'm in. Hell, I am reduced to playing ROMs of my favorite NES, and SNES games these days...
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ah yes ... now rpg wise, you're right. Theres nothing out there - although ff12 is the best thing since ff10 at least ... perhaps the best sinze 7. Worth checking out?
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Welldone!!
I can say I wholeheartedly agree with EVERYTHING you have said.
It has been a catalyst for myself also. I'd be drawing alot of crap right now if i'd never watched my brother play that for hours on end, then have a go at it myself.
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+fav for the incredible story. I wish I had started drawing when I had played FF7 for the first time.
I actually picked it up, discount, at futureshop, out of a piiiiile of FF7 boxes, because I couldn't find Resident Evil 2.
Not nearly as interesting of a story, but this lead me to broaden my horizons into other games, mostly Japanese RPGs and dystopian futures. The latter is a love of mine, and is inspiring me to improve my talents to make a story and graphic novel I can call my own.
Umm. /rant
-KE
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man, i canonly say that its coo- and i'm not just talking about the picture.
It's cool when you realise what inspires you and makes you dod what you do, be like you are and say what you say coz at the end of the day its about you and what motivates you, and that is something only people themselves can explain.
Its cool to be inspired, even if its by a game or by something else, coz that makes you individual from everyone else.
But you know what sucks?
I'm still not sure what inspires me and the only possible thing i can think of saying right now is that no one can stop you from being you because no one can truly no exactly what you're like.
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its about embracing what makes yourself you - whatever that may be
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I faved this not only because of the super sweet skills you have shown, but because of the meaning behind it. I too love FF VII, and is one of the more influential games in my life. You rock dude!
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NO YOU ROCK NEW YORRKKKKKK!!!!!
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interesting piece...quite an story behind it,never played any FF games although I agree that the artwork for them is pretty amazing.
You chose to do the "game" for a project - art I assume? - Very cool idea, wish I'd thought about that when I was a "lad" doin' those A-levels however I feel that the teachers were pushing more "sensible" ideas at the time which were pretty crap at that.
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ah yeah - another thing i should/would say is that i wouldnt recommend ffvii to anyone. I understand its a very personal thing, to the point where im blindly loyal to it. some people have said "oooh i should play it" but the sad fact is, the moment has passed
perhaps if they DO make the remake, then i would urge you play that and not miss out
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Oh, no, the moment has in no way, shape, or form, passed on FFVII. To this day I know plenty of people who are just now playing it for the first time, and they love it. I, myself, completed it for the first time only a couple years ago. It's still fantastic. Doesn't matter if it's old and the graphics are outdated; it's still one damn good game.
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ah yesh, sure! its still great and everything - but the lines for me are a little blurred as to whether i enjoy it still because its genuinely awesome, or just because of what it means to me - whether its that i have just developed a blind and unconditional loyalty to it. I will never know because i will never be unbiased!
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true. Ok then, the way i should have worded it is that i wouldnt expect people to like it. Or that indeed i would understand if it didnt have the same effect on them as me. Everyone is different and has their different tastes in what they like and look for ... and thats cool
For example, the film advent children always blows me away - especially the intro where they remade all the scenes from the game into a reminiscent montage. It effects me like no other part of the film (ok, maybe on a par with the ending). And i accept that a lot of that effect is the effect of 10 years of nostalgia, of the effect it had on me when i first played it, and remembering all the moments. I wouldnt expect someone to watch those scenes and see them other than just cool looking CG scenes - it's a very personal thing.
When i first played the game, i knew nothing about Japan. No one else was playing the game at my school, hardly anyone had a ps1, id never played an rpg before, never even heard of final fantasy. Manga wasnt a big thing, i didnt have the internet, and a whole load of other stuff. So it felt like this game had come literally out of nowhere, and was made just for me. I had no one to talk to about it because nobody else even knew what it was - back in the days when the only way to find out about games was through reviews in magazines etc. It literally felt like it was made just for me - like a cult thing - even though the reality was far from the truth
But thats how i still feel - when i watch the film, play the game, see images from it. It feels very personal. Something i discovered and experienced completely myself
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I guess, in order to dertermine this, you'd have to sit down and ask yourself, "Do I really think other people will like this?" and don't be afraid to admit the truth to yourself. Be willing to see what people fault in it, and also what you think is truly great. I just wouldn't tell people to not play it just because it's old and because your afraid that your biased. You'd be doing them all a great disservice.
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just a wild assumption...I guess no.7 has a loyal fan base, a game deep in gamers hearts, is all down to the fact that wasn't it the first FF game to have some kinda deep and meaningful storyline. (hence they made that FF7:advent children "sequel" I guess).
If they were to re-make the game say for the PS3, of course utilising it's power, with improved graphics etc. I would say I would seriously consider getting both to "experience" it - although it'll prob be a game that'll sell out and become a sought after item but it may be one of those games that should be left as it is, a classic and to leave the story as is.
...anyways, nice tribute.
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hrm, perhaps. I'm divided. On the one hand, they could have left FFVII as it was, and not made the many sequels and prequels and so on. And some people will say they shouldnt have. But man, i fucking love it! AC being one of the coolest things ever made - much better than i could have ever imagined. And the doubters only need to watch the "making of" to see how much heart went into making it.
And, they recently celebrated their 10th anniversary - in January in Japan i believe. And the creator left a note saying "congratulations on a great 10 years - the best is yet to come"
And the makers have said that it is something that will be going until it's 20th anniversary. So another 10 years then
I couldnt possibly put my finger on exactly why it has been as well recieved as it has. And the only people who tend not to place it as their favourite of them all, are the people who played the other ones first. And those people tend to place whichever one they played first as their favourite. I guess theres something there!
You should get hold of a copy, cos it aint something going "out of fashion" anytime soon!
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Awesome, man. Final Fantasy 7 may not be the most innovative game in terms of gameplay, but it's still a legend. My brother actually bought it for me for Christmas years ago and I have yet to beat it. It's got a great story and it's got a lot of nostalgia associated with it. I wish I could do away with that feeling of familiarity, though, and relive everything anew.
Great piece, especially for just an hour! I can see where Nomura's influence, but I can also see several different aspects, original and influenced. I'm strongly reminded of Metal Gear Solid.
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ah yeah - its not innovative by many standards. But thats not whyi liked it.
It was original to me. At that moment in time I had never experienced anything else like it, so it will always remain with me
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Just last night, I gave a presentation on gaming and fan culture that focused on the contribution of FF7. I am now writing a follow-up paper. Your testimony is so wonderful because it confirmed for me, on a personal level, how important this game was.
My story is similar to yours. I'd always liked art, but when I played FF7 (I'd never really played games before that) I got the sense of what could be done with it. After that, I was always drawing the characters, trying to express something about the emotional quality of the game. I wouldn't have described it as such back then though. At that point, it felt like I was just poking around. But, games like FF7 and Xenogears led me to a path that has ultimately been more rewarding than my original path (I thought that I would study Chemistry).
The forums that sprang up in the wake of FF7 were hugely important for me too. I met really awesome people through that shared interest.
Anyway, yeah, I'm just seconding your thoughts. It'll be interesting to see how much discussion this generates.
God, can you believe it's been ten years...
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awesome for you to have left such a reply, and for the feeling to have been shared by a peer - nay, someone i respect huge amounts!
very cool, and thanks!
Mrtn
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