The Final Fantasy Trading Card Game is releasing its 7th set in the series this weekend after initial releasing in 2016.

Final Fantasy Trading Card Game - Opus 7 138 IMAGES

“ This game can satisfy both fans of the original works as well as fans of trading card games.

FFTCG Hero/Villain Starter Opus 7 7 IMAGES

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“ People would feel more ecstatic about drawing a rare or valuable card, seeing that the accompanying artwork is equally great.

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“ When it comes to tournaments, I think there is less disparity between regions.

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“ There are no plans for a digital trading card game at this moment in time.

The trading card game has added many characters from the Final Fantasy series such as Crystal Chronicles, Dissidia, and Tactics Advance. With the 2018 World Championships just around the corner on November 24th in London, we interviewed FFTCG and Hobby Japan Producer, Tarou Kageyama, about the game and how it was created.FFTCG is a one-on-one competitive trading card game based on characters from the FINAL FANTASY series where players utilize familiar characters and monsters to inflict damage on their opponents. It features many characters from both mainline and spin-off games from the series.We received a request to create a FINAL FANTASY Trading Card Game from our contact at Square Enix headquarters. From there, the Chapter series was born and released in February 2011. I see this game as being very fortunate, since Hobby Japan was also looking into developing a new game from the ground up at that time and it all occurred by coincidence, where both companies’ intentions just happened to be in alignment.We initially released the Chapter series in Japan, which continued for about four years. But we started to notice there were certain limitations, such as the overall number of players. We decided to take a brief hiatus, but at the same time, we felt there was potential for expanding the game overseas due to FINAL FANTASY’s popularity in Europe and North America. That is when we made the bold decision to revamp the game and release it simultaneously worldwide rather than continue the previous series.There are very few instances where the original video game developers provide direct feedback, and in general, the FFTCG development team handles the entire production. That said, there might be a certain case where we get stuck, or when certain points regarding the world setting or lore need to be clarified to determine various aspects of the game, such as a character’s ability or job, so we would consult the team in those instances. Alternatively, there are some instances where the video game developers would proactively point those areas out from their end.There are not any instances where the direction changed based on fan feedback in the midst of developing a set in the series. I do want to be extra clear that this does not, in any way, mean we are not listening to our fan’s feedback. We, of course, receive various opinions and requests from our fans via social media and other means, but I personally believe changing the direction in the midst of development based on such feedback represents abandonment of my own responsibilities towards the game. As such, rather than during development, I oftentimes start by referencing feedback received up to that moment, as well as the current meta, when I begin creating the next set in the Opus series. In that sense, yes – there are instances where we consider feedback from fans.Yes. For example, Opus VIII will feature artwork from Yasuhisa Izumisawa, known for his work on Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles and World of Final Fantasy. I am unable to reveal names just yet, but we are also preparing more from other big-name artists. Generally speaking, our plan is to continue expanding on this further.This is purely me expressing my own hopes and desires, so it does not indicate that such discussions are currently taking place in any way, but I would love to see original illustrations from other artists known for FINAL FANTASY, such as Tetsuya Nomura and Akihiko Yoshida. However, this is just me dreaming (laughs).When it comes to tournaments, I think there is less disparity between regions. In the past, Japan and Europe appeared to be the top two regions, but the game has gained a foothold in Oceania, North America, and Asia, resulting in the emergence of many powerhouse players from those regions recently. As such, I feel like there has been real growth in the level of players across all regions. Additionally, the community appears to be stronger than ever. They are quite active on social channels and many discussions are taking place; I peek in every now and then (laughs).[7-010L] Jecht – Recently, many players have been quite vocal about Fire being the weakest element, but Jecht has a lot of potential in creating a huge rift in the current meta. Furthermore, he has an interesting mechanic where he becomes stronger the more you are at a disadvantage. Players will get a lot of enjoyment out of this card, even just by thinking about its synergy with other existing cards. I think we can even look forward to the emergence of new deck types from this card.The Emperor from Opus I. Not many people use this card, but I like it because there are many cards that are compatible with this one. Aside from that, when I actually play the card onto the field, it appears that people have an epiphany, realizing the card’s actually quite strong and a bit more troublesome to deal with than they had previously assumed. I feel so proud when my opponent appears to get a bit flustered, kind of like “take that!”Lately, digital games are extremely popular and I understand that the content is compelling, but there are no plans for a digital trading card game at this moment in time. Of course, at the same time, we are unable to deny any future possibilities.