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Can you tell me about the development drama that occurred during the making of Final Fantasy 12
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The making of Final Fantasy XII (FF12) is famously marked by one of the most turbulent development cycles in gaming history, resulting in a Guinness World Record for the longest production period at the time.

1. Director Yasumi Matsuno's Departure
The most significant "drama" was the sudden departure of the game's original director and visionary, Yasumi Matsuno, in 2005—just one year before the game's release.
Official Reason: Square Enix cited a prolonged illness as the cause.
Internal Friction: Rumors suggest the departure was fueled by high stress and creative clashes. Matsuno was reportedly temperamental, at one point refusing to work for a month after several team members left to join Mistwalker, a rival studio founded by series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi.
Impact: Matsuno was replaced by a directorial duo (Hiroyuki Ito and Hiroshi Minagawa) and executive producer Akitoshi Kawazu to push the game across the finish line.

2. The Protagonist Controversy
There is a long-standing debate regarding how much the main character, Vaan, was "shoehorned" into the story.
Original Vision: Basch was initially intended to be the central protagonist.
Executive Meddling: Due to concerns that an older, rugged lead would not appeal to younger Japanese demographics, the team was pressured to create the more youthful Vaan and Penelo.
The "Leading Man" Myth: While fans often point to Balthier's "leading man" dialogue as proof he was the intended lead, directors have clarified that Vaan was added relatively early in the process.

3. Structural & Technical Delays
The project faced massive technical hurdles that led to repeated delays.
Scope Creep: The game attempted a seamless, real-time world on the PlayStation 2, which pushed the hardware to its absolute limits.
Team Fragmentation: The development team was a mix of staff from different projects (including Final Fantasy Tactics and PlayOnline), leading to "anarchy" and conflicting creative directions that took years to resolve.
Unfinished Feeling: Upon release, critics and fans noted that the final third of the game felt rushed, with sparse character development for Vaan and Penelo compared to the political heavyweights like Ashe and Basch.