What is the save system in FFXIII? Traditionally FF games use save points except in the overworld, but most games today are "save anywhere" games. Are there save points in FFXIII or can you save anywhere? And if there are save points are they close enough so that you aren't forced to play for an hour or more between saves?

One more. :)

All the screenshots I've seen appear to be in widescreen. Will the aspect ratio adjust for normal 4:3 TVs for those who haven't yet upgraded to an HD TV?

Will someone who's never played a Final Fantasy game but loves RPGs (i.e. me) like this game?

JRPGs receive a lot of criticism these days for failing to adapt to modern game design trends. FF12 attempted to directly address this issue in numerous ways, to varying degrees of success. Is FF13 doing the same? And if so, what lessons were learned from FF12?

Which Final Fantasy needs to be my favorite in order for me to really enjoy FFXIII?

1. At what stage of development was the decision made to create a completely linear game? Was it while it was still a PS2 game? When you found out how much time and money would be needed to make a PS3 game? Or was it completely unrelated to platform?

2. The Japanese version only allows you to use the D-Pad for battles and Analog stick for the world. The other movement option is disabled no matter what. This was the case in the demo vehicles in California as well. Will this be the case in the English game and if so, why did you disable a control option? It is going to be very problematic for Xbox 360 owners due to the flimsy D-Pad.

3. Are the quality of the textures and the framerate the same on both platforms?

4. Can you backtrack to ANY section of the Xbox 360 version that is accessible on either version of the game without switching discs?

Yes, my questions are a little 360-centric as that's the version that we don't have impressions from yet! I'm still trying to make up my mind on which version to get :)

@JJ Mahoney, there are save points in the game where you save, buy/sell items, and rest.

How is the difficulty curve? I personally play every final fantasy game...until I get stuck and then I stop caring. So will final fantasy 13 be like final fantasy 10 where I only got stuck at the final bosses and FAQed my way through it, like other more 'hardcore' japanese RPGs where i'll have to play with tips and strategies constantly in tow, or will it be the mythical holy grail of Japanese RPGs where I can play through it start to finish without wishing I was dead....this last type is also known as a western RPG.

@Rushan I think I was aware of that, but I haven't heard how far apart they are. And can you save in other spots besides the save points/stores?

Is there really a dungeon that is just a cave that is long and narrow with almost no room for exploration?

I would like to know if Square has been influenced by any Western RPGs that have come out in the last while. Do they feel they need to compete?

This question is with regards to the single-corridor linearity we've been hearing about:

What were the primary reasons for making Final Fantasy XIII so traditional (linear, cutscene heavy, turn based) in comparison to its forebear? Was it a decision that took a lot of time, and were there various transitionary stages of design which became more streamlined with each iteration?

I would like to know where they start when designing new characters, and if they ever feel pressured to create ones that are as iconic as previous ones in the series.

Also, ask them what they think of your beard. I think it's magnificent.

1) Will there be DLC for FF13 and if so, what kind of DLC will it be (weapons, spells, missions, characters etc.)?

2.) Does FF13 have any story details that might be important in Final Fantasy Versus XIII or Agito XIII?

3.) About how long does it take to beat FF13?

4.) Are there any optional Weapon-style bosses in FF13?

5.) Will there be another single player full-fledged Final Fantasy title released this generation?

Do FF13's side quests provide you with valuable items and flesh out the game's story? Basically, do you receive items such as highly powered summons as opposed to hunts in FF12, which were basically meaningless other than from a challenge standpoint?

With Final Fantasy IX being my favorite FF, because of its light-hearted attitude, I have a question about how light-hearted it is. To put it in a question, does XIII have humor, other than the obvious Sazh comic relief.

How many mini-games are there? Are there any, for instance, like the sword fighting scene at the beginning of FF9?

In FF12, I felt that the plot was really Ashe and Basch's story, and the other characters just along for the ride. Does FF13 do more with its supporting characters?

Final Fantasy 13 is the first game of the FF series to be on a next generation platform, as a developer, is there frustration when other studios have released two or three games in the same development cycle as yours?

Have you read our bitmob post the Final Fantasy Virgin http://bitmob.com/index.php/mobfeed/video-game-virgin-or-how-i-never-played-a-final-fantasy-game.html? As a video gamer, what game would you want to play with a clean slate or as a virgin?

What/if any studios were a source of competition when developing Final Fantasy 13?

Are you going to be doing system exclusive DLC stuff for the 360 or PS3? please don't and be equal about it.

I don't know how the characters or the story are for FFXIII, but I was disappointed with FFXII. The gameplay and graphics were top notch, the music was good but I found the character development to be poor, the voice acting quality was poor and the story did not live up to those of several of its predecessors, with all the loose ends it left and making little sense. It short, this all felt shallow.

The questions I would want to ask would have to do with how does Square Enix view the importance of writers? Who writes the scenarios? The dialogs? How do they feel in comparison to games from companies like Bioware and Rockstar that employ writers and actors regularly for their titles? Do they believe their work is equivalent/competitive or do they feel they have to standards to live up to?

Are gamers on Standard Def TV's going to have issues with the text, as in Mass Effect 2 and other recent titles in this generation?

My burning question is comparing stats on a site when your not playing a game. This way you can track your progress to compare against your friends progress :)

1. Recently, FFXIII's producers have cited the reason for a lack of towns in the game, as it being too "hard" to build them with HD graphics. This seems to run contrary to what other developers have achieved so far this generation.

Mass Effect 2 specifically features many highly detailed locals for the player to explore. In fact, Bioware developed both Mass Effect 1 and 2, with HD level towns, in the time it took Square Enix to produce one Final Fantasy game.

Is Square Enix still able to compete in the modern video game industry? Why haven't the developers been able to produce content on par with its competitors'? Or is there some more deliberate reasoning behind the design?

2. As a Caucasian fan, I find the recent character designs off-putting. Why have they become "pseudo-Caucasian" in recent titles---ie. Asian features, with blond hair, blue eyes, etc. Why not design a cast of multi-ethnic characters, make them look completely Japanese, or simply stylize them to the point of racial ambiguity---as in many other Japanese developed games (and earlier Final Fantasies)?

Thanks for all the great responses, everyone. I cobbled together an impressive list of questions -- and I think you'll enjoy the answers. Look for the interview early next week.