Editing Final Fantasy IX (section)

==Development==
Early planning for ''Final Fantasy IX'' began in July 1998 before Square had finished development on ''[[Final Fantasy VIII]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sakaguchi, Hironobu |date=November 22, 2010 |title=From the old back up file |url=http://www.mistwalkercorp.com/en/column/pg187.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330061928/http://www.mistwalkercorp.com/en/column/pg187.html |archive-date=March 30, 2012 |access-date=April 14, 2013 |publisher=Mistwalker}}</ref><ref name="IGNInterview1" /> The game was developed in Hawaii as a compromise to developers living in the United States.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> As the series' last game on the PlayStation, Sakaguchi envisioned a "reflection" on the older games of the series. Leading up to its release, Sakaguchi called ''Final Fantasy IX'' his favorite ''Final Fantasy'' game as "it's closest to [his] ideal view of what ''Final Fantasy'' should be".<ref name="IGNInterview2">{{Cite web |last=IGN Staff |date=April 5, 2000 |title=Interview with Hironobu Sakaguchi |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/06/interview-with-hironobu-sakaguchi |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331044811/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/04/06/interview-with-hironobu-sakaguchi |archive-date=March 31, 2013 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> This shift was also a response to demands from fans and other developers.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> Additionally, the team wanted to create a coherent story with deep character development; this led to the creation of Active Time Events which showcase the character's individual exploration away from the protagonist.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> Sakaguchi wrote the [[Screenwriting#Video game writing|scenario]] for the game, with further contributions from [[Kazuhiko Aoki (video game designer)|Kazuhiko Aoki]] and Nobuaki Komoto.<ref name="writer">{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2009 |title=Interview: FFCC The Crystal Bearers |url=http://www.ffworld.com/?page=article&id=35 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216021833/http://ffworld.com/?page=article&id=35 |archive-date=December 16, 2010 |access-date=January 25, 2011 |publisher=Final Fantasy World |language=fr |quote='''Toshiyuki Itahana:''' Je ne suis pas sûr, car le scénario a été écrit par Hironobu Sakaguchi / I am not sure because the scenario was written by Hironobu Sakaguchi}}</ref><ref name="IXmakingof">{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdsqEurMd2I| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/FdsqEurMd2I|archive-date=2021-11-17| url-status=live|author=[[Square Enix]]|date=2019-03-21|title=Inside Final Fantasy IX|medium=Video|website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

[[File:Ff9 screenshot fmvcharacters.png|thumb|Vivi, Zidane, Garnet, and Steiner in a [[full-motion video]] sequence]]
In the game's conceptual stage, the developers made it clear that the title would not necessarily be ''Final Fantasy IX'', as its break from the realism of ''[[Final Fantasy VII|VII]]'' and ''VIII'' may have alienated audiences. This idea led fans to speculate that it would be a "[[gaiden]]" (side story) to the main series.<ref name="GIA">{{Cite web |last=NGO Staff |date=May 24, 1999 |title=New Final Fantasy revealed |url=http://archive.thegia.com/news/n990524a.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303212104/http://archive.thegia.com/news/n990524a.html |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |publisher=Gaming Intelligence Agency}}</ref> By late 1999, however, Square had confirmed that the game would indeed be titled ''Final Fantasy IX'', and by early 2000, they had almost finished the game. The developers made several adjustments to the game, such as changing the ending seven times.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> Director [[Hiroyuki Ito]] had designed the battle system.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Studio BentStuff |title=Final Fantasy IX Ultimania |publisher=[[Square Enix]] |pages=578–582 |language=ja}}</ref>

The game's developers sought to make the game's environment more "fantasy-oriented" than its PlayStation predecessors by reintroducing a medieval setting.<ref name="RevIGN" /> In the game world, steam technology is just beginning to become widely available. The population relies on [[hydropower]] or [[wind power]] for energy sources but sometimes harness Mist or steam to drive more advanced engines. [[Norse mythology|Norse]] and Northern European mythology also inspired the game's setting. According to Ito, "[the development team is] attracted to European history and mythology because of its depth and its drama".<ref name="IGNInterview1">{{Cite web |date=September 20, 2000 |title=The Final Fantasy IX Team Spills All |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/21/the-final-fantasy-ix-team-spills-all |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121215050854/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/09/21/the-final-fantasy-ix-team-spills-all |archive-date=December 15, 2012 |access-date=June 16, 2007 |website=IGN}}</ref> The game's art director was Hideo Minaba,<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> while the characters were designed by [[Shūkō Murase]] and Toshiyuki Itahana.<ref name="IXstaffFam">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202007/14202111.html|script-title=ja:『FF9』20周年を祝うのに理由がいるかい？ 坂口博信氏を始めとするクリエイター陣や、ファンの記憶を集めた28ページ特集【先出し週刊ファミ通】|language=ja|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|date=2020-07-14|access-date=2023-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716022901/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202007/14202111.html|archive-date=2020-07-16|url-status=live}}</ref> Recurring artist [[Yoshitaka Amano]] created promotional concept art of the characters and world, and designed the logo.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Sky: The Art of Final Fantasy|publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics]]|isbn=978-1-6165-5160-5|volume=3|date=June 28, 2013}}</ref><ref name="GSamanoIX">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-final-fantasy-concept-artist-yoshitaka-amano/1100-2662315/ |title=Q&A: Final Fantasy Concept Artist Yoshitaka Amano |website=[[GameSpot]] |date=2000-12-07 |access-date=2014-02-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328151138/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/qanda-final-fantasy-concept-artist-yoshitaka-amano/1100-2662315/|archive-date=2016-03-28|url-status=live}}</ref> The main ''Final Fantasy IX'' website says the development of the game's world serves as a culmination of the series by blending the "successful elements of the past, such as a return to the fantasy roots", with newer elements.<ref name="mainsite" /> To accomplish this and satisfy fans who had become used to the realistic designs of ''Final Fantasy VIII'', the designers stressed creating characters with whom the player could easily relate.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> The characters had "comic-like looks" as a result.<ref name="IGNInterview1" /> In addition, ''[[The Dark Crystal]]'' was used as inspiration for the design of the world and characters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The making of FINAL FANTASY IX {{!}} Square Enix Blog |url=https://square-enix-games.com/en_GB/news/making-final-fantasy-ix |access-date=2023-10-21 |website=square-enix-games.com |language=en |archive-date=October 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211019145841/https://square-enix-games.com/en_GB/news/making-final-fantasy-ix |url-status=live }}</ref> Ito suggested that the protagonist Zidane should be flirtatious towards women.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Coxon |first=Sachi |date=March 24, 2000 |title=Interview with Square: Part 3 |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2000/032400b.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403230030/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q1-2000/032400b.html |archive-date=April 3, 2013 |access-date=April 14, 2013 |publisher=RPGamer}}</ref>

===Music===
{{Main|Music of Final Fantasy IX}}
Regular series composer [[Nobuo Uematsu]] wrote the music of ''Final Fantasy IX''. In early discussions about the game, Ito asked him to compose themes for the eight main characters along with "an exciting battle track, a gloomy, danger-evoking piece, and around ten other tracks". Uematsu spent a year composing and producing "around 160" pieces, with 140 appearing in the game.<ref name="fami-interview">{{Cite web |title=Nobuo Uematsu Interview by Weekly Famitsu |url=http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobrpg.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120920025801/http://www.nobuouematsu.com/nobrpg.html |archive-date=September 20, 2012 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |publisher=[[Famitsu]]}}</ref><ref name="ign-interview">{{Cite web |last=Zdyrko, Dave |date=September 21, 2000 |title=The Final Fantasy IX Team Spills All |url=http://psx.ign.com/news/25276.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001203212500/http://psx.ign.com/news/25276.html |archive-date=December 3, 2000 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |website=IGN}}</ref> During writing sessions, Square gave him a travel break in Europe for inspiration, where he spent time admiring ancient architecture in places like Germany. Uematsu cited [[medieval music]] as a significant influence on the score of ''IX''. He aimed for a "simple" and "warm" atmosphere and incorporated uncommon instruments like the [[kazoo]] and [[dulcimer]]. Unlike the stark realism of its predecessors, the high fantasy undertones of ''IX'' allowed for a broader spectrum of musical styles and moods. Uematsu composed with a piano and used two contrasting methods: "I create music that fits the events in the game, but sometimes, the [developers] will adjust a game event to fit the music I've already written".<ref name="ign-interview" />

Uematsu incorporated several motifs from older ''Final Fantasy'' games into the score, such as the original battle music intro, a reworked ''Volcano Theme'' from ''[[Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]'' and the Pandemonium theme in ''[[Final Fantasy II]]''.<ref name="fami-interview" /><ref name="ign-interview" /> Tantalus' band plays "Rufus' Welcoming Ceremony" from ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' near the beginning of the game. Uematsu has stated on several occasions that ''Final Fantasy IX'' is his favorite score.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor, Stu |title="Smile, Please!": Neo Interviews Final Fantasy Composer, Nobuo Uematsu |url=http://www.neomag.co.uk/article.asp?IntID=14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080216201125/http://www.neomag.co.uk/article.asp?IntID=14 |archive-date=February 16, 2008 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |website=[[Neo (magazine)|Neo]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fahey, Rob |date=February 2, 2005 |title=Focus On: Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uematsu |url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-on-final-fantasy-composer-nobuo-uematsu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829145306/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/focus-on-final-fantasy-composer-nobuo-uematsu |archive-date=August 29, 2012 |access-date=June 18, 2007 |publisher=[[GamesIndustry.biz]]}}</ref> "Melodies of Life" is the theme song of ''IX'' and shares its main melody with pieces frequently used in the game itself, such as the [[overworld]] theme and a lullaby that Garnet sings.<ref name="ign">{{Cite web |last=Smith, David |year=2007 |title=Final Fantasy IX 'Melodies of Life' Single |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/15/final-fantasy-ix-melodies-of-life-single |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206021656/http://www.ign.com/articles/2000/08/15/final-fantasy-ix-melodies-of-life-single |archive-date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=April 28, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> [[Emiko Shiratori]] performed this piece in both the Japanese and English versions with arrangement by [[Shirō Hamaguchi]].<ref name="ign" />