ARTWORK
TUTORIALS
FORUMS
A Final Farewell...
FFi
| July 21st, 2008
It was only a couple of days ago that I was raving about my progress on Version 2. Now, the decision has been made to shut down this website indefinitely.
Many, many circumstances have led to this conclusion, though not just the ones that most people are expecting. No, the site isn't closing because of our lack of traffic. And no, it's not closing solely because of our recent forum issue, though it did factor in.
I've always said that FFi was overdue for a huge traffic boost, and I wasn't lying in that regard. I had made arrangements several weeks ago to do some freelance work for a high-profile fan site, in exchange for some heavy FFi exposure there. I am still planning on doing that work, though now obviously FFi won't be in the deal.
So why is Final Fantasy Illumina being abandoned?
First, the technical side.
With the aforementioned forum issue, we discovered that we would have to completely change our brand of forums. I had previously stated that all of our posts and members would be lost, but I was mistaken--there are ways to save it all and use it on the new forum.
However, a more pressing issue is our artwork submission system, which has been custom-coded from scratch by our host/developer Moiph to work with IP Board. If we changed to a new forum, all of our artwork coding would be messed up completely, to put it simple. The site-forum connection is quite complex, and with a bit of work would be salvageable--but Moiph is doing other things as well, and likely would never have the time to essentially re-code the entire website.
So, with all of these issues into play, allowing FFi to continue in its current state would prove to be too much work and time for either of us to manage.
As for the other factors that have lead to this decision, none have been as important as my dwindling amount of interest in being a do-it-all web administrator.
I still love Final Fantasy, Ashe, and graphic design.
But I think I'm going to retire from coding websites and all of its highly-detailed aspects.
Instead, I may take up some permanent and/or temporary art director/concept designer positions at other websites. A few high-profile names have already shown interest in letting me join their design teams.
For those jobs, I would just be the designer of the initial concept and/or help to direct the visual progress of the site, rather than being the one doing all of the individual images, CSS, and coding. Certainly, I see my ability to guide/direct others and make critical stylistic decisions to be a strong part of my personality.
To have worked on a small site like FFi (which I see as a bit "indie") for so long, and then to be picked up by larger organizations--I see it as an opportunity to spread the style and mindset of my work on FFi to an even wider audience. To be able to leave my design "touch" in other places is an exciting concept for me.
I don't see this as moving up and "to better places." There will always be a part of me that loves the idea of taking a site from scratch and bringing it up myself with a small team. I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit and, even through its down times, working on FFi has fulfilled a part of me that couldn't be filled any other way. Final Fantasy Illumina will always be loved.
What will happen to the site?
Although the site will no longer be maintained, it will remain online, if only to serve as an archive.
The forums will be removed. Likewise, all interaction with news or art will be disabled.
All affiliates will be removed. All staff will be officially relieved of their positions.
As for the address, I will continue to financially support the domain FF-IILUMINA.NET.
However, these URLs are also owned by me, were very recently registered (a few this month), and are now for sale:
FFDISSIDIA.COM
FFDISSIDIA.NET
FF-ARTWORK.COM
FF-ARTWORK.NET
FINALFANTASYART.NET
Send an email to JAYHAWK.KU @ GMAIL.COM if interested.
What will you do now?
I am going to run my personal portfolio website at TSUAII.COM. So, if you'd like to keep up with what I'm up to, including my personal art, work for other websites, or life events (if you really care :P) that would be the place to go.
Finally, thanks.
I'd like to give a deep, heartfelt thanks to everyone who has been a part of this experience. From the staff to the members, to the artists who contributed their art--you all have helped to mold an important part of my life.
Thanks to hateradio and Moiph, I went from not knowing what CSS and XHTML even were a year ago, to being able to design and code a site completely by myself. Without classes, tutorials, or books, but rather just by working with you two and studying your code, I've developed all of my web design knowledge, and it will all be useful to me for likely the rest of my life.
Seeing the site start as a PSD, to becoming a static HTML page, and now this--I feel like I've truly accomplished my original goal that I set way back in 2006, on the night before FFXII was released. Both of you have put so much time into the site, and dealt with so much of my super-controlling demands. :lol:
Thanks to the rest of the staff, especially Snake, who was solely responsible for the "February Rush," which saw the most activity at FFi to date. To see my website reach that level of popularity was such an experience.
To all of the regular forum members, and especially to Hullabaloo and Delita Heiral, who have been truly dedicated to the site through its highs and lows, I give my thanks. This site was made for people like you. I hope the passing of the site doesn't signify the passing of our relationships.
Thanks to anyone who submitted their art to the gallery. Your contributions were what made this site so special.
Also, a big thanks to Kyle, Reldin and Ram, founders of FINALFANTASYXIII.NET, CREATIVE UNCUT and FOREVER-FANTASY.NET, respectively, for their help in teaching me about SEO and how to be a good webmaster. Your guidance was invaluable.
So, from me, Jon (aka Jayhawk) and everyone at FFi:
Farewell.
It was an adventure.
This site was impressive from day one. Creativity and amazingly great artwork all mixed in together set Final Fantasy Illumina apart from the rest. It was great posting here, and I loved every bit of it. There were some good times here. Like when you, xiitharn, and I joked around about hateradio being the village mule and making the HEEEEEHAWWWW! sound. Ah, that couldn't have happened any place but here. This is sad. I guess it doesn't help that I'm also listening to a sad song at this point in time. Ah, but yeah, it was a great journey. Even if I knew that Final Fantasy Illumina's life would be cut short, I would have still have talked greatly about it. It's amazing in every single way, and no site will ever come close. Goodbye Final Fantasy Illumina! It was nice posting on you. :)
There are so very many words I would like to say to your credit, Jay, for without you, this site never would have been created and I never would have had the awesome experiences, or made the great friends I have made here in just a year's time. You've put so much hard work into this site, made it something really amazing, and it is an honor to have been able to contribute my service to the forums and the awesome people in it. But, as much as I would love to express everything I feel and love about this site, it seems there just aren't enough words to do so. Instead, I give you my sincerest thanks in exchange for all the work you have done, and best hopes for the future, because I know you're more than capable of producing things more amazing that I can ever imagine, and I'll be sure to keep in touch through other forums (though it won't be the same). I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute spent here, and I am extremely reluctant to say goodbye. Final Fantasy Illumina has been a truly enriching experience, and I shall deeply miss it. Lots of love, Hullabaloo
Bye, bye FFI! Even though I'm not an active member, it's sad to see this site go away. I'm glad though that I was able to join in a bit at least and get to say goodbye to everyone.