Sad news in the world today: NeoShinra, the RPG giant, has once again perished, this time for good.

The once proud site reduced to shambles

When NeoShinra first came, there was fanfare and light.  A new, respectable forum RPG for the video game giant, Final Fantasy VII.  Running on desperate fans’ desires to exact revenge on Sephiroth, the site grew to respectable size, but eventually extinguished itself for various reasons.

It would repeat this several times.

Alas, word on the street today is that the fan-based RPG giant is done for good.  What makes this time so different than the others?

One theory put forth is simply that the revamp came at a bad time.  The site was rebooted in September, just in time for college-bound students to return to their studies.  Another is that the main contributing body of the site – a total of six members – had all grown up past their juvenile days, and now had lives, jobs, and yes – even children.

However, the most reputable theory put forth is this: it was simply too little, too late.  Indeed, Final Fantasy VII debuted in 1997, over twelve years ago, and to some people, that was a whole lifetime ago.  Though the franchise remains popular through comics, movies, and offshoots of the game, one cannot deny that not only have twelve long years passed, but that the target audience of that game is now a full twelve years older.

The site has gone through several storylines and a multitude of memorable characters, both in-story and out.  Who could ever forget a pair of twins that, for reasons unknown, decided that they could sprout wings and fly?  And certainly no one will ever forget Armagedon, who decided that he could destroy the entire ShinRa building without anyone’s permission.   Then there were the better members, such as Krikkert, the world’s most ornery stick-wielding old man, and Rain, whose writing instantly immersed you into his posts.

Certainly no one will forget the drama that occurred within the walls of IRC.  Relationships forming and breaking up, members angry at one another for no reason, and simply strange conversations that have a history all their own.
Perhaps the most endearing bit about the website, however, were the friendships that were forged.  Though their characters might be in the midst of killing one another, the players would chat merrily in IRC, and form strong relationships with one another not in spite of the role-play, but because of it.  The types of friendships formed because of this site were the kind to persevere years later.

So I salute you, old friend.  We knew you would never last, but I’m glad you went on this long.