[lionx]

Hello guys, this is more of a thing to make a couple of my friends stfu about arguing

Basically i have two friends that i know in real life that play FFXI, and both are relatively high level. However they would always argue among one another about this one topc:

Is Sandoria built upon an Asian cultural background? Is Windurst built upon an Asian cultural background? And if they arent what are they?

So in response i decided to make a poll here in this forum in hopes that they will know the opinions of other players and...pipe down >_>; So vote away and if you want give me you reasons! o_o;

[Skoal]

Sandy is more European I would think. Look at the names of places and people. More French sounding.

[Callisto]

Well, that and the entire thing about rampart-based castle cities and whatnot being European. Your answer is no, Sandy is not based on an Asian background, although some elements of Asian culture may be infused into it due to it being a Japanese game made by Japanese people in Japan.

[Mhurron]

If anything, European Middle ages.

[Telera]

Let me give an answer in the form of a question from my mother:

"Is that supposed to be similar to a Scottish castle?"

...so no, I don't think it's based around Asian at all. Especially seeing as how someone inexperienced with the game did not jump to Asian as the first influence.

Myself, I think it's more European as well.

[Michiko]

Seems very middle ages european based to me.

[Ziero]

It's middle ages european. So far, there is no asian culture that we can get to yet, only influences from that culture affecting other aspects of the game.

[LilithAngel]

If anything, San d'Oria is based more on Medeval France than anything. The names, the culture, and even the architecture is French in origin, and if there's any Asian (and/or Japanese specifically) influence, I sure as hell don't see it past the thick French of the place. Even the music sounds like something a French band would play at a festival or something.

As far as Windurst (or the rest of Vana'diel for that matter), Asian influence seems to be actually rather absent, surprisingly, considering who developed this game, and where. The only real influence you'll see and feel is in the Far East (Samurai and Ninja AFs and storyline, Tenzen, reports and NPCs in the TAU storylines when it mentions the Far East, etc), and even then, that's currently limited to only what's in the expansions.

BTW, I've always seen Windurst to be something of a derivative of an African village, sort of a tribal culture based on a wide, open brush plain, much like the non-desert, non-jungle parts of Africa. Bastok seems to derive its culture references from Germany, while Jeuno would be a Victorian Age England type place. Al Zahbi is obviously of Arabic design, while the various pieces of info and items from other parts of the world indicate the presence of Native American and Deep African Jungle/Brazilian Rain Forest cultures out there on other continents. Only time, and further expansions, will tell, however.

[Skoal]

Wait I forgot one thing: The elves are arrogant just like the French! BaH Zing!

[Murphie]

Originally Posted by Callisto

Well, that and the entire thing about rampart-based castle cities and whatnot being European. Your answer is no, Sandy is not based on an Asian background, although some elements of Asian culture may be infused into it due to it being a Japanese game made by Japanese people in Japan.

This is how I was going to answer. <3

[DakAttack]

Sorry, lionx, but your friends are idiots.

In Italian, San d'Oria means Saint of Oria.

[Malacite]

It's Spain.

Try looking up Spanish history some time and you'll see it's almost a direct copy.

[Coinspinner]

I seem to recall reading that Mithran names and objects with Mithran homeland origin (such as Igqira Weskit) had African origins. Can't remember where. But the southern half of the Mindartian continent is definitely African themed.

[Prons]

It's supposed to be some crazy Japanese idea of France, hence all the French sounding names and sterotypical castles.

[Malacite]

No, it isn't. The names are French, and that's where the references end.

Spain clung to it's Monarchy for too long, it's people wallowing in the glory of the past, once had a mighty army, etc... trust me on this. SE does this crap all the time.

After all, Bahamut is in actuality a fish.