Nasir Gebelli, the Iranian-American programmer behind the creation of the first three Final Fantasy games, has reappeared in a Japanese documentary chronicling the origins of the iconic JRPG series. In the interview, Gebelli casually dismisses his legendary coding work as “pretty simple,” even suggesting that it could be improved with a 10% speed boost.
Gebelli’s remarks come as a surprise to many, given the impact his code has had on the gaming industry. He programmed the first Final Fantasy games solo, earning the admiration of developers like John Romero, who called him his “programming god.” Gebelli’s work on the series was instrumental in its success, and his expertise in machine code made it possible for the games to be ported to new platforms.
However, Gebelli also acknowledges that there were challenges in developing Final Fantasy. He mentions a few specific programming hurdles, including optimizing memory usage and creating visually appealing effects. Despite these challenges, Gebelli’s approach to coding was innovative and exciting, as he would often choose the most interesting solution rather than simply following convention.
Gebelli’s humility is admirable, especially given his impact on gaming history. When asked about the original Famicom version of Final Fantasy 1, he jokingly suggested that it could be improved with a 10% speed boost, highlighting the complexity and nuance of his code. This tongue-in-cheek assessment serves as a reminder that even the most legendary programmers are not immune to self-doubt and a desire for improvement.
Gebelli’s re-emergence in the gaming community is a welcome sight, offering a glimpse into the mind of one of the most influential programmers in JRPG history. His legacy continues to shape the industry, and his humility and willingness to acknowledge areas for improvement are a testament to his enduring impact.
Source: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/final-fantasy/original-final-fantasy-programmer-reappears-after-years-of-silence-casually-says-writing-his-legendary-code-was-pretty-simple-and-it-could-even-be-better