It seems MMOs have really taken their toll on him, so it's not surprising he's getting away from them. Whether they forced him out or not is irrelevant. If they did I'm sure he was happy to leave. But I've said it before and I'll say it again: Tanaka was absolutely around when he said yes to Abyssea, and now he's said yes to a new expansion. Point is despite his crappy love for making us grind things, he has brought many great things to FFXI whether you want to admit it or not. And he may very well have kept certain things in check to keep the game going that will no longer be there now. For all we know, without his influence SE may very well feel inclined to turn the game into a full on cash cow in the future. I'm talking free to play, Square Store future, even less dev crew than they have now.
I'm just saying, for all of those people who love this news here, be careful of what you ask for. FFXI will suffer to some extent without Tanaka. What that extent is will be realized in the future. I can't think of one MMO that went on to great things after it's lead man departed or the game exchanged hands for control through sale. Usually it's never the same again as those that come after are only concerned with a cash cow product, and lack the care that the original producer had for the game...
But let's say for sake of argument that Tanaka wasn't involved in Abyssea beyond giving the green light. Let's say the good that came from it was the work of Ito alone. Well then if that be the case, the outlook for FFXI may very well be excellent. But I'm cautious as hell when it comes to the heads at SE. If they rushed FFXIV out to it's doom, they are capable of anything.
Anyways, farewell Tanaka. You will be missed and not be missed by me. But for what it's worth, not that you'll ever see this post anyways, I fully understand the good you have done. But the one thing that everyone agrees on, is very true: You made us grind like slaves in the end. You surely did troll the stew out of us. And that hate has been well earned. I don't know if it's because we didn't jump on board FFXIV and you were getting revenge or if you were just trying to keep us occupied because you knew the expansion was a ways away or what, but yeah... I think I am willing to take the chance of a Tanaka-less FFXI for the future. But I thank you for your parting gift that is the new expansion. Thank you for believing in a future for FFXI still, and not delivering add on after add on for the rest of time. Thank you for giving us Final Fantasy XI and the many games before it. I hope SE will continue those feelings and your legacy lives on through their efforts, to continue proving certain players wrong in their presumptions of the state of FFXI, to continue exploring new worlds, to go where no man has gone befor- oh wait, too much Star Trek lately.
Anywho, Qa'pla, Master Tanaka!
The rest of my weekend shall be spent honoring the man that changed my life nearly a decade ago. I suggest everyone do the same. If not for his vision, we would have no FFXI. Or at the least, not the FFXI we know. He has earned that much, has he not? To look past the misdeeds for just a day, and honor the man that has brought us together in this time and place, for his many good deeds do indeed outweigh the bad. Honor him, and look forward to the future.