Final Fantasy comes to 360

By Oli Welsh Published 15 July, 2008

Questions and answers from the Square Enix press conference. Mostly the former.

There were plenty of things about the Xbox 360 E3 press conference that were surprising - not least, what wasn't in it - but none more so than the announcement that Final Fantasy XIII would be coming to Microsoft's console, at launch, in the US and Europe.

Other than the belated release of Final Fantasy XI, this will make it the first Final Fantasy game to be released on an Xbox; the first in the main series to be released on anything other than a Sony PlayStation since 1994; and the first simultaneous multi-format release in the series' entire history.

Although publisher and developer Square Enix has recently made a show of support for the 360 - offering it the exclusive Infinite Undiscovery and Star Ocean: The Last Hope, as well as a head start on Last Remnant - this is still a sensational departure from the Japanese RPG giant. It held its own press conference, immediately after Microsoft's, to explain the decision and answer the questions of the press. The first of which naturally was: why?

'Final Fantasy comes to 360' Screenshot 1

What we've been shown of FFXIII hasn't really evolved in two years, but it still looks exotic and tantalising.

Corporate executive Shinji Hashimoto said the decision was simply about reaching as broad an audience as possible in those Western markets that are split between Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. "We considered the hardware situation, and would like to provide Final Fantasy XIII to as many fans as possible throughout the world. It was because of the spread of the hardware," Hashimoto said.

However, Final Fantasy XIII remains a PS3-exclusive in Japan, where it will be released first. Hashimoto explained that the team was concentrating on finishing the PS3 version for the Japanese market for now; the game would then be ported to 360 and localised for Western markets. Plans for other Asian markets hadn't been finalised.

The PS3 and 360 versions will launch alongside each other in the US and Europe, although the European release will most likely arrive some time after the American one. Producer Yoshinori Kitase, a veteran of fan-favourite Final Fantasy VII, promised that Square Enix would pull out all the stops for a speedy localisation. "We will try to make it as close as possible, expedite is as fast as possible, make it much faster than previously," he claimed.

There are no plans for exclusive content or, indeed, any difference at all between the two versions. As to whether the 360 version would have to ship on multiple DVD discs, the Square execs said it was too early to say. It is also "to be decided" if the game would make any use of Xbox Live's features.

'Final Fantasy comes to 360' Screenshot 2

Battle system remain elusive, despite several E3 showings.

Companion game Final Fantasy Versus XIII - an action-RPG set in the same universe as the headlining new Final Fantasy - remains a PS3 exclusive. "We haven't changed anything," said Hashimoto. On the possibility of a PC version of Final Fantasy XIII itself, however, Kitase was more equivocal. Asked if it would follow multi-format stable-mate Last Remnant onto Games for Windows, he said, "For now, it's to be decided." Indeed, the game is being developed on PCs.

Kitase revealed that the decision to bring Final Fantasy XIII to 360 was a fairly recent one, and that the team was just now ready to begin development on the version for Microsoft's console. "We had to adjust so many things, including the relationship with Microsoft, and the development tools - it wasn't such a long time ago that we made the decision," he said.

Moving on to the game itself, Kitase wasn't prepared to say anything about it that hadn't already been said. Asked if it would follow the "offline MMO" style of Final Fantasy XII, he stressed that it would be a very different game. "Every time we release a new game we try to make a new, unique game design," he said.

"Overall I would say the entire atmosphere is different," he added, explaining that XIII would have a faster tempo and be "more flashy on the screen, you can feel more excitement." Although the Active Time Battle system traditional to Final Fantasies would return, it would be in a new form, "indirectly influenced" by the pace and spectacle of Square Enix's animated film, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children. Beyond that, Kitase refused to give any detail on the game's plot or design.

'Final Fantasy comes to 360' Screenshot 3

The CG continues to look astonishing, clearly influenced by the team's experience creating Final Fantasy VII spin-off movie Advent Children.

Nor was there any mention of that all-important launch date. For a game first unveiled over two years ago, there is very, very little that we know about Final Fantasy XIII. The trailer suggests an impossibly grandiose and baroque science-fantasy adventure, combo-heavy ballistic and acrobatic combat, and a noticeably solitary heroine. None of this - apart from that last, quite possibly misleading detail - should come as a surprise.

Nor, really, should Square Enix's decision that it wants its entire army of Western fans to be able to partake of this new instalment in its most globally popular franchise, no matter what console they own. Hashimoto's typically Japanese understatement makes this momentous move sound like common sense, and perhaps that's all it is.

Nevertheless, Square Enix's announcement today shifted the gaming landscape. The company has always placed Final Fantasy like vote of confidence, a seal of approval on the winning side - grating it first to Nintendo, then Sony. It was one of the last great third-party exclusives, and it was highly prized. Now, it's a game for everyone, and there are no more winners. Every new Final Fantasy portrays a brave new world - but Final Fantasy XIII really is one.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (128) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Bangaioh #1 4 years ago

    wow, this popped up at 6.43 uk time! don't you guys at EG have a life? :)
    oh, first!!

  • Mugwum Verified Operations Director, Eurogamer Network #2 4 years ago

    "wow, this popped up at 6.43 uk time! don't you guys at EG have a life? :)
    oh, first!!"

    It's only 10:50pm in LA :-)

  • Prehensile_Plant #3 4 years ago

    This will make it the first Final Fantasy game to be released on an Xbox
    I thought you were into MMOs Oli? FFXI?

    Edit: amended!
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 08:39

  • Raz76 #4 4 years ago

    @above

    Actually it was FFXI

  • sweetcheeks #5 4 years ago

    MS- all your games are now belong to us

  • KD #6 4 years ago

    @ Bangaioh

    Someones grabbing the overtime by the look of it

  • the_dudefather #7 4 years ago

    "the first in the main series to be released on anything other than a Sony PlayStation since 1994"

    the PC simply does not count (ff7+8)

  • Prodigy_BE #8 4 years ago

    Inevitable, I guess. That game costs so much money, that they had to be nuts not to do it.
    Good news for all 360, I'm really happy for them. I just hope Squenix doesn't compromise the things they set out to do, to get FFXIII on a dvd.

    As long as it's 1 blu-ray for PS3, multiple DVD's for 360, but all the bells and whistles game-wise, I'm happy.

  • Moggo #9 4 years ago

    "DING DING DING! What'we have for her, Johnny!"

    This is quite a kick in the pants for the PS3 Defence League you'd have to think. Good news for everyone else though.

  • Krelle #10 4 years ago

    No change for me, getting the jap ps3 version anyway, woo.

  • Xerx3s #11 4 years ago

    "Well the quote starts to dissipate as the logic disappears ;) "

    Howso? The logic of the $$$ stands as strong as ever (the same can't be said about the value though).

  • muscleblade #12 4 years ago

    Im guessing the superior version will be the 360 version as usually (always?).

    And along comes 3 exclusive jrpgs from square enix aswell. Lets hope the PS3 version of FF wont be cancelled or delayed or become a crappy port.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 07:49

  • oupe #13 4 years ago

    This game was about the only reason for me to get a ps3. No troll intended.

    /is happy with 360

    /waits for wipeout ports

  • Darren #14 4 years ago

    Technically FFXIII won't be the first game to appear on the Xbox platform as FFXI was released on the 360, remember? ;)

  • Diomedes117 #15 4 years ago

    As a FF fan with an Xbox 360 they get one sale from me...

  • InsoFox #16 4 years ago

    @muscleblade - Hm, wouldn't be so sure, since the lead console was the PS3 this time 'round. I expect they'll be pretty close in quality, anyway. 360 version you might have to change a disc every 15 hours (oh no, what a hardship).

  • Rodney #17 4 years ago

    I have actually never got round to playing any Final Fantasy games.

    I am interested in this if it is coming to 360, but could somebody tell me if each final fantasy is self contained story?

  • space_ace #18 4 years ago

    1. get ff13
    2. remove jet engines noise
    3. take on the world

    brilliant plan :)

  • Kazzahdrane #19 4 years ago

    Rodney: yes they are, in fact every numbered FF game (with the exception of sequel FFX-2) is set in a different world with different characters. There are a few running themes such as the names of spells, items and summons, and usually a character called Cid at some point in the proceedings, but the games are wholly unrelated to one another.

    I really wasn't very enamoured with FFXII so was fairly happy to let XIII to pass me by since I don't have a PS3, but since I have a 360 and am currently loving Lost Odyssey on it I might be tempted to grab XIII, assuming the 360 version is the same as the PS3 one but with a few disc swaps across the adventure. Big fan of the series, XII just bored me :(

  • Yaster #20 4 years ago

    So the 360 version will be a port then?

    Im not into FF games but I think that if I do cave into this I may pick up the US version on import for PS3 as I know it will be region free. there's usually this massive wait between the US and European versions.

  • japstersam #21 4 years ago

    YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES!!!!!!!

  • allywidd #22 4 years ago

    having a ps3, im just glad xbox users are gonna have a chance to play one of the series.

  • wingzerosys #23 4 years ago

    Square Enix: 360 fanboy's.

    They're releasing Infinite Undiscovery and Star Ocean 4 (began on the ps1) exclusively for the 360, aswell as porting one of the only ps3 rpg's.

    Nearly every rpg is being released on the 360 just to boost its popularity in japan, except for FFXIII.

    I wouldn't be shocked if Kingdom Hearts 3 will also be 360 exclusive.

    Also awaiting Namco to announce Tekken 6 for the 360, aswell as Konami announcing MGS 4 and ZOE 3 for the 360.

  • penhalion #24 4 years ago

    @wingzerosys

    Except that FFXIII isn't released on 360 in japan....

  • anomagnus #25 4 years ago

    well, no one else has said it so,

    PS3LOL

  • Rirekon #26 4 years ago

    Excellent, another potential reason to get a PS3 and put up with the shocking controllers down the drain. One X360 version for me!

  • Machetazo #27 4 years ago

    @wingzero But, Star Ocean 4 isn't exclusive to 360, according to the Microsoft conference slide.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 09:22

  • wingzerosys #28 4 years ago

    @Penhalion.

    Duh, I said except for FFXIII.


    Isn't it? I didn't know.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 09:24

  • Buztafen #29 4 years ago

    The reasoning behind buying a PS3 for me is now down to 2 games......GT5 and GOW 3...i may aswell wait till 2010 then...

    /Puts tenner down on GOW3 being multi platform
    /Feels slightly smugger about getting a 360 when his mates waited for the PS3
    /Turns amp up to 11 to cover sound of jet engines
    /wanks

  • muscleblade #30 4 years ago

    @InsoFox

    True.

  • Killerbee #31 4 years ago

    Actually, for me the most important and exciting statement in this article is this one:

    "the Active Time Battle system traditional to Final Fantasies would return"

    \o/

    After the shite that was FFXII's battle system and the amount of fun I'm having playing FFVI Advance, this is the best news I've heard about this game.

    As for the 360 getting a version - well, it's certainly great news for gamers and I understand Square Enix's business decision to do this. It's a shame they don't apply the same logic in reverse and port some of their 360 exclusives to the PS3 - come on, play fair! :)

    It's a definite coup for Microsoft and means the PS3 has lost one of the biggest reasons to ally yourself to that console over the 360. But should it really come as a surprise? Sony have been quite public about the fact that they were not going to buy any more Playstation exclusives from third party developers - GTAIV was the other obvious example where they seemingly let a goldmine of opportunity go. Who knows, maybe cash is short at Sony and maybe Microsoft are quietly "helping" Square with the conversion to 360.

    One thing's for sure, Sony had better have something good up thier sleeve for their conference this evening...

  • wingzerosys #32 4 years ago

    ^I agree.

    The ps3 is awsome (so are both the wii and 360), but your right, why don't dev's play fair.

  • RexRunti #33 4 years ago

    If it wasn't for Blu-Ray this would have prompted me to sell my PS3. At any rate once I finish MGS4 i think it will be along time before i use it as a games console again.

    (I also have a 360, Wii, and gaming PC)

  • septimus #34 4 years ago

    MS will have paid them a shit ton of money for the port. Sony won't have paid them enough to port back the 360 games. Simple.

    It's how MS work, throw money at it and then turn the 360 into a Wii on the side.

  • miiiguel #35 4 years ago

    "So the 360 version will be a port then?"
    I think it's mentioned the game is beeing developed on PC.

    On the other hand I don't understand the "oooh MS is spending money to make their consumers happy! oooh! oooh! oh so bad!".
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 09:44

  • wingzerosys #36 4 years ago

    Micro$oft are desperate to win, they rushed the 360 to become no.1.

  • FeralUK #37 4 years ago

    "Companion game Final Fantasy Versus XIII remains a PS3 exclusive"

    Screw Versus!!!

  • Buztafen #38 4 years ago

    @septimus - i disagree, if anything i reckon it'll of been a mutual agreement for both parties. MS has a enough 360 out there to increase the sales of FFXIII by almost 2 thirds, i think its the other way round....

  • Widge #39 4 years ago

    Well, to be honest, my first move to Playstation was due to the mentality of "what system has Zelda, what system has FF".... so that lead to N64 and PS1, now there are two systems offering the FF pitch (although Versus XIII? I don't see that mentioned). Part of me thinks "hey! I could easily switch!" but then there is the bug bear of also using my PS3 as my entertainment unit, going to lose all my HD movies and general quietness for viewing them.

    Perhaps roll on a next gen 360 with bluray and quiteness? Although I'd still be peeved at having to pay for online!

  • Widge #40 4 years ago

    I tell you what, I do hope that they're lavishing a bit more on detail and this doesn't end up as one DVD worth's of game. Did not like those windowed CGI on FF12!

  • ps3owner #41 4 years ago

    well, new 60GB Xbox makes sense then. It means you can install 40GB on the HDD first, then play with the disk in the drive. PS3 will have a 5GB install.

    man these consoles are slowly but surely turning into PC's. It has become a full circle.

  • TheJuriel #42 4 years ago

    "One thing's for sure, Sony had better have something good up thier sleeve for their conference this evening..."

    I think they're going to talk about Home some more.

  • JediMasterMalik #43 4 years ago

    Damn! I want a PC version now! Looks like I'll have to wait though, I doubt they'll release it on the PC at the same time. A lot of PS3 owners are going to be pissed when this comes out in Japan and there's no English language version, and rightfully so. It looks like they plan on translating and making the 360 version at the same time, which seems to me that even if the translation is finished, they'll delay the PS3 version to get it in line with the 360 version, which really sucks.

  • Widge #44 4 years ago

    I just picked up on that! A PC version would be the ultimate of them all! My laptop can equal a 360 and PS3, so would be right at home on that! Portable FF.

  • DjFlex52 #45 4 years ago

    MS will have paid them a shit ton of money for the port. Sony won't have paid them enough to port back the 360 games. Simple.

    It's how MS work, throw money at it and then turn the 360 into a Wii on the side.

    @septimus

    Its not just how MS works but how all corporations work.
    Why do people forget that this is what Sony did to Nintendo & Sega, 14 years ago, when they were newbs in the videogame industry?
    Sony bought licenses & developers, all the while, it started out with them collaborating with Nintendo to build a CD console.
    Sony reneged on that deal.

  • Dizzy #46 4 years ago

    "MS will have paid them a shit ton of money for the port. Sony won't have paid them enough to port back the 360 games. Simple. "

    Yea... devs and publishers preferring the 360 over the PS3 is JUST NOT POSSIBLE!!!!! Does not compute!

    /explodes

  • slivir #47 4 years ago

    Guess Sony didn't want to pay to make it an exclusive. Bad decision there. One less reason to by a ps3. Now only if Konami would port mgs4...

  • rodpad #48 4 years ago

    Chances on Square region locking the USA version of FFXIII on the 360?

  • Widge #49 4 years ago

    Well at least FFXII was better than X-2!

  • Jamiesan #50 4 years ago

    all games are developed on a PC...
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 11:04

  • Turambar #51 4 years ago

    Sony still has a few exclusive RPG tricks up its sleeve:

    Disgaea 3
    Valkyria Chronicles
    White Knight Chronicles
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 11:00

  • Goodfella #52 4 years ago

    Indeed, and White Knight Chronicles looks set to trump all of them.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 11:07

  • muftak #53 4 years ago

    im glad atleast 360 owners can see what all the fuss will be about.

    now on a recent press release they only stated one 360 exclusive which wasnt star ocean , i wonder if that is a timed for the 360.

    "Great news that FF is coming to the 360. That cements the fact that the 360 really is the home of JRPGs."

    really!!!!! still wont sell shit in japan.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 11:08

  • Goodfella #54 4 years ago

    really!!!!! still wont sell shit in japan.

    Especially as FFXIII isn't being released in Japan on the 360, lol.

  • Everblue #55 4 years ago

    These are normal Microsoft tactics... If need be, they will start giving out free consoles and games to everyone just to destroy the competion. Why? Because they afford it (infinite money FTW o/ ). They will keep buying studios until, if possible, games are released only for X360. And when the competition is dead, they will have the market all for themselves.... ouch.

  • mkreku #56 4 years ago

    Can't Level 5 also drop the PS3 exclusivity? Dragon Quest 8 was sooo good..

  • agparrot #57 4 years ago

    Well, as, historically, an owner of consoles made by more than one company, this is great news for those of us who, like me, have yet to be convinced enough by the PS3 to buy one.

    In some ways... because actually I am disappointed that one of the reasons that I wanted a PS3 is now gone. Many of its other features are very attractive, and with every feature or game that slips into 360-land, I am less convinced of the urgency to get a PS3... I still *want* one, but XIII moving over means that it'll probably be even longer until it happens, which upsets the gadget-hungry element of my persona.

    Year of the PS3, indeed.

  • muftak #58 4 years ago

    @Goodfella

    was on about the 360 in gen not just FF13

  • Artemus #59 4 years ago

    "/Puts tenner down on GOW3 being multi platform"

    Pretty stupid bet as God of War 3 is being made by Sony.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 11:31

  • FladgeMangle #60 4 years ago

    @ DjFlex52

    Good points mate, but is was Nintendo who backed out of the CD player deal with Sony, not the other way round. This happened before SCE and the Playstation as we know it were even conceived.

    Mandatory article comment - Very good news for Square Enix and Western 360 owners who like Final Fantasy. No different for PS3 owners, so no problemo. Everybody wins. Hurrah!

  • Moz #61 4 years ago

    oh great so the 360 release will no nout delay the western release even further then!!!!!!!

  • Widge #62 4 years ago

    Valkyria Chronicles doesn't look very impressive at this stage

  • Goodfella #63 4 years ago

    @Goodfella

    was on about the 360 in gen not just FF13

    Oh right, fair enough.

  • JediMasterMalik #64 4 years ago

    Valkyria looks great, what you talking about!?

  • Dizzy #65 4 years ago

    It is strange since Sony has a 8% share in Square. The beginning of the end?

  • Widge #66 4 years ago

    I had a look at a vid of the actual gameplay of Valkyria (opening 10 mins or so)... ok it wasn't me playing, its me looking at a feed, but the actual combat arenas didn't look particularly good ... boxy, empty, lacking character, plus the gameplay was coming across like an akward blend of sRPG and FPS. You get your person, run about, find a position, shoot at the enemy. Didn't particularly seem flowing or interesting.

    The stills of the cutscenes look lovely though and thats what originally enticed me in, just not sure its translating to the actual combat.

    Also I'm coming from the perspective of someone who has seen multiple releases of sRPGs, action RPGs on the PSP and just wish someone would give me a squad of three people and a little time bar that fills up.

  • FladgeMangle #67 4 years ago

    @ Dizzy

    Maybe it's the end of the beginning..?

    If Sony have an 8% share in Square then wont they make money out of the Western FFVIII 360 sales? :o)

    Makes a change from Microsoft making money out of Sony (their stake in Immersion, Vaios using Windows etc..)

  • Widge #68 4 years ago

    In my mind, this isn't so much an impact on the current generation of consoles, but certainly a consideration for the next generation of consoles.

  • Feanor #69 4 years ago

    Square simply couldn't afford to make a game as expensive as FFXIII only for the console with the lowest market share without Sony paying them a ridiculous amount of money.

    I like the FF series and want to see it prosper, and making a 360 version for Europe and America will help that happen, even if MS haven't paid Square-Enix anything.

  • Dizzy #70 4 years ago

    "If Sony have an 8% share in Square then wont they make money out of the Western FFVIII 360 sales? :o) "

    Yea ofc... so you are saying that making money on 360 sales is preferable than making money on PS3 sales????

  • SpyroViper #71 4 years ago

    If you own a 360 then you are NOT a FF fan. Stupid Square, I will not buy this game or any other games that Square release from now on. They have betrayed their loyal fanbase of Playstation owners, I say we betray them back.

  • Stepharneo #72 4 years ago

    @DjFlex52
    actually i believe nintendo where the ones who pulled out of the cd snes last minute leaving sony on their ass...which kind've backfired leaving kuteragi to make his own console, iirc. there was an article on eurogamer when he retired detailing the whole debacle. and ff7 was on teh ps1 because it suited the console more than teh n64 if gametrailers ffretrospective is to be believed.

    i must say i do feel marginly gutted about this, only because i can imagine the smile on my friends face, but honestly all my friends have 360's so if there are any exclusive games i just play them round their houses (eg ninja gaiden 2, rockband etc), so i'm still happy with my ps3. and the 360 still shocks me at how loud it is everytime i play on one.

    i guess as long as the game isn't hindered by the lowest common denominator, then all it means is that there will be a bigger budget for ff14. still it makes me laugh when people see it as a company screwing them over...i mean really, just because you buy a console doesn't mean that the company who made it will be all chummy with you, you don't deserve anything extra from them even if you did spend around £500 at launch, and if you think that you do deserve anything more from them then you need to grow up and learn how the real world works, companies are in the buisness of making money, not friends.

  • goz #73 4 years ago

    SpyroViper: Squaresoft was a Nintendo-only dev/ publisher for ten years before they moved to Sony you twit.

    Platform partisanship is so depressing.

  • Moz #74 4 years ago

    @SpyroViper but if you do that then the 360 sales will be perportionatly higher. Where as if it sells lots more on playstation then the cost of porting to 360 may be to high compared to the extra sales.

  • Buztafen #75 4 years ago

    ["/Puts tenner down on GOW3 being multi platform"

    Pretty stupid bet as God of War 3 is being made by Sony.]


    @Artemus - And the inventor of sarcasm rest soundly in his grave.....:)

  • nedgip #76 4 years ago

    HAHA nice! there goes another 100 hours of my life

  • Beek4257 #77 4 years ago

    "Puts tenner down on GOW3 being multi platform"

    Pretty stupid bet as God of War 3 is being made by Sony.

    I can never tell whether the G in GOW means "God" or "Gears". It kinda makes a difference, you know.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 12:37

  • slivir #78 4 years ago

    http://ko taku.com/5025233/final-fantasy-...

  • Vin #79 4 years ago

    Suck it up and suck it down, kids.

  • InsoFox #80 4 years ago

    @SpyroViper: "If you own a 360 then you are NOT a FF fan. Stupid Square, I will not buy this game or any other games that Square release from now on. They have betrayed their loyal fanbase of Playstation owners, I say we betray them back. "

    Ahahahahaha.
    Ahaha.

    This is a joke, right? You're joking. Right? I mean... you ARE, right?

    Seriously, grow up. Like it's a bad thing that a game you want is coming out on more than one system. If you're an FF fan then shouldn't you be happy that the series is getting to a broader range of players? Certainly I really like FF, but it wasn't -quite- reason enough for me to get a PS3 on its own, so I'm glad that the 360 version is coming out, to remove that temptation altogether.

    Did I mention that you need to grow the hell up?

  • Buztafen #81 4 years ago

    @Beek4257 - Sorry mate i'll literate myself properly next time

    /preferred Beek4256.....he was much nicer....

  • dryden555 #82 4 years ago

    we can assume MS threw some $$ their way to make this happen.

  • Buztafen #83 4 years ago

    @ dryden - Nope, i reckon it was the other way round.....

    Square - can we have some of your 20million installed customer base please??

    M$ - Phssssh.....go on then....

  • Yaster #84 4 years ago

    If you own a 360 then you are NOT a FF fan. Stupid Square, I will not buy this game or any other games that Square release from now on. They have betrayed their loyal fanbase of Playstation owners, I say we betray them back.

    You'd have thought from reading the above that SE have cancelled the PS3 version.

    The PS3 version is still a timed exclusive, just for the time the game is out in Japan before the english translation is made. the of course theres also Versus XIII which is still PS3 exclusive

  • mono_eric3 #85 4 years ago

    I am an xbox owner, I enjoy playing on it all the time. I have been trying to avoid buying a PS3 since its release as I really don't see the need for it..

    However..

    Out of all the things that are supposed to make the PS3 special, the only part of the hardware that I see as being superior is the the Blu-ray drive (and yes it did hike up the price etc..).

    Now I have yet to see a game that is on PS3 and couldn't work on 360, but i thought FFXIII would be it.

    All that sumptuous HD CG in 1080p. I was kinda hoping it would be a multi-blu-ray game.

    But I guess swapping discs is no biggie, depends on how many discs though.

    : D

  • SeesThroughAll #86 4 years ago

    it started out with them collaborating with Nintendo to build a CD console.
    Sony reneged on that deal.

    They did that because Nintendo stabbed them on the back with Phillips.

  • Niall #87 4 years ago

    Did people really not love FFXII? It's my favourite in the series, and I've been playing them for over 15 years now.
    The battle system was an utter revelation and everything about it just screamed quality. I loved Lost Odyssey to bits, but after playing XII, the combat system seemed like a bit of a relic of a bygone age.
    I wouldnt mind if the old battle system was there, I bet I will still adore this game. It would just feel like a bit of a step back for them.

  • Widge #88 4 years ago

    It was the story element that was lacking for me. Half the time, absolutely nothing of note was happening in the game, felt so low impact... this compared to some of the classic epics from games past.

    oh, and like FF7 and 8... I didn't like the way there was nothing really to differentiate between the characters. I loved the set roles of FF9, X and X-2. Meant there was a tactical balance to your squad, and interesting situations you got put in. FF9 had some great situations where a team consisting of a thief, dragon knight, gourmet were in one situation, while a white mage, black mage and knight were in another... meaning you had to approach each fight with a different tactic because you didn't have everyone all set up with esunas and good whomp all physical weapons etc.
    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 13:35

  • smoothn00dle #89 4 years ago

    swapping disc is no biggie! right now anything is no biggie... as long as it hurt Sony is gooood, right?? I found this kinda fanboy marketing media trick stupid. M$ has a cripple multplatform deal because FFXIII will be out on PS3 in Japan a year b4 360 plus you need to swap dsics(3discs) and long load time(not all 360 has a harddisc).

    Can 360 hardware handle FFXIII without RR(O.D)?

    Edited by 1 at 15/07/08 @ 13:40

  • Widge #90 4 years ago

    farticus gets an achievement award for being able to translate that post

  • 2099net #91 4 years ago

    Everblue wrote:

    These are normal Microsoft tactics... If need be, they will start giving out free consoles and games to everyone just to destroy the competion. Why? Because they afford it (infinite money FTW o/ ). They will keep buying studios until, if possible, games are released only for X360. And when the competition is dead, they will have the market all for themselves.... ouch.

    ***

    Er Everblue, how much money has Sony spent and lost on their PS3 development and continuing sales? Are Sony still losing money on each PS3 sold? And then you have the gall to say Microsoft has infinite money?

    What is happening NOW is exactly like what happened when Sony with its "infinite money" was in competition with Sega. Exactly the same and due to Sony's money and Nintendo's incorrect gamble on the cartridge based N64, Sony *did* get a monoploy and *did* destroy it's competition.

    At least the current Microsoft/Sony battle is pretty much even, and ultimately benefits *US* rather than Sony or Microsoft. So now *WE* can play Final Fantasy if we want to regardless of if we chose the Sony or Microsoft platform, just as *WE* can play the existing, new or upcoming GTA, Tomb Raider, Virtua Fighter 5, FIFA, Silent Hill, Fallout, Lego Batman, Star Wars, Far Cry, Prince of Persia or many other games regardless of which system we have selected out of the two.

    What exactly is the downside?

  • thats_all_folks #92 4 years ago

    not really much of a intelligent discussion is this

  • SeesThroughAll #93 4 years ago

    Sony *did* get a monoploy and *did* destroy it's competition.

    No, they didn't get a monopoly.
    You don't know what a monopoly is, do you?

    Also, did Nintendo leave the market? No.

    Both statements are wrong. I see the death of the Dreamcast traumatized you.

  • Moz #94 4 years ago

    @mono_eric3: Lost Odyessy is on 4 DVDs and has a moderate amount of HD cut scenes, so i guess 4 to 6 for FFXIII (which would fit on one Blu-Ray) I'd also guess that they may sacrifice some video quality on the 360 version to fit it on less discs though you'd need a really good TV to spot the difference.

  • 2099net #95 4 years ago

    OK Sony didn't get a monopoly - but does anyone really think Microsoft is going to get a monopoly, no matter how much money they throw about? Microsoft has been in the game for two generations and hasn't reached the level Sony reached with the PS1 and PS2.

    Also, the point still stands. Sony only entered the gaming Market because it had enough money to make a *substantial* loss when introducing it's hardware - remember, we're not just talking about the physical cost of the hardware to manufacture, but also the R&D required. Simply put, without Microsoft, no company could afford to enter the gaming market post Playstation. It was Sony who changed the rules of engagement, not Microsoft. So you can hardly bleat about another company copying Sony's tactics.

    There is no evidence Microsoft paid a penny for this game on their system. In fact, the argument given by SE makes perfect sense if you actually consider how much money the game is likely to have cost to develop. What do you want SE to do? Lose money on the title, just so they can retain some form of false pride and/or dignity?

    Finally, I repeat again, a split market (and today's console market has the healthiest split for the past 2 decades or so between Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo) benefits the customer much more than a monopoly (or in Sony's case prior to the PS3, "near monopoly";)

  • CitizenGeek #96 4 years ago

    Sony now have nothing that's as huge as FFXIII left. Many people were holding out on buying a PS3 until FFXIII was out, now they have no need to get a PS3. The PS3 is finished :/

  • Dizzy #97 4 years ago

    "so i guess 4 to 6 for FFXIII (which would fit on one Blu-Ray) I'd also guess that they may sacrifice some video quality on the 360 version to fit it on less discs though you'd need a really good TV to spot the difference. "

    Or maybe *gasp* they won't have 4233342 hours of cutscenes?

  • CannonAnBall #98 4 years ago

    Many people were holding out on buying a PS3 until FFXIII was out, now they have no need to get a PS3. The PS3 is finished.

    ..last month people were holding out for MGS4 but decided that it wasn't enough just to buy the PS3 for that. Now this month it's FFXIII. The PS3 is still here, the 360 is still here.

    I'd have more respect for people if they just come out and say they aren't interested in a certain console rather than coming out with this type of shit.

  • Razz #99 4 years ago

    "actually i believe nintendo where the ones who pulled out of the cd snes last minute leaving sony on their ass..."

    Of course they did. Sony wanted sole copyright of all content released on CD's.

  • Skywise #100 4 years ago

    If they really want to go mass-market, why not make a Wii version as well? I bet there are lots of FF fans without a 360 or a PS3 who would buy a Wii version.

    Personally speaking, I wouldn't even want a Wii version of this game, because I prefer nice graphics for RPGs to control immersion and I have a 360 as well. I'm really happy they port it to the 360 at least.

  • onyxbox #101 4 years ago

    i think it's great news that everyone can play the game. the only benefit of 'true' exclusives is that you might eek out some extra performance from a machine.

    it would have been a good kick in the bollocks for Sony tho'

  • anomagnus #102 4 years ago

    @2099

    Spot on mate

    Its fucking amazing how the sony bots seem to thing that Sony is some gentle giant in the corporate world, rather than the company that used to run FF7 advertisements openly mocking Nintendo.

    Now, while Sony didn't have a monopoly, it effectively ended Sega as a hardware manufacturer, and pushed Nintendo to the very brink.

    While they may not have had a monopoly in the strictest definition of the word, they ruled the fucking roost through through their activities, the very same activities that Microsoft are using right now.

    Do you think MS just walked into the games arena on a fucking whim? They looked at Sony, the biggest player in the market, and what they were doing, and adopted their play book.

    As for the bottomless pit of money, you fucking knobs, Sony's income over the past year was 88 billion dollars, versus Microsofts 55 billion.

    Jesus, i fucking have no time for people who just hate microsoft for the sake of it.

  • Xerx3s #103 4 years ago

    "Or maybe *gasp* they won't have 4233342 hours of cutscenes?"

    This is a jrpg we are talking about. It will be 99,999% cutscenes.

  • wingzerosys #104 4 years ago

    Micro$oft fanboy huh?

    I hate Micro$oft, sue me.

    Im not loyal to sony either.

  • Beek4257 #105 4 years ago

    Buztafen: @Beek4257 - Sorry mate i'll literate myself properly next time

    I wasn't trying to be a smart@ss, honest (quite the opposite, probably...).
    Erm, so which is it?

    /preferred Beek4256.....he was much nicer....

    Sorry, model 4256 went RROD, just like all the others ...
    Edited by 3 at 15/07/08 @ 15:47

  • WinterSnowblind #106 4 years ago

    I don't really understand why everyone (or just the PS3 fanboys..) are assuming Microsoft paid Square to get this. To me, it seems to be the same deal as GTA. Sony were infact the ones paying to keep the games exclusive, until Rockstar decided they could make far more money by releasing the games on both systems. At that point, no amount of money Sony threw at them was enough to keep it exclusive to the Playstation. I imagine the same thing is going on with Final Fantasy. Sony have likely been paying into the millions to keep Final Fantasy exclusive.. but when Square can double that by releasing it on the 360 as well..?

  • Widge #107 4 years ago

    I wouldn't say MS adopted their play book, I think MS are more than well schooled in the art of fighting off competitors across all products. Battling against the other OS people, Netscape and now Google. The comment that rings true the most is that even though they are a dominant force, they tackle everything with the same amount of effort as a start-up company fighting for their survival.

  • SeesThroughAll #108 4 years ago

    The comment that rings true the most is that even though they are a dominant force, they tackle everything with the same amount of effort as a start-up company fighting for their survival.

    It would be true if they actually struggled with limited resources like most start-up companies do.

  • Buztafen #109 4 years ago

    @Beek - I know you prolly werent, just wanted to get the Beek4256 comment in there....

    God of War 3 it is! In fact who am i kidding, if God of War only comes out the PS3 i'll be buying one.....

    .......IF.........:)

  • Beek4257 #110 4 years ago

    @ Buztafen

    That's a big IF.
    Then again, with FF coming to (my) 360, hell has already frozen over.

  • Widge #111 4 years ago

    @SeesThroughAll

    Well thats the thing about them and why they get hit with a lot of unfairness in business stick. As they scrap away like a start-up, they have the massive resource and leverage behind them. So when Netscape comes along with the browser market, MS saw that it was something they absolutely had to be a part of and approached it with their typical "must win at all costs or we die!" approach. Thing is when they were knocking around ideas on how to win the market, they came upon ideas such as ensuring that all PCs were bundled with Windows and IE etc and not Netscape... because they had the ability to do so. From their perspective, probably a winning masterstroke to win the market, from Netscape's it probably felt like a fly being hit by a nuke... and hence the US Government stepping in and saying "thats a bit unfair".

    What makes it a bit more interesting in this field is that they are up against a similarly iconic and motivated company who will lock horns in a similar manner.

  • FladgeMangle #112 4 years ago

    Will you lot stop shouting?

    Final Fantasy on Xbox isn't going to end the PS3, nor is it an irrelevance. 360 sales are fast approaching the "magic number" of hardcore gaming purists and embittered Dreamcast veterans that the original achieved. PS3 is plodding along at around the same rate as PS2 did at this stage in it's life. What happens next is up to whether either system can win the "hearts and minds" of the mainstream.

    I do think a lot of peaple will now be persuaded to leave the PS3 alone, although it seems from the posts here that a lot of those already have a 360. As most households outside of the hardcore gamer faction usually only have one console, those sales are already accounted for.

    Personally, I don't think a Final Fantasy XIII is the game to change people's minds on the matter. It's no longer the new and exciting thing that FFVII was. Also, the Wii has significantly shifted the goalposts and now it's price and lifestyle/family gaming that have become the new battlefronts.
    Xbox certainly has the price advantage now. Can it convince people it's image the one to buy into?

    On a final note, it's not out for another whole year. Who knows what will happen between now and then?

  • Widge #113 4 years ago

    It will change peoples mind on what system to buy after this generation though. I used to approach my systems based on what had Zelda on it and what had Final Fantasy on it, that led to a Nintendo and Sony branch maybe. Then I added MGS into my list of vitals which certainly gave it a Sony bias. With everything heading multiplatform, its starting to become what the hardware offers (and the 360 doesn't offer a quiet system and bluray... which I want), but one thing to alarm Sony will be the exclusives going out the door one way aren't quite as hefty as the other ones coming their way.

    With the next gen, it won't necessarily be autobuy for Sony because I'll get FF13, since there is every chance that all the jrpgs will be sat on the 360 ready to go. If Sony keep up with the likes of Bioshock coming their way, Bioshock 2 coming their way, other titles being multiplat with the odd ace, they should be fine. The big thing will be to have a great hardware platform for the next generation.

  • FladgeMangle #114 4 years ago

    @Widge

    Agreed. If I were Sony I'd be asking Microsoft if they can put their badge on the next xbox :o)

  • SeesThroughAll #115 4 years ago

    @ banfoi:

    If all products were sufficiently differentiated, those problems would be irrelevant to begin with.

    What I like to have as a consumer is choice. I like to be able to choose between PS3 games, 360 games, and Wii games. I know what I can get from each. The fact that a fair amount of games are, in this gen, cross-platform is just a bonus. Every console has their own attractive exclusives: PS3 has Wipeout, GT, Uncharted and others, 360 has Gears, PGR, Fable and others, the Wii has Zelda, Mario Galaxy, Mario Kart, etc.

    The catalogue that fits me best is the one I pick, just like everyone else.

    @ anomagous:

    Well, Microsoft isn't here to avenge poor SEGA either. And they are deservedly hated for what they did in other sectors. Seriously, when it comes to muscling out competition, Sony are amateurs compared to Microsoft.
    Ask Netscape, Sun, Novell, Apple and others why is Microsoft so loved.

  • Widge #116 4 years ago

    Well, if it was silent and had a bluray in it.... major temptations like!

  • FladgeMangle #117 4 years ago

    I gotta say, this news has really knocked the teeth out of the trolls.

    PS3XBOT lol

    It's nice to read a thread that hasn't been ruined by the bleatings of the scared little guys.

  • Azazel #118 4 years ago

    FF returns! Dude looks-like-a lay-day!

  • Moz #119 4 years ago

    do we know for sure that this was engineared by MS?

    Cos if not there could be more sinister plots a foot, maybe Sony have locked FF versus XIII to the PS3 and FFXIII is going to leave a load of questions unanswered making FF Versus XIII a must have for anyone who's play FFXIII.

  • Niall #120 4 years ago

    @ Widge

    I guess I can see where you are coming from with the story element of XII, at times I did begin to wonder when something significant was meant to happen. At the very, very end of the game though, I suddenly realised how much I did care about the characters and the story, it's like I'd never thought about it, but it all came togther at the end.
    I got so engrossed in the mark hunting before going to Bahumet that I ended up stretching my play time to 100+, so I guess I can see why I thought story was falling by the wayside.

    I see your point too about charcter battle differentiation, 9 did have some pretty great combinations, making your party seem more vital to one another rather than just strength in numbers.

    Just that combat system in XII blew me away, I loved the strategy in setting up gambits and then seeing them play out against the really difficult hunt marks, the involvment in the battles as you change out gambits and characters is so deep and immersive.

  • VMerken #121 4 years ago

    Cfr. Resident Evil 4.

    As long as the game's quality doesn't suffer, I don't really care which platform gets what now.

    I do care about release dates, though... will PS3 and now Xbox 360 users inEurope get to wait
    a cool extra year as usual, or did Square make a stunning announcement concerning a worldwide
    simultaneous release?

  • Widge #122 4 years ago

    Oh yes, I liked the strategy element of it too. Setting your bods up to be able to counter every situation and then throw the dice and watch your work take place. Plus the freedom of no battle screens.

  • Geowolf #123 4 years ago

    Yeah, I predicted this would happen when FFXIII was first announced. SE not willing to confirmPS3 full exclusivity of FFXII Versus so I can see this going multiplatform, possibly timed exclusivity. With the exception of first party system seller titles the era of the exclusive game title has come to an end. With the levels of quality required in games, the cost of development has escalated. Put simply, for the vast majority of third party titles, exclusivity would sink the company. This is not the case of MS or Sony buying the rights, this is simple modern economics. You want XIII to be PS3 exclusive and you pretty much say no to FFXIV ever being developed as SE would probably go bust. I would not be surprised to see MGS4 go multiplatform in a year's time although if Sony coughed up part of the dev cost to eensure a flagship title then it could be viewed as being restricted by the same nature as first party developments.

    As a 360 owner and an RPG fan, this news gives me all my fqavoured RPGs in one place (although I still view Lost Odyssey as the true spiritual FF sequel on the basis of the team that developed it). On the technical front each console gives and loses on several points. Don't expect the PS3 to grant any special experiences on the basis of Blu-Ray, drive speeds on Blu-Ray require the data to be stored in multiple locations on the same disk when the game is accessed from the disk at run time. 360 has a more advanced GPU and memory management. Ps3 has the cell processor although traditional programming architectures for games cannot really take any good advantage of the Cell's parallel nature.

    Essentially what I'm saying is this. Get used to multiplatform third party titles from now on. You will have to choose your consoles in this and the next generation based on what other services they provide. For me, xbox live and XNA game development proved more tempting than Blu-Ray movies although this will differ for other users. I'm just happy to see the decline of the platform exclusive titles. I mean, imagine only being able to watch Jurassic Park on Philips DVD players and Aliens of Samsung players, etc.

    It's time that gamers' waken up to the fact that good games require the abandonment of childish format cults.

    All I can say is good for SE in standing up for the benefit of their company rather than that of any one format platform holder.

  • EmiliasHorse #124 4 years ago

    Well I am shocked. Was going to buy a PS3 just for this, no need now. Think I shall buy a third 360 just in case the spare one RRODs before the first one is back from the MS tinkering shop.

  • Connobi #125 4 years ago

    In a word - Meh.

    Cannot get into the Japan RPG thing, god knows I've tried. If this is MS's biggest ace this year at E3, I'm a little dissapointed.

  • Bearintraining #126 4 years ago

    This is thé biggest thing of this E3. I love it :-)

  • anomagnus #127 4 years ago

    @seesthroughall

    i never said they were here to avenge Sega, my point is this, too many people hate something, becuase its fucking 'cool' to do it, christ, look at the too human saga

    as for sony, how many electronics firms did they put of business? I notice they were fairly aggressive on their blu ray format? How many tv firms were rolled under by sony? how many electronics firms did they control?

    As for MS and its control of the software market, they did what they had to do. One exception, Apple has only itself to blame for its failure during the 90's. You might also want to consider that the ONLY reason Apple is still around is that Microsoft bought $150 million dollars worth of apple stock back in 1997

    funny how no one ever mentions that

  • collateral89 #128 3 years ago

    360 can get fucked they dont deserve this assholes