FFXIII for 360

[SBaby]

Hey, what about FFIX? That game had exceptional character development, arguably the best character development in the entire series.

First of all, are you joking? The game was advertised as being more akin to the classic FF games (the tag line was 'The Crystal Comes Back), but in actuality beared little resemblance to them (with the exception of spells being more character specific), as the storyline was dummed down horribly as if they wanted to make the game appeal to younger audiences. Not to mention a FF game akin to classic FF games should be challengine, but this game was way too easy. Even the optional boss could be taken down in three rounds. In addition, for a game where the ads emphasized the Crystals as being a key factor, you really saw very little of them, as they only showed up at the end, and it was only one. Garland was not the same Garland from FFI (Squeenix has made this point explicitly clear in press conferences). Gaining abilities via equipment was a neat system, but if you wanted to make it like the classic FF games, how about putting in a Job System instead? Would it really be too out of line to at least expect that? And Cid was... yeah, I don't know what it was supposed to be, but I'm guessing some sort of slug. Anyway, there's alot more, but I'll leave it at that, as this post isn't really about FFIX.




On to the meat of the post, and this could be bad news for 360 owners. The 720 could be in stores by the time FFXIII hits the Xbox.

https://www.gameplayer.com.au/gp_documents/080716-FFXIII.aspx?catid=News

Those that don't feel like clicking, here's the deal from the site.



When Microsoft revealed yesterday that Final Fantasy XIII was coming to Xbox 360, they were only telling half the story. At a Q&A session with Square Enix after the press conference, we learned the truth.

The Japanese developer won't even begin working on the Xbox 360 version until the PS3 version is finished. The Square Enix representatives were frank on this point: porting the game will take a long time. And after it's ported, it'll still have to be localised.

Realistically, that'll mean a gap of around a year between the two — and the PS3 version is still a long, long way off. There is little hope for FFXIII landing on the 360 this side of 2010.

This whole venture is a last-minute development; the decision to port to 360 was only made a few days ago.

Another aspect of the FFXIII development process that's been largely overlooked is that Square Enix already has the game running on PC. They have yet to decide whether they'll release it on that format, however. They may just be using it as a development environment at this stage.

Another factor to consider: FFXIII is being created for PS3 with Crystal Tools (formerly known as The White Engine), Square Enix's proprietary technology for PS3 development. A whole new engine may be needed to get the game working on the 360.


To sum it up, if you want the game for sure upon release, you'll still need to have a PS3. Otherwise, there's a real possibility you'll be waiting upwards of a year or more for it to come out on the 360.

 

[icomeanon6]

First of all, are you joking? The game was advertised as being more akin to the classic FF games (the tag line was 'The Crystal Comes Back), but in actuality beared little resemblance to them (with the exception of spells being more character specific), as the storyline was dummed down horribly as if they wanted to make the game appeal to younger audiences.

What does that have to do with what I said? I said that the game had excellent character development, which it did. All of the main characters were interesting and deep enough to compensate for the less than amazing storyline. And regardless, it did bear great resemblance to the early Final Fantasy games because its setting was closer to traditional fantasy, as opposed to the more modern atmospheres in Final Fantasies VII and VIII. Also, the disproportionate models for the characters were akin to the disproportionate sprites in the earlier games.

 

[SBaby]

What does that have to do with what I said? I said that the game had excellent character development, which it did. All of the main characters were interesting and deep enough to compensate for the less than amazing storyline. And regardless, it did bear great resemblance to the early Final Fantasy games because its setting was closer to traditional fantasy, as opposed to the more modern atmospheres in Final Fantasies VII and VIII. Also, the disproportionate models for the characters were akin to the disproportionate sprites in the earlier games.

I actually had no problem with the models of the characters. It just felt... too current to be akin to the classic games. I mean, I wasn't really looking for a classic FF game anyway, and it is better than VIII, but it's still not as good as VI or VII.

As for the release delay, 360 owners can take solace in that this will be the only case where a Square-Enix game comes out later for the 360 than the PS3. All future games will likely come out at the same time.

Otherwise, I'm really waiting to see the new Star Ocean game coming out for the 360.

 

[parallelzero]

According to IGN's article on the subject, "Although no specific release date was confirmed, it was announced that the RPG will launch simultaneously on the Xbox 360 and PS3 in both the US and Europe."

Source.

 

[Witch]

That really sucks. It's kinda the main reason I bought a PS3 was for the new FF when it came out :/ oh well. I'll just get it for both consoles! XD

 

[icomeanon6]

That really sucks. It's kinda the main reason I bought a PS3 was for the new FF when it came out :/ oh well. I'll just get it for both consoles! XD

There's really no reason to be upset about FFXIII coming out for the 360 even if you bought a PS3 just for the occasion. The graphics, sound, and overall performance of the PS3 version will undoubtedly be superior. I mean, they designed the game from near the beginning with the PS3's processor architecture in mind.

 

[SBaby]

I don't really care anyway because the RPG genre that I knew and grew up with is pretty much all but dead now. So whatever...

As a far cry from the topic, Xenosaga was really the last great RPG trilogy (as far as high end RPGs go), but that's because it didn't pretend to be what it wasn't. It was a movie trilogy disguised as an RPG. But at least it was honest. It was honest about being a movie trilogy disguised as an RPG. As it is, how much do we really know about FFXIII anyway (and I mean the game itself, not what platform it's on)?

 

[icomeanon6]

I don't really care anyway because the RPG genre that I knew and grew up with is pretty much all but dead now. So whatever...

I know the feeling. I grew up with point-and-click adventure games and they're on their last legs.

 

[Spectrum]

I mean, they designed the game from near the beginning with the PS3's processor architecture in mind.

Actually as it turns out, the game was first created for the PC.

I might just get this on PC depending on the system requirements—and whether I have Vista by then (highly likely it'll be DX10 only).

 

[An-chan]

For me, my boyfriend and my brother, this was so good news that my brother called my the moment he knew :D We all love Final Fantasies, but we'd never have the money or interest to buy PS3. X-box 360 is something we already have (because my brothers play an excessive amount of FPS's) and now we can have the darn game too. I still hope the next one will be also on Wii :(

 

[Arcanine]

Ok, here's my late take on FFXIII being on the 360...

To me, the numbered Final Fantasy games should be on a Sony console. They just do a great job on a Sony console, and I just don't see a point in them leaving.
Also, I don't want it on the 360 because if it does hold the PS3 ver back (like some places have said) then that means I'm (and others) going to have to wait a lot long to play XIII.

I know, I know, with it being on the 360 more people will get to play it. And if it does come out on the PS3 first and then come out later on the 360 then that'll work. But... I don't know, an FF game (and no, don't even say XI) on the 360? It just doesn't feel right. Oh well, we'll see how it goes.

 

[Allstories]

To me, the numbered Final Fantasy games should be on a Sony console. They just do a great job on a Sony console, and I just don't see a point in them leaving.

That doesn't really make sense, though. The first six Final Fantasy games did fine on Nintendo consoles too, and some of the ones that were on Sony consoles were also on the PC anyway, so I don't see why the platform it's released on has anything to do with anything. FFXIII isn't 'leaving' Sony, it's just so happens that it's also going to be on the Xbox.

 

[Jeremy]

I really don't see the big deal is, sweeties. As Allstories stated, Final Fantasy 1-6 were on Nintendo consoles, and they did well. Did anybody complain when FF7 was on Playstation? As long the game is good it doesn't really matter what console it's on, does it sweeties?

And this is coming from one of PC's uber Nintendo fanboys. =p

 

[Datriot]

Smart move on Square's part; cross platform can mean lower quality in some cases though and I really don't want to FF XIII ( and Versus XIII ) to suffer JUST to have it on the 360. This has definitely caused the legions of idiotic fanboys to stir. XD

 

[Cherrim]

Versus XIII is still PS3-exclusive. I don't think SE will sacrifice much in the area of quality to port it to the 360, though. They're one company who isn't afraid to release a game with multiple discs and I'm sure they'll be doing that for the 360 version.

 

[Hall Of Famer]

Make it for PSP, please...