Square Enix Confirms FFXIII SERIES (!) Is Not Exclusive for PS3 *Read post #12

[NERO]

Maybe Scooby is on to something. Maybe SE will come up with an Oblivion type came for the DQ/FF franchise. Maybe they'll call it Dragon Quest Swords

I can't say I agree with SE strategy but throughout their history (other than FF11) the have always been single platform. I don't know why but they just have. Maybe it has economically feasible for them throughout.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Dont be angry Scooby

Hey, I can be bitter! This is the one game that is going to force me to spend $500 next year, and SE is totally out to lunch on their perception of the userbase.

 

[Gradthrawn]

Hey, I can be bitter! This is the one game that is going to force me to spend $500 next year, and SE is totally out to lunch on their perception of the userbase.

Where are you getting that perception from? They didn't really mention any specifics or even ambiguous details (so far as I can see) about how they view the userbase. They just said different products for different platforms. Even if that wasn't the case, it doesn't mean they would bring FFXII over to the 360. The economics of reworking the White Engine might make it impractical, versus just making a new game for it. I think you're just bitter in general about it and grasping for straws.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Where are you getting that perception from?

Their release history for starters, FFXI, a rumoured FF MMO for 360, and comments on multiple occasions that their focus on 360 is online games.

I'm not grasping at straws at all, and really am not that bitter, it was joke Really, in 2008 I'll probably have quite a few reasons to pick up a PS3 anyways, I don't want to miss out on their 1st party stuff, and there's a ridiculous amount of great games coming out in the next year, who can really complain.

I just find it funny SE is so out of touch with reality, they have this 5 year old mentality that Xbox is simply action games and online players, and they don't see the potential 3-4million sales they could pick up if they opened their eyes a little bit.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I just find it funny SE is so out of touch with reality, they have this 5 year old mentality that Xbox is simply action games and online players, and they don't see the potential 3-4million sales they could pick up if they opened their eyes a little bit.

I can see their POV. What JRPG titles have done amazingly well on XB/XB360 so far? Blue Dragon didn't have a great success in Japan in terms of total units. If it goes on to sell loads worldwide, I'm sure they'll take notice. But until then, I don't think there's real evidence that people who bought XB360 will buy JRPGs of the FF ilk (though of course if FFXIII deviates as much from the FFXII as XII did from the norm, it'd be unrealistic to call XIII a JRPG!). There's reason to think they will, but not hard evidence that I know of.

 

[dobwal]

I can see their POV. What JRPG titles have done amazingly well on XB/XB360 so far? Blue Dragon didn't have a great success in Japan in terms of total units. If it goes on to sell loads worldwide, I'm sure they'll take notice. But until then, I don't think there's real evidence that people who bought XB360 will buy JRPGs of the FF ilk (though of course if FFXIII deviates as much from the FFXII as XII did from the norm, it'd be unrealistic to call XIII a JRPG!). There's reason to think they will, but not hard evidence that I know of.

I think the 360 userbase had a major effect on the sales of Blue Dragon. Blue Dragon is one of the highest selling game on the 360 in japan.

 

[dobwal]

Where are you getting that perception from? They didn't really mention any specifics or even ambiguous details (so far as I can see) about how they view the userbase. They just said different products for different platforms. Even if that wasn't the case, it doesn't mean they would bring FFXII over to the 360. The economics of reworking the White Engine might make it impractical, versus just making a new game for it. I think you're just bitter in general about it and grasping for straws.

I don't see how porting FFXIII would be more expensive than creating a totally new game of any worth for the 360. The art content is already there for FXIII.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I think the 360 userbase had a major effect on the sales of Blue Dragon. Blue Dragon is one of the highest selling game on the 360 in japan.

That's absolutely true. But it didn't sell a million units, and SE would be looking for that as a minimum. If the worldwide take up of BD is as good as it was in Japan, it'll be a massive game and prove XB360 as a viable platform for JRPGs. Until then, you can't extrapolate worldwide success from Japanese success. Tastes differ too much for direct relations.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I don't see how porting FFXIII would be more expensive than creating a totally new game of any worth for the 360. The art content is already there for FXIII.

It seems unlikely, but perhaps the White Engine is very optimized for PS3 and a port would need substantial work, whereas for future XB360 titles SE will use UE3? The cost of porting could be substantial, in time as much as anything. Using UE3 negates that, allows for cross-platform sharing of art assets, but comes too late for FFXIII.

 

[dobwal]

That's absolutely true. But it didn't sell a million units, and SE would be looking for that as a minimum. If the worldwide take up of BD is as good as it was in Japan, it'll be a massive game and prove XB360 as a viable platform for JRPGs. Until then, you can't extrapolate worldwide success from Japanese success. Tastes differ too much for direct relations.

Tastes differ but FF has already shown to have an appeal to gamers regardless of regions. JRPGs might not have a good history on the Xbox or the 360 but that more likely the result of lack of high profile JRPGs and not because of tastes of the userbase. FF isn't some little niche JRPG that only sold well on the PS2 because of its large userbase its the creme de la creme of the console JRPGs. FXIII on the 360 would be a port not a full fledge investment like FXIII on the PS3, it wouldn't need AAA-exclusive type of sales to be considered a success.

 

[dobwal]

It seems unlikely, but perhaps the White Engine is very optimized for PS3 and a port would need substantial work, whereas for future XB360 titles SE will use UE3? The cost of porting could be substantial, in time as much as anything. Using UE3 negates that, allows for cross-platform sharing of art assets, but comes too late for FFXIII.

Forcing the White Engine to work on the Xbox 360 might be substantial, but just porting over the models, texture, storyline and dialogue would be cheaper than recreating a new game using the UE3 for the xbox 360. A new game would require a new engine and all new art. FXIII on the 360 would require just a new engine (It would be more complex than that but Im trying to keep as simple as possible).

 

[scooby_dooby]

I can see their POV. What JRPG titles have done amazingly well on XB/XB360 so far? Blue Dragon didn't have a great success in Japan in terms of total units. If it goes on to sell loads worldwide, I'm sure they'll take notice. But until then, I don't think there's real evidence that people who bought XB360 will buy JRPGs of the FF ilk (though of course if FFXIII deviates as much from the FFXII as XII did from the norm, it'd be unrealistic to call XIII a JRPG!). There's reason to think they will, but not hard evidence that I know of.

Of course there's no evidence, because no major JRPG's have ever been released. But there is such a thing as common sense! We know FF is one of the most popular games in the world, what reason is there to think that X360 owners are a different breed of gamers?

- Look at some of the biggest sellers on Xbox, they are RPG's, Kotor, Fable, Oblivion.

- Look at the runaway success of mediocre franchises such as Lost Planet and Dead Rising, both selling over a million, new IP's. How in the world would FF, one of the top 3 IP's in the world, not sell at least 2million copies? No chance.

- Look at the demographics of 360 owners, according to MS something like 50% never owned an Xbox.

- Look at the fact that the majority of Xbox owners do not game online.

SE will play the wait and see game. After BD and Lost Odyssey come out and both are platinum sellers, they're gonna be kicking themselves for stereotyping the userbase, too bad so sad I guess.

 

[Nesh]

Forcing the White Engine to work on the Xbox 360 might be substantial, but just porting over the models, texture, storyline and dialogue would be cheaper than recreating a new game using the UE3 for the xbox 360. A new game would require a new engine and all new art. FXIII on the 360 would require just a new engine (It would be more complex than that but Im trying to keep as simple as possible).

Its even cheaper though if they keep a PS3 optimized game exclusive for PS3 and a non-oprimized game released for all platforms which is what SE is doing right now.

 

[scooby_dooby]

Its even cheaper though if they keep a PS3 optimized game exclusive for PS3 and a non-oprimized game released for all platforms which is what SE is doing right now.

The only way you can argue cost is signifigant factor, is if your saying that FF13 would sell less than 1million copies on 360. Otherwise, any costs incurred would easily be made back.

Somehow I just don't see how it would be possible for FF13 to sell less than 2million copies on 360, just based on the success of other much less popular titles.

As for spin-offs, well to be blunt SE sucks at spin-offs, and I'm sure anything but the real deal will fail pretty badly on 360, mainly cause it will be a crappy game.

 

[Nesh]

The only way you can argue cost is signifigant factor, is if your saying that FF13 would sell less than 1million copies on 360. Otherwise, any costs incurred would easily be made back.

Somehow I just don't see how it would be possible for FF13 to sell less than 2million copies on 360, just based on the success of other much less popular titles.

As for spin-offs, well to be blunt SE sucks at spin-offs, and I'm sure anything but the real deal will fail pretty badly on 360, mainly cause it will be a crappy game.

There should be a reason for this decision.

What's your opinion on the reasons behind this?

 

[scooby_dooby]

There should be a reason for this decision.

What's your opinion on the reasons behind this?

SE has a completely stereotypical, outdated view of the Xbox fanbase that doesn't reflect reality.

In other words, the actually DO believe FF13 would bomb on 360.

The guy said it himeslf:

we have to make different titles for different platforms

They actually believe that! This was in response to a question concerning 360 and PS3 only, not Wii or DS.

 

[Rolf N]

Off-topic:

(though of course if FFXIII deviates as much from the FFXII as XII did from the norm, it'd be unrealistic to call XIII a JRPG!)

Since the merger with Enix, Dragon Quest and FF no longer compete but complement each other. You can see a very clear diversion between DQ8 and FFXII. Dragon Quest is turn based, traditional, hard-core RPG, while the story is way dialed back, bare-bones stuff. I love it.
FF is the streamlined, highly accessible epic struggle for everyone. I love it

 

[TheChefO]

Of course there's no evidence, because no major JRPG's have ever been released. But there is such a thing as common sense! We know FF is one of the most popular games in the world, what reason is there to think that X360 owners are a different breed of gamers?

- Look at some of the biggest sellers on Xbox, they are RPG's, Kotor, Fable, Oblivion.

- Look at the runaway success of mediocre franchises such as Lost Planet and Dead Rising, both selling over a million, new IP's. How in the world would FF, one of the top 3 IP's in the world, not sell at least 2million copies? No chance.

- Look at the demographics of 360 owners, according to MS something like 50% never owned an Xbox.

- Look at the fact that the majority of Xbox owners do not game online.

SE will play the wait and see game. After BD and Lost Odyssey come out and both are platinum sellers, they're gonna be kicking themselves for stereotyping the userbase, too bad so sad I guess.

Great post - agreed.

I'd like to think they are smarter than this, but it seems they are content with their exclusivity on ps3.

Sad thing is their online spinoff game will likely sell worse and cost more than if they just ported FF13. Not to mention, PS3 also is aiming for a full fledged online component. Why would ps3 users not be interested in online games?

Their logic in this regard is laughable. Why not just come out with the truth? This can't be it. I know we don't know all the behind the scenes reasoning for these executive decisions but this stereotype of gamers across systems can't be the way they truly view the market ... can it?

ugh.

Oh well. I guess I'll just be happy with Fable and Mas Effect. Maybe a few other xbox gamers will buy these too but I doubt it. Not enough online and shooting.

BD, LO, and Trusty Bell should do the trick for my jrpg fix.

 

[dobwal]

Its even cheaper though if they keep a PS3 optimized game exclusive for PS3 and a non-oprimized game released for all platforms which is what SE is doing right now.

How so?

Taking the art from the optimized PS3 game and moving to an non optimized engine should still be cheaper than creating all new art. Explain how recycling art content can be more expensive than creating new content?

 

[archangelmorph]

Great post - agreed.

I'd like to think they are smarter than this, but it seems they are content with their exclusivity on ps3.

Sad thing is their online spinoff game will likely sell worse and cost more than if they just ported FF13. Not to mention, PS3 also is aiming for a full fledged online component. Why would ps3 users not be interested in online games?

Their logic in this regard is laughable. Why not just come out with the truth? This can't be it. I know we don't know all the behind the scenes reasoning for these executive decisions but this stereotype of gamers across systems can't be the way they truly view the market ... can it?

ugh.

Oh well. I guess I'll just be happy with Fable and Mas Effect. Maybe a few other xbox gamers will buy these too but I doubt it. Not enough online and shooting.

BD, LO, and Trusty Bell should do the trick for my jrpg fix.

I don't think the success of games like Kotor, Fable or oblivion can tell you anything about how the western-dominated market of the Xbox360 will respond to SE's much more easternised RPG offerings.. The style of games are vastly different and cater to very seperate tastes on the whole..
Granted FF is a massive IP globally and would probably sell well on the platform but well enough to warrant a port of SE's biggest franchise in the core offering?

There are alot of variables and SE have a history of being extra catious with respect to where they deploy the biggest franchise they have which represents the heart and soul of their company.. And besides, I doubt there relationship with Sony would benefit from losing FFXIII's exclusivity since what would that say about SE's confidence in the PS3 especially in Japan when the Xbox360 market is practically ignorable..?

I highly expect SE to go the route they have so successfully followed in the past with regards "testing the waters" by building an original IP for the Xbox360 over porting the core FF, possibly (no... probably) within the Fabula Nova Crystallis universe.. Or they may decide to port the FF Versus XIII title over which they have already stated would be much more real-time-action-orientated (I assume it will be similar to the Kingdom Hearts series, especially since it's been done by the same team) which, as an RPG staple, seems to go over much more favourably with the western markets..

Either way I don't think we'll see the core FFXIII shift from PS3 exclusivity and SE probably won't need to since they'll have more than enough IPs on the other platforms (Including the rumoured upcoming MMORPG for the Xbox360), should the PS3 sales fail to pick up and fall further below expectations (unlikely once the price cuts start kicking in but it could happen..) and even then, I'm very sure the sheer popularity of the platform will generate enough sales out of even the current userbase (not to mention expand it..) to make the investment worthwhile (How many PS3 early adopters bought the console for games like FFXIII, Heavenly Sword, GOW & MGS? probably a substantial amount)..

With DragonQuest on the DS, Crystal Chronicles on the Wii and a whole host of FF titles across a range of platforms, I really don't see SE getting particularly worried about profitability on all major platforms for quite some time..

Personally I can't wait for sales to pick up for the PS3 so we can start to see many more next-gen JRPGs from Konami, Namco, SE and especially Nippon Ichi..