E308: FFXIII team will find ways to compress and not 'affect the final product'

by Xav de Matos { Jul 16th 2008 at 2:30PM }

In a round-table discussion regarding its E3 announcements, Square Enix was asked the inevitable question of disc storage space for the Xbox 360 and how it will affect the final product versus the PlayStation 3 release. Final Fantasy XIII producer Yoshinori Kitase didn't have a definitive answer but his response is sure to both cool and fuel flame war fires.

EGM editor-in-chief James Mielke asked Kitase, "Will there be any compromises made to the Xbox 360 version in terms of the FMV quality or audio quality?"

Kitase cooly responded, "At this point, nothing's really been decided; that will be a process that takes place in the future, but for the difference between the hardware, we'll work on trying to find ways to compress the prerendered movies and voice that take up a lot of data in ways that don't affect the final product. As for the in-game visuals, we're going to look for ways to ensure that the quality remains the same between the two versions."

Here's a question readers. If it had to be on multiple discs would it matter? Seems like the same amount of hassle compared to being forced to install a game. Just saying.

[Thanks, Jonnah]

Tags: e3-08, e3-2008, e308, final-fantasy-xiii, square-enix

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Jack @ Jul 16th 2008 2:36PM

Yeah. I still prefer swapping discs. Takes like what. 5 seconds max.

xFenixKnightx @ Jul 16th 2008 3:18PM

"FFXIII team will find ways to compress and not 'affect the final product"

Just like Konami will too ;)

Jack @ Jul 16th 2008 3:24PM

But I'd prefer they don't compress it that much to the point where the gameplay looks better than CGI cutscenes. Lol. If they have to go multi discs, by all means they should. No one's complaining except PS3 trolls. Ps3 HAz 1337 BluE rayz no needz Ta Swap Discz. But it's funny how they're just FINE with the lenghty installs. Takes 5 seconds to change disc and I'd prefer that over waiting 3 minutes for each installs.

RockerAnimeFreak @ Jul 16th 2008 3:26PM

Yeah swapping disks isn't a big deal right now I just got LO and I wouldn't mind swapping disks. (finally made it to Grand Staff! =))

Knight Marquise @ Jul 16th 2008 3:42PM

swapping discs isn't an issue. It only became an issue due to a Sony advertising bullet point. Besides, wont we simply be able to install FFXIII on our harddrives with the new dashboard? For those with an issue swapping discs, issue gone.

QuasarSquirrel @ Jul 16th 2008 3:56PM

Disc swapping please, I was fine with Lost Odyssey. I don't know if I wanna buy a new hard drive just yet.

SithLarry @ Jul 16th 2008 4:05PM

Would be a bitch to lose one of those discs though. If Lost Odyssey only took 4 discs and FF13 is supposed to be at least as long in storyline but with better graphics then we can expect around 6-7 discs unless they're really good at compressing.

MrKniceGuy @ Jul 16th 2008 4:15PM

You're exactly right Knight Marquise. Gamers don't really care, it simply a matter of marketing. Blue Dragon is no big deal to swap discs. I'm sure LO is the same. Heck, did you every play FFVII? I seem to recall some disc swapping going on.. and those same Sony fanboys would defend that game to the grave.

And the ability to install in a HDD makes it a no brainer. I wonder if they will enable play with say, only having to insert disc 1.

drunkenironrabbit @ Jul 16th 2008 6:29PM

yah i would have to agree.., 5-7 secs disc swap versus 5-7 load time between chapters on a single BD disc? I care not how many discs we have to have.., just no more lost oddessey style packaging slamming them all on a spindle or 2.., I mean come on look at the packaging everywhere EXCEPT the USA. Where the hell is our nice box with character cover art. Yah and still waiting for the exclusivity time frame to expire so snake can sneak suit his way into our hardware. There you go MS make US a MGS4 system with snakes face and the otacon bot and the logo on it.

Quinn

XBL Tag: DrunknIronRabit

kentuckyfried @ Jul 16th 2008 6:35PM

This of this, but 10x more:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aFYmrz4XoP0

xvertigenx @ Jul 16th 2008 6:47PM

Can someone clarify this? Does Sony still own stock in Square?

I remember a while back Sony had bought a good amount of Square stock (20-30%) to bail them out after they almost went bankrupt after the failure that was FF: The Spirits Within.

Did they sell the stock? Sell it back to Square? Does that mean Sony basically profits from anything Square sells, even on other systems?

Dale @ Jul 16th 2008 2:39PM

I like having free space on my hard drive for other content, and it cannot be as bad as the days of the Amiga (Indiana Jones And The Fate Of Atlantis came on ~14 3.5" floppies!).

bigblack @ Jul 16th 2008 2:40PM

they should have just kept it for sony
besides PS3 has had it for the longest anyway
PS3 is the best system to play it on hands down
who wants to buy a game with 6 discs anyway?

Xav de Matos @ Jul 16th 2008 2:42PM

Saying it on the wrong site, sunshine.

Jim Halpert DM @ Jul 16th 2008 2:48PM

LoL @ Sunshine...not tough to switch disc...don't be so lazy.

BananaBoat @ Jul 16th 2008 3:02PM

I don't agree with his BS, but I'll say it right now, if it turns out to be a question of one game having 1080p cut scenes, 7.1 audio, etc and one have 720p cutscenes and compressed audio....I'm going for the uncompressed one.

That said, I don't think it'll happen, and Square will probably gimp the PS3 versions cut scenes down to where it can peacefully co-exist on both platforms. Then all the Sony fanboys will cry and whine about how the Xbox 360 is keeping their glorious PS3 from reaching it's full potential. I can hear their cries now.

BananaBoat @ Jul 16th 2008 3:14PM

having*

Jack @ Jul 16th 2008 3:26PM

LMAO. Stop crying, little girl.

BTW, it was so goddamn hard to fine "reply" on your comment because well, most people here think it sucks big balls so it's all DIMMED. LOL

LV426 @ Jul 16th 2008 8:10PM

Who wants a game on 6 discs? We were doing it on PC for a while before DVDs became the standard medium. Hell if you can install it it may well become EXACTLY like a PC game.... right down to one disc just be sure you are the legal owner.

ryan @ Jul 16th 2008 4:26PM

i bought plenty of discs back in the day and still do for computer games. no big deal.

and also Sony never "had" FF13. even now it's just being developed on a damn PC. sheesh.

but yeah, agreed with bannana with one version actually being superior to the other and getting that one.

Mr.ESC @ Jul 16th 2008 4:31PM

"who wants to buy a game with 6 discs anyway?"

Well if you think about it you get more plastic for your money.

I don't think FFXIII will be in more than 5 Dvd 9.

Haohmaru @ Jul 16th 2008 5:00PM

Wow.. I don't know who's the bigger jerk. bigblack or Xav. LMAO

drunkenironrabbit @ Jul 16th 2008 6:34PM

and xav proves once again why he is my favorite LOL.., ZINGG~!! get outta here with the damn PS3 fanboys !~BOOT TO THE HEAD~!

Quinn
XBL tag: DrunknIronRabit

Tony @ Jul 16th 2008 2:45PM

I don't really care about this game specifically, but for me it's this sort of situation:

1.) Swap out 4 or so discs to play a game on something I already own.

2.) Buy a nearly $400 system so I can deal with a single disc and maybe have slightly cleaner FMV.

I'd go with the former.

Tony @ Jul 16th 2008 2:46PM

Also, as one of the few people who actually played through Blue Dragon and Lost Odyssey, it's clear a LOT of the space taken up on both games is that they offer multiple vocal tracks (English, Japanese, French, etc.).

I'd be surprised if FFXIII did that. They never have before. So who is really to say how many discs it might take up, in the long run.

Triforceowner @ Jul 16th 2008 3:06PM

Ah... That explains why there wasn't that much game on the first disc.

B4DKARM4 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:47PM

"Question readers. If it had to be on multiple discs would it matter? Seems like the same amount of hassle compared to having to install the game just to play. Just saying."

Metal Gear Solid 4 was the first game I bought for my PS3 (my machine is primarily used as a Blu Ray player)

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y11/mike777/DSC03566.jpg

I also played Lost Odyssey which had like what, 5 Discs?

Both are a whole bunch of meh. The MGS installs were a fucking joke. Long ass install before you play the game, installs before each "chapter" and loading screens in between each level, I wasnt really impressed on a technological level with the PS3 as a gaming machine.

On the flip side, swapping discs out of the 360 is also a pain in the ass.

In the end it just boils down to how much you want to play the game. We always overlook stupid crap like horrible voice acting, iffy graphics, dumb design decisions, short single player campaigns or the absence of multiplayer in all our favorite games.

I dont see why we cant overlook hardware limitations as well. I imagine if youre a hard core FF fan, the thing could come with 20 Discs and most wouldnt care, just as long as they can play the game.

DarthVicious82 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:48PM

I don't care about swapping disks. I'm just stoked I don't have to buy a $400 blu-ray player to experience Final Fantasy. :-D

Rygar @ Jul 16th 2008 2:49PM

Well when you look at disc swap versus data installations, what's the big difference?
Give it to me on 10 discs, won't bother me.
Playing MGS4 through multiple times doesn't save you from installing data every act (unless I haven't figured that out) and that doesn't bother me. 5 second disc swap is NO big deal.

aggrazel @ Jul 16th 2008 2:52PM

I'll only care if Final Fantasy gets away from the tired quest on rails fight millions of battles get levels and do stupid crap formula. Of course, since this is their 12th real game in the series (11 doesn't count) and they haven't strayed from that formula yet... don't think so.

Gamertag: GOPAL892005 @ Jul 16th 2008 2:54PM

i dont really care if its on multiple discs - its most likely gonna come on 3 or 4 discs.

Snowman @ Jul 16th 2008 2:59PM

I dont really care how many disc the game takes up, but I don't like the idea of compressing the videos.

Kristianlee @ Jul 16th 2008 3:02PM

I have both systems and I'll probably buy this one for PS3 although when a game is available for both I usually grab the 360 version because I prefer the XBLA service and the controller more.

For FF though it's just something that I've always played on Playstation and it just seems right. I know that's not really the best reason in the world but it's the one I'm using.

Changing discs does suck when you're already comfortable and laying around but the load times on the PS3 can be just as annoying so they kind of wash out.

Procris @ Jul 16th 2008 3:05PM

Lost Odyssey is 4 disks and is one of my favourite games of this gen. Honestly, when people bring up the issue of swapping disks in a role playing game, it honestly makes me think how stupid they are because its not even an issue for the majority of us.

With Jrpg's the thing that takes up the most space on a disk, is pretty much just the FMV's and audio. Not the actual game content.

I'll be buying Final Fantasy 13 day one when its released on 360 and the amount of disks its on won't worry me one bit.

Morgon @ Jul 16th 2008 3:08PM

I have an idea:

How about more gameplay, and less FMV?

Etchasketchist @ Jul 16th 2008 3:09PM

Is there really somebody out there who can't stand swapping discs? I love it, personally. I'm on disc 4 of Lost Odyssey right now and every time I had to swap discs it was like a little achievement. And what's cool is, when I was on disc 3 I lent disc 1 to a friend to try out.

SABCA @ Jul 16th 2008 3:22PM

The only time multi disk would be a problem, would be if it raised the price.

And it never has so far, right?

Otherwise, it just gives you move canvas space for cool cover arts on the disk. Plus, the substantial weight of the multidisk really feel like you're getting more for your value.

I just hope the packaging is of a high quality.

I'm nowhere near as big a fan of FF as I was back in the FFVI and IX days, but this games presentation and style looks to be the top of it's genre. I'm quite pleased to see this game reach 360, this is much more substantial for me than any Gears of War games.

Eddie @ Jul 16th 2008 3:22PM

This is indicative of a bigger issue to me: just how much movie do we want our games to be? I loved Mass Effect personally, with very few pre rendered scenes and loads of gameplay. If I wanted to watch a badly dubbed crapanese movie with no plot and even less creativity, I can find my way to the anime section just fine, thank you very much. The gameplay is what is important, and I doubt very highly that you can't fit all of FFXIII's gameplay and more on a DVD-9 if you left out the 4 hours of HD FMV.

Jerry @ Jul 16th 2008 3:27PM

Sony fanboys can cry about the glorious specs all they want, they just lost the console war.

Jackattaak @ Jul 16th 2008 4:41PM

Shut up. I love my 360 and have no desire to own a PS3, but Xbox fanboys are just as inane as any other fanboys.

I loved playing FF 7 and 8 on my PS1 (9 not so much), and I'm stoked to know I'm gonna be playing 13 in the future!

Like B4DKARM4 said earlier, this game could come on 20 disks and I wouldn't care. Although I may lol at the box size :D

Chase @ Jul 16th 2008 3:40PM

My favorite Final Fantasy game had multiple discs. I don't see what the problem is as far as that is concerned.

I wonder how they'll package the multiple discs. I'd prefer it to be packaged better than Lost Odyssey.

PirateGamer @ Jul 16th 2008 3:41PM

and it's not as though you're switching every 30 minutes or so. unless you go all out you most likely won't even switch in a day.

Jonah Falcon @ Jul 16th 2008 3:47PM

My name is Jonah, dammit. Not "Jonnah" :p

Profsr Chaos @ Jul 16th 2008 3:47PM

Now the "game installs" make sense, if ff13 came on multiple disc, then it would make sense to install the other discs and keep the main disc during the duration of game play, thus relieving the need to swap disc.
I hear bict#es complaining about a "watered down" version and thats a bunch of bologna, it seems that MGS4 required the "extra space" to hold amount of in game cinematic that it had did,
seriously id rather take a prerendered cinematic any day.

haukke @ Jul 16th 2008 3:49PM

i played lost odyssey on the 360 and the time between disk 1 and disk 2 was like 5 or 6 days.no biggie.i would rather have it on multiple disks uncompressed.it did not take anything away from playing the game at all.

Profsr Chaos @ Jul 16th 2008 3:53PM

I thought that MS had the strongest showing at e3 so far, all sony showcased was its strong PS2 and PSP sales, then it showed games that were on both platforms, then it showed "trailers" of God of war 3 and FAG, oops i mean MAG,

256 players, ohh ahhh, sure! If they want to have that many players on MAG then wouldnt everyone that purchased a PS3 have to buy one? LOL

Andrew @ Jul 16th 2008 4:09PM

lay off the hate speech. The one thing missing from Microsoft's press conference was a racism/homophobia filter.

Profsr Chaos @ Jul 16th 2008 4:15PM

I love hypnotoad too!
Its not a hate/homophobic speech, its an inappropriate argument regarding a silly subject, kinda like when people say "thats gay" or when people refer to "halo" as "gaylo", you sir are taking my rant too literal, perhaps next time you will see the error of your ways before assuming the worst in people.....