E308: Sony 'disappointed' by FFXIII for 360
by Xav de Matos 
{ Jul 18th 2008 at 10:45AM }
Speaking on the subject of paying off publishers for exclusivity, Tretton told Joystiq "[Sony] invested so much money in the [PS3] hardware" that it simply "can't write checks for exclusive software."
While popular theory is that Microsoft paid Square Enix off for its recent handfull of upcoming releases, word around the industry campfire points at a decision made by Square Enix months ago to focus on multiplatform development that saw Final Fantasy XIII land on the Xbox 360. With a high install base and solid attach rate for the Xbox 360 in North America and Europe many developers are forgoing exclusivity in order to lessen the blow of "next-gen" game development. Capcom has been a prime example of this point with Devil May Cry 4; which saw better sales on the Xbox 360.
Regardless of the situation, Square Enix is happy to bring the experience to as many people as possible and as gamers we all should be too.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Viva La Champ @ Jul 18th 2008 10:51AM
I'm sooo happy this is on 360 now =]
I sorta regret the fact that I bought a ps3 as seeing I never care for bluray, and all the games are going on my 360:P Well I know for a fact some ps3fanboy will come in saying "have fun swapping 6 disks" Even though FFXIII will probably be at like 2 disks. The ps3 trolls don't realize swapping disks takes 5 seconds, and installing games takes over 30minutes.....I rather get the quick exersise ;)
Sean @ Jul 18th 2008 11:44AM
Yeah... but by the time FF 13 is out, the 360 will have the install to hard disc option. That sounds like a perfect solution to swapping discs. That is, of course if they allow you to just have disc 1 in the console at all times.
Dirty @ Jul 18th 2008 12:45PM
They mention that you need the disc in the drive to work, if it works for multiple discs I will be surprised. What is preventing me and my friends from just keeping one disc and copying the rest to our hard drives?
Just sayin
I am also slightly regretting my ps3 purchase, but MGS was awesome and I am a huge ratchet and clank fan.
dylan @ Jul 18th 2008 1:36PM
@Dirty, they will most likely make disc 1 the playable one and disc 2 the cutscenes which you can download. You would need disc 1 to play and once you've put disc 2 on your hard drive. Who is going to want a disc of cutscenes from you if they can't do anything with it?
zyskgame @ Jul 19th 2008 4:00PM
the only reason we copy the game to the hard drive is so that it doesent load.
chenry @ Jul 18th 2008 2:29PM
I don't see how they get to make fun of us having to change discs, Final Fantasy 7 was a bunch of discs, so was Metal Gear Solid. Fear Effect. Resident Evil 2. C'mon. Changing discs is a tradition!
Dirty @ Jul 18th 2008 7:30PM
@Dylan That really wouldnt make sense, if you didnt have a hard drive you would have to switch discs everytime a cut scene came up. Keep in mind that there are a few poor souls out there without a hard drive still.
Roto13 @ Jul 19th 2008 1:06PM
Installation does not take 30 minutes. >_> And it cuts down the load times. If you don't (or can't) install FF XIII on the 360 hard drive, load times will be a lot slower than the PS3 version.
Can't say swapping discs is a major issue for me, though. It's not like you have to swap them every time you go to a new area or something. I'm not that lazy.
Smiling Kitsune @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:20PM
Seeing how blue dragon was on three discs I doubt FF13 will be on 2.
BlackFreefall @ Jul 18th 2008 10:57AM
Well is a win win situation for everybody. Xbox360 owners will have a chance to experienece this game. Square Enix will rake in more money. And PS3 owners can still enjoy this game too (despite what some of they claimed that is the end of the world)
KarlW @ Jul 18th 2008 11:56AM
Agree. I'm a PS3 owner (only came by here because I saw the post at the bottom of Engadget), and TBH, I don't really mind about FF13 going multiplatform.
Well, I don't mind so long as it doesn't push the release back too much. The fact that more gamers are able to enjoy a game doesn't lessen my enjoyment of it.
slickrich05 @ Jul 18th 2008 11:05AM
Get you facts straight, DMC4 sold more on the ps3 worldwide, the race isn't just USA, and who really care about FF, who know when it will ever come out, and by that that time PS3 install base will be much higher, its good that 360 is getting it why would that bother me i own all system as all gamers should....
ryan @ Jul 18th 2008 11:03AM
all gamers don't have to own all 3 systems these days apparently...
grimlock26 @ Jul 18th 2008 11:24AM
....Holy snot man, did you bother to read that before you posted your rant?
Rob @ Jul 18th 2008 11:26AM
Those are not the words of a person who owns all three systems. Judging by the illiteracy and frantic "the PS3 is not losing" comments, I'd hazard a guess that you only have a PS3.
Xav de Matos @ Jul 18th 2008 2:39PM
Even though you are wrong this article isn't talking about worldwide, we're talking about North America and Europe.
We're not saying the PS3 sucks, we're talking about being happy as a collective group of gamers that FFXIII is available on multiple consoles.
So simmer down, sunshine. Let the adults talk.
Gamertag: GOPAL892005 @ Jul 18th 2008 10:58AM
its great news that the XBOX 360 is getting FFXIII - now i'll get to play it & see what all the fuss is about :)
- i'm wondering why Microsoft hasn't put the FFXIII E3 Announcement Trailer onto the Marketplace - it'd be great to see it in HD :)
BlackFreefall @ Jul 18th 2008 11:00AM
*them
Ok maybe Sony is not winning but is still getting a piece of the pie.
SithLarry @ Jul 18th 2008 4:04PM
You used sunshine twice. I'm pretty sure that's illegal.
SithLarry @ Jul 18th 2008 4:07PM
My bad wrong reply.
slickrich05 @ Jul 18th 2008 11:08AM
do you know why they will not put teh trailer on because teh trailer was running on a ps3 engine, that way they asked to pan out when the video was showing
killploki @ Jul 18th 2008 11:38AM
the
KarlW @ Jul 18th 2008 11:58AM
Yep, given the apparent last-minute-ness of the decision, they probably don't have the 360 version up and running yet.
There may (and don't take this as fanboy bashing) be some compromises that need to be made for the 360 version. It's still up in the air, I'd imagine. They don't want to release anything until it's a proper indication of what the game will look like.
OrionnoirO @ Jul 18th 2008 12:55PM
Any compromises that may be made because of space will be offset by the robust architecture and dev tools available for the 360.
PS3 = More available number-crunching power (AI, Physics, etc) and more storage (BluRay)
360 = Better architecture to better utilize its available processing power over the 3 cores, better memory footprint, better gpu, better online and system feature integration (Friends lists, chat, etc)
Each have their pros and cons, just the 360s often lead to visible and observable differences in games, where as the PS3s are more complimentary (Dont get me wrong, important, just not as front and center) differences. Take for example the better memory, sys architecture, and gpu - all of those translate into a larger environment able to be pulled off with less and faster load times (Faster DVD also helps this) with more detail and action all being rendered smoother and with higher fidelity. PS3 on the other hand while it may suffer FPS issues and such, they can offset the slower loads by mandatory installs so that while they cant handle as many textures and such in memory at once as the 360, they can at least load them quickly from the hard drive) and increase physics and AI response with less of an impact as the 360 version, granted, thats only if they arent utilizing extra GPU cycles to offset the physics and AI needs from the CPU... I dont know how far they are pushing and have pushed the 360s GPU or any of the systems architecture really... Not to mention "tricks" can be pulled to make any differences less noticable, for example on GTA4, using a blur filter instead of properly anti-aliasing the screen on the PS3 version made it less resource intensive but able to have a similar effect.
All in all I do find it humorous when people pull the "But, I dont want the PS3 version limited by the 360","The PS3 is more powerful than the 360","Untapped Potential", etc. I dont call disc space untapped potential, I call it overkill as processor speeds increase and loss-less compression improve.
Xav de Matos @ Jul 18th 2008 2:50PM
According to Yōichi Wada, the game hasn't even begun PS3 development yet. Currently the engine is running on PC.
Trogdor @ Jul 18th 2008 11:12AM
Yeah, Slickrich is right, according to vgchartz.com DMC4 sold about 170,000 more copies on PS3 than 360, but I'm sure the 360 sold way more in North America.
On topic; Of course they're dissapointed, this game was a big reason to buy a PS3, but now there's no need if you already own a 360.
And I somehow doubt that MS is actually paying these developers to bring their titles to the 360. It makes good business sense for a developer to release their titles on both consoles to get the maximum exposure to potential consumers.
Dirty @ Jul 18th 2008 12:51PM
Ill be honest. DMC4 wasnt all that great. Once I got turned around and had to play all the levels as Dante I lost interest.
Also DMC is huge is Japan where the PS3 has a big install base. I would reckon that a large amount of the sales tipping point came from the land of the rising sun.
Xav de Matos @ Jul 18th 2008 2:52PM
VGChartz is not accurate and is about as reliable as Wikipedia. Based on NPD numbers, DMC4 has sold more on the Xbox 360 than the PS3.
joey @ Jul 18th 2008 11:19AM
Good for Square Enix and MS
Let's bet on how many discs the game is going to ship on.
I'm betting on 3.
Procris @ Jul 18th 2008 12:24PM
2-3 most likely. Maybe even 4 but it won't exceed 4. Lost Odyssey was 4 disks and i'm sure FFXIII will be a "bigger" game overall in terms of both content and more cut scenes. But Square stressed that they would use compression without affecting the quality of the game. Which makes sense since compression techniques have improved a lot over the years, including audio compression. Video is what will take up most of the games disk space anyhow.
Ninjakamster (PS360 FTW!) @ Jul 18th 2008 11:27AM
I'm guessing a nice chunk of 360 owners were previous PS1/PS2 owners but were put off by the failures of the PS3, myself sorta included, I still want to get one eventually. Its the Blu-Ray drive troubles that worry me the most, shoddy drive on my 60gb that broke after playing GTA4. : (
Since this game is coming for the 360, I wonder if the other FF13 game, Versus is coming to 360 as well.
Teabag @ Jul 18th 2008 11:28AM
FXIII? Check.
MGS4? ...
Come on MS! Hehe. :p
I am so happy that FXIII is coming on the 360. I have ever only played FF2, FF7, FF8 and FF9. I never had a PS2, so lost out on the other FF games and Square never released them on the PC. So FFXIII is great. I prolly won't buy a PS3 at it's price point so it's just awesome for me! Go money!
Sora57 @ Jul 18th 2008 11:30AM
I think you've got the quote messed up, because the PS3 actually does have a much bigger install base in Japan, so retaining the exclusive there is not that much of coup because most people would not have bought the Xbox console just for FF13 in Japan. They will buy the game for the console they already own-- the PS3. Retaining the exclusivity there is not a coup for SONY, because the 360 install base is not good anyway. You inserted [PS3] when you should have inserted [Xbox 360].
So the quote should be "seeing as there isn't that big of a [Xbox360] installed base in [there], I don't know how big of a coup that is for us."
Xav de Matos @ Jul 18th 2008 2:41PM
Quote is actually accurate. Straight from Tretton.
Matthew @ Jul 18th 2008 11:31AM
I've never seen a fanboy with so much sand in her vagina.
Sora57 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:14PM
If that's a comment directed to me, I don't get it.
Matthew @ Jul 18th 2008 12:35PM
Sorry Sora, that was for SlickRick
SugarDaddy @ Jul 18th 2008 11:39AM
Jeez, who knew this article would turn into a prick-waving dick fight. Oh wait, this is 360 fanboy...
I don't think anyone picked up on this (probably from all the prick-waving), but if sony can't write checks to keep games exclusive, why is God of War 3 a PS3 exclusive? That would seem like a very bad decision for them.
Fx.Dr @ Jul 18th 2008 11:57AM
Because it's a first-party title. Yeah, Sony would be raking in the sales left and right, but also helping out the competition.
dark_inchworm @ Jul 18th 2008 11:55AM
That exclusivity might have something to do with God of War III being developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Studios Santa Monica.
Yeah, not third-party.
SugarDaddy @ Jul 18th 2008 11:57AM
Ah, I didn't know it was Sony. Makes sense now. Thanks.
joey @ Jul 18th 2008 12:01PM
God of War is Sony's IP.
As in Halo is MS's IP.
Even though they may be developed by 3rd party.
BlackFreefall @ Jul 18th 2008 12:03PM
Because the game is produced by the Sony Game Division.
nick @ Jul 18th 2008 12:29PM
God of War was developed by Sony Computer Entertainment Studios Santa Monica, a division of Sony.
Halo was developed by Bungie, which prior to the release of that game was an independant developer but was acquired and became a subsidary of Microsoft. Only recently, has Bungie left the Microsoft fold, and become a private company. If I'm not mistaken, Microsoft owns the Halo IP, a minority share in Bungie, and the rights to publish certain future Bungie titles.
dhaspert13 @ Jul 18th 2008 11:51AM
I could perhaps be wrong but didn't Devil May Cry sell better on the PS3? Not by much mind you, but better.
BBF Epic @ Jul 18th 2008 12:01PM
Quote
--------
He was quick to stress that the game remains a PS3 exclusive in Japan, but that "seeing as there isn't that big of a [PS3] installed base in [there], I don't know how big of a coup that is for us."
---------
I think it is more likely that he meant 360, not PS3, when referring to the install base.
The 360 has only a small install base in Japan, hence why they aren't missing out much by keeping the game PS3-Exclusive in that region.
Sora57 @ Jul 18th 2008 12:12PM
That's what I said in my previous post and someone said I had sand in my vagina. WTF????
Procris @ Jul 18th 2008 12:17PM
Yeah it seems like a typo, hey, we all make mistakes when writing stuff, like writing the wrong word/name. I know i have. I'm sure he'll correct it later.
Xav de Matos @ Jul 18th 2008 2:43PM
The quote is exactly as Mr. Tretton said to the team at Joystiq.
nick @ Jul 18th 2008 12:05PM
If you're a third party it really doesn't make sense to offer exclusives, unless there's some financial reason to do so. This is just a business decision by Square. Support more systems, and sell more copies.
And speaking of DMC4, it sold better on the PS3 worldwide than the 360, but by a margin of less than 200,000 units. All told, between both versions counting worldwide sales, over 2 million copies were sold.