I doubt it'll be much difference for Europe in relation to the Japanese release date, as we always get it much later. America though? Well, you'll be getting it later than you're used to. I'm calling March 2010 before we even see it in the West.

If it's earlier (say Christmas 2009), I'll be pleasantly surprised and, for the first time in history, enjoy an FF game under my Christmas tree as opposed to in the Spring.

@Morpork: You keep telling yourself that. MS wouldn't pay money for a PS3 excusive (which is what they obviously what they did with FF13) if it wasn't coming to Xbox 360 day-and-date with PS3 in the markets they're currently fighting for, namely Europe and North America. Remember this move isn't about increasing 360 sales, but slowing down PS3 sales by having most, if not all, of the great games previously associated with the PlayStation platform released day-and-date on Xbox 360.

They're hoping the 360's compelling exclusives will convince more people to jump to their platform without running any games gauntlet involving not being able to play the newest in a franchise they loved on the older system.

The way I see it (and the way MS may see it too) is that with nearly every PS3 sold, that's one less 360 console sold and for those who have both, that's fewer 360 multiplatform games sold also.

I certainly get the feeling Square-Enix will hold back the Western FF13 on PS3 just so they can get those co-marketing dollars from MS. Ultimately they don't give a shit which system it comes out on, so long as it sells them a lot and if MS are offering them moneyhats and co-marketing, they'll do just as they say.

akwinters

Delaying the already-deep-in-progress PS3 version just because they have now decided to make an XBOX release is just outrageous.

I shouldn't be waiting longer because of M$'s greed. Damn them to hell.

I mean I'd live with the PS3 losing exclusivity, but delaying it as well? God, Sony, wake the hell up.

Shinkan

Microsoft: "your money's in the bank Motomu"
Motomu: "...forget what I said, we will see new costumes and an extra dungeon in the 360 version!"

SupaPhly

Is he also telling them not to think about seeing their families until the game is finished?

*cracks whip*

WittyUserName

Uh, the game will be ~translated to both~ and ported to 360 at same time, which will prolly finish one year after the japanese release (as usual with S-E.)

TheurerDiciple

I predict this possible extra-long delay is only going to serve to get me worked up over a game that will ultimately prove to be disappointing, existing mostly to pimp it's own spinoffs. I really miss the old Squaresoft.

krisnomicon

Oh, so FFXIII is getting the GTAIV treatment, then.

Strangelove

We'll be lucky if we see this in the US in 2010.

ila

@D Mitsuki: Nah, those are both PC games to me and as I grew up by the Carmack policy of "when it's done", I don't care how long they take :P FF just always was a part of console generations numerous times and this one is taking forever. Every 6 months are too long of a delay at this point.

@pandafresh: I hate to admit it but I think so, too. Damn shame that, at least we'll get to see proper gameplay footage when it's out there.

Candlejack

I don't think the PS3 version would be held back, simply because if it was going to be, they would have said so. Microsoft probably asked Square to be tight lipped about it, to cause doubt.

Morpork

@Candlejack: Fairly sure Japanese FF games have never included English subtitles. Wouldn't expect it! The fun of reading through a fan translation as you play the game is all part of importing Square Enix games, apparently.

Kazzahdrane

I'm not really a developer, so I wouldn't know how I'd feel contributing to such a huge game. But as a developer, I for one would like to be exposed to be as big of an audience as possible to reap the right rewards and recognition for hard work.

Don't know about Square Enix, but I'd imagine they feel the same way. But something tells me some people are none to pleased to be developing for the 360 - I suppose the sentiment on the console across Japan is rather negative or just not-prioritized. I suppose the factor came from the big wigs at Square Enix to finally make the push. With the Xbox division finally bringing in net income for Microsoft and such a huge install base - how can one overlook it?

Come this generation, I think developers and publishers need to act more like the film industry. Screw ego's - publish it on whatever is viable and can earn you a buck. We all saw what happened when HD-DVD locked up things like Transformers HD-DVD and Michael Bay's reaction to that... Furthermore, it didn't exactly do the film sales justice for what it could have gotten. For a film in the top 20 of all time in box office rakes, I'm sure the sales were largely underwhelming and could've done so much more.

mr_dimsum

they said they're releasing the japanese one once its finished i think. then they're porting and translating it all.

mentalboy11

@Candlejack: You must be just crazy at the thought of Spore and DNF right now huh :P

Really who cares, we both get the game, so meh. Besides, I'm more eagerly awaiting the release of a game that I actually know will come out before my kids will graduate, Tales of Vesperia.

D Mitsuki

@Candlejack: its probably likely the japanese version wont include english options

pandafresh

Weird. If I'd be Microsoft I would have given them 10 SDKs already in case one gets broken.. And an additional 20 for their family members.

elend

If they don't put the option for English text or at least subs in the JP version of the game, I'm going to be annoyed. I'm not that big a fan of FF but I just have to see what they have been working on for so long, know what I mean?

I can live with the box & instructions being in Japanese, I think, as I never read them anyway, but the game all in Japanese would remove the import option entirely.

Candlejack

I shouldn't be waiting longer because of M$'s greed.

More like $ony's inability to hold onto exclu$ive$.

KaneRobot

PS4 and X-Box 720 confirmed.

EvilMetsFan

Pentex: I believe that most of that trailer was CG, much like everything else we've already seen of that game. But you're still right, since that trailer basically was the same one shown at last year's Jump Festa with an Xbox logo slapped on.

haggis

So the MS press conference with the big FFxiii video was actually a ps3 video?

I going to visit this page for the next few years to see whos the last fanboi standing in console bashing while we all wait for release date.
I hope they release this game before Im married(seriously)

d3vilg0d

If they do plan to hold back the PS3 version until the 360 version is complete then they must think developing the port will be relatively quick.

Luckily SE should have some experience with developing for the 360 given the fact they are developing Star Ocean and Infinite Undiscovery.

Sniper_Zegai

@Pentex: thats right, everyone was so"whoaaa" thats was a ps3 trailer lol

SuPerNaKe

That sucks for all fans, regardless of system. Well, unless you live in Japan. Another reason why I dont buy Square Enix games :)

Refused

@Pentex: Its like the GTA trailers, but in reverse. All the footage captured for the trailers was captured on the 360.

And I bet the trailers were not done on the PS3, but in Maya and some compositing application. Those were shown a long time ago, before the PS3 even shipped if I recall correctly. And there was a lot of environments in that footage!

fronsacqc

So much for the "Oh no, FFXIII is coming to the xbox, Microsoft sure screwed Sony" deal...

Cufol33tcat

You know what's funny and ironic?

MS showed a trailer in the conference and if Square hasn't done anything on 360 yet, they showed a PS3 trailer...

Pentex

@Candlejack: I imported FFX, FFXII, KH and KHII and none of them had subs. I would look into the overseas (Asian) version though. I think that comes out sometime between the JP and NA release and might include English subtitles. If not, at least it'll include a slip of paper with some Chinese and English on it telling you how to care for your Blu-Ray disc.

everybest

loll

cxplorer

@dv8godd: If the game comes out on 360 first my friend is mad. If it comes out on PS3 first I'm mad. If it is delayed to come out at the same time were both mad. together.

Final Fantasy, bringing people together sense 2008.

D Mitsuki

@Llost: They will probably have that optional install feature out by the time this game comes out, so if you want fast loading no problem.

D Mitsuki

Simultaneous release is over-rated. I'd rather get it sooner on the PS3 than wait for both. Perhaps partly because I'm more likely to buy the PS3 version than the 360 anyway, but also because I just don't want to think about it.

At least if it came out on either one first... I'd know which copy to buy without having to study the details and differences. Staggered releases are just so much simpler sometimes.

"Oh... it's only out right now on PS3 (or 360 or Wii, whichever)... then that's the one I'm buying right now."

Honestly... I just want to play the damn thing. All the back-room politics just turns me off.

dv8godd

@squall211: Like how the Xbox 360 version of Bioshock is superior to the PS3 version right?

D Mitsuki

I have both systems, but without a doubt I'll get it on the PS3. I own all the FF games except III and XI for the Playstation, so basically being able to play the entire seris on one system is pretty nice. Plus, with it being developed for the PS3 first, it makes me think that the PS3 will be at least a slightly more polished version of the game.

squall211

At least FF VS. XIII is still PS3 exclusive...

Don't get me wrong, I'm more of a 360 fanboy than a PS3 fanboy, but there are some things that you just don't do. Like put Final Fantasy on the 360. Although this isn't nearly as much of a travesty as putting Fatal Frame 4 on the Wii, and ONLY on the Wii...

PC+Mac Coexist

@Sniper_Zegai: Tri-Ace is making Star Ocean and Infinite Undiscovery. They have nothing to do with Fabula Nova. Square is publishing SO4 and IU.

Black-Dog-Howls

@KaneRobot: is not sony's fault that the Xbox 360 is made by a company that is worth 5x more than they are and also that said company has a annual profit of 16 billion dollars so Im pretty sure Microsoft afford to pay for exclusives.

Servant_of_Jashin

Ummm Seeing as how games are not region locked on PS3 I will be picking up the JPN version. Not only do I see no reason to wait I this localizing has gone way down hill since "Working Designs" got out of the business. Well that and I'm a bit of a purist, and feel the game flows better in its native language.

Anyhow, am I wrong is the game going to be region locked?

-EDGE-

Kinda worrisome that they don't even have dev kits yet. That cold be the makings of a long delay.

t0yrobo

360 version it is for me. I suspect it'll be slightly inferior (small things like load times) but to have it on the 360 just proves that the 360 can handle almost any game the PS3 can make (all at the moment but not in the future most likely).

I still want FFXIII versus though and that's exclusive.

Llost

Yay, now they'll make the PS3 version look like shit to make 360 owners happy!

DukeOfPwn

@D Mitsuki: Yeah cos I'm not buying one at the current prices, MS rips us off way too bad with the hard drives. I hope next time it'll just be a huge fitted in hard drive or they'll do the same thing PS3 did.

Llost

well, i'm glad they're concentrating on one console at a time, nothing worse than a bad port... even if it does delay release.

s0njas0n

@D Mitsuki: It may be unavoidable in cases of any shared releases, even staggered ones... but at least the initial conversations are more likely to remain about the game.

If it comes out 5 weeks or 5 years earlier on another system... people more often tend to talk about whether the game is worthwhile first rather than going straight to the technical comparisons.

As a multi-system owner, I do care a bit about which one is superior so I can make a better choice, but I don't want the whole conversation to revolve around it. Whether the game is any fun means more to me than a 2% difference in quality.

Plus, as a multi-system owner, I tend to care less about the conversations that take place later when the games become shared. I'd already purchased it based on conversations that weren't all about the flaws in the system's GPU.

Either way, even if the eventual shared release is better... I probably had a lot more fun by just being able to skip the debate... both online and internally.

dv8godd

Thanks Microsoft!

Al87

@dv8godd: Honestly, that is unavoidable. If you remake a game over 5 years from the original, people will still post and crap about how there version is superior thusly proving there superior hard ware. With it released later on the 360, all those idiots will still come out "This version is running at 720p, yours is running at 620p native and then upscaled, mine is obviously superior" "No no no, you see mine has a better softer image with nicer bloom effects." "I thought this was a pretty cool game" "WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT OBVIOUSLY IT WAS A COOL GAME BUT BETTER ON 360" "NO HE OBVIOUSLY PLAYED THE PS3 VERSION BECAUSE THE 360 ONE SUCKS" "STFU AND GO BACK TO THE CHURCH OF CHAD WARDEN" "RIGHT AFTER YOUR BUTT BUDDY BILL SENDS YOU BACK FROM RRODING" "I just said it was a cool game..."

D Mitsuki

@Llost: Maybe MS will pull there head out of there ass's before then and give us a reasonable price larger hard drive.

One can dream...

D Mitsuki

@D Mitsuki: Simultaneous release: so we can all be disappointed together.

The other downside is... once a game is released on both, people focus on the bullshit rather than the game 9 times out of 10.

Example One:

PS3 exclusive for a 360 only owner: "that game is terrible, I have a better game"

360 exclusive for a PS3 only owner: "no, your game is terrible, I have a better game still"

They may be fanboys, but at least they're talking about games... but then...

Example Two:

PS3 / 360 owners on shared titles: "no, my version has a steadier frame rate and there are fewer jaggies and that texture over there on your screen is muddy and your loading times average .05% longer than mine even though I have to install and..."

See... shared releases make people stupid. Whether the game is any good, half the time, becomes irrelevant.

I'd just rather be gaming.

dv8godd

@D Mitsuki: Yeah but I don't have enough space for that I assume cos I have some titles I bought from XBLA that I don't want to delete, Ninja gaiden black from Xbox originalsa and then it depends on how big an install FFXIII would be since I only have a 20gb HDD and I've used some space as I said.

Llost

@DukeOfPwn: Yeah...cause there are sooooo many multiformat games out there that look superior on the PS3 isnt there.....

teeps1981

@Pentex: no they didnt...they showed a cgi film duh!

teeps1981

Kind of disappointed Sony couldn't hold onto this one, but I'm not a fan of JRPGs so it doesn't really matter to me.

Heyyou27

Between the months/years without new gameplay/anything footage, the whole exclusive debacle, and the reality that it's going to be intentionally held back so they can get a 360 version ported, this has got to be the most disappointing game of my life....and it's not even out yet. Unless it is revolutionary, which I'm still not sure it will be, I have a feeling a lot of people are going to be let down when it anticlimactically arrives in _________ (insert year guess)

TheRiver

I hate square-enix now. NOT because they put FFXIII on the 360, but because they are delaying a game that's already taking an eternity to arrive here.

Jnas

Considering the Square Enix financials I would think they would be chomping at the bit to get it out in the states as soon as possible.

kasplat

Sounds like this is more for the team making the game than the average gaming nut. I bet his team has thrown a fit. After the PS3 version is done we'll have to watch closely if people start walking.

Thetallywacker

If it comes out in Japan first, then I'll import the game anyway. Well, thanks for the update. I was wondering about that since E3.

Mike's Stalker

I read most of the comments here but it seems that "akwinters" had the best explanation for what's happening here: MS doesn't really want to win, they just want to see Sony lose.

And while the 360 version will most likely be slightly inferior (some of the graphical touches, load times and of course the amount of discs), MS will have a huge smile on their faces because of the day-and-date release forcing PS3 owners to wait because they showed up to the party (millions in hand).

Having said that, MS may've wasted their money on this one. While MS had the biggest announcement at E3 Sony had the most exclusive first-party titles to show off. So while SquEnix spends what I imagine will be the next 18 months localizing and trying to cram a Blu-ray game onto 4+ DVDs, Sony will be enjoying a strong collection of exclusive titles making FFXIII less of an event.

Moreover, having the game on one disc will only solidify Sony's stance on Blu-ray making the case that their system is more future proof and ready to support that HDTV that everyone wants for Christmas. Anyone remember the FFVII ads that ran during the PSOne days when the SNES was still out? It made sure to point out that FFVII could only be done if it were spread across 50 or 100 (or some insane number) of cartridges. Sounds crazy but this could actually be good for Sony if they take advantage of it in the right way. Good news is that they'll have almost 2 years to get a good action plan together.

incredibilistic

Thanks SE, keep pissing off PS3 owners who don't like games to be delayed for arbitrary reasons. Keep going.

Maleficence

ps. Square Enix never tells the truth.

MisterMcThursday

I keep getting this feeling that SE is just brooding in a corner ranting about Japanese pride. The deal seems bitter sweet for them.

NattyIce

@incredibilistic:

You've got to be kidding me.

LaneWinree

@incredibilistic: Why would they not want to win? That doesn't even make sense, sure they could try and stop sony but wouldn't winning do that? And wouldn't winning also get them a lot more brand loyalty and make more software developers interested making there console better long term?

Llost

After actually reading the article, no "new" information was revealed. At E3 Square-Enix said that the 360 version of the game wouldn't be worked on until the PS3 version was finished.

Other than "The Last Remnant", I am unaware of any SE RPG that has been localized in under 6 months. If their localization begins at the same time the 360 port begins, that doesn't necessarily mean the game will be heavily delayed, given they are using a flexible engine to create the game.

When working on PCs was mention historically, I will assume that the game is being coded on a PC with their proprietary engine and then exported to the development kits for further optimization.

peacefuloutrage

I'm now at so much ease now that I know that the dev kits haven't even arrived yet.

BluFire

Thanks a lot 360 !!!

believable_liar

@teeps1981:

That struck me as slightly odd as well.

LaneWinree

Hmmmm also.....Inifinate undiscovery, Last Remanant, Star Ocean all coming to 360 before spring 09....

...squareenix..."we dont have dev kits yet"?

who can tell me what is wrong with the above?

teeps1981

It doesnt matter if the game is ported to the xbox. Square would still make you wait for years after a lot of scheduled release dates. Like those bastards al Id that just announced Doom4 "Uuuuh....we just have the name of the game, we havent developed it", we will have to wait. In the meanwhile we can focus on all the future great releases with actual release dates.

ortegar

I just wonder how long this porting will hold back its release. Maybe by the time the game is Gold I'll own a PS3. I'm going to need a price drop though.

Ryodestined

@incredibilistic: I see what you saying. Some people just don't get your comment about forcing sony to lose by stealing their games. For all you people its called business, u gotta lose some to gain some.

I dont even care about FF. I forced myself not to get hyped when i first saw the trailer. Im more focused on RL right now lol

blackpanther25

So what are the chances that, since this is currently being developed on a PC platform (which S-E claims was the case with every FF since VI, IIRC) what are the chances that it won't take long to port to the 360? Seriously, PS3 Bioshock is taking less than a year and PC/360 ports to the PS3 are reportedly tough to do.

Freaking out about the NA release is simply premature. Let's just wait until its finished and released before we join The Panty Bunch.

DARTH_TIGRIS

@teeps1981: Think it has to do with square being the publisher and not the developer for Star Ocean and Infinite Udiscovery. As for Last Remnant one can only surmise that the developer teams for that have dev kits and the ff13 ones don't or some other reason.

Neo-Senku: The World's Finest Pervert

'til the devkits arrive.'

Funny how he says that when they must already have devkits in-house for FF11 and Last Remnant at the very least.

muu

@teeps1981:
All I can figure is that they are using all currently available kits.

I got two questions for the fanboys.

1. One of you explain to me how the hell can a game being ported to the 360 using a cross-platform toolset, Crystal Tools, hold up development on the PS3? This game is most-likely being created on a computer then will be optimized for the PS3, then optimized for the 360. Call me stupid since I work on cross-platform programs, but we don't put Project A for Platform B on hold because Project A for Platform C was just announced. We take the common code, which would be Project A for Platform A, and optimized that for B and C. But hell, you giggling group of 12 year-olds know everything.

2. Why do you believe that MS had to pay for this? Not everyone loves sucking the Sony c@#$ as much as the people who make the "OMGWTBBQ! M$ pad 4 dis. LULZ!" statement. I think we can safely say that, at around 2mil, the PS3 is selling like canned turds in Japan. The 360 isn't doing so hot eather, but look at it like this. The total PS3 sells for Japan and the US are under the total sells for the 360 in the US alone. If I was Square, I'd hop in bed with MS and Nintendo. Getting FF on the Wii, and having it sell, would make them a boatload of cash. Then we could shoop a huge penis violating a FF13 case while money pops out the bottom. All the while set to the tune "I'm walking on sunshine." I'm sure that is the song Nintendo uses when they look at the monthly console sells reports.

TheRealLameDuck

@DARTH_TIGRIS: This.

Seriously, SE has said several times that the PC port is going to be very smooth due to the engine they're using. It could be completely possible for them to take as much time making the 360 version as it takes them to localize the game to English (though granted, it would've been nice if they were working on the localization of the game at the same time as they are developing the game itself). This can be the case even if they don't have dev kits, since if they got a working PC version, it shouldn't be hard to shift it over to 360, IIRC.

Also, the big deal here is that since they're focusing the PS3 version, that means that the game probably won't suffer from some sort of gimping/scaling back on its home platform in order to make it work on the ported platform, from what I can tell.

*shrugs* It sucks that the 360 US version could cause the PS3 US version to be delayed, but it's just something that we'll have to deal with, unfortunately.

Skitch

I like how people, with absolutely no proof what so ever, claim MS is stealing exclusives. Im sorry, but keep your speculation to yourself, unless thier is proof, and lets be honest, the fact that MS is a publicly traded company means that most, if not all their financial statements are public record, means that if they are buying these exclusives one must just look for it on thier balance sheets.

Anyways, I personally think that square just got into some kind of strange negotiations and that no money traded hands, but an agreement was reached. Maybe lower royalties or something, who knows, but regardless, the fact in the end is that FFXIII is coming to the 360 and a lot of poeple are going to get to play a game that may or may not be great. Shouldnt we all be happy?

As for bioshock, what is the point of bringing that game up? As of right now we know nothing of whether or not it will be better or worse on the PS3. Its not out in any region, so how can you say anything about it? Right now, all we know is the 360 version is great and nothing is gonna take that away. Im tired of people telling me that the PS3/Wii/360 version of a title that isnt out yet is better than the PS3/Wii/360 version of a title that is already out. Its retarded, we dont know if its better. Fanboys will never cease to amaze me with thier stupidity.

Finally, its kinda depressing that they will delay the US/EU release of FFXIII just for a worldwide release, but oh well, I live in japan, own a PS3, and read/understand japanese so its irrelevant to me. I do feel for those owners who have to wait though just because Square wants them too. Its kinda crappy, but its far better than what I had to do as a youth, when I had to wait years for a translation. So people will just have to deal with it.

RuneX21

@TheRealLameDuck:
I'll see if i can try a logical reponse for the questions since its unlikely fanboys can give one given their nature.

For question 1 didn't see most complaining about development, but the main thing is that once they finish the english ps3 version, instead of getting it out to the public right away, they are gonna wait to do the port of 360 then put them out at the same time, timed exclusives have happened this gen, so why cant the same be done here?

2. Because they didn't do a timed exclusive that would favor the ps3, but did do one that favors the 360 it makes it seem as if something else is going on in the backrounds. Especially given Square-enix's stance that its gonna support all consles, not just one. There is no real proof to this, just a perception.

Neo-Senku: The World's Finest Pervert

Well I guess that pretty much kills all my excitement of a xbox live marketplace demo to coincide with the ps3 demo in march.

kagebutsu

@LordChris915:

360 owners will not be as excited??? Come on, thats crap and you know it. Im a 360 owner, will be buying it for PS3, and am still just as excited for it being on the 360 as I am for the PS3. There seems to be some crazy ass myth that 360 owners all hate jrpgs and that all PS3 owners love Jrpgs, its just that though, a myth. Reality is, if you look at games, to date the PS3 has had nothing in terms of JRPG sales. In other words, there is no evidence to support your claim that people are all buying the PS3 just for FFXIII as no real JRPGs aside from a poor port of enchanted arms has been released.

The reality is, 360 only owners are going to be just as excited as the PS3 owners and thats a fact your going to have to live with. Im not sure why you think its an insult to be multiplatform as that means its better for everyone. More poeple getting to enjoy a game = more sales = better games in the future. Noone loses, except the fanboy.

RuneX21

The way he is sounding does give me the feeling Square is going to stall the PS3 release. More then likely it will be one of those UT3 timed exclusives of sorts. I just don't think Square wants to stomp on too many toes.

TheNexusRebound

As if we weren't waiting long enough for the game to be released, now we even have to wait for it to be ported =/
If honestly think I might as well just learn japanese =D

-Shalashaska-

M$ obviously did not have a hand in this becuase they would have had the Dev kit over there much faster so as to seal the deal.

LordChris915

Japanese version won't have English, they need to save the English for International Version

djricekcn

They should just release each version when it is ready, how much more profit can they make from simultaneous release?
The PS3 fans deserve the game a lot more because they have waited much longer, too be fair the 360 owners will not be as exited as the PS3 fans because a lot of FF fans have bought PS3s in anticipation.
It was an insult when they made it multi-platform and an insult when they announced a simultaneous release.
Until they re-release FF8 I will not buy another multi-format FF game.

LordChris915

@RuneX21:
But the FF fans have not expected a 360 release and many have bought PS3s to those ends, also the PS2 was much better for JRPGs then the original Xbox so alot of people bought PS3s for that reason too.
I'm not saying that 360 fans will not be excited as they have just snagged the best looking game EVER, but they would not have felt the anticipation and most the people I know with 360s feel indifferent because its not action packed enough for their grey/brown FPS needs.

LordChris915

This is all speculation though. The article writer was the one stating that the game will be delayed because of the 360 port. We're getting ahead of ourselves, putting too much emphasis on his or her assumption.

The bad thing about the internet, I suppose.

Frologic

I am sure we'll have FF13 on PS3 in Europe and USA before x360 version, probably because of the HUGE numbers it will have in japan.

360 was not on the list sorry.

rodbox

@Neo-Senku: The World's Finest Pervert: You are my new friend. Clear, concise, and you know the difference between a dollar sign and an S. If I could, I'd give you a year of internets. Thank you for your input.

What most people are forgetting is that, while FF is being translated, it will be in the process of being ported to the 360. If they do use the PC as a base, which I believe they will since this is rumored to be out for the PC too, it shouldn't take much time given the tools and help MS offers and the ease of which you can program for the 360. *Don't believe me, get 40 bux and the XNA software. It will be well worth it.* What company is going to waist time waiting for a translation before they port a game? Really now... Anyway, porting isn't as big of an undertaking as starting from scratch. At least, I never thought it was.

I will be buying this game just to spite Sony. You broke my heart, Sony. *kiss of death* You broke my heart.

TheRealLameDuck

It sort of sucks that the US doesn't have to wait just for localization, but localization AND a port to be completed. :( Ah well. Is the 360 version going to require multiple discs? Not that it is a big deal or anything, I just sort have forgotten about switching discs in this generation.

walrusbrown

@Servant_of_Jashin:

"is not sony's fault that the Xbox 360 is made by a company that is worth 5x more than they are and also that said company has a annual profit of 16 billion dollars so Im pretty sure Microsoft afford to pay for exclusives."

It wasn't SEGA's (and Nintendo to a certain extent) fault either, when Sony used the current Microsoft's strategy on both of them 2-3 generations back. One went down the drain and the other merely stayed afloat (thank handhelds and pokémon). Karma is double edged dangerous sword. All is fair in love for games and console wars.

K_K

Squeenix must be in a really tight spot, all things considering. Microsoft must have payed royalties for the port and Sony must have paid another sum for it to stay exclusive in Japan and only making the port later.

K_K

@TheRealLameDuck: Hmm should've read what you wrote first, would've saved me from writing my wall of text.

sniper13x

These comments make my head hurt. Take a ride with me on the logic train, i'll see if i can help you guys out:

It takes square anywhere from 6-12 months, on past games, to localize for the western markets. I would imagine 12-18 months for a game of this scale. Following so far?

The game is being developed on a PC, yes PC not PS3. Still with me?

Now in those 12-18 months that a few people are working on the translation and localization, another group is working on porting the PC code to the 360, all while localizing it. See when you are already localizing a game for the ps3, it makes doing it on the 360 pretty easy since last i checked its the same language they're doing it for.

So now square has accomplished 2 things. First, it didn't hold back the launch in japan since the ps3 version is being done first. Second, they are using the time it takes to localize for the west on the ps3 to make the game for the 360. Square wins by killing 2 birds with one stone and making a shit load more money selling on the 360. Sony fanboys cry because they feel somehow this does damage to their system that is supposed to be all about "first party" games. The world keeps spinning.

sniper13x

Done.

That wasn't so hard.

Snake726

i don't know why the press keeps assuming that the ps3 version is going to be held back. Timed exclusives happen all the time, and by speculating that this isn't going to have one, they're just egging on fanboys and fearmongering.

inbetweenphase

@DukeOfPwn: Probably the other way, finish it up on the ps3, then start to work on the 360 version with less time. I think squares going to go for the ps3 > 360 version. Japan is a market they don't want to alienate.

sereal

So basically US PS3 version 2011, 360 version 2012.

Gotcha.

Fermbiz

@Candlejack: yeah same here i wa

Neocorey

I know everyone has said this already, but fuck man Square is greedy as hell. The fact that they are going to delay the PS3 one in North America just so they can port it to 360 is absurd. It's not like Square doesn't already take forever to get stuff stateside. This shit is just ridiculous, they haven't even recieved the damn deve kits for 360 yet. Ludicrous I tell you.

MrSatan

They've already said they think six months is too long of a delay between regions, so I suspect it will be a shorter wait than usual even if they hold it back a bit for the Xbox 360 port.

Zunnoab

I wonder how much Microsoft paid them to release both versions at the same time.

Placentasaurus

XBOX360 is twice easier to program so it will be PS3 version to hold launch.

adrenalinq

my prediction for the release of the game is 2011. For Europe and U.S. I mean

josh11223

*sigh*

josh11223

This is the most idiotic thing ive seen. North America and Europe will be lucky to see this game by 2011. Since game is coming out late 2009 in Japan. Only then will they start porting, which will start sometime in 2010. Then with as many delays as square-enix does with FFXIII, we wont see a PS3 version OR a 360 version of the game till 2011.

So really 1yr left for japan to get the game and 2 1/2 to 3 years till everyone else does.

Also Japan is the only one that gets the demo of the game too in march. Everywhere I've read about the story of the demo is that its JAPAN only. :/

lol. I'll still end up playing it whenever it does eventually come out. But after the announcement that no Europe/U.S. ps3 will be shipped till the 360 version is done, this game has gone way down on my most anticipated titles list. Cant expect me to anticipated a title thats over 2 yrs away

josh11223

I thought they were supposed to be making some huge jaw dropping announcement? I do not think that would qualify. Neither would the March of '09 demo.

Señor Shovelware

Have they announced a street date for the xbox 360 system yet in Japan?

jonEwalkir

is star ocean 4 and the last remnant coming to the ps3?

stupidstevehau

is star ocean 4 and last remnant coming to the ps3 too?

stupidstevehau

FFXIII is going to be the biggest anti-climax this generation.

Luvbeers7

ummmm....question....are Japanese retailers afraid to break the street date for Xbox 360 system?

jonEwalkir