Signs Point To Final Fantasy XIII Simultaneous Release

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

Towards the tail end of last week, Square Enix announced that Dissidia: Final Fantasy would be released in Europe on the 4th of September, 2009. While this doesn't sound overly significant in itself, the date is only a week after the North American release.

For those who have been following Final Fantasy for some time, especially those in Europe, delays between regions are usually quite substantial. It's not uncommon for there to be a 4-5 month delay between the North American and European versions, and it's something that's always been very disappointing to European gamers.

However, the announcement that Dissidia: Final Fantasy will be coming so soon after is huge. Square Enix have gone on record numerous times about how much more detailed Dissidia's dialogue is than Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII's and if they can get the localisation done so efficiently on a game like Dissidia, it definitely looks positive for Final Fantasy XIII. There is of course The Last Remnant too, which was released worldwide on the same day and while Square Enix have claimed it's something they're striving to do, up until now it hasn't been overly evident.

Source: FinalFantasyUnion

 

[Fusionist]

I still don't understand why a wait was even necessary. The UMD disc can be played in ANY PSP system, right? What exactly would they do differently to make it PAL version anyways? Or is it the PSP systems that a PAL?

And it is the end of August for NA, right? I dunno why my game store is saying October

 

[SaShman]

I still don't understand why a wait was even necessary. The UMD disc can be played in ANY PSP system, right? What exactly would they do differently to make it PAL version anyways?

That's what I was wondering and to be honest I haven't got a clue as to why a wait is necessary. I guess it could possibly have something to do with shipping and production numbers, but Idk.

I'm not too sure how this information relates to FFXIII either. Considering it is not only going to be a much larger game than Dissidia, it is also on a completely different console. So I'm going to cross my fingers for a simultaneous release, but Idk if it will happen.

 

[Repliica]

I'm not too sure how this information relates to FFXIII either. Considering it is not only going to be a much larger game than Dissidia, it is also on a completely different console. So I'm going to cross my fingers for a simultaneous release, but Idk if it will happen.

That's very true and don't the ps3 and 360 use different discs as well? I hope it is though, I want to get this game for my ps3 mainly because that was one of the reasons why I bought it in the first place.

 

[Linnaete]

To be honest, I wouldn't call this a very concrete evidence of a simultaneous launch. Final Fantasy XIII and Dissidia are also weakly related due to how different both games are. There is also the issue of having it on two different formats- Blu-Ray and DVD. I would say a release window of several days or weeks apart for PS3 version only, but not a simultaneous release. Plus, SE said that NA and EU will see FFXIII in 2010 anyway while Japan gets it by winter this year.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

That's very true and don't the ps3 and 360 use different discs as well? I hope it is though, I want to get this game for my ps3 mainly because that was one of the reasons why I bought it in the first place.

I'd presume that they mean simultaneous release on separate consoles so all PS3 versions out at the same time and all 360 versions out at the same time etc. With the whole Dissidia/FFXIII thing, I don't think they're trying to compare releases on the concoles, more generalised that the release dates are becoming closer together D:

 

[cooky560]

Haven't Square already stated that FFXIII is being released on the ps3 first?

 

[Zerokku]

Haven't Square already stated that FFXIII is being released on the ps3 first?

They have since gone back on said statement. It will be launching simultaneously on the 360 and PS3 in the west.


Square-Enix really really needs to work on their localization times from japan. I don't understand why a DS game with no VA has to take 6-10 months to arrive here, when people have quality fan translations out within 2 months.

Give me DQIX sooner rather then later damn it.

 

[DarkClaymore]

That nice! I really hope they'll release FFXIII soon!
But the fact that in FFXIII the NPC are speaking to you without pressing any button and a text doesn't necessary appears, bothers me. While I am quite sure there will be an option to make the text appear, the problem is that they are talking to you and disabling the text is possible. It means that every NPC have to be dubbed as well as subbed.
Which is a double job. Which of couse delays the localization procces.

 

[RioDragon]

They have since gone back on said statement. It will be launching simultaneously on the 360 and PS3 in the west.

I believe part of the reasoning for this might be that they completed the 360 version of XIII first, and didn't want to make it evident by releasing the 360 version first and invariably pissing off the EXTREMELY TOUCHY Sony buyers. After all, almost every company that's worked with Sony to make games for the PS3 has had development problems with the system. This was why MGS 4 was delayed so much, why most of the 'launch titles' for the system were pushed back in release, why Bioshock for PS3 took over a year to port, and similarly why they felt obligated to add more content to the game to make up for the wait.

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

I believe part of the reasoning for this might be that they completed the 360 version of XIII first, and didn't want to make it evident by releasing the 360 version first and invariably pissing off the EXTREMELY TOUCHY Sony buyers. After all, almost every company that's worked with Sony to make games for the PS3 has had development problems with the system. This was why MGS 4 was delayed so much, why most of the 'launch titles' for the system were pushed back in release, why Bioshock for PS3 took over a year to port, and similarly why they felt obligated to add more content to the game to make up for the wait.

I'm not sure about them finishing the 360 version first, it wasn't that long ago they just said they'd started I'm not sure SE have hit any problems with the PS3 yet, although they probably wouldn't admit it even if they did, but sadly yes, the PS3 is harder to develop on, on the other hand, a lot of compaines have come out and said it's more powerful.

 

[RioDragon]

I'm not sure about them finishing the 360 version first, it wasn't that long ago they just said they'd started I'm not sure SE have hit any problems with the PS3 yet, although they probably wouldn't admit it even if they did, but sadly yes, the PS3 is harder to develop on, on the other hand, a lot of compaines have come out and said it's more powerful.

I still don't think the idea should be discounted. For one, Squeenix are notorious liars. (FFXIII/VS XIII being PS3 Launch Titles, Saying they have no plans whatsoever for a next-gen FFVII remake despite their announcement of extending the FFVII series for a few more years and fitting all the pieces together, something which can't be done without remaking the game with a screwed story). Also, it seems conversion of games from PS3 to 360 format is quite a bit simpler than 360 or PC development being converted to PS3, as evidenced by Assassin's Creed and other 'would-be' PS3 exclusives that turned up on 360 as well (i.e., DMC 4).

 

[Gingerbread Lesbian]

It may be do to with how the games are developed then D: some might be easier to port than others such as Assassins Creed, because sometimes we have to wait ages for games like Fallout 3 or Bioshock and then there are others like FFXIII Versus which Nomura said would be impossible to port :S

 

[RioDragon]

It may be do to with how the games are developed then D: some might be easier to port than others such as Assassins Creed, because sometimes we have to wait ages for games like Fallout 3 or Bioshock and then there are others like FFXIII Versus which Nomura said would be impossible to port :S

Developers always say that to cheer up their most pissant audience. I highly doubt FF VS XII couldn't be converted to 360 easily. They just don't want to give the impression that they're leaving Sony completely behind. After all, if they did that, PS3 would have no Squeenix exclusives while 360 would have between 3 and 4. Not to say I'm doubting the 'technical prowess' of the PS3, I just don't see anything special about Blu-ray and also, difference in graphical capabilities are nearly non-existant. And processing usage in a game can always be tweaked. I often do it myself with my PC games to make them use more processing power to load faster. You could also use methods to go the opposite direction and allow a game to play on less advanced processors.

...I think I just nerded up the site again. Oh well...