Sony loses a doozy of a killer ap exclusive
Final Fantasy XIII will be released on the XBox 360.
A lot of goodies have been coming out of E3–including another 360 price drop. But this one is a major shakeup.
Sony has clutched at a series of exclusive titles to keep sales of their console up. Titles you can play no-where else but on a Sony console: God of War is one of those titles, and titles like Little Big Planet and Heavenly Sword have managed to spark interest in big black. But the absolute monarch of the Sony Killer Ap Title Department has been the core Final Fantasy series. Spin-offs like Crystal Chronicles and Chocobo Dungeon on the Nintendo lineup aside, the promise of exclusivity to the most anticipated RPG title of this generation has had Sony sleeping easy at night, knowing that the moment FFXIII was released, a legion of bishie-loving gamers would gladly plunk down several hundreds of dollars to secure access to the title. But now you don’t need to buy a PS3 if you want to play FFXIII — you can play it on your 360. So that’s one less title that Sony has to say “you need our console.”
As someone who has been miffed at Sony for their obnoxious marketing practices, I won’t lie and say that I’m not delighted at this news. And Sony’s locking up future Rockstar exclusivity doesn’t make me too sad for them — they can have their Grand Theft Auto and I can have my Final Fantasy. Everyone’s a winner!
But what was the reason for this? Is it that Square-Enix is concerned about the PS3’s flagging sales? Is it the constant comparisons between PS3 and 360 graphics on multi-console releases that indicate that Microsoft edges Sony out time and again? Is it the massive before-you-can-even-play-the-game downloaded patches that PS3 games require while their XBox counterparts suffer from “insert disc, play game?”
July 14th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I’ve been waffling on the console decision for this very reason - on the PS3 scale, there was FFXIII. On the 360 side, pretty much everything else.
July 14th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I’ve never really supported a particular console over another (with the exception of the Dreamcast, and if any of you disagree with me, there will be a throwdown), so I’ve always disliked exclusive games. I mean, I understand them from a business standpoint, but I never got why the fanboy consumers clamor for something to be less available.
Then again, I come from a pretty easy position in this, I’m too poor to buy new games and machines, so I just wait and play everything a few years late. The bonus is that I actually own all of the last-gen consoles, but the obvious downside is…well, I’m just now playing God of War II.
That said, I am sorely tempted to get a 360 now. Sure XIII will be nice, but what’s really got me wanting it is Pacman CE.
July 14th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
I don’t know why I always end up playing the FF games. I’m not all that into them– yet I sink lots and lots of time into them. I can’t _wait_ for FFIV on the DS…
So: Xbox 60gig and FFXIII? I’m sold. Oh! And: Dead rising. Also Madden ‘09…
July 14th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
From what I read, the 360 price drop is only to clear the 20GBs to make room for the 60GBs, which will be sold at the original price. And now I’m torn between going out and buying a cheaper 20GB Xbox now, or sticking with my original plan of waiting a bit until I can really afford it, and getting the 60GB.
Also, I’m not a big FF fan, but I’ve decided I don’t like Sony, so anything that helps Microsoft and hurts Sony is a Good Thing.
July 14th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
I don’t care for Sony’s public persona, either, but I also find it hard to muster any passion for the console debate. =(
I only have a 360 because of Halo, and Oblivion, and I would totally buy a PS3 if I could afford it. I guess I’m only opposed to exclusivity for practical reasons (I might have to sell all my extraneous possessions to invest the opportunity to play GTA, if that becomes necessary).
July 15th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I guess I’m going to have to be the one to stick my tongue out here. My heart goes to Nintendo, since they’re out there trying original stuff. But I support Sony, mostly because I have an undying hatred for all things Microsoft. Because of their amazing market share, they can just steal anybody’s ideas (I hear they’re coming out with a motion controller!), or buy them off (like Bungie, once a Mac-exclusive game developer; or Rare).
But my naive fantasy of having Sony crush Microsoft, wounding it mortally and having it slain by Google and Apple, allowing Sega to return from the grave, regain their talent, and give me Shenmue 3 is probably somewhat unlikely.
Still, :P. I worry that my obscure, niche Atlus-style RPGs and adventure games are going to be absolutely drowned in a wave of Madden clones and FPSes if the Xbox dominates the industry.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:50 am
Between the price drop and this announcement, I went out and picked up a 360 today (and Dead Rising for dirt cheap). My major reason for waiting was FF, and while Versus still looks to be an exclusive (and Kingdom Hearts 3?), the 360 has by far the more games for me, even given my distaste for the first person shooter.
July 15th, 2008 at 4:42 am
Perhaps Im just not as much a “gamer” right now as I would like to think. After playing a few Final Fantasy games in my early teens, I decided I didnt think they were as shit hot as everyone made them out to be, and never looked back. So the news about the game doesn’t interest me personally. As for the whole console war side of it, well…… The Wii has now shown it cant hold my attention for more than 30 minutes, and hasnt done so for a couple of months or more now, and the PS3 never had my attention to begin with. I dont like the 360 all that much personally, since I think its a shoddy piece of shit console with too many faults. That said, its got the best selection of games for me, so I guess thats the one Im siding with.
To be honest I think I might be starting to take this “console race” the same way I take Government elections: It doesnt matter who wins, theyll still be rich, and Ill still be poor. The more things change the more they stay the same.
July 15th, 2008 at 8:26 am
Got a Wii. Was waffling on which 2nd console to eventually get when I have some budget. This just sealed the deal against Sony. The only other thing I care about on PS3 is Eye of Judgment, and it’s not like I don’t already spend 300$ per set on Magic.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:04 am
I’m going to be totally immature and point out that Bioshock is coming to the PS3 so nyer nyer XP and I say that only as someone who bought a Wii and a PS3 expecting to have all my bases covered since the PS2 served me so well and xBox seemed to be all boring FPSs.
Being able to play what ever games you want regardless of what console you have will always be a good thing as far as I’m concerned… now bring out Lost Odyssey for another platform!
July 15th, 2008 at 9:48 am
@Seebach: I’m the same way about Nintendo. I spent much of last night playing Civilization Revolution on my DS, and am having a Wii Bowl get together thursday night with some friends.
I actually have a rather major antipathy towards Sony– I’m still holding a grudge against them for fucking up my Minidisk player with DRM. Add that to the DRM infected music CDs, and the locked down PSP… Sony seems to have all the negative features of Apple with none of the cool.
On the other hand, the X360 plays games. It does other stuff, but that’s incidental to playing games.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:10 am
WOOT! That settles it, NO PS3 for me! I’m gonna save up for a 360 of my own (cause my brother is moving to Philly and taking his with him).
July 15th, 2008 at 10:40 am
[drift] We just traded in a bunch of crap games for Lost Odyssey so I hope to have a belated first-impressions of it up before long.
[/drift]
July 15th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!
July 15th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I am desperately waiting for someone to put out something on the Wii that I like, other than Wii Tennis.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
When the Mega Drive and the Super Nintendo were still locking heads and the Playstation came out, I didn’t give it the time of day, preferring to play both systems depending on what I wanted to play. When the Dreamcast came out (9.9.99 forever, bg!) and the planned Gamecube (the “Dolphin”) and the Playstation 2 were announced, I still ignored the Playstation consoles.
I never bought a Playstation system in my life, and I am not going to start now. Not because I hate Sony (how can I if I never got screwed over by them?), but rather because the other systems all offer me games that can satisfy my needs… and general consensus says that at least Nintendo and Microsoft don’t screw over their customers half as much as Sony has been this last console generation. I admit that a Playstation 2 with some “greatest hits” game bundle would tempt me because I’ve passed up an entire system’s library of good games, but as it is now, I see no reason why I should buy anything Sony-related.
I agree with TheBends that Final Fantasy isn’t as great as everyone says it is. I played a PC version of the seventh game, and I thought it was a solid RPG, but nothing more. Maybe I needed context to find out exactly how bad the RPG field was back then that this one game revitalized the whole shebang.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
The best way I can sum up why Im personally not big on Final Fantasy is simply because it isnt my cup of tea. Speaking as someone who is used to making their own tea (and other peoples), I dont like not having that freedom. A less insane non tea-related version of what Im trying to say is that I wasnt interested in the ready made characters (many of whom are just spiky haired bishies if you ask me) and story, all linear and written in stone. It wasnt until I found the Infinity Engine games (Baldurs Gate to be precise) that I actually started taking an interest in some RPG’s.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Another “not a FF fan” here. Actually, for similar reasons, I think, to you TheBends. Not my cup of tea. Honestly, I’m not much of an RPG fan to begin with, so any RPG that I play needs to work extra hard to get me on board. I think the last one I was really excited about was Xenogears. Damn yes, giant robots beating the snot out of each other with a combat system that rewarded experimenting and strategic planning.
I’m also in the same boat as the “I dislike console exclusives” and “I don’t really have a horse in the console race” people. Dreamcast was the last console I was so excited about that I had to have one on opening day (heck yeah I got one on opening day!), and my heart is still broken by the quickness with which support disappeared. *sigh* I’m actually thinking of getting a 360 just because it happens to have more games that I like, and I really really want Rock Band out here in Boston. I might pick one up in time to grab Rock Band 2 and download the RB1 tracks I like.
Still, I’m not going to shed any tears for Sony. I loved my PS1 and 2, but they haven’t been making me like them much in recent years, so, yeah. Tough rocks, Sony.
July 15th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
I have to say, the game that lost me on Sony was the Katamari Series. When Beautiful Katamari was done as an XBox Exclusive, that sealed the deal for me getting a 360. Didn’t hurt that it was cheaper and had Guitar Hero guitars that would work with Rock Band, mind you, but Katamari was the exclusive that swung me.
The game ended up being disappointing, but I already had the XBox so I guess that was all that mattered.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
@ PunningPundit
Believe me, in the contest of evil corporations, Sony vs. Microsoft is a hard choice, and many disagree with me for very, very good reasons. Sony also wants to buy and sell us as slaves in their offworld colonies (hat tip to Yahtzee), but I simply don’t think they’re as close to actualizing it as Microsoft is. Furthermore, I wanted Blu-ray to win so America would get to be in the same region as Japan. However, once Microsoft flees from gaming forever, Sony is the next to go. (A LOT of Dreamcast fans here)
I’m just very happy with my Metal Gear Solid 4 right now, and Sony will forever have an asset with Team Ico.
July 15th, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I remember what got me into final fantasy was a friend telling me about 7 and 9. This was back when games seemed like a boys club I could never enter. Being told about bishies and the sheer pretty-ness of Kuja and FF9 made me realize I had to play this for myself. I got my hands on FF9 and it was the first game that I ever played right through to the end. It got me back into gaming when I was feeling left out of the whole thing.
That’s why I’m a great big fan of Final Fantasy, that and as someone who was and still is a big fan of bishounen characters it’s nice to feel like part of the target audience every once in a while.
July 16th, 2008 at 1:58 am
I enjoy the FF games to a certain extent, but I don’t actually play them, that job is usually left to either my fiancee or our roommate. They usually pass the controller back and forth, so one person plays while the other two are passive observers. This means I get to enjoy the story and the visuals, which are the big draws at this point.
I also completely understand where you’re coming from, thebends. The only reason I put up with the linearity of the FF games is the fact that I can get my creative urges done with tabletop stuff. (Gotta say, I still have my reservations about 4e. Why couldn’t they have made it more like Saga? I really really really like Saga.)
I can also understand people not liking bishies, although really main character blandness bothers me a lot more. Unfortunately, anime and Japanese video game male and female leads are usually cursed to be boring as hell.
July 16th, 2008 at 8:58 am
We’re just playing through FF12, 5 and 6 in my house and have just finished 10 (X). This is a huge kick in the head for Sony and the PS3. But I have noticed a nose dive with character design and story telling. My cousin has noted that every female character in 12 is porned up, even the sweet innocent childhood friend ‘girl next door’ character. And then there’s playboy bunny girl Fran. *grinds teeth* I serious think the series was better when the graphics weren’t so shiny. 6 and 7 stand out as the best in my experience and I’d rather se Sephiroth as the Lego Land sprite in a good story than the perfectly rendered anticlimax he was in Advent Children. (One hit and he folds?! I don’t care if it was an overdrive; that’s just sad.) That and I think Kingdom Hearts has dumbed down the series to Barney level. Disney imposing a big “Moral of the Story” on the series takes away any real emotional emphasis. We need Kefka to smack Sora around a bit the way he did the other ’self help book’ readers but with Disney on board the clown will probably have to admit he’s learned the true meaning of Christmas and loves puppies and ice cream.
July 17th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I am a Final Fantasy fan… at least, I’m a fan of some of the Final Fantasy games.
My ranking of the main series:
Final Fantasy 6
Final Fantasy 10
Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy 4
Final Fantasy 5
Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy 12
Final Fantasy 10-2
Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 3
Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy 2
(For the record, as far as I’m concerned, Final Fantasy XI Online is not part of the main Final Fantasy series.)
The thing that makes FF7 so special is that FF7 was the game that proved console RPGs would sell in the United States. Prior to Sony’s marketing blitz for FF7, RPGs were considered a niche market. After FF7, RPGs in English became big business. For many gamers, FF7 was the first RPG they ever played, so it made an impression on a lot of people that, as far as I’m concerned, isn’t justified by the game itself. (I am still looking forward to the inevitable remake, though; if they fix the English script and clean up the hideous graphics, it might very well become as good as its reputation.)
Oh, and Final Fantasy 6 has the best soundtrack of any video game ever.
Incidentally, I wonder how much Sony stock fell when this announcement was made?
July 17th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Doug S: The announcement was made Monday after markets had closed. Sony stock closed Monday, pre-announcement, at $40.32. It opened Tuesday at $40.14, off 18 cents from its close before the announcement. From there it dropped to $39.86 by 10:15, before before beginning a steady climb through the rest of the day, closing at $40.38, 5 cents higher than where it closed the day before. Trading volume throughout the day was fairly know, so there wasn’t ever a run on the stock. Trading volume was much higher on Wednesday, and the stock is now at $42.26, $1.94 cents higher than it was immediately before the announcement.
This shows us a couple of things. First, most investors have a lot of generalized knowledge about how to evaluate companies, but don’t know specific industries well enough to react to earth-shaking, but difficult to understand, news. Second, Sony’s a giant multinational conglomerate of which games are just one part, so we might tend to overvalue the significance of something like this on the company as a whole.
July 17th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Building on what MoltenBoron said: in the middle of E3, when there are other exciting new offers from Sony regarding their console, investors will hear “wow, they’ve got exciting new technology” and not understand that “but, the jewel of their crown was just given to Microsoft.”
July 18th, 2008 at 12:01 am
I’ve seen one gaming site state that while FF13 will come to the 360 eventualy it may not be till 2010, since the game was designed for the PS3 engine and it will take a while to convert it properly to play with a 360.
also a little niggling thing but it annoyed me since I first saw the post… what’s with equating PS3 with GTA when microsoft grabbed extras for that game anyway? Wouldn’t Metal Gear have made more sense?
July 18th, 2008 at 7:18 am
Torri — shortly after GTA IV was released, Sony signed and exclusivity deal with Rockstar, which means that in the future, all Rockstar games, including GTA, will be only on Sony.
July 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Yeah, Sony does a lot of things other than games, so bad news regarding the PS3 might not matter that much. (Although I did hear that during the PS1 era, a large chunk of its profits were coming from games.)
July 19th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
Torri, there were a lot of poorly translated statements from the Square-Enix people this weekend; in some of the later statements they clarified that the 360 version will be released the same day as the PS3 one in the US and Europe, but all of these will be later than the Japanese version (which will be PS3 only.)
Mighty Ponygirl, the all-exclusives deal with Rockstar turned out not to be accurate. They have one contracted exclusive, apparently, but there’s definitely nothing set in stone about future GTA titles.
Also, Sony has a lot of things going on — their overall showing at E3 wasn’t any crappier than anyone else’s, so it didn’t have much impact on them. Square-Enix’s stock shot way up on this announcement, though.
Also also, I’m surprised there wasn’t any comment in this post about how this is the first FF to have a female protagonist since FF6.
Cesar, anyone who writes about videogames should own a PS2! I don’t think there’s any other console with a library as deep in literally every genre. It’s $129 now and many of the best games are either cheap when bought used or available as $20 “Greatest Hits.” You could probably dig through the PS2 back catalog (and the PS1, since the system’s backwards compatible) for the next five years, and have a better experience than the disappointing current-gen systems would provide.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:38 am
Personally, I’m glad.
I don’t want to be switching discs or tolerating another dreadful FF cutscene before running around forever to get the 1000 shards of sidequest or the 1000th chance that it might spew out the gem of usefulness.
Personally, I’ve been burned by the last few Square games, (What was with the FFIII redisc requiring me to send letters to people then link with them to get content? It’s not like you can /do/ anything with someone else in that game.)
But female protagonist? How do I tell?
July 21st, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Ashe is essentially the main character of FFXII, even though Vaan is the viewpoint character. (I’m also going to be skeptical of FF13, as I’ve been burned by Square games many times before.)
July 23rd, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Square Enix needed to offset production costs. Even if it meant upsetting PS3 fanboys and Sony in general, the sales need to be set in stone.
Anyway, if the only reason you bought the PS3 was because of FFXIII, you have bigger problems to deal with than Microsoft and the world in general.
I am hoping that the PS3 can catch up, because it is a sad waste of such a good console.
July 28th, 2008 at 5:57 am
The FF12 designs made me sigh a bit; I don’t know why on earth Ashe is in hotpants. It’s especially sigh for me because the character designer for FF12 is the same guy as did the designs for Vagrant Story - and those designs were amazing. Somewhat silly at times, but more universally silly, and the Silliest Outfit prize goes to Ashley ‘buttless shorts’ Riot.
(The mechanics made me howl at first, but I still love Ashley. I’m sorry I made you friggin’ die in the opening act because I couldn’t figure out how the balls to ATTACK THINGS, Ashley. I did not mean to ruin your riskbreaker Cred.)
I love the characters of 12, but - man, pls to tone down the fanservice.
I like Ayami Kojima’s character designs best overall; people have CLOTHES. And usually they are not epic silly! And if they are that’s probably purposeful. (Isaac, get a better boss, Dracula is too cheap to buy you a shirt.) I adore her take on twelve-year-old Maria Renard. Pls to have more designs like this, gaming companies.