{"id":2016,"date":"2010-02-16T07:05:56","date_gmt":"2010-02-16T12:05:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/2010\/02\/16\/ffxiii-%e2%80%93-console-debates-rage-as-release-draws-near\/"},"modified":"2010-02-22T20:26:47","modified_gmt":"2010-02-23T01:26:47","slug":"ffxiii-%e2%80%93-console-debates-rage-as-release-draws-near","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.calvertgames.com\/cgblog\/2010\/02\/16\/ffxiii-%e2%80%93-console-debates-rage-as-release-draws-near\/","title":{"rendered":"FFXIII \u2013 Console Debates Rage As Release Draws Near"},"content":{"rendered":"

This morning I was looking for some new information on FFXIII<\/em> and came across some interesting articles via N4G. The console wars are far from over, and FFXIII<\/em> is at the center of the latest rounds of internet fodder. Meanwhile, as a self respecting Final Fantasy fan and Sony loyalists [I don\u2019t own a 360], I am just fanning the flames.<\/p>\n

This op-ed from Ironstar<\/a> discusses Microsoft\u2019s willingness to throw a ton of cash at the 360 release of FFXIII<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Those who look at FFXIII from Sony\u2019s perspective shouldn\u2019t care one bit about Microsoft\u2019s desperate marketing. For one, God of War 3 releases no less than a week after that title; if Sony were to market that game as much Microsoft probably will they would be competing with themselves. Pretty much every enthusiastic Final Fantasy fan will purchase XIII on the PlayStation 3 regardless of it appearing on other platforms. The capacity of Blu-Ray relieves the hassle of having to deal with the tedious disc swapping of 360\u2019s FFXIII. Its 2010 nobody wants to get out of their seat to switch a DVD because the game can\u2019t fit on 1 disc, we dealt with disc swapping 10 years ago via Final Fantasy 7.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The fanboys are all aglow that Microsoft is attempting to \u201ctrick\u201d consumers into thinking that FFXIII<\/em> is a Microsoft exclusive. I did not really think this was the case until I saw this article from the Unofficial Final Fantasy Site<\/a> that furthers this claim.<\/p>\n

Sony should somehow market the FFXIII<\/em> as the true home of FF titles with references back to all the previous releases, especially bestsellers such as FFVII<\/em> and FFX<\/em>. Unless Sony cannot advertise FFXIII<\/em> for the PS3 due to an exclusive marketing window wrapped up by Microsoft, which would be a new one on me.<\/p>\n

After the poor reception of White Knight Chronicles: International<\/em> I have to wonder if PS3 owners even care about JRPGs. Who I am kidding? FFXIII<\/em> will sell like hotcakes.<\/p>\n

In this article from ConnectedConsoles<\/a> FFXIII<\/em> producer Yoshinori Kitase claims that there are no differences in the PS3 and 360 version of the game beyond the number of discs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe development team created the PS3 version first, of course, but they didn\u2019t alter the content at all in order to bring it to the 360.\u201d said Kitase in an interview with GamingTarget. \u201cIt\u2019s the exact same experience and the same gaming experience that they had set out to create is present on both the PS3 and 360 versions.\u201d<\/p>\n

He then added: \u201cGraphics wise as well, they\u2019re comparable there. There\u2019s no difference there in the experience. And, I guess the only minor difference would be the fact that for the 360 version, you have to switch out the discs every once in a while.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Does anyone actually believe this statement? While on the surface that may be a true statement, PS3 fans are buzzing that making FFXIII<\/em> available on the 360 compromised the game. Development to the lowest common dominator does that to a multiplatform game.<\/p>\n

It will be interesting to see which console wins out \u2013 the one with the strongest advertisement and installed base, or the recognized home of FF titles from the last two console generations.<\/p>\n

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