Ben's Week In Review: April 18
Final Fantasy XIIIIs anyone else suddenly psyched for 3D Dot Game Heroes? I have to find a way to get that one reviewed ASAP, just 'cuz...
Maybe Square-Enix is more confused than we think...
Square-Enix has asked those who purchased Final Fantasy XIII whether they bought the PlayStation 3 version or the Xbox 360 version, and why. ...what for? Were they surprised at the March NPD numbers? It almost seems like they are, but is that even possible...? I guess it is; I've heard that Microsoft predicted FFXIII would sell more on the 360 - which is the most absurd prediction I've heard in a long time - so maybe Square-Enix bought into that. Maybe that's why they made the game multiplatform in the first place. But...really? "Why?" Whaddya mean, why? Um...because the franchise in question has never once been on a Microsoft console and has spent 13 years winning over PlayStation owners? Because the PS3 version only requires one disc? Because it looks better? Did Square-Enix ever once believe that there were as many 360 owners who intended to buy FFXIII, as there were PS3 owners with the same intention?
They can't be this confused. They just can't. Arnold also reminds me that FFX actually sold more copies on the PS2 alone back at the end of 2001 and 2002, when the PS2 installed user base was a fraction of what the PS3's is now. I think one of our posters - WorldEndsWithMe, was it you? - said he was sick of everyone thinking Microsoft and 360 fankids somehow rule the world and should dictate publisher decisions. Really, I couldn't agree more. That survey is stupid. If you didn't know the answer going into the situation, there's something wrong with you.
Gamers keep rewarding great efforts
I'm just so proud to be part of an industry where the fans continue to reward quality. It's not like the film industry, where the worst junk on the planet hit #1 at the box office, or the publishing world, where only chick lit and the same ten authors tend to dominate every month, or music where...well, where real talent basically died decades ago. In gaming, the best stuff typically continues to sell. Heavy Rain, despite very conservative estimates and the mammoth risk entailed, has sold over a million copies. Demon's Souls was expected to sell only around 75,000, but ended up selling 280,000 in North America. Uncharted 2: Among Thieves should be closing in on 4 million copies sold (Sony announced it was at 3.5 million last month), and the extremely well covered Assassin's Creed II has sold...um...a lot; I think Ubisoft said they shipped 8 million copies as of February, or something. Oh, and God of War III is already over 1 million, as is Battlefield: Bad Company 2.
Bottom line? The games that win all the awards every year tend to also be among the bestsellers. Gotta love that.
Personal gaming update
As most of you know, I beat Final Fantasy XIII this past week but I'll keep at it until I'm satisfied that I've beat everything. ;) I did pick up God of War III - finally - and that's obviously next on the list, and oh yes, I'll have Resonance of Fate in front of me this week. When I do the review, it won't go on the main page because it's just so late, but I wanted to make sure the RPG fans know it's coming so they can check it out. I'll mention it again in a Week in Review when it's done. I also really want the freshly released Splinter Cell: Conviction so please don't badmouth that game...I love the series. Then there's a very big May, with Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and Red Dead Redemption. I'm so looking forward to the latter...
If I had time, I'd give the expansions to Dragon Age and GTAIV a shot. Beyond that, there isn't much else to talk about. Oh, does anyone have some ice cream? I suddenly have a craving for it and I don't feel like driving down to get some. I prefer Cherry Garcia. Thanks.
4/17/2010 Ben Dutka
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Comments (102 posts)
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:32:32 PM
6 up, 0 down
LimitedVertigo
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 7:01:38 AM
0 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:16:42 PM
Reply
I could only truly see FF on Playstation and whatever Nintendo makes. Other than that, it just doesn't fit on anything Microsoft makes
It's all in the fanbase. The Microsoft fanbase is full of FPSs nuts who can't spend more than 20s reading a tutorial or 20 minutes fighting in a challenging Demon's Souls level.
---
2 weeks 'till Super Street Fighter IV! Can't wait!
6 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 11:47:56 PM
0 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 11:58:03 PM
Besides, have to keep it because the game's storyline is completely different from SSFIV and it's great going back to the original once in a while.
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fluffer nutter
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 11:58:29 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 12:52:03 AM
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NeoHumpty
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 12:54:50 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 1:03:21 AM
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Snaaaake
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:22:36 PM
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Or maybe it's the trend for this gen because very huge multipats has sold more on the 360
Am I the only one on PSXE looking forward to Split/Second?
That game looks like a clone of Burnout but it's the SPLIT screen of SPLIT/Second that attracts me.
Aside from that, another one looking forward to is RDR which I'm very interested in because the gameplay somehow looks similar to UC2 and that's a good thing.
Last edited by Snaaaake on 4/17/2010 10:26:38 PM
1 up, 0 down
PAKINIPS
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:17:07 AM
Its good fun but didnt need much skill and loading times were terrible. Wasnt interested before though but now ill probably pick it up
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hellish_devil
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:27:16 PM
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1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:29:49 PM
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6 up, 0 down
yak4life85
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:37:37 PM
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It was a joke. FYI question was
Do you work out?
5 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:40:49 PM
1 up, 0 down
FullmetalX10
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:31:30 AM
I don't know though.
1 up, 1 down
Banky A
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:41:38 AM
Look at your thumbs down (from your boy Banky)!
/sarcasm/
0 up, 1 down
Douchebaguette
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 6:45:04 AM
2 up, 0 down
Banky A
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 3:05:33 AM
0 up, 2 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:40:16 PM
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The survey is a joke because they should have known, everybody and their grandmother knew how it would turn out except SE themselves. I suspect it might be there as a cost-benefit analysis to see whether or not it is worth screwing over your fans AND developing for a second platform (degrading the game's quality in the interim) for the few bucks they got out of the 360 version from America.
Second point:
I'm happy to shell out the big bucks for true quality and moral businesses, but if you screw us by cutting content, giving bad ports, or squeezing customers I'm also happy to withhold those dollars. If only the same were true of film and literature for the masses.
*Thinks of Twilight* ... *Facepalm*
Prelogue point:
After seeing some gameplay of 3D Dot Game Heroes I got psyched really quick and made that thread in the forums to see if it was just me.
Personal Gaming update:
Plugging away at WKC (the real RPG) and GOWIII. GOWIII is really cool, Kratos needs to take a pill or get a puppy or something though. Even the poontang doesn't calm his wrath.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 4/17/2010 10:43:06 PM
6 up, 0 down
BikerSaint
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:51:01 PM
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Is there any way to see just how many of the 360's sales were just because that 250 Gig FFXIII themed console bundle????
I'll bet a lot of 360 buyers could have been collectors like myself & just bought it for either their collection, or to re-sell it, or they wanted just wanted a 250 Gigger, & that was the only way they could get a 250 at that time.
That's exactly why I bought my COD MW2 themed console bundle,
1. I wanted a 250 gigger.
2. I wanted the MW2 skinned 360 for my collection
3. And a indirect added bonus was that I probably wound up snatching it away from some tween smack-talker.
Anyway Sony really needs to get on the stick & start putting out 250 gig fully-skinned game theme bundles too. And the more the Merrier!!!
5 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 11:56:13 PM
5 up, 0 down
ffyfe7
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:57:42 PM
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Also in regards to RDR have you tried the facebook app "Red Dead Redemption: Gunslingers"? It's really addictive and that means I found a good use for facebook hahaha.
4 up, 0 down
shadowscorpio
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 2:57:59 AM
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Highlander
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 11:00:09 PM
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The survey is simply a big joke to me, as you say, there is no way that SE can be this ill-informed about things. I remember saying that the 360 version would not sell at al;l well, and I remember all the pronouncements by MS that it would eclipse the PS3 version. Then we had the whole advertizing BS in the US where thanks to more slush fund money from Microsoft, FFXIII was advertised as if it was an exclusive, and yet even after that utter BS the game still sells better on the PS3.
So, Square Enix. I have a simple question for you. Surely with all the genius you believe you have you can answer it. Here goes...Was it worth it? I mean, was it? You originally told us that FFXIII was an exclusive game, and then it was announced that actually it wasn't. So, was that big fat bri...er, I mean cross marketing deal...with Microsoft worth it?
You pissed off a huge number of your fans with the whole exclusivity debacle. You apparently altered the game to appeal to a more 360/western centric twitch gamer - thus pissing off even more people. You pissed off 360 owners by producing a vastly inferior (visually) port of the game. You continue to piss off PS3 fans by marketing the game as if it was a 360 exclusive. Is it worth it? Hell, for that matter was it worth it with Star Ocean 4 coming out initially as a 360 exclusive?
I hope that was a huge check that was written out for you because all the red ink from the completely unprofitable 360 versions of these games must look horrible on your balance sheet. Ninja Theory recently said that they couldn't make money from Heavenly Sword despite selling 1.5 million copies. How do you business geniuses justify to your share holders the financial black hole that developing your games for the 360 most certainly is. I mean, have you even sold 1.5 million copies of Star Ocean 4 & FFXIII on the 360?
Pathetic. Seriously, I'm all for businesses growing and making profit, but developing for the 360 hasn't been profitable unless you count the cross marketing dollars from Microsoft. Considering the collateral damage to your most profitable markets (Playstation owners and the Japanese market) that your corporate conduct has created, I have to wonder whether even those cross marketing dollars can make up for the losses?
Wast it worth it? I think not.
Personal gaming update - White Knight Chronicles, messing around in Home and that's about it. White Knight Chronicles is fun, but I'd suggest that Level 5 would be better off basing their trophies exclusively on the off-line gaming. It's basically impossible to get the platinum trophy without going online, which really isn't fair for those playing the game solo - or who don't have hundreds of hours to devote to online guild rank grinding. I find that there is a tricky balance on the Platinum trophies, you don't want them to be too easy, but equally so you don't want them to be impossible to get. I'd love to platinum WKC, but I know it's not going to happen.
20 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 11:45:32 PM
I do the online quests for fun once in awhile but sometimes there aren't any people to do them with so it is too hard, so for the most part I plan to go back and do whats left all by myself when I'm super strong. Yeah you still have to go online but that's okay for me, you shouldn't ever have to go online to get a plat though. I just want to do it because I like the game though, I don't need the trophies. WKC 2 will be a day one for me, I also hope they bring back Rogue Galaxy.
5 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 12:28:26 AM
7 up, 0 down
frylock25
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 2:26:36 AM
thumbs up on the rant. i agree.
0 up, 0 down
shadowscorpio
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:02:38 AM
7 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:11:52 AM
The thing about Platinums is that I agree that they should be out of reach for casual gamers, and really ought to be out of reach for all but the more hardcore gamers who spend 40+ hours with the game. But some of them require hundreds of hours. WKC is a perfect example of that. It simply takes too long. Trophies are to me an incentive to play, but if it takes at least 200 hours of play time to get even close to the platinum, there's no way that more than a fraction of 1% or players will get it.
Platinum should be achievable by the top 1-5% of players of that game with no more than 100 hours of play, golds should be achievable by the top 15%, silver by the top 40% and bronze by the top 75%. Some bronze trophies should be gettable by everyone.
Platinums in most games seem to be slightly more difficult than that to get, and in some games it's downright insane.
So for now, I am content with my 3, and will keep working away until I get others. Just don't expect me to spend months grinding through a game just to platinum it.
5 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:25:27 AM
Otherwise it becomes homework, or competitions about who is "hardcore" *eyeroll*
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 4/18/2010 3:26:23 AM
6 up, 0 down
frylock25
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 4:08:54 AM
2 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:02:23 AM
1 up, 0 down
Highlander
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:04:25 AM
I blames LOLCats for my grama and speeling.
Oh nos, my bad.
6 up, 0 down
Banky A
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:52:38 AM
+1
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FullmetalX10
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 6:50:30 AM
As for platinums, I think I have like 5.
Uncharted 1 & 2, Infamous, God of War III, Ratchet and Clank: ACIT.
Yep, 5. Infamous definitely took me the longest to get, mostly because of those 20 sumthin tricks and of course the blast shards...
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JDC80
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 7:43:20 PM
Personal gaming note: Beat God of War III last week, playing "Uncharted 2" to get the treasure trophies and hopefully by the end of the week I'm going to restart my Gamefly account just in time for Super Street Fighter IV.
Back to the subject: is it just me but are you also annoyed by the FF13 ads that make it look like it's an 360 exclusive?
2 up, 0 down
johnld
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 10:49:12 PM
since you're playing with WKC and messing around with ps home, i think you should know that getting platinum in WKC nets you a white knight costume in Home. I was interested in getting it at first but then guild rank grinding was too much of a chore so i gave up. I did get white knight statues for home although i dont remember how i got it. probably from a trophy or just beating the game.
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Highlander
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 12:01:18 AM
Yeah, I got the statue, and I would definitely be happy with the costume. But, I won't spend a month or more rank grinding for guild ranks and synthesis items. The requirement is simply ridiculous.
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Underdog15
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 2:58:22 PM
Anyways, it just wouldn't be right for one of them to platinum FFXIII before me. It's an issue of pride here, and so far, none of my friends are close. So all is well!
1 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 11:00:51 PM
Reply
1 up, 3 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 11:47:09 PM
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 4/17/2010 11:47:20 PM
7 up, 0 down
Snaaaake
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 10:59:08 AM
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laxpro2001
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 12:10:16 AM
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Lol come on Ben stop with the jokes... But yea seriously I'm so psyched but unfortunately I have to wait until I get home. I am preordering however because it releases 2 days after my little brothers birthday so I'll give it to him as a b-day present which I hope he likes
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Alienange
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 1:09:41 AM
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As for all those other great sales numbers, yeah, I tend to believe the best games sell a lot. Makes me glad too because that means we'll get more of them.
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 2:54:37 AM
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DeathOfChaos
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:32:09 PM
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frylock25
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 2:02:17 AM
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next i think i will try to get a hold of heavy rain. dont think i will be able to right away but as soon as i can i will. gonna beat god of war 3 again a few more times while the gf is not around.
as far as FFXIII goes, i havent gotten it yet. dont know if i plan on it. kind of want to but i think it will be after a lot of other games. of course i would for ps3 since i dont have a crapbox.
spent the whole week playin more little big planet with my kid and gf. published my first level. making a quality level in lbp is hard. to anyone that has put in the time to do it, congrats. my gf and kid are obsessed with this game. it is like all they ever want to do.
Last edited by frylock25 on 4/18/2010 2:07:22 AM
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 2:53:02 AM
5 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:23:28 AM
2 up, 0 down
___________
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 2:05:01 AM
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i mean what did they expect, they have released quite a few RPGs exclusive to the 360 and they did not sell well at all.
its quite obvious traditional RPGs dont sell well on the 360, especially one that has not been on said side of the water ever before.
if a games exclusive to one platform for 13 or so years, than changes to multi i think its a safe assumption that the new system wont be getting many of the sales.
as for splinter cell conviction, WAY TO SHORT!!!!!
such a brilliant game, and finally a game with a proper ending!
and i thought ubisoft forgot how to do decent endings, thank god i was wrong!
theres still gaping holes in the storyline though, certainly not on the lines of assassins creed 2.
and i thought the co-op mode would be like the story mode, i was told its a prequel to the story mode but its not.
its just a go in and clear the area of all the enemies, kinda like skirmish from other games.
come on ubisoft this is a joke, 4 freaking years for a 5 hour game.
its official, ubisoft are the new activision!
5 up, 1 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:29:27 AM
*Runs away*
5 up, 0 down
___________
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 8:05:30 AM
i was expecting them to be the best the 360 has so far but there no where near as good as FFXIII, metro 2033 or mass effect 2.
i really wished ubisoft stuck with the hardcore stealth instead of trying to open it up to newcomers, the stealth elements are kinda there but not enough.
once you play the game you will know what i mean.
i miss the strict stealth games, the ones that had you taking out security cameras, dodging lights and hiding bodies.
and if you got caught you failed and had to start again.
oh, what i would give for stealth games to go back to that way.
1 up, 0 down
Jawknee
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 2:50:32 AM
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Game update: Still playing God of War III. I platinumed it some time ago but I want to complete it on Chaos. about 85% of the way through i think. Starting playing around with LittleBigPlanet again. Bought the Pirates of the Caribbean pack(not the costumes one, the one that adds water.) Have also been spending sometime on Bad Company 2's multiplayer as well as Left 4 Dead 2 on my Vaio.
:)
Last edited by Jawknee on 4/18/2010 2:52:17 AM
8 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:30:21 AM
3 up, 0 down
little dreamer
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 8:09:04 AM
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www
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 9:11:10 AM
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Jawknee
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 11:56:00 AM
I didn't like the first bad company either. I gave it away in fact. But I can tell you the multiplayer in bad company 2 is a lot of fun. More then the first one. More fun then MW2. It's like a sandbox shooter one PSXer called it. I'd suggest getting it if you have the extra cash. I got it on Amazon for $50.
@www
do you have a link? I'd like to read that. :)
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daus26
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:20:24 AM
4 up, 0 down
kraygen
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:06:01 AM
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Looking forward to rdr like most people seem to be, but also really excited for modnation racers. My wife will actually play that one with me, so that should be fun.
Looking at their website yesterday they said beta had less than 10% of mod creation mats available and there were thousands upon thousands of mods and tracks made. I am very excited.
Current gaming:
Just got my plat for Just Cause 2, excited about that. Now I'll be playing some wkc more often and switching between it and trying to get jc2 100% completion.
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Highlander
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:13:18 AM
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little dreamer
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 8:12:13 AM
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Gamer Girl Gemo
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:21:57 AM
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I've been stuck with all my past beaten games and it's grueling considering I got my first doses of GoWIII and Heavy Rain not too long ago... However, a slight upside to that is I just subscribed to GameFly and am currently waiting on Borderlands. I promised my friend we'd get a multiplayer first and then I'll receive Heavy Rain... Ah... So much waiting...
Anywho, I think that SE has totally lost their minds. Either that, or they're just plain stupid. Like you said Ben... Why ask WHY? It's kinda obvious for your answer there. So, SE must be the kind of company that, instead of getting smarter, sorta gets dumber. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love SE to death and am a complete die-hard... But that doesn't mean they're necessarily the brightest crayon in the box...
Life lesson well learned. SE may just be declining... Or they may just be going down with a side of "I'm learning my lesson after that one".
Let's just hope it's option #2... God help us all...
6 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 3:32:24 AM
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9 up, 1 down
slimey
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 6:36:41 AM
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as for personal gaming, I'm ploughing through a FFXII replay, and enjoying the Resident Evil 5 DLC and the Fifa World Cup demo
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Douchebaguette
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 6:55:01 AM
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Just an unrealistic thought.
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Highlander
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 9:50:48 AM
BTW, would anyone like to bet whether SO4 sold better on the PS3, in Japan alone, compared to SO4 on the 360 globally? Poor SE, so very confused...Open your eyes guys.
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FullmetalX10
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 7:50:18 AM
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Btw, if I should choose, Heavy Rain or Metal Gear Solid 4?
I just hope S-E won't make Versus XIII multiplat, and they won't if they have learned their lesson, which they might not have -_-
And for as far as rewarding goes, yeah, I do like to reward hard work for PS3 and sometimes multiplat developers, but sh*t like modern warfare 2, I wouldn't give a dime, also, it already has too much.
I'm still running around a bit in God of War III, might play FFXIII soon, I shall see.
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WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:09:39 PM
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DeathOfChaos
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:39:39 PM
Also, Versus XIII can't go multiplat. The game is WAY too far in to be, it may possibly well already be done. They were just putting all the pieces together the last time we've heard from them, and that was like a month or two ago. They may be close to done with that or maybe even done now. Putting it on the 360 will either mean taking practically all their hard work away or making an 8-disc game for the 360.
God of War III is amazingly awesome, but when you get Final Fantasy XIII and if you've played the others and love them, prepared to be bored of pressing the X Button, lol. Or the A button if you plan on getting the watered down version. Oh, and for the record, FFXIII on the 360 runs at a resolution of 576p and the PS3 runs at 720p regularly. Tell me there isn't something wrong with that, lol.
Last edited by DeathOfChaos on 4/18/2010 5:41:45 PM
0 up, 3 down
FullmetalX10
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 10:53:38 AM
@Deathofchaos: I know it won't but i'm still afraid, because I didn't expect FFXIII to go multiplat, and suddenly it did -_-
All that is left is to put my faith in mr Nomura.
And luckily I don't have a crashbox so I don't have to worry about playing the bad version of FFXIII, the thing wrong with that is nothing, it's supposed to be that way, PS3 on top.
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little dreamer
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 8:02:14 AM
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www
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 9:07:25 AM
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Exactly what I said on that article.
Wondering if there's some new publishing dope they been smoking that we don't know about? I'd really like to try it, as it got the Acti folks so high they sent bouncers to evict West & Zampella and EA is thinking demos shouldn't be free, wow! That must be some real sh*t the publishers are smoking!
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Snaaaake
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 9:26:37 AM
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The 360 version of FFXIII still got outsold by the PS3 version and if SE see this as something wrong as it's not because 360 owners aren't huge JRPG fans, then SE might as well go to hell.
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Ricochet
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 11:21:26 AM
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As you know, I'm actually quite surprised by the PS3 sales, if anything I expected it to be lower considering the "core" fanbase have been left with a bitter taste in their mouths. Maybe it's simply due to the fact that it was confirmed to be the "superior" port that caused the sale spike.
With many reasons to dislike the game, I personally for this VERY reason determined my purchasing decision on this game. Have a look at this trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2nU4ksCklg
Revealed in E3 2007 as an exclusive (and probably the only day that made FFXIII looked at it's best) I was pretty exhilarated to how the trailer was put together. But if anybody ( to you Ben since you've finished the game), come to the point that resembled anything from 0:50 onwards.
I'm watching it again and again, and I find it yet to be the most kickass turn-based style I've ever seen in an RPG. Like GOWIII, it blended cinematic and action-type gameplay so seemlessly. And by going by the new FFXIII trailers, I SEE NOTHING OF THE SORT.
Because of that, I decided to hold off the purchase until it reaches the "Greatest Hits" collection or it would be collectable in the "used" bin.
Any thoughts about this?
**Sorry for the long post.
Last edited by Ricochet on 4/18/2010 11:21:37 AM
1 up, 0 down
DeathOfChaos
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:30:36 PM
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Highlander
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 9:51:32 AM
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Imagi
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 1:07:32 PM
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just2skillf00l
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 2:55:57 PM
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SvenMD
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 4:13:46 PM
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Ben - just remember... Sales should NOT equal awards; but awards SHOULD equal sales.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 9:17:01 PM
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DeathOfChaos
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 5:29:02 PM
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Temjin001
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 7:43:57 PM
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I'm pretty surprised by how crappy the 360 version of FF13 turned out to be. The Digital Foundry has posted another detailed examination of the 360 version with conclusions that point towards laziness, and, or a rush-job. And unlike the Bayonetta crappy port for PS3 users, FF13 was handled by Squaure-Enix themselves.
And concerning the lack-luster response to a FF flagship series, perhaps Square will stick exclusively to PS3 in the future to fore-go any mixed messages about the value of the FF brand name. Despite FF13 probably generating at least some profitability on 360, I suspect Square will want the image of FF to remain HIGH-PROFILE and wouldn't want their cash-cow series to be secondary in the eyes of a mostly un-interested user-base.
Square already knew 360/FF13 and Japan wouldn't mesh well. Maybe they now realize that FF and 360 don't go together in America either.
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Jawknee
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 12:35:55 AM
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Highlander
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 9:57:31 AM
First the decision to put the video cutscenes on the DVD in 576p matches the best resolution that DVD can handle. Secondly rendering the game in 576p and then scaling it to 720p or beyond allowed the developers of the port to gain easy access to the free anti-aliasing features of the 360s GPU. Yes it happens to be the same resolution as the cut scenes as well, which means that the game and cut scenes should look no different.
Of course it's also lazy since the code for the engine already renders at 720p on the PS3. The devs simply chose a lower standard to shoot for.
A lot of 360 games render at the 576p resolution because it falls within the upper end of the free anti-aliasing range on the GPU and it matches the best resolution that a DVD can manage. So the gameplay will match the pre-rendered cut scenes. So much for the 360 being an HD game console.
As for FFXIII generating profitability on the 360, Ninja Theory couldn't generate a profit selling 1.5 million units of Heavenly Sword. What makes you think that SE will generate a profit selling under a million units of FFXIII on the 360? Granted it was a lazy, el cheapo port. But the only way it could turn a profit is a) count the slush fund money from MS, and b) discount the 360s share of the original development costs.
Last edited by Highlander on 4/19/2010 10:00:20 AM
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Oxvial
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 7:50:45 PM
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not going to buy FF13 or any related game with that company if that's true.
Last edited by Oxvial on 4/18/2010 7:51:10 PM
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Jawknee
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 12:33:57 AM
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 12:47:57 AM
We all know every 360 owner is a big JRPG fan and has most certainly played Valkyrie Profile and Profile 2. Oh, yes INDEED.
...
.....
Idiots.
Last edited by Ben Dutka PSXE on 4/19/2010 12:49:21 AM
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Snaaaake
Sunday, April 18, 2010 @ 8:46:49 PM
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The likes of Star Ocean, Last Remnant etc. has failed.
FFXIII sold a lot is because it's FF.
And now the sale of the 360 version of FFXIII might give them hope...AGAIN!
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slimey
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 3:57:03 AM
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Highlander
Monday, April 19, 2010 @ 10:01:42 AM
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OriginalSin
Tuesday, April 20, 2010 @ 7:10:27 AM
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Anyway. I don't know what SE is up either. I mean since they announced FFXIII as a non exclusive I already knew it will go for a ball of sh!t from there. I am not saying FFXIII sucks as I haven't played/bought it yet...
Ah but you see that is actually the point. I and I am sure about 500 000 other people have not bought FFXIII yet for simple reasons...
Like the fact that everything we loved about FF series has been changed because of making it more "western" style game, there are no towns and no free roaming, because it went to the 360 and the more twitch gamer.
They completely lost the attention of the true FF fan long ago when they announced it was a non exclusive and that it would be delayed for what...about a year because of that.
They didn't want to put the game on too many discs for the 360, so they just downscaled and cut content...
I can go on but that will just get boring.
No my question is this: If they kept it as an Exclusive and made it the way it should have been and simply kept it true to what FF fans would want, wouldn't they have sold at the freaking least 3 Million more copies on the PS3 already? I am talking about across the globe not just NA...
So in truth they F***** themselves by going Multiplat. Not only isn't it selling on the 360 as they were promised it would but even their PS3 sales have been affected because half of the true followers haven't even bothered yet?
So what is next? Maybe they can redeem their themselves and regain their crown if they announce the FFVII remake as an PS3 exclusive!!! That will eclipse anything they can put out on the Xbox....
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Fane1024
Thursday, April 22, 2010 @ 1:38:08 AM
I bet FFXIII would have sold the same total number of units at this point if only on PS3, but I don't know about 4+ million.
p.s. Is that a picture from Ninja Scroll I see?
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fluffer nutter
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Saturday, April 17, 2010 @ 10:08:46 PM
Marketing is probably the reason why Square Enix put out that survey. Marketing is why the game was so hyped for the Xbox 360. Marketing caused Square Enix to believe, without question, that FFXIII was going to sell more because of the larger install base the Xbox 360 has. They (Square Enix) bought into it and now we see the NPD results to show otherwise. I'm not trying to bad mouth the Xbox 360 crowd so don't go harping on my opinions. If you have that console, as do I, and if it makes you a happy gamer, then good for you.
Game on little ones. Game on.
EDIT: Yes, I'm looking forward to 3D Dot Game Heroes. The music, alone, makes the hair on my arms stand up.
Last edited by fluffer nutter on 4/17/2010 10:10:39 PM