When Do We Start Calling Final Fantasy Versus XIII Vaporware?

At first it was a little frustrating, then it got borderline comical, and now...well, it's just downright boring.

That's the path most "vaporware" tends to follow. The term, created and popularized on the good ol' Internet, refers to a game that has been in the hopper for a very long time. Duke Nukem Forever probably generated the word and to this day, despite the game's eventual - and depressingly horrid - release, it's still the epitome of vaporware. After all, it took, what...13 years?

We're nowhere near that mark with Final Fantasy Versus XIII just yet, but at this rate, who knows? In the latest Game Informer issue, Square Enix director Tetsuya Nomura was once again asked about the progress of the long-awaited FF installment. And once again, he had no update besides this:

"We would like to ask for your patience on an official announcement for this title. It always takes time when tackling the challenge of doing something completely new, but we are doing our best to bring information to the fans as quickly as we can.

Your patience is greatly appreciated."

It was January 2011 that Square Enix promised an official unveiling "within a month." But the game was actually announced way back in 2007, which means we're entering the fifth year of this go-nowhere saga. Many believe it's because somewhere along the way, Square Enix decided they had to make the game multiplatform, as they did with Final Fantasy XIII (and the sequel). Others say it's because they're actually making it for next-gen systems now (PS4, Xbox 720).

Yeah, well, I've heard all this before. We all went through several generations listening to similar junk concerning DNF (or "Did Not Finish" as we liked to call it). And with almost nothing in the way of news, one has to wonder: At what point do we give Final Fantasy Versus XIII the correct label? Time to face up to depressing facts.

Related Game(s): Final Fantasy Versus XIII

Tags: final fantasy versus xiii, ff versus xiii, square enix, nomura

5/4/2012 10:24:41 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (41 posts)

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Underdog15
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 10:47:50 AM
Reply

Yup. It's actually really aggravating. I first got really frustrated when they went ahead and announced FFXIII-2.

8 up, 0 down

556pineapple
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 11:08:29 AM

I think it's worse that FFXIII-2 came out long before any real details on versus XIII have surfaced.

3 up, 1 down

Highlander
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 6:36:08 PM

FF:DNF? I started that a long time ago.

2 up, 2 down

bebestorm
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 11:08:58 AM
Reply

Im still not bothered by the wait I would be if Versus was the only game but SE Japan have released several right now I look forward to Kingdom Hearts 3D and the FF rhythm game.

4 up, 1 down

Underdog15
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 11:09:51 AM

wut and wha?

4 up, 3 down

shadowscorpio
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 11:26:24 AM

@ Underdog15

Lol!

1 up, 1 down

Coffeya
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 11:13:35 PM

At first I was skeptical about the FF rhythm game, but I have to admit it looks promising =).

1 up, 0 down

shadowscorpio
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 11:30:36 AM
Reply

Funny how we don't get any regular updates about this game. The only time that we hear anything is when someone else brings it up to Tetsuya. I'd say that's grounds for suspicion.

1 up, 0 down

mexgeo86
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 11:47:22 AM
Reply

I'll remain optimist til the end of this year, otherwise QQ sadly

1 up, 1 down

NiteKrawler
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 12:37:23 PM
Reply

Considering Duke Nukem Forever, after 12 years or so I guess.

2 up, 0 down

coverton341
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 12:44:24 PM
Reply

Actually, this game was unveiled at E3 in 2006, so this E3 will be the sixth year not the fifth. Anyway, I've already stated calling this thing vapour ware.

4 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 12:58:55 PM
Reply

Might as well put The Last Guardian on that list as well. We know even less about that title other than it has had a troubled history when it comes development. At least there is gameplay footage of FFvs13 and it has been shown behind closed doors. As far as I know The Last Guardian has never been seen in the wild at any gaming event or trade show. One could argue it belongs at the top of any potential vaporware list.

The length of time these two games have taken is quite annoying. No doubt about that. I did think the gameplay footage from FFvs13 was very impressive. I can't wait until Square finally unviels the game so I can learn more details about the game.

3 up, 1 down

jimmyhandsome
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 1:20:46 PM

I think there is some footage of the Last Guardian...but it was shown a couple of years ago and really offered no real gameplay hints.

2 up, 0 down

telly
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 1:09:02 PM
Reply

"When Do We Start Calling Final Fantasy Versus XIII Vaporware?"

Already there, Ben. Already there.

5 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 1:18:11 PM
Reply

The facts seem to support the FFXIII-3 theory despite recent claims to the contrary.

That 2011 unveiling never happened, Nomura was said to be very pleased to see the spotlight move from XIII-2 to Versus and that his team, now finished with Type-0, could work full bore on Versus.

This tells me it isn't that there is a lack of footage/information/epic hype about the game that could be unveiled to massive praise but that instead there is some reason to NOT let people get excited about Versus yet. The only reason for that would be that they again want focus on a different game, likely in the Final Fantasy Family. A family which is quickly becoming obese and counter-productive. Hence FFXIII-3.

Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 5/4/2012 1:18:56 PM

4 up, 1 down

Teddie9
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 1:37:16 PM
Reply

Several months ago.

0 up, 0 down

Oyashiro
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 1:46:28 PM
Reply

I feel sorry for Nomura and his team. He has to deal with people asking him this question all the time and he can't really tell the truth or else he would get in trouble with the higher ups.

The truth being that him and his team keep getting pulled to work on other projects because every one else at SE are talentless hacks. His being spread thinner then depression era peanut butter.

3 up, 1 down

CH1N00K
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 2:17:14 PM
Reply

It doesn't really matter to me at this point. As soon as I see a game with the name Square Enix on it, I already know it's one I'll look for in the bargain bins, if I even bother with it at all....

2 up, 1 down

Ludakriss
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 2:57:26 PM
Reply

It's all POOO GOD DAMN IT! What a masterpiece, I though when I saw that gameplay footage. I mean, you mount a mech. A friggin mech, dood!!!

Noctis, you're one hell of a gangsta, brother. But you're taking your sweet time walking up to the spotlight.

Last edited by Ludakriss on 5/4/2012 2:58:04 PM

0 up, 3 down

SuMtOnE
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 3:04:22 PM
Reply

dang its been this LONG? and still want me to wait longer? im not getting any younger =(

1 up, 0 down

gbhsiris
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 3:23:46 PM
Reply

I'm not really sure where this idea is coming from. Versus XIII only went into full production around September of last year, so obviously we probably wouldn't see anything concrete for another year or so. I mean, last January a full 7 minute trailer of the game, detailing area exploration, combat, and some of the cinematic mechanics (first-person cutscenes) was shown to great fan affection. Famitsu editors were shown new images months ago that they felt were close to picturesque. These publicly unreleased screens detailed new areas not shown before (one editor described one screen as an Italian fountain). Perhaps there is a platform shift, but to imply that it's not being made is pretty baseless conjecture at best. Tetsuya has repeatedly said they are making something special and for us to be patient if we really want to play it. I don't believe a game of such detail and scale has ever been attempted before; so I would join him in encouraging everyone to have a little faith in his team and quit knee-jerking with this vaporware talk.

0 up, 4 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 3:59:21 PM

You are ignoring a lot of data in this proclamation.

3 up, 1 down

gbhsiris
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 4:04:57 PM

Such as...?

0 up, 1 down

Oyashiro
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 5:03:15 PM

Such as the game being announced 6 years ago.

2 up, 1 down

gbhsiris
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 5:38:05 PM

The game is featured as download content in Theatrhythm FF. That would seem to confirm an existence.

1 up, 1 down

Looking Glass
Saturday, May 05, 2012 @ 8:00:54 AM

@ gbhsiris

That's not the game. It's one of it's songs.

1 up, 0 down

cLoudou
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 4:29:24 PM
Reply

Better question: when will we start calling Final Fantasy shovelware?

1 up, 0 down

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 8:19:27 PM

The instant they put out a game for the Wii U.

...

Sorry, I couldn't resist. ;)

3 up, 1 down

comicozi
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 4:47:50 PM
Reply

I've said it before and I'll say it again... SE does NOT want to give us fans what we WANT... Instead they only give us GARBAGE. Simple, Period, End of story. >.>

3 up, 2 down

Sogi_Otsa
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 5:16:24 PM
Reply

They are working on it, do we want it awesome, or AWESOME AS HELL!?
so cram it. it's still in development till you see 'dropped' it's still being worked. and with the amp high development, extreme budget and all, dropping it now would kill Square Enix where it stands. stop posting stuff like this.

2 up, 1 down

gray_eagle
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 5:30:36 PM
Reply

i'm not into th FF games, i've read negatives and positives about FF.
the one thing that caught my eye in the statement was,
"the challenge of doing something completely new"

i don't think anything good can come from that.

2 up, 0 down

Russell Burrows
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 6:17:37 PM
Reply

The challenge of doing something new.

Translated:

The challenge of porting a FF game with a world map so that it can be sacrificed on a DVD altar.

7 up, 1 down

Cloud X Blue
Friday, May 04, 2012 @ 11:04:34 PM
Reply

I want to know whats so new that their putting in this game... They would of saved a lot of heart breaks if they would of waited on the info for this game, or atleast have 100s and i mean 100s!!!!!! Of hours for the main quest...

1 up, 0 down

ProfPlayStation
Monday, May 07, 2012 @ 4:14:38 AM

This is Square-Enix. If the basement janitor has an idea for a new game they need to hold a press conference announcing it ASAP.

1 up, 0 down

xnonsuchx
Saturday, May 05, 2012 @ 5:20:31 AM
Reply

"The term, created and popularized on the good ol' Internet, refers to a game that has been in the hopper for a very long time." ???

The term existed before the Internet...way back in the 80's.

0 up, 2 down

xnonsuchx
Saturday, May 05, 2012 @ 6:29:40 PM

What kind of moron votes down simple factual information???

0 up, 1 down

PHOENIXZERO
Sunday, May 06, 2012 @ 5:31:24 PM

A big one because yeah, the term has been around for a long time and its creation has nothing to do with games.

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Monday, May 07, 2012 @ 8:46:17 AM

I downvoted after I saw you complained about the downvote. XD

0 up, 0 down

___________
Saturday, May 05, 2012 @ 6:50:14 AM
Reply

the time for that came and passed years ago!
i think its time to accept this like the last guardian are never coming out.
its going to take a law suit and a new developer to bring them out of development hell!

1 up, 0 down

Looking Glass
Saturday, May 05, 2012 @ 8:03:43 AM
Reply

Vaporware actually doesn't only refer to games. It refers to pretty much any product in the computer industry.

0 up, 1 down

SS4
Sunday, May 06, 2012 @ 11:12:54 PM
Reply

FF died after X for me... X2 was the first sequel, it had some good points but something was wrong... Now XII was a good game but it was not the same...

XI and XIV? those arent FF, theyre MMO.

FF was done at X, they need to modify the title of come out with a real FF XI.

The games after X were good games and i still enjoy them but they arent true FF games.

1 up, 0 down

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