Square-Enix "Westward Expansion" Little More Than A Cop-Out?
You know, at first, we were willing to give Square-Enix the benefit of the doubt and simply agree that their perceived gravitation towards Microsoft is nothing more than good business, and they're not really turning their back on long-time PlayStation loyalists. However, we're quickly moving past this theory and starting to adopt a darker, more negative outlook...
A recent post over at Gamer.Blorge turned us onto the Siliconera report that the Xbox 360 exclusive RPG, Star Ocean: The Last Hope, will need 3 DVDs. Now, this is something we should've most certainly expected, but then we read the Blorge article and began to reflect more on the current situation. Quite clearly, they'll need multiple discs for the 360 version of Final Fantasy XIII as well, and they further admitted they won't start working on that version until the PlayStation 3 iteration is complete. Hence, the only conclusion one can reach is that Square-Enix is going out of their way to produce a 360 version for North America. This is only marginally suspicious, but when it comes to something like the new Star Ocean - a series that has only known PlayStation consoles, by the way - how is it "good business" or even "expanding" business by making a game specifically for the 360 with the lesser software format? On top of which, we're talking about a JRPG, which typically never fare well on a Microsoft console. Sooo...what's all this about?
Sure, one could argue that with a project like The Last Remnant, work began before Blu-Ray solidified their victory over HD-DVD, and the PS3 was still very early in its life cycle with a tiny user base in comparison to the 360. This is probably why the game debuted first on the 360 (of course, now that we've seen the reviews, we're not anxiously awaiting its release on the PS3). However, we can't find a legitimate reason for putting The Last Hope solely on the 360. The only reason? Er...we're sensing a definite Microsoft bias right now. It's one thing to expand westward and increase the radius of your target circle, so-to-speak, but they're not doing that by making a game exclusive to one platform. Damnit.
12/7/2008 Ben Dutka
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Comments (56 posts)
MirrorSoul
Sunday, December 07, 2008 @ 10:23:44 PM
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laxpro2001
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 2:20:18 AM
SE needs to get their heads on straight and wise up before they chase too many fans away.
Also I actually would love to see LOTD 2, but with new characters probably b/c the original was one of my favorite rpgs.
Mole
Sunday, December 07, 2008 @ 10:29:44 PM
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Last edited by Mole on 12/7/2008 10:30:04 PM
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Sunday, December 07, 2008 @ 10:35:01 PM
Wage SLAVES
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 12:35:38 AM
The_Chimeran
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 4:04:48 PM
P.S: Ben/arnold/whoever what's up with the forums? I know they're down and all but like I miss not being able to write my own "stories". Do you have an estimate as to when they're coming back up?
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:49:27 AM
laxpro2001
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 2:22:17 AM
karneli lll
Sunday, December 07, 2008 @ 11:33:28 PM
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Fatcat3788
Sunday, December 07, 2008 @ 11:49:52 PM
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Wage SLAVES
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 12:38:06 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:50:05 AM
coverton341
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 11:00:39 AM
Scarecrow
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 12:52:54 AM
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Square-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeenix is turning into "has-beens" right before our eyes.
Not only are they not releasing a single rpg for the ps3 but all their 360 exclusive games have been ok to mediocre.
You know I actually don't miss their rpgs since their all sucking :D
SE should change their name to "Final Fantasy" that's the only good game they make. And Star Ocean, but that game only comes out once every 8 years or so lol...(Dragon Quest doesn't come out for consoles anymore really so not counting it).
Anyway that's why I encourage people to check out stuff like Valkyria Chronicles(strategy rpg), Persona, White Knight Chronicles, etc.
White Knight Chronicles will sell a lot, I'm really hoping for it to sell like crazy. Just to piss off Square-eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeenix.
Arvis
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:30:32 PM
kreate
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:12:19 AM
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only way i'm going back to square enix software is if they don't come up with bull*** plans with kingdom hearts3.
aaronisbla
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:31:01 AM
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Of course they have been persuaded by microsoft's money. Why can't they take a hint like capcom did " oh shit, sony's system is selling, lets hurry up and jump on it!"
Last edited by aaronisbla on 12/8/2008 1:31:22 AM
englishgolfer
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:54:29 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:58:52 AM
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Ultimadream
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 2:23:55 AM
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FF7,8 & 9 in my eyes are just pure perfection! They really do amaze me, I doubt any games will ever ever have such an impact on me again! its a shame they cant release a game to the same standard, but i can certainly understand the difficulty in doing so. FFXII in my opinion was a disaster, nothing really stood out, characters story, places or art design. it became a chore to complete and is probaly the most diapointing game ive ever played ( as ive stated before many times)
but looking at all my favourite game series from the PS1 days..... all of them seem to be on a down fall, Final Fantasy, Tekken, Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, Silent Hill, Metal Gear is over (come on, it is really) its quite sad really.
aaronisbla
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 3:23:57 AM
Scarecrow
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 12:14:14 PM
Arvis
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:32:38 PM
crapreviews
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 3:48:30 AM
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LightShow
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 6:38:28 AM
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I'm just stuck on the WHY? Enix will say it was the result of a cost/benefit analysis, but the way they're behaving, it looks an awful lot like a suit has a personal vendetta...
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 8:36:07 AM
So while you DO play a role in MGS4, it's considered a different genre. Hope I helped :)
PS3_Wizard
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 10:17:56 AM
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Riku994
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 10:50:38 AM
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At the end of KH1, there was the secret ending, Deep Dive, which was a look into KH2. At the end of KH2, there was Birth By Sleep, a look into , obviously, Birth By Sleep. What I'm guessing is that once BBS is released, there will be a secret ending from that showing us something from KH3, and it'll be announced shortly after that.
Now, as for timed exclusivity for FF13 on PS3, I do NOT see why they can't do that. They're doing it for the Last Remnant on the 360, and they're making Satr Ocean 4 (as Ben said) 360 EXCLUSIVE. Is there something wrong with timed exlusivity? No, not at all. Is there something wrong when a company refusing to have it on one console but welcomes it on another? Yes! Hey, I'm glad FFv13 is still exclusive, but that may not even last, and I'd rather that have gone multiplat than the actual FF13, because since FF7 (aside from FF11) the numbered iterations of Final Fantasy have been, you guessed it, SONY EXLUSIVE. And no SE, that's NOT an invitation for you to put FFv13 multiplat, and if they even THINK about making KH3 360 exclusive, SE or any product with their name on it will never see a penny of my money again. FF13 betrayal was one thing, timed exclusivity issues are one thing, but completely abandoning a console that make a franchise so popular is another. I never played Star Ocean so the whole SO4 thing doesn't affect me, but by God if they do it with KH3 I'm gunna be one pissed off Canadian.
Now, as for the "announcement" of a LoD2, that would be freakin EPIC! So long as they keep the addition system, I don't care what they do with the game!
And before I end this comment, White Knight Chronicles is awesome, and Ben is the best reporter Ever! Thanks for reading this really long comment :)
Last edited by Riku994 on 12/8/2008 10:53:40 AM
Dante399
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:15:44 PM
Do you mean Legend Of The Dragoon 2? Wow....I was waiting for this game forever!!! When is it gonna be released?
Man you got me really psyched!!
Last edited by Dante399 on 12/8/2008 1:17:29 PM
Riku994
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 7:59:36 PM
Dante399
Tuesday, December 09, 2008 @ 2:07:01 AM
MirrorSoul
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 3:15:57 PM
MirrorSoul
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 3:16:00 PM
Dante399
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 1:07:16 PM
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I was a fan of Squaresoft from the very beginning and I've just lost interest this year. Since their betrayal of their entire fanbase no game veteran like me would give them #$%!! respect!
MetalHead09
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 2:24:52 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 2:45:44 PM
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ps92117
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 3:07:44 PM
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BigBoss4ever
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 3:52:41 PM
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bearbobby
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 4:09:40 PM
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I wonder if it's similar to those Nintendo fans who felt betrayed losing their signiture rpg series to the original Playstation. Though in that case it was a correlation between technology and finances.
At the time the PS was pushing the cd tech and I fondly remember a two page ad in a gaming mag, EGM or some such, that compared the 3 discs to the dozen cartridges it would have taken on a Nintendo system, with each cartridge costing like $24 just to manufacture.
In a case like that I can understand switching to the platform that would produce the best game for the least price, but in today's market I simply don't understand why they'd shun the PS3 community. The only reason, the ONLY reason I can see is $$$. And that sucks.
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 5:00:55 PM
shadowpal2
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 4:10:59 PM
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I wish I could see Tetsuya in another company like Atlus - that would just be plain sick. If he created a new franchise and stuff.
I'm just done with Square Enix I've honestly had it with their nonsense and what Mr. Wada is putting it through. The business strategy honestly doesn't make sense.
The only thing keeping FF Versus XIII exclusive in my opinion is because Tetsuya Nomura is the one behind it. If he wasn't - then goodbye to that as an exclusive.
Banky A
Monday, December 08, 2008 @ 10:58:05 PM
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As well as Tetsuya Nomura should be setting them straight. Wada and the other leader have lost their bonkas'.
If there was no way to make FFXIII an exclusive on PS3 then I would rather be last to get it, so it removes any immediate ideas that the Xbox 360 might get a augmented, more complete version (a la Eternal Sonata coming to PS3).
I only said that because so far it seems like FF Versus XIII is exclusive and looks like a very good game with story (I like dark stories xD). I just won't touch any game with a reputation as high as Final Fantasy that has tainted relations with Xbox LOLLLLZZZ.
And I really hope White Knight Chronicle is great so Square-Enix gets a wake up call. I loved Level 5's Dark Chronicle (aka Dark Cloud 2) so I know I won't be disappointed.
And lastly, I FRICKIN' loved Star Ocean 3, the fact that the next installment has a high chance of not being on PS3 makes me so pi*sed.
That's one stupid move by SE.
Deleted User
Friday, December 12, 2008 @ 10:57:22 AM
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desktopartist
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 @ 4:20:55 PM

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GoldenShadow
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Sunday, December 07, 2008 @ 10:18:51 PM