FFXIII Releases In Japan This Year, Overseas After April 2010
Final Fantasy XIIIRealistically speaking, not many really believed Final Fantasy XIII would be available in North America this year. But even so, a few of us had our fingers crossed.
According to Reuters, Square-Enix president Yoichi Wada has said that FFXIII will indeed release this year...but only in Japan. It will come to the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in other major regions "in the fiscal year beginning April 2010." Wada moved on to speak about the financial status of his company, and it appears the profits for this fiscal year will drop 21 billion yen (that's about $236 million) in comparison to last year. It's a 2.4% decline, but you needn't concern yourself with the publisher's position; Dragon Quest IX for the DS will release in Japan this March and instantly sell about 10 trillion copies. As for FFXIII, we're just really annoyed that PS3 owners have to wait for a completed game just because Square-Enix wants a simultaneous PS3/360 launch in North America. We have no problem whatsoever with the game coming to the 360; it'll likely be an inferior version, anyway, and even if it's not, more gamers should get a shot at an awesome title. The problem is that S-E has said they won't even start on the 360 version until the PS3 one is complete, which means PS3 owners have to wait. Why?
Well, whatever the reason, we won't be seeing FFXIII 'round these parts, on any platform, until 2010. That's the long and short of it. Unfortunately, this must mean Final Fantasy Versus XIII, which is exclusive to the PS3, must be even further behind.
Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIII
1/15/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (99 posts)
chicko1983
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:23:20 PM
Reply
Whose with me?
1 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:29:53 PM
3 up, 2 down
ps92117
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:31:16 PM
Last edited by ps92117 on 1/15/2009 10:31:54 PM
1 up, 1 down
chicko1983
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:42:19 PM
I'll live without their game and SE will live without my money.
I also cant imagine that the quality of the game is not going to suffer at all because of the Xbox360 capabilities becoming a constraint.
2 up, 0 down
Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:58:19 PM
0 up, 0 down
vicious54
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 12:47:23 AM
I'm with you, I have no plans of purchasing this game.
2 up, 0 down
Zorigo
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 2:12:06 AM
@ chicko, fine fine, what you wanna do is what you wanna do, but missing out on good games seems a little rash of you. but you have your reasons. even if i think they are slightly mundane
Last edited by Zorigo on 1/16/2009 2:13:48 AM
0 up, 0 down
chicko1983
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 4:12:45 AM
This will be my protest against SE and their bad business practice and poor treatment of (once) loyal supporters.
Even if noone follows me AND the game is great, I still feel SE have treated people badly, at least me anyway, and I wont support them.
I see that a good way to make SE change their business practice is to boycott this game. Hence, I wouldn't think that my reason is "mundane" - quite the opposite actually, especially if I am the minority.
1 up, 0 down
ceedot
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 5:16:24 AM
1 up, 0 down
Troy Powers
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 5:53:10 AM
But, suppose they have a good reason for releasing in America. Doesn't Japan-to-America localization take quite a while, especially if it's a really long game with lots of dialog/text?
1 up, 0 down
chicko1983
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 5:19:49 PM
Yeah, localisation used to take a while but with all the evidence of worlwide simultaneous releases in this generation I dont think that it takes as long these days (for whatever reason).
I would think that the porting, from ps3 to xbox360 especially, would take longer than the localisation. Plus the translation will be done before the port as they said the ps3 version would be finished before they start porting.
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MetalHead09
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 8:57:06 AM
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ps92117
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:28:16 PM
Reply
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GoldenShadow
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:45:25 PM
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0 up, 2 down
Shadow_Striker
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:58:44 PM
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0 up, 0 down
ps92117
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:13:29 AM
1 up, 0 down
WorldEndsWithMe
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:13:38 PM
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There exists no gamer anywhere that could be happy about their game sitting in a box while the dev ports it to someone who didn't even bother to buy the system it was supposed to be exclusive for in the first place. If they held up a M$ release like that I would feel bad for the gamers getting the shaft. It's completely indefensible and forgive my candor but no decent gamer can say different.
That said, I was never among the crowds who said they wouldn't get it now and I'm still looking forward to the game but no thoughtful person would advise this move in the first place, $236 million down the crapper because they decided to only put out games to a crowd that never wanted them in the first place.
Rant over, unfortunately for them Pandora can't go back into the box - she only comes out
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 1/15/2009 11:18:40 PM
5 up, 0 down
NightHawk17
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:16:46 PM
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3 up, 0 down
Scarecrow
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:26:40 PM
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1-You'll support the Japanese side of things meaning that you probably won't support Squeeeeeeeeenix's Western expansion garbage.
2. The game will be translated in many sites, of that I'm sure.
3. Learn some Japanese it will help you when looking for a job and is good for you for the future.
4. You'll have it this year all FRESH and EARLY :3
So getting it this year
Though the character designs are horrible......
Have you guys seen that new "black" guy?
Wow talk 'bout digging deep into stereotypes.
And here I though Barrett couldn't be topped.
0 up, 1 down
MetalHead09
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 9:02:22 AM
0 up, 0 down
Mystearica
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:28:27 PM
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0 up, 0 down
eLLeJuss
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:29:17 PM
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BeezleDrop
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:41:57 PM
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0 up, 0 down
BeezleDrop
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 11:43:37 PM
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1 up, 0 down
Zaben
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 12:00:45 AM
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At least we have a bunch of great titles this year to tide us over... I hope.
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jdt1981
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 12:01:24 AM
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ps92117
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:15:05 AM
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ps92117
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 12:59:59 AM
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0 up, 0 down
AceTatsujin
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:08:31 AM
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again?
AGAIN?
MOVING ON -- I'm not worried about this game. In all honesty, f@ck this game all together and SE. They are taking TOO LONG to release the god damn thing. We got enough exclusives and multi-platform games to enjoy while they take their sweet ass time to release XIII here. Whatever man. I'm done with SE.
1 up, 0 down
AceTatsujin
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:24:40 AM
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They even stated that they want to port the game as fast as possible to US and PAL but they're not doing it. One freaking year? Come on man. We waited too long for this. God WTF. I'd love to have FF XIII with English Subtitles, I'm okay with that.
Argh ......
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Fane1024
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 3:01:58 PM
And if you meant another year from now, did you really expect it to be sooner than November, given that they're just showing to the public now?
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Scarecrow
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:44:40 AM
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Get the Japanese version
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Ultimadream
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:55:24 AM
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Ultimadream
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:56:24 AM
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Anduril
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 2:07:50 AM
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The sad part is that back in the day I had such admiration for this company, but the last few years it just seemed that they lost that magic they had with the rpg's on Ps1 and it's gotten to the point where I would much rather look forward to a Level 5 rpg like White Knight's Chronicle.
If indeed there is one shred of goodness left in Square then we'll get english subtitles in the Jap version, otherwise, this bloody sucks!
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 10:27:06 AM
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aaronisbla
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 2:14:38 AM
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Banky A
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 5:01:17 AM
>=]
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King James
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 9:30:32 AM
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ps92117
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 2:36:07 AM
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crapreviews
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 2:39:33 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 2:51:15 PM
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K ASH
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 2:57:42 AM
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Kevadu
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 3:04:01 AM
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"As for FFXIII, we're just really annoyed that PS3 owners have to wait for a completed game just because Square-Enix wants a simultaneous PS3/360 launch in North America....The problem is that S-E has said they won't even start on the 360 version until the PS3 one is complete, which means PS3 owners have to wait. Why?"
It is true that S-E has said they won't start on the 360 version until the PS3 version is complete, but what everyone seems to be completely ignoring is the fact that they have *also* said they aren't going to start on the translation until the Japanese version is complete. That's right: They have not even started translating this game, and translating an RPG of this size is no small task. Incidentally, this is the same reason we aren't getting a demo with AC:C, and nobody who's been paying attention should have been surprised by that fact.
Now you can rightfully criticize S-E for giving lower priority to the international release than the Japanese release, but Why does everyone act like there is going to be a complete English PS3 version of this game sitting around waiting for the 360 port? If the Japanese version isn't ready until a holiday 2009 release (likely), then getting the English translation done by April is actually about as fast as one could reasonably expect.
Has anyone considered that the fact that they have to wait for the translation anyway is the whole reason they decided on a simultaneous PS3/360 release in the west?
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AceTatsujin
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 8:25:22 AM
Here's the good news if 360 wasn't in the plan, the game would have been here in Fall of 2009. People effing know this. Porting games from 360 to PS3 and PS3 to 360 is a nightmare. I wonder now if they're going to push the PS3 to the limit, knowing the graphics on the PS3 freaking pwns the living hell out of the 360. Go compare games like Heavy Rain and K2 and even FF XIII which the gameplay you see is all on PS3, to the best games the 360 has.
MS needs to go bankrupt, they want to be part of EVERYTHING to screw things up. And this generation is not a very good generation with a retarded ass company like them.
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Kevadu
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 10:56:19 AM
If the Japanese version comes out in December and the US version comes out in April that is actually a *very* fast turn-around time. I'm actually skeptical about the date for that reason. I wouldn't be surprised if it's actually going to be later than that.
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Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 11:13:10 AM
Second of all, it does NOT take THAT long to translate a game. It does take time, but in no way does it take 4-6 months. Thirdly and finally, Square-Enix said three MONTHS ago that they only need "the final touches" on the PS3 version. If we can take those words at face value, this is the reason why people are upset.
No, according to the information we have - as vague as it is - it does NOT make any sense to delay the PS3 version launch until the 360 version is ready. The only explanation is a nod to Microsoft, and that's it.
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Kevadu
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 11:59:17 AM
Final Fantasy XII came out March 16, 2006 in Japan and October 31, 2006 in North America. That's over 7 months, and you can't possibly blame that one on MS. That kind of translation time is quite typical for RPGs (lot's of dialogue to translate).
Now it's true that I don't know for a fact that FFXIII will come out at the end of the year in Japan, but I am willing to bet good money on it. When a company refuses to be more specific than '2009' when it's already 2009 that means end-of-the-year 2009...
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AluShady
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 12:34:09 PM
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Arvis
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:18:03 PM
It's not as if when the last translator working on the game hits "enter" to finalize the last bit of text that the game is instantly shipped to stores. Square held back the US release of Final Fantasy XII to optimize it's sales for the holidays. It's not always development time that holds games back.
Needless to say, if you really believe that adding a WHOLE NEW PORT to the localization of a game WON'T make it take longer to release, then you're either ignorant, or have an agenda.
-Arvis
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WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 3:04:40 PM
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Kevadu
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 8:39:21 PM
Here are some more numbers for you. Time between the Japanese release and the North America release for various FF games:
FFVII: 8 months
FFVIII: 7 months
FFIX: 4 months
FFX: 5 months
FFXII: 7 months
These are facts, folks. Go look it up.
Now you can discuss the reasons for this until the cows come home, but the fact of the matter is that S-E has always taken around 4-8 to get FF games to North America (and I'm not even going to discuss the NES and SNES generations, where we were lucky to get the games at all...).
Now there is some indication (though I am still skeptical) that S-E will be trying for a NA release only 4 months after the JP release. That would be tied for the fastest they've ever done it! (And that was for IX, which was a pretty simple game by FF standards). What is the crowd's reaction?
(paraphrased) "Grr, I hate you S-E! You sold out to MS and are delaying this game on purpose. Rawr."
Excuse me if I think that reaction doesn't make any sense...
And as for you who claim that the port 'has' to delay the final release, that is complete nonsense. Porting a game engine and translating the script (and doing all the voice acting, etc) are completely orthogonal. There is absolutely no reason why you can't do both in parallel.
Look, I'm not going to claim that S-E hasn't done some stupid things this generation, and I'm certainly no MS fan. But this particular argument seems completely nonsensical to me. If S-E was talking about a holidy 2010 NA release then you would have a case.
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Fane1024
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 3:14:49 PM
They don't just have to translate the dialogue, Babelfish-style, into Engrish, like they did when it was all text. They have to re-write every line so that it says what the Japanese line says, but also "works" and is artful in English. Then they have to audition actors and record (and re-record, usually) all that dialogue so that it sounds like actual people talking and not some high school play.
If they aren't doing that until after the Japanese version is done, it could easily take 4-8 months to get it done right.
There's more dialogue in long, story-heavy videogames than a full season of TV, which takes at least 8 months to produce. I think David Hayter was working on MSG4 for something like 14 months.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 1/17/2009 3:18:20 PM
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ceedot
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 5:14:22 AM
Reply
Fu** this sh**.
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www
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 6:04:09 AM
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Douchebaguette
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 8:44:51 AM
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Other than that, making me wait a year for a simultaneous release, when it was supposed to be exclusive in the first place, would just build up annoyance, so i'll probably say "f**k that game", & not buy it. Ironically they have a chance to kill the hype & fandom that they wanted to expand.
Last edited by Douchebaguette on 1/16/2009 8:45:33 AM
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Fane1024
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 3:21:13 PM
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cegmp
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 9:06:35 AM
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Orvisman
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 9:19:46 AM
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It also makes it easier to know who is pirating games because now if you buy/sell chips you are doing it for one reason only.
Region free is the way it should always be.
1 up, 0 down
chaosrunner
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 9:26:12 AM
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chicko1983
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 5:11:48 PM
Secondly, by purchasing the game, SE won't learn anything from treating its fans badly and you can expect the same sort of service from them in the future.
Lets be clear, I wouldn't mind if the game was multiplatform from the beginning or if they released the ps3 version as soon as it is finished, but holding up the ps3 version of the game because they are being paid by MS to hold the release in the West until both can be released at the same time is wrong.
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MetalHead09
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 9:21:16 AM
the 360 might be easier for western developers but im thinking that the 360 is harder for the japanese. i watched an interview about tekken 6 going to the 360 and the guys even said that it will be very hard to do because it was designed originally for the ps3 so i think its same to assume that ff13 was originally and always has bin a ps3 focus, the 360 is more secondary.
im not defending S-E at all but i dont believe that square would alter the ps3 version simply because its going to the the 360. they just have their work cut out for them thats all.
Last edited by MetalHead09 on 1/17/2009 9:23:20 AM
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King James
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 9:36:38 AM
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And who the f' is Square-Enix? It's like two totally different companies. FFXIII will be in our hands Fall 2010. It will take a lil' more time to manufacture those extra 9-14 DVDs for the XBox 360 version.
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ec0li
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 10:21:58 AM
No seriously, I'm not joking.
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Fane1024
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 3:23:10 PM
If that's true, we'll all be waiting until the end of time.
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King James
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @ 2:06:15 PM
and if Square can't care about the PS fanbase, why would they possibly care about the M$ fanbase. I mean, the M$ fanbase continues to support their console despite the horrible reliability and the evidence showing that the 360 is running outta gas this year. If I was S-E and I found out that FFXIII would RR 360s...I would STILL put it out. No question.
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BlinkBoy
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 9:42:42 AM
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Please let it be like Summer/Fall 2009
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Robochic
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 10:04:46 AM
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Orvisman
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 12:38:29 PM
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M$ft is currently filling truck seven of 10 as I write this!
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Arvis
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 1:21:25 PM
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Wouldn't it make more sense if all of us PS3 owners went out and bought this game in droves and showed Square that their TRUE market is on Sony's console? Maybe then they would stop all this Microsoft silliness.
-Arvis
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chicko1983
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 4:51:57 PM
I don't want to give someone who screws me around my money.
If I go to any type of store and get treated badly I dont go back there - they lose my business. I dont keep going back there and giving them more of my money in the hope I start getting treated better.
Its the principle of treating your loyal customers better that SE need to learn.
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smileys_007
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 3:24:09 PM
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karneli lll
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 3:48:51 PM
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chicko1983
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 4:56:34 PM
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karneli lll
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 6:44:52 PM
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chicko1983
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 6:05:54 PM
But as you are an xbox360 fan, maybe your thinking is different to mine.
So yes, you were unclear.
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Deleted User
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 7:08:10 PM
Congratulations.
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ps92117
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 7:32:40 PM
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Orvisman
Monday, January 19, 2009 @ 10:27:25 AM
If you don't have a PS3, and since you have no interest in the system, why do you, and other Xbots, even post here?
Are you that bored with the 360 and its enormous list of new (not old and played out) system exclusives? Or are you waiting for M$ft to repair your RROD 360?
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TGG
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 5:53:37 PM
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WHY!?
Why does S-E do this to us?
XD
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robinhood2010
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 6:45:20 PM
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So people moan about an 'exclusive' being released on the rival console a year late (Bioshock) then moan when a game is released simultaneously for both consoles.
There are no winners in this situation. Personally, I'm p*ssed off. Timed exclusivity I don't care about; if I can play it, whatever. But holding back a completed game? Lame.
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bamf
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 9:38:35 PM
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If we was to all boycott FFXIII and not buy this game where as this was on a big enough scale that we see not so good PS3 sales. Wouldn't this be bad for the PS3 to see poor sales when compared to the 360 version when A: The 360 version may be inferior to, and B: When FF series is widely considered to be at home on a Playstation platform? This will probably drive S-E even more to M$ console which all being honest, we don't want. I would prefere it that The PS3 version was to have a huge success, even more so than the 360 so hopefully it give S-E a slap around the face and wake them up. S-E, you should be bringing all your RPG's to PS3, it only makes sense.
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MetalHead09
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 9:31:29 AM
is there a mailing address for square? because id really like to send them a letter telling them myself why im not buying their games anymore.
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AntDC
Friday, January 16, 2009 @ 10:39:34 PM
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Spartan 117
Saturday, January 17, 2009 @ 12:51:33 PM
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DIsmael85
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @ 3:24:51 AM
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AceTatsujin
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @ 6:47:55 PM
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stefanolio
Sunday, January 18, 2009 @ 9:32:49 PM
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stop playing mario games and get back to work!
imma go mod my ps3 firmware so i could play the japo version.
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kidgrid
Monday, January 19, 2009 @ 9:39:59 AM
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Jackeria
Monday, January 19, 2009 @ 11:40:15 AM
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Reccaman18
Reply
Thursday, January 15, 2009 @ 10:17:54 PM