Last night at midnight, Square Enix released Final Fantasy XIII to retail shelves after years of development and patience from gamers. In accordance with the launch, Sony and Square Enix threw a massive launch party yesterday as well. At the event key figures from around the industry showed up to show their support as well as figures from Microsoft and media outlets.
Early in the night, a Microsoft employee had stood on stage and thanked Square Enix for porting (allowing Microsoft to give them money) the title over to the Xbox 360. This apparently didn’t sit too well with Sony, as the next Sony representative that took the stage made sure to let people know why they were there and what Final Fantasy truly means to the console powerhouse from Japan.
Sony’s rep declared that “Final Fantasy is a PlayStation franchise” and that it is “best on the PS3.” Not only that, but fans playing it on the PS3 will enjoy it on “one disc, the way it was meant to be played.”
Apparently this set off an awkward moment throughout the event and a lot of people weren’t sure how to react, but the consensus of most was to cheer and applaud the statement. In all reality, Sony is pretty much right in this regard — true, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles found a home on the Nintendo platform and the MMO brand can be found on a Microsoft console, but the true numbered franchise has been home to the PlayStation brand for 15 years now.
If I had to set up an analogy for the situation it would be this. Imagine having 3 tickets to go and see your favorite band in concert, but only one of your friends could make it. The only logical choice is to sell off the third ticket, right? But, the problem is, the guy who bought it, shows up to the concert like he’s been friends with you forever while he’s only really there because he forked over the cash. Microsoft is like that guy. Nobody really likes him, but he brings the money with him. Enjoy.
@The Dean
Oh yeah, Japan is definitely a huge deciding factor worldwide, haha. No question there. I knew that the game was near the top of the list on Amazon’s best selling items and that the 360 version was pretty low in comparison. Should still be interesting once the NPD sales data comes out, if just for the 360 fans bitching and moaning :p
Vof,
Instead of looking at npd sales, why not look at worldwide sales? America is not the whole market. Its only part of it.
@HeyAndy
Because up until yesterday, Japan was the only one that had the game and in that region, there is no 360 version. Obviously the PS3 will outsell the 360 version worldwide but in the US, it’ll be the way to see how well each version is doing. NPD sales as far as I know doesn’t include sales made in Canada.
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the Final Fantasy franchise was origanally a nintendo franchise but the writer didn’t put much emphasis on that now did he…
Steve,
Yes, it was a nintendo franchise. But would you rather have a 2d based final fantasy VII than a 3d one if final fantasy didn’t switch from one brand to another?
@HeyAndy – FFVII would’ve been in 3D regardless. There’s an N64 FF tech demo that Square released before announcing that they were moving to PlayStation- look it up.
Either way, the move from Nintendo to Sony was purely from a technical standpoint- there’s no way the game could have been as ambitious on a cart-based system. The move from PS-exclusive to multiplat was purely business.
I am still not buying this game, but i would love to see a video of this event sounds super fun. and the way i see it SE needs to some serious damage repair with Playstation fans, as the sales and pre-order numbers are out, i mean there is no use at all of releasing future games on XB360 (KH3)
You’re like that nasally guy who wanted everyone to boycott XIII’s release, when he found out XIII was going to be Multi-platform. Final Fantasy started out with Nintendo, and despite the switch over to Playstation for VII’s initial release, Square never really let FF be a Playstation Exclusive.
If you forgot, VII and VIII were also released for PC, and they continued to make games for other systems. Even if you claim that Crystal Chronicles doesn’t count, the Numbered Franchise was being re-released for every Nintendo handheld, some even on the Wonderswan, and rightly so. Why should Square limit themselves to one company, when the fans of their games span so many different consoled households?
What you are saying Square was so wrong to do is exactly what happened in ’97 to everyone who expected VII on the N64.
Sure, that had the bonus of more space branched over a series of discs, but you aren’t seriously so shortsighted as to not realize Square did it for the MONEY? They’re a company. They realize they have enough fans to lose a few pretentious losers who’re all uppity about being special, especially when they add in all the new fans from the system crossover.
You just didn’t feel that way in ’97 because you were in Microsoft’s position back then. Besides. This has been coming since XI branched to 360, and I don’t remember there being a huge uproar about that.
If it matters to anyone who will inevitably flame this, I own a PS3, but don’t feel those unfortunate enough to own a 360 should miss out on this amazing game.