E3 2008 Coverage

[Bobtheduck]

Yeah... Yeah... The PS3 just officially died today.

I freaking hate microsoft... Just buying off everyone left and right... The Playstation platform has been kept alive historically by 2 franchises:

Metal Gear
Final Fantasy

With only half of that, they won't survive...

[ADXC]

Ugh, why did I buy the PS3 again?! Man, I do like FF and if it's not on the PS3 then a little bit of myself has just died today. The Wii and 360 seem to have most of the goods, when is the PS3 going to shine? (Im not in to Metal Gear so there's no consolation for me.) I hope the future is better for the PS3 because now it seems to be in a dark valley.

[Bobtheduck]

Ugh, why did I buy the PS3 again?! Man, I do like FF and if it's not on the PS3 then a little bit of myself has just died today. The Wii and 360 seem to have most of the goods, when is the PS3 going to shine? (Im not in to Metal Gear so there's no consolation for me.) I hope the future is better for the PS3 because now it seems to be in a dark valley.

Well, to clarify, it's multiplatform in the US and EU. It WILL be on the PS3. Just not exclusively, and for keeping the PS3 alive, Exclusivity is all that matters...

VS XIII will still be PS3 exclusive... for now.

Microsoft just buys everything out and pays millions and millions to do damage to their opponents to make sure they're the only ones that survive, even doing things to hurt themselves and their partners in the process... Sony just doesn't know how to play as dirty, though I wish they did.

Not that it matters, anymore... Seriously, this announcement is the death bell for the PS3... It's over. It's like the Warner Announcement for Bluray.

A classmate once said the soviets lost the cold war because they play chess and the US plays poker... I think MS plays Poker and Chess and Sony plays candyland.

[ADXC]

Well at least it's still coming to the PS3. But what else do we have to look forward too? I hope KH3 comes soon. But I think that will be a while. And what about good RPGs? Other than FFXIII what other good RPGs(Like Star Ocean, Tales series, Radiata Stories, Rogue Galazy, Dragon Quest, Shadow Heart, etc. from the PS2.) are going to come out because the PS2 had many?

[Bobtheduck]

Well at least it's still coming to the PS3. But what else do we have to look forward too? I hope KH3 comes soon. But I think that will be a while. And what about good RPGs? Other than FFXIII what other good RPGs(Like Star Ocean, Tales series, Radiata Stories, Rogue Galazy, Dragon Quest, Shadow Heart, etc. from the PS2.) are going to come out because the PS2 had many?

Notice how MS is letting rare games go to the DS? MS only wants to destroy Sony, not Nintendo because Nintendo doesn't threaten THEIR audience, so mark my words, KHIII will be a Wii title...

MS is paying loads and loads of money not only to aquire multiplats but to deter people from going to the PS3 or PSP, even if that means going Wii or DS...

I still "love" my chunky black rock, though... Like my dreamcast (the dead one, because that's all I have)

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Rare was previously a nintendo developer. They have good relations with Nintendo. Besides which, video-game companies are corporate at heart and just out to make a buck. That goes for Sony, Microsoft, and Squaresoft. If it makes 'em cash, they're welcome to it. After 12 I'm not sure I'm all that excited to pick this one up, but eh. Companies have no particular alliance to us as a playerbase, they have an affection for our wallets.

Edit: Actually I also feel it's worth noting that although they were heavy hitting franchises they were hardly the reason the PS1 and PS2 were such successful consoles. Both consoles achieved a good balance between library, playability, and friendly relations with both the player-base and the 3rd party developers. They particularly stood out on virtue of having a wide array of extremely good games developed for them both - good games spanning every genre and company. I personally own more 360 games than for any other system at the moment but if you look at my shelf, the combined force of all of my room-mates and I in terms of Ps1 and 2 games creates several shelves worth of gamage. And the number of Metalgear and FF games in that collection is tiny.

[ADXC]

Well at least(As you say) MS haven't really gone after Nintendo. I do like Nintendo because Nintendo brings something different like the DS and Wii. Both of which I have had the pleasure of playing. DS, thanks for the Ace Attorney series. Wii, thanks for Fire Emblem and SSBB. Of course I do hope to find more great games on Wii and DS. But the PS3's future seems uncertain.

Why multiplats?!! That just about ruins the different game and console scheme. UGH, WHY MS?!!

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Keep in mind the Wii is also trying out for a different target audience and MS has no hand-held gaming platform to speak of, so Rare developing for the DS is no thang. And things were going Multiplat before Microsoft started working in for the 360. This isn't a slam against us, this is a boon FOR us! They're reaching a wider potential audience by enabling it for multiple games. They're not saying "NO! we're not gonna develop for Sony evar!" they're saying, "We likes your monies, so we're developing for more than one console." Personally, though some PS3 games have intrigued me, there hasn't been enough to make me bite, and of the few games that have made me curious so far, only MGS4 has shown seriously positive review. But seriously. This is a boon for the companies, this is a boon for us.

Am I anti-sony? Not terribly. I've owned both a PS1 and a PS2 and I spent some hard birthday'd money this year on a PSP so I'd hardly saying I'm anti-fanboying against Sony.
Editskies:
Oh, and on the 1up article where I found out about this today it says that the 360 version is gonna be pretty much just a North america and european release, so Sony has still retained a degree of exclusivity. Remember, even without Final Fantasy, PS3 is still winning the boxing match with the 360 in Japan.

[bakura_fan]

I've never been interested in the ps3. Don't know why. The PSP...yes. If KH3 is a ps3 only...well, I'll be missing out, because I can't see my husband and I buying it.

[Bobtheduck]

Oh, and on the 1up article where I found out about this today it says that the 360 version is gonna be pretty much just a North america and european release, so Sony has still retained a degree of exclusivity. Remember, even without Final Fantasy, PS3 is still winning the boxing match with the 360 in Japan.

Japan really doesn't matter... They don't make enough there overall to matter... Even with the PSP being the top selling system in Japan for months and months, they've still been losing money. FFXIII exclusivity would have earned them some of that back. It won't now.

And you said PS1 and PS2's broad libraries were what kept Sony alive last 2 gens? That's true, but Metal Gear and Final Fantasy were the REASON for those broad libraries... Sony fought hard for Metal Gear... Guess they couldn't afford to fight as hard for Final Fantasy... Those games were catalysts, and without them, we won't see the broad libraries for the PS3, and thus, it will die... Microsoft knows what they're doing, and they know how to destroy their enemies...

My full feelings on this are on my game blog (in my sig) (slight language warning, just PG stuff)

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Nah. Microsoft won't kill Sony. If anyone kills Sony, it'll be sony. Seriously, though, that's just the way this particular generation has gone. Next generation of consoles? Who knows. The original Xbox was kind of a brick compared to the PS2.

[Cognitive Gear]

This is actually great news. More gamers get to experience a great game. Besides, the PS3 has given me more great new gaming experiences than my 360 has. (Just my personal experience, it'll vary from person to person)

Also, I'm not sure that MS would need to buy Squeenix off at this point to get the game. The install base for 360 is quite sizable, and the last few Final Fantasy games have been slowly selling less and less with each new entry. This move to being a multiplatform title will improve their sales.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

On one hand, I can see this being a huge blow against Sony...

On the other hand... it's a new Final Fantasy game... I can see this sucking. D:

[Etoh*the*Greato]

This is actually great news. More gamers get to experience a great game. Besides, the PS3 has given me more great new gaming experiences than my 360 has. (Just my personal experience, it'll vary from person to person)

Also, I'm not sure that MS would need to buy Squeenix off at this point to get the game. The install base for 360 is quite sizable, and the last few Final Fantasy games have been slowly selling less and less with each new entry. This move to being a multiplatform title will improve their sales.

Two factors here. The last couple FF games haven't been... outstanding. Also, there has been some serious nostalgia crap going on for some of the older games. So gamers are going back and comparing the new stuff to a fantasy version of the old games that never existed anywhere except in their minds and saying, "man those were the days."

[Omega Amen]

I am not surprised that Square Enix wants to release a Final Fantasy as multiplatform. During this year's GDC, Square Enix programmers talked about how they ditched the PS3-only White Engine that was originally for FFXIII, and created in its stead the Crystal Tools which is an engine and software libraries for the PS3, 360, and Wii. When I saw that, I knew something big was going to happen in Microsoft's favor. And SE's President's, Yoichi Wada, has made comments over the past few years where it seems he absolutely detests the idea of making a platform-exclusive title.

What I am surprised is that it is the first FFXIII title, and their announcement is so soon. I would have guessed the Versus title and the announcement being next year.

Still, there are some major questions that need some answers as a result of this megaton.

Why is there no release date still? Is doing a simultaneous multiplatform release in NA and Europe have caused its schedule to delay even further?

It really depends if the PS3 version was started first and the 360 version is a port. If they were developed simultaneously, then I guess they are really taking a long time. If not... well, we will see what is really going on here over time.

Regardless, there are plenty of games to look forward to on the PS3, and Sony's press conference should be interesting.

So get a grip, Bob. Seriously.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I personally wish that Sqeenix took Final Fantasy in a different direction. I think it would be better or them to steer away from the whole "Futuristic setting" and go back in time to the older days.

Actually, if they had another Final Fantasy put in a Steampunk setting (like 6), I'd be all over that.

Regardless, there are plenty of games to look forward to on the PS3, and Sony's press conference should be interesting.

This is quite true. I'm sure Sony has some things up their Sleeve.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

*requesting that Bob's FF13 Topic be merged with this one*

So Microsoft has unveiled their secrets. Tons of demos on XBL, including Fallout 3, Gears of War 2, Fable 2, and Resident Evil 5. Final Fantasy 13 is now cross platform with the PS3 and 360.

Now it's Sony's and Nintendo's turn to unveil what's up their sleeves. I'm hoping for a new spectacular (TP was only good at best, but no way outstanding) Zelda to appear, as there's been a lot of time between now and the release of TP. Personally, I have a feeling that Nintendo will have the weakest announcements out of all the others, but we will see.

Edit: Corrie you merged them wrong. XD

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I wouldn't mind futuristic if they'd take a different art direction. We've had to suffer this kind of world building in 8, 10, 12, Crisis Core, and we'll have to suffer it in Dissidia it looks like. Gimme something new!

[Popsicle]

Well, I for one am glad that they made FFXIII multiplat. just cuse I don't own a PS3 and can't afford one. ^^ And as CG said earlier...more gamers will get to experience the game now. As long as game developers keep making games for the new gen. consoles(lol, don't know why they wouldn't) I think they'll be fine. For something like Sony to go out of business though would be epic scary. O.O

[Omega Amen]

Take a look at Kotaku's liveblog coverage on Square Enix's conference which mainly dealt with the FFXIII announcement.

http://kotaku.com/5025033/liveblogging-square-enix-press-conference

Huh, this is a very recent decision made by Square Enix. I am not sure if they really know what is going with their current plans for the game.... They will finish the game in Japan first, then start on the Western localization, and at that point is when they will start 360 development.

Great.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Seems like Nintendo has released something right before Microsoft's unveiling.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168696

My thoughts? Could be very useful, especially with games like Metroid Prime 3.

[Cognitive Gear]

As far as Nintendo is concerned, they've already started announcing things:



[quote="Official Nintendo Website"]Nintendo's upcoming Wii MotionPlus accessory for the revolutionary Wii Remote controller again redefines game control, by more quickly and accurately reflecting motions in a 3-D space. The Wii MotionPlus accessory attaches to the end of the Wii Remote and, combined with the accelerometer and the sensor bar, allows for more comprehensive tracking of a player’]

The Wii finally has true 1:1 motion tracking. I really hope that this results in even more innovative gameplay beyond many of the tacked on "waggle" controls.

[url=Link]http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/eMMuRj_N6vntHPDycCJAKWhEO9zBvyPH[/url]

EDIT: Curse you MSP!

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Bahaha, but you had a more detailed post. You can snag the credit. XD

[Bobtheduck]

So get a grip, Bob. Seriously.

I've spent the last few hours "getting a grip", and to be honest, my feelings toward the game industry started last E3 with the Wii Fit announcements and the media worship that garnered...

I stand by pretty much everything I've said. I am upset, and I don't see Sony doing anything to undo that, unless they announce like 10 RPGs tomorrow and one of them is the FF7 remake exclusive... I've been watching the game industry go in a direction I don't like, and it's making me reevaluate my life (yes my life... I AM going to school for game art, so I think that's a valid thing to say, just gotta get that in there before someone latches on to those words)

In any case, since this is now general E3 news and not about eh FFXIII announcement anymore, I'll step out of it.

[Rocketshipper]

I'm pretty annoyed with this news too. Partly because I know this really annoying X-box fanatic at my anime club who HATES all other systems, and is constantly ranting about how X-box will conquer them all. Now he'll just have more things to gloat over ><.

I'm still getting a PS3; besides MGS 4 and FF 13, there's also Resident Evil 5, Silent Hill 5, and that Hard Rain game + possibly KH 3 (baring any more annoying announcments) and its ability to play blu-ray discs. And currently I have absolutely ZERO interest in anything availible for the 360. And I'd like it to stay that way ^^. two next gen systems is enough. If any of the series I like go 360 exclusive, I'm going to be mad. But still, its sad to see how far Sony has fallen .

[HiddenWoodchuck]

Personally I don't care which system a game comes out for... It doesn't shock me with Final Fantasy coming to the 360. I mean... SE is gonna be releasing a bunch of RPGs on the 360, so it was kinda expected at some point in the future. It's a smart move for them, and people upset over it can't blame only Microsoft... I have nothing against Sony at all, as I love my PS3, but I can't be upset over it. Microsoft is in it for the money, just like Sony and Nintendo.

Personally, I will get Final Fantasy for whatever system it runs best on... as with all the other multi-platform games I have purchased in the past.

Oh... Banjo Kazooie is coming to XBL Arcade! Sweetness! I heard something about a new Portal game too.

[Raiden no Kishi]

As far as Nintendo is concerned, they've already started announcing things:





The Wii finally has true 1:1 motion tracking. I really hope that this results in even more innovative gameplay beyond many of the tacked on "waggle" controls.

[url=Link]http://www.nintendo.com/whatsnew/detail/eMMuRj_N6vntHPDycCJAKWhEO9zBvyPH[/url]

EDIT: Curse you MSP!

Is it just me, or does this sound like Nintendo saying, "Shucks, we promised big things but didn't supply the hardware to pull it off, so we're selling this upgrade to bring the hardware closer to where it should have been in the first place"? Maybe I'm just cynical.

.rai//

[Nightshade X]

As far as the FF13 for 360 announcement goes... I think I understand what SE is doing here:

They want to make more money.

Think about it. The fact that it's not being released for 360 in Japan is a testament to the fact that they're just trying to sell the game to a larger audience. The 360 doesn't have the install base that it does in the US and Europe, so it doesn't make sense to release it there. This is fine by me. I'll get to play it (PS3) and I'll have more people to talk about it with and to share the experience with.

Here's what I'm not fine with, and I can sum it up in a single phrase:

"Here come the fanboys."

PS: One word about the PS3 not having as many exclusive titles as the 360 and I'm gonna slap somebody. The 360's got a year's leap ahead of the PS3 AND it's got M$ dollars behind it. It makes perfect sense that it will have more exclusives... but the noise about exclusives is getting very annoying. Just let people buy the system of their choice, fanboys, and let it be freaking over and done with!!

[Stephen]

Considering everything I have seen for FF13 looked like garbage to me...*shrug* Guess I don't care that much. I got MGS4, so I am happy. Considering Xbox is still using HD-DVD stuff that everyone is bailing on, at least the PS3 will sell for its Blu-Ray. I seriously don't see this as such a headshot on Sony. I've noticed a bunch of 360 titles getting on the PS3, such as Saints Row. So I guess its better for fans all around.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

In the defense of going multiplat this particular generation of consoles has made it extremely difficult to own multiple consoles. 360 had the games that I wanted and was cheaper, so I went with that one. I cannot now, nor will I probably ever, be able to justify the cost of a PS3, particularly when there are other things I would like to own first (HD TV, new computer, several particular camera lenses) in the same price bracket. Last generation everything cost 250 or less, so it was OK to fanboy. It was still annoying when people fanboy'd, but it was still ok.

Meh, in general I dislike console fanboyism.